VICKSBURG VOLUMES: CHAPTER SEVEN

Hello from Mississippi: the Wacky Weather State,

It is by grace that we are saved after all our thighs can do-- especially wet thighs. I wonder if its an abridgment to mission law to swim... if you're on a bike. We did the impossible this week-- the very soggy impossible.  I'll let you figure out in the pictures whether it's rain or sweat.

Anyways, despite all this precipitation and perspiration, the miracles have been aplenty! With great opposition comes great opportunity! His strength is made perfect in our weakness-- especially when it comes to biking the hills of Mt. Vicksburg! WELCOME MY FRIENDS, to a very blessed and very wet, VICKSBURG VOLUMES: CHAPTER SEVEN. 

Not all heroes wear capes. In fact, some wear silky Guardians of the Galaxy pajamas. After an incredible member lesson we went out with another member to help them fulfill their ministering assignments, and it was then that I truly appreciated the tender mercy of the talents of others (and their style choices). 

For those of you who may not know, Louisiana and Mississippi are more indecisive than a kid in a candy store with their weather choices.   Pro tip: don't go driving in a crazy terrain trailer park without four-wheel drive. Yeah, we got stuck... it was pretty hilarious actually. This member looked over at me and said, "you're gonna have to get out and push." Well, despite the gains of Nephi the Nissan Ultima wouldn't budge from the death grip of the mud. I said a little prayer in my heart that somehow, someway, we would be freed from the captivity of the terrain. No sooner than I said, "amen" did the miracle come cascading down the hill in the distance. As if I was quickened by the spirit and carried away into a tall mountain, I looked and beheld a man, most muscular and fair amongst all other men... saddled on a riding lawnmower, in his superhero PJ's, pulling behind him a wagon of wooden planks. Lo and behold, we were delivered from the chains by which we were bound... by a chain that this man climbed several trees to retrieve. This man certainly had talents that I didn't; unless you expect me to get down and dirty in a mud puddle and tie a noose around the bumper in a white shirt and tie. It was just a simple testimony to me that God endows us with very specific abilities to fulfill his purposes. This man was able to perform an act of service through the magnification of his divine identity and capabilities. We, similarly, are blessed with talents beyond measure, for the purpose of serving God's children. If you think about it-- with the talents of everyone on Earth combined, we could probably accomplish anything in mortality. So, you may not have super studly pajama pants, but you definitely have talents; use them to pull someone out of the mud and magnify your calling as a child of God!

   

As some of you may know, recently there has been a great emphasis on, "the name of the church." Our beloved prophet has petitioned each and every one of us to identify with the name of Christ and to keep his name at the center of His church. We are evolving from the misnomer of, "Mormons" and converting to the higher, holier, and original name of, "members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." Now, some of you may question this development/re-assertion-- "we have so much publicity with the name of Mormon..." "my mouth simply cannot utter that many syllables when declaring my religious beliefs..." Well, let me tell you tongue twisted and traditionalist alike, we had an experience this week that reaffirmed my testimony of President Nelson as a prophet in these latter days and the critical importance of this inspired decision to correct the name of the church. 

As we approached the door we noticed a cross on the side of the house. Now for a missionary- this is great news! "Oh goodie, a Christian!" So, we knocked on the door and initially, the man who opened up was very apprehensive, and a tad abrasive. There actually reached a point in our approach where he interrupted and responded to our inquiry about his faith and said, "I AM JESUS." Glory hallelujah, not only was this man a Christian-- it was Jesus Christ himself! Well, when we got over the blasphemy of this encounter, I was a firsthand witness of the converting and softening power of the Spirit; he really warmed up to us! As we clarified what we believed and found similarities, my heart went out to this great man and his even better faith! And this is where the name of the church came in..

