Happy Holidays homo sapiens,
For those of you who feel broken or inadequate this Christmas, for those who feel like that on gingerbread cookie with the deformed gumdrop button, for the Christmas tree that just can't quite between the ceiling and the floor, for the dim Christmas light in the pack of 200, for the reindeer who gets laughed at and called all the names, for that one who with unbelief couldn't hear the bell, for the ornament that didn't quite make the Christmas tree cut, and for the little engine that just... couldn't... THIS IS FOR YOU. As one of the most imperfect lives that has ever lived and certainly that one gingerbread man you probably wouldn't eat.. I welcome you to a festive edition of the SLIDELL SCROLLS: CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN.
In this holiday season, we remember and commemorate the most perfect life that ever has or ever will live. Yet, for some reason, we seem to forget that just because he was perfect, doesn't mean we need to be the same. And being perfect didn't mean he had it easy? Need I remind you that the Savior of the World was born in a lowly manger, of humble circumstances, persecuted and reviled of men, convicted on spurious charges, and marked for blasphemy for being himself and being different? Yet, he was perfect. Perhaps perfection isn't a matter of DOING more but is being more. Christ was different. So MAYBE we need to let ourselves be broken to be a little more perfect? Isn't that the Character of Christ? To work with weak things? As we focus on lighting the world, we need not think that in order for us to shine brightest we need to be perfect. As a matter of fact, we need not shine to be seen at all... but rather, we shine so that through us OTHERS can see him. One of the most broken lives was also the most perfect... Perhaps we should GLORY in our brokenness, especially as we remember the fractured son of God, for in that we find true light. A familiar poem comes to mind as we ponder our need for imperfection this holiday season,
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
RING THE BELLS THAT STILL CAN RING. Focus on who you are not who you aren't. Glory in the perfect creation that Christ has made you and rejoice in the imperfections that allow you to be one step closer to becoming like Him. As we spend each day increasing our own light we simultaneously decrease the darkness in others. That's one thing I learned this week... as representatives of Jesus Christ, when we aren't with God's children, Satan is with them. That is if they are left without the companionship of the Holy Ghost... What GREAT need there is to share this gospel and share ourselves with those who need it/us most! We are, in essence, "chasers of darkness" as extensions of the light of the world. And something we keep sharing with others, intimidated by the task of lighting the whole WORLD. is that just with planting seeds... one light goes a long way. As we individually light one life at a time, eventually we will find that little by little a little becomes a lot. And that little light you once lit... has, in turn, illuminated several others... and in turn, you'll find that the whole world is a light. We are here to influence the world not be influenced by the world. To be in the world not of the world also means to light the world, not let the world light you. NOW is the time to start becoming the person you want to be and NOW is the time to start lighting the lives you need to light.
I am SO beyond privileged to share the light of Christ with those who need it most! Always remember the wise words of Elder Holland, "it is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement shines." And I would add some Boyd doctrine *casually throws tie over shoulder*, it is not possible for you to be so broken as to not let the light get in.
Do you remember in the scriptures when Adam sacrifices animals to the Lord without a preconceived notion as to the doctrine behind his actions? We learned a valuable lesson this week that was learned first in the scriptures (Moses 5:5-7)...
5 And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedientunto the commandments of the Lord.
6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.Yeah, this was basically me and every other missionary in the world for the past... century or so in regards to missionary work. There is a pattern here that was made evident to me through the spirit of revelation as we enjoyed another conference this week. T'is the season for a Christmas Zone Conference- where President Varner dressed up as Santa... name a better mission President... I'll wait.. ANYWAYS, in short, we were given the higher law this week. Up to this point in my mission, like Adam, we followed the law of obedience and did work in the way that we supposed the Lord had commanded. This was a preparatory work for the higher law we were endowed with this Thursday. I truly believe that because we were willing to obey without a knowledge of what would have been most effective, we were prepared for this evolution! NOW, we focus more on the planning and more on the people and I LOVE IT! The spirit was so strong when they announced it and I can't wait for the ways in which the work will be elevated with this new and holier way of doing the work of the Lord. Watch out Satan... we just got an upgrade. :)
After a strenuous stressful week with stubborn Southerners, Elder Jones and I took a glance back at our week and realized that we had spent a total of one hour working with our people this week. Between an unholy amount of service hours, exchanges, and a crazy cool conference for the Zone, we hadn't neglected our people, but in doing what God wanted to do, our plan to meet with our army of the elect was not in his will. HOWEVER, after a long Saturday of moving and grooving, we found ourselves with an hour to contact- #blessings. Now, the PREVIOUS missionaries of the LBRM would've spent this precious time shredding our knuckles on doors, but NO not this dynamic two! Through the inspiration of the spirit, we decided to go the distance to visit someone on the outskirts of our area... and after the fact, I have a testimony that God guides his hardworking missionaries because this was exactly what we were supposed to do.
When we arrived and walked inside the whole family was cuddled on a king-sized mattress in the middle of the floor- all engaged in a riveting episode of Sponge-bob Square-pants (surprisingly popular in the South?). HOWEVER, in the corner of my eye, I caught the gem of the evening... an opened copy of the Book of Mormon! Turns out, they had just finished reading the Book of Jarom (specific) as a family and decided to wind down from their spiritual chow-down with some harmless cartoons. We ended up having the most incredible discussion! Testifying of the strength the Book of Mormon provides to families and promising great blessings for receiving and living worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. They had sensational questions about the Fall of Adam and Eve and gospel learning in the home that could all be answered through the Book of Mormon. The husband even said, "you guys have a special glow around you. I want my kids to have that glow." They have now come to church and will be preparing to be baptized, contingent on the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. WE NEEDED THIS. After a crazy week, God knew what Spirit we needed to feel... he knew what lesson we needed to have... I have a testimony that God knows us and our needs and desires and is SO willing to fulfill them if we have faith in Him! Teaching this family was the exact pick-me-up we needed to have faith in ourselves and the converting power of the Gospel. This church is so true y'all... if you doubt it, I have a good book you can read to help you out with your answer. ;)
Well yall, that was this week in a nutshell! It was pretty busy... pretty crazy... but also pretty miraculous! We are so fortunate to be serving the Lord and couldn't feel more blessed. As for all of you, I'd invite you to BE broken and to let the light in! To be lights in the world and to ponder on holier and higher ways that you can live YOUR life better! Have a great week before Christmas yall! ELDER BOYD LOVES YOU!!
From the lit-est homo sapien on this side of the bayou,
Elder Boyd
This Week's FB Post
Joy.
Joy is in our personal potential to become like Heavenly Father. It is through Jesus Christ that we can perfect this potential. Through Jesus Christ we find joy.
President Nelson has put it this way, "the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives." How true? We fulfill our purposes in mortality when we focus on joy. It matters not what happens to us... but what happens inside of us.
I testify that as we center Christmas in Christ, as we focus on him and his sacrifice, no circumstance will matter because we will have found enduring joy in the Savior. We will find the most joy- as he is the joy of the world! And joy be to the world, for through Christ and his infinite atoning sacrifice we can achieve our ultimate potential of finding true joy and becoming like our Heavenly Father.
This Week's Pictures:
Zone Conference
This is one of several families that every missionary mom hopes will be there for her son when he's on his mission. The Cunningham's have loved Elder Boyd as if he were their own.
Random Pics:
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