Prayer works. There is no doubt in my mind that Heavenly Father is really there and hears and answers every child's prayer. I'm gonna phone a friend on this one and allow an apostolic amigo to say it best, “Remember the real thing. Remember how urgently you have needed help in earlier times and that you got it. The Red Sea will open to the honest seeker of revelation. The adversary does not have power to hedge up the way, to marshal Pharaoh’s forces and dog our escape right to the water’s edge, but he can’t produce the real thing. He cannot conquer if we will it otherwise. “Exerting all our powers to call upon God,” the light will again come, the darkness will again retreat, the safety will again be sure. That is lesson number one about crossing the Red Sea, your Red Seas, by the spirit of revelation.”
That is right my friends...
Transfer week is here...
PLOT TWIST: I'M STAYING IN SLIDELL.
The day of miracles has not ceased. There CAN be miracles when you believe. A dream is a wish your heart makes. And every other cliche exclamation of divine power... WHHEEEWWWW-EEEE! If we ain't fixin' to have a flipper flapping transfer for the ages! If you can't tell, I'm kinda excited... looks like the scroll continues, so stay tuned for another volume... revelation, rambunctiousness, and romance (kidding) await us as we PERSIST and enjoy yet another SLIDELL SCROLLS: CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR.
First, a spiritual thought:
The floodgates of revelation were rampant in my studies this week as I pondered the subject: the fear of the Lord. There is a strict doctrinal contrast between fear and faith- in fact, they're quite opposites. Fear and faith cannot coexist. This antithesis is quite common in the scriptures and is used to represent two natural principles that are arguably essential to salvation. Now that the facts are out of the way... we can build on our foundation with incremental revelation. It struck me as I read in the Bible- faith and fear both demand that we believe in something we cannot see. Faith is evidence of things not seen as we read in the book of Hebrews; but do we ever consider that fear is sometimes the same thing? Every Satan-like quality has a foundation of fear. For example,
Pride = fear of failure. We do not see the benefits of failing and how it can contribute to our successes...
Defiance= fear of submission. We do not see how being a follower is often times the best way to be a leader.
Upon hearing the voice of God after partaking of the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve hid themselves in the Garden of Eden. God called unto Adam and asked, “Where art thou? And [Adam answered], I heard thy voice … , and I was afraid” (Genesis 3:9–10). Notably, one of the first effects of the Fall was for Adam and Eve to experience fear. This potent emotion is an important element of our mortal existence.
Sometimes we sin for fear of mortality. Conforming to societal norms is often a relapse of fear, is it not? Submitting to peer pressure? Fear of fitting in. Depression? Fear of inadequacy. Anxiety? Fear of the unknown. We live in a fallen world... and being lost is a scary thing. However, there is hope. Fear is not new. So much of the extremes of mortality can be cured with one prescription from the Great Physician: faith. As we contemplate the fruits of faith we can see healthy side effects of overcoming fear: security, hope, love. The only answer to fear is faith. But now that I have rambled on for a scroll and a half, I get to my point... the fear of the Lord.
Would you say, there is righteous fear? If we are commanded to place our fear in the Lord, is that a righteous pursuit? Y'all, this study had me on a cross-reference coaster... and I think I have finally come to a conclusion. To fear the Lord is not the opposite of faith... but rather the purpose of faith. Faith is to trust in God, to submit our wills to his, to believe that he has all power and wisdom... and to fear him is to acknowledge this holy trifecta. If perfect love casteth out all fear then I would argue that the fear of the Lord is to love him perfectly. Elder Bednar says that, "as we fear the Lord more completely, we love him more perfectly." Therefore, the purpose of this life... is not to fear- but in fact, to displace our fears in the Lord and to strengthen our faith through perfect love.
And that, my friends, is what I did Thursday morning.
Contrary to popular belief, Thanksgiving is actually a perfect time to knock doors. Families are home, people are in a, "giving" mood, and the season points everyone's thoughts towards the Savior as they ponder their many blessings. We had a great holiday here in the promised land, cherishing the great members we have been blessed with! I hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving filled with several DAIRY FREE tender mercies. :)
STORY TIME:
Due to the festivities and an emporium of exchanges, we didn't get many opportunities to labor in our blessed portion of the Lord's vineyard. Haha, I am now realizing that this is a theme of like, every scroll I write, so I PROMISE y'all we're good missionaries, just a busy bunch with an atrocious agenda. ANYWAYS,
Saturday is a special day, is the day we prepare to INVITE EVERYONE TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY. I was honored to enjoy an exchange with one of the homies in the quad-ship, Elder Hendry. We're both training in the quad-ship, so we planned a busy day with the intent of seeing many miracles as a result of our hard work...
Well let me tell ya, this day was a trip...
A chronological sequence of Saturday's events:
- We met a hometown rap star named STB Slim who has a pit-bull/storm-trooper hybrid tattooed on his upper right calf and has a hit single called Psalms is your mom.
- We taught a home-slice named Geno who said he'd only believe a prophet who was a Saints and proceeded to drown out our message by slowly muttering under his breath, "who dat.... we dat..."
- We fellow-shipped a family of all different shapes and sizes by teaching them the Plan of Salvation after finding out about the recent passing of their mother. Well, in order to get their attention, Elder Hendry pinky-promised the younger one who plays the ukulele, that I would sing if she sang. Mind you, I had no participation or approval of this agreement... but I am not one to break the ultimate covenant of a pinky promise. Let's just say I haven't sung Death of a Bachelor in a good minute...
- We met the most willing and incredible 19 year old Latina woman who said she'll be baptized, come to church, and read the Book of Mormon (not necessarily in that order...)
- We knocked on a door around a recent convert and a young girl opened, said her name was Shakira with the honest hips, and commanded us to bring her to church tomorrow. So, that was cool.
- We finished out the night as we bore the most powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon and delivered a pie to one of our most progressing people. She is truly the elect and a sign from God that he is proud of the work we have accomplished in the promised land.
It was a fantastic week, to say the least. I love Elder Jones more than a man can comprehend. It is an honor and a privilege- an utmost PLEASURE to be his companion. He has been a great support, companion, and most of all... friend. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! We are so blessed down here... I pray the Lord's richest blessings on all you sweet folk. Remember to always make Saturday a special day and to develop your righteous fears through perfect love! Oh and... GET PUMPED FOR MORE SCROLLS! Have a great week y'all! ELDER BOYD LOVES YOU!
In the utmost spirit of gratitude,
Elder Boyd
This Week's Pics:
More food zooming in going on to show Mama that he's makin' yummy food:
Elder Jones/Elder Boyd
The Quad/Friends
Misc. Pics with No Explanation
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