There reached a point in our conversation where he stopped us and said... "wait, aren't you guys Mormons?" We took the opportunity to clarify that that was once a nickname of our church, but now we are really pushing to keep the name of Christ in His church. His response, I believe, is a testimony to all that this emphasis was inspired of the Lord. He said, "I love that. You know, for my entire life I have believed that Mormons didn't believe in Christ- but now that I know that you really are the church of Jesus Christ I couldn't be happier to accept a copy of the Book of Mormon." How incredible is that? A simple clarification prepared this man for conversion. I testify that President Nelson is a prophet of the Lord and that he speaks for God. The Lord [reveals] his secrets to his servant President Nelson. Follow the prophet in the little things-- if Jesus Christ told you to eat your food with your left hand, you'd probably do it-- so should we be obedient to the, "small and simple things" the prophet commands us to do; trusting that by those small things, great blessings will be brought to pass in our lives! I am honored to be a [member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] lead by a prophet on the Earth today.  

Y'all, I know that God is mindful of the people here in Vicksburg because he is preparing and blessing their missionaries with so many miracles and opportunities. The finding and teaching experiences this week were such a strength to this portion of the Lord's vineyard. I am humbled to be an instrument, that the Lord is CERTAINLY using, to fulfill and further his purposes. To name a few:

*preferably read with the sentiment, "coincidence? I think not.*

• We had scheduled an appointment with a returning member of the church and after we biked the four miles there, they all of a sudden weren't home. So, in an attempt to be effective we knocked a few doors in the surrounding area-- and I KID YOU NOT-- the first door we knock on a 15-year-old young woman answers and says, "Oh, my mom was trying to stop you yesterday! She wanted your number so that she could learn about Jesus Christ and come to your church." 

• We were out street contacting on a brisk winter afternoon and we passed by this young lady walking around the neighborhood TWICE as we were making our rounds. Well, the second time around, I decided not to postpone a prompting and went up and talked to her. Turns out, she's been a devoted member of a local Baptist church and had read the Bible her whole entire life, but she didn't understand the resurrection or the doctrine behind where her deceased mother was. Her eyes got wide when we told her about a, "book that can answer those questions of her soul" and offered her a free copy of the Book of Mormon. In our last visit, we helped her to better understand the book she believed to be, "the word of God" and how it is convincing evidence of the truthfulness of the only true and living church of Jesus Christ.

• We've been trying to be creative with the effectiveness of the work, and so this week we have been specifically praying to find people to teach that would be compatible with specifically returned missionaries in the ward. Lo and behold, the pattern of this week continues; we found some potentials who seem like they would be best friends with some former Elders and Sisters.

• We entertained the, "hard knock life" with a little time we had before an appointment and knocked on this door and [immediately] the lady answered, and as quick as she answered, she slammed the door. Well, sad but true, we've kinda accustomed ourselves to rejection. Well, as we moved to the next door she opened again and said, "who are you guys?" After we explained our purpose and message as missionaries she invited us in, and it turned out that her brother was in the hospital and she really needed someone to pray for her. We shared some comforting words of Christ and we now have a return appointment to help her feel God's love! I was just so astounded at the love of a God who knew her concern, knew what she needed, and provided missionaries as an answer to her prayer! I know that God listens to and answers our prayers in a similar way. You are LOVED! And maybe God will send missionaries knocking on your door one day to answer your prayers. ;) 

And the final experience, and most incredible to me, came as we witnessed the fruits of true conversion. 

It has been said that conversion is best demonstrated on the 265th page of the Book of Mormon with the miraculous experience of Aaron and King Lamoni's father. After much teaching, expounding, and working with the spirit Aaron beautifully illustrates the purposes and intent of the plan of redemption. He flawlessly answers inspired questions with inspired answers and guides the king through the conversion process. Towards the middle of the chapter, it is said of the king that:

"[he] did bown down before the Lord upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth and cried mightily saying: O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved dat the last day."

A beautiful commitment and an even more sweet surrender... 

