Just another average week in Louisiana. Bountiful blessings. A colony of kiddos. The gnarliest of Nashville. And a restored Gospel. I'm sure we have Satan saying he would've gotten away with it too if it weren't for us meddling Elders. The adversary is no match for these mysterious machines. ZOIKS ELDER, we're back at it again, with the SLIDELL SCROLLS: CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
I've learned a lot about submitting to the will of the Lord this week. One of the many spiritual nuggets I have acquired as I have served the Lord for this short period of time is the value of one's will. Now, why is will so important, you might ask? As unprofitable servants, it's actually one of the only things we can actually GIVE up to our Father in Heaven. God cannot take your agency, nor your will- both must be willingly submitted. Neal A. Maxwell says it best:
“The submission of one's will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God's altar. The many other things we 'give' are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us."
We speak so much of sacrifice as missionaries, but funnily enough, the LAST thing we are willing to put on the altar is our power of control over our own actions and emotions. Ironically, it's actually EASIER to conform to His desires and actions- because a with everything, he is perfect. Wouldn't you rather execute a perfect action, over one made in moral imperfection? I certainly would. As I've studied this concept, of course, God has given me opportunity after opportunity to exercise my studies. We were faced with many, "trials of submission" this week. As a representative of Jesus Christ, it's hard to bridle the passions of conversion. But sometimes... actually ALL times... because God knows what he's doing, it's so much easier to submit. We can do all we can do, but in the end, if we haven't chosen Christ, it won't matter what we have chosen. Yes, it would be AWESOME if everyone kept their commitments, and if the whole world got baptized- but that's not the will of the Lord. Sometimes you'll find that when things aren't going your way, it's just Gods way of saying, "I have better plans for you."
“In either situation, the object is for our wills to be finally swallowed up in the will of the Father” (Msh. 15:7), eventually bringing to us the joys gladly given by the Father and constituting “all that He hath” (Gen. 24:36). In a very real sense, therefore, what we can take now foretells what He can give later! This reality should be kept firmly in mind as we understandably pray for relief from short-term stress or long-term trauma. We would, if we could, put periods, if not exclamation points, where God is content to put commas in the process. Either way, the “process of time” is needed to facilitate our incremental improvement (Moses 7:21). Therein, individual increments of personal improvement are often scarcely discernable by themselves, yet the cumulative process moves us ever closer to Home.”
Tender mercy of the week:
I have a keen elect sense. It's kind of like a spidey sense, but instead of getting arachnid superpowers, I have good taste in apartment complexes. As exchange magicians, we followed our elect senses... Some might have good taste in clothing, others in members of the opposite sex: but my forte? Humble living. We were living the hard knock life, dressed in sweat, and determined to find the elect. As many of you might remember from our last scroll, they have a special look about them... well, a few doors in, she gave us that look. "Hi my name is elect and I've been to church before and my twelve children are nine years of age and ready to go to primary and be baptized." We [the kids and Elders] proceeded to have a hi-five competition in the parking lot and enjoyed a very spirited game of duck-duck-goose with this colony of kiddos. Their MOM is actually golden, just moved here, and has committed to meet with us and come to church. Later on that night, we continued to see the miracles of the Lord. There is great power in missionary work when the people you teach realize how divine they are. A simple compliment.
"Your smile makes me want to be a better person"
God knew she needed to hear that, that day. Isn't it wonderful how God often answers our prayers through other people? Whether it be a colony of kiddos, a contagious smile, or a minute with the elect, God has answered all my prayers through the experiences of this week.
AND FINALLY, we were visited by a special guest this week- Jason Deere from the Nashville Tribute Band. Pretty sure, we're best friends, as we made eye contact through his closing song. His music filled the cultural hall with an undeniable spirit. Something he said really touched my spirit, and I thought maybe it would also speak to one of you out there:
"Often times, people feel nothing with words... they gain no testimony from sermons or speeches.. and no faith is built through an audiobook.. but to those people, the spirit can be felt through music. And that's why I'm here. That's why I do this."
Isn't that so true? Our spirit languages differ greatly, and often times, what prompts conversion for one soul is a trial of faith for another. I personally resonate with music. You know that cliché, "when words fail, music speaks?" I would rebuttal, "when articulation fails, music speaks." I receive some of my greatest revelations through the sweetest melodies. The spirit was very strong in that meeting.
Well yall, it's been quite the week! It's an honor to hold the priesthood and to be a part of this great work. I feel most privileged to labor with and love these people in Louisiana. I hope you all have the most blessed week, filled with miracles and music and submission. Oh, and lots of love and prayers... because ELDER BOYD LOVES YOU AND IS ALWAYS PRAYING FOR YOU!
From the least of these your brethren,
Elder Boyd
Jason Deere from the Nashville Tribute Band
I spy with my little eye...
This week's Facebook Post:
You are a child of God.
So much comfort, power, love, and assurance lies in those six words.
You are a child of God.
As I have long contemplated the cure for comparison and the antidote for antagonism- one simple truth resonates with healing power...
A recognition of our divine identity.
If we would just realize how much God loves us, maybe we would in turn love ourselves a little more?
President Boyd K. Packer’s words are plain and precious: “You are a child of God. He is the father of your spirit. Spiritually you are of noble birth, the offspring of the King of Heaven. Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it. However many generations in your mortal ancestry, no matter what race or people you represent, the pedigree of your spirit can be written on a single line. You are a child of God!”
“When you … see our Father,” Brigham Young described, “you will see a being with whom you have long been acquainted, and he will receive you into his arms, and you will be ready to fall into his embrace and kiss him.”
You are a child of God.
#LBRMSingingSunday
No comments:
Post a Comment