Well, in a small portion, this happened to us (Aaron) and one of the most beloved people we were teaching this week. We received a call at 5:00 in the morning (a missionary 24/7) from one of our most progressing friends who has been striving to overcome a smoking addiction to prepare to be baptized and confirmed a member of the church. He texted us later that morning and said, "I can't quit smoking." The prompting came that he had not yet understood the full redemptive and enabling power of the Atonement of Christ. So, we did exactly that; we bore testimony of the infinite and eternal sacrifice of Jesus Christ and how any sacrifice on our part is only a mere portion of the offering of the Savior. It was a powerful lesson filled with the spirit. In the spirit of the moment, Elder Sellers being the bold man he is asked him to use his agency to use the Atonement of Christ and to throw away the package of cigarettes that was lying there on the table. He immediately, understandably defensive, said that he couldn't do something like that. That was the moment that the spirit whispered into my ear something I will never forget, "give this man a missionary promise he will never forget." I sat there at that moment, pondering upon the effects of the Atonement in my own life... and thought about the blessings I have received. Then, entirely lead by the spirit (ushering in the promise of Doctrine and Covenants 100) I said the following promise: "If you will make the decision to stop smoking today, you will begin to achieve your potential to become like God." No sooner than the words left my mouth, did he get up and say... "I need to do something really quick."He got up. Took the box of cigarettes. Threw them away. And said, "I can do this." 

He gave up what he had to know God. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity, and the very thing that is hardest for us to sacrifice is the same thing that is preventing us from having a perfect knowledge of God. That is true conversion-- giving up something good, for something of God. And I for one, am humbled that God would use a weak missionary like me to extend a promise like the one extended that day. You missionaries out there, promise blessings while you can-- apostolic authority won't be there forever. And you members out there, what are you willing to sacrifice to know God? I know that as soon as you, "give it away" your knowledge will be enlightened, your relationship strengthened, and you, like the man we taught that day, will be on the way to achieving your potential to become like God. 

Well yall, I just love being a missionary and I have learned so much this week about what that title means to me! Whether it was biking in the rain, pulling a Nissan out of the mud, or experiencing the tender mercies of the converting power of the Lord and His work, the miracles of a mission are REAL! I know this church, the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, is the Lord's kingdom on the Earth today! I know the Gospel has been restored and reserved, particularly for the promised land of Mississippi! I am grateful to be on the front lines of the Lord's battalion as his servant and instrument. For those of you out there, PLEASE use your talents for the blessing of others, give away what you have to know a God who will give you everything, enjoy those rainy days of your life trusting in great blessings ahead, and identify with Christ! The miracles are there; we just need faith to authorize God to bless us with them. It is my testimony that God is aware and always there; he loves y'all, even impossibly more than I do. Remember that! And remember... it never hurt to sweat or get wet a little bit. 😂 HAVE A GREAT WEEK YALL! ELDER BOYD LOVES YOU. 

From a wet but appreciative bike Boyd,

Elder Boyd

This Week's Facebook Post

Ring the bell that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering,
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

Darkness itself doesn't exist.
It is only in the absence of light that we have darkness.

We all have our dark days. We all have those days where we feel a crack in everything. But we often tend to forget in these vulnerable times, that it is in our brokenness that we let the light in.

Darkness exists when we forget who we are...
Darkness exists when we forget God...
Darkness exists when we lose sight of where we're going..

But when we remember who we are and where we're going; that we are children of God with a loving Heavenly Father who has provided a plan and a Savior to help us become who we need to become and go where we need to go-- that's how the light gets in.

He is the light. The Lord is our light. The moment we overcome our inner darkness is the same moment we invite the light of Christ in our lives. He is the perfect offering that we can never forget-- and the light that shines through the darkness. There is no crack that Christ cant shine through. He is the light that radiates through our divine identity and the plan of happiness.

So, it's okay if you're cracked. It's okay if you are not a perfect offering-- because He is. He is our light. So don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him.
Forget yourself and embrace your cracks; that's how the Lord gets in.

#LBRMSingingSunday

This Week's Pictures