Elder Jeremy Ashton Boyd: VICKSBURG VOLUMES: CHAPTER FIVE

The thrive of thighs in week five,

This week was hard, be we did it all through Christ. Friendly suggestion even if you feel like the thighs of Thor can do it, don't go up that hill in sixth gear. Also, if you're looking for little simple gifts of happiness, go make homemade ice cream with the folks at the rehab center or sort books in children's section of the library for a few hours. The world is full of opportunities to be happy; if we will simply look for them. These Asgardian appendages have served me well this week-- 50 miles of biking is the ultimate way to build character... and calves. SO SADDLE UP ON THEM SEATS OF SALVATION and prepare for a reflective, rambunctious, and revenant combination of wordplay as we enjoy the VICKSBURG VOLUMES: CHAPTER FIVE.

Hope yall are doing GREAT. I would encourage you all to strive for that, "burning in the bosom" to keep warm in the snow.

As for me, I received an elevated sense of purpose this week as I contemplated the, "why" of missionary work.

What is the doctrine behind the saving of souls?

Why do young men and women, the youth of the noble birthright, endure from door to door to, "share a message about Jesus Christ" with your family?

What is the purpose behind this great and marvelous work?

As missionaries, we are despised and rejected by men. We are men and women of sorrows and are well acquainted with grief. Oftentimes, we will find that the people we teach will hide their faces from us; and sadly, without a second thought, we and our message are esteemed as nothing of eternal importance.

Why?

I beg to rationalize, in the most sacred intent... that our mission is a lot like His.

To quote Isaiah,

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

But the next verse is a little, "less" relatable...

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

We may be despised and rejected, but we are wounded for nobody's transgressions nor bruised for any form of another's iniquity. The chastisement of peace rests not on our shoulders- but those of Him who, "partook his preparations among the children of men" and fulfilled all that his Father sent him to do. It is only in and through HIS stripes that we are healed; nothing of our own individual, merits, mercy, or grace. He volunteered, atoned, and fulfilled the lover's part that we might not shrink. In the ultimate expression of love, gave his life as a ransom for many, that we through him might be saved in grace and truth. Surely, our mission is similar to the Savior's but we must always remember... that his mission was much harder... and he still did everything he was sent to do.

"If the world hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."

As missionaries we are in constant wonder why people would reject such a life-changing message-- but do we ever consider those times where we might in fact, even in the smallest of ways, reject Christ ourselves? Sure, we may not blaspheme nor abandon faith entirely regarding him as, "a thing of naught." But do we ever have those times where we just don't quite keep ALL of God's commandments? Where we... perchance.. leave him on hold as we retire to bed too early without accounting to God? Do we ever postpone a prompting or neglect a service opportunity? Do we sometimes find ourselves slamming the door on revelation- much like the doors closed on us representatives? Perspective. Now, this isn't to demoralize, discourage, or demean our righteous efforts in any sort of way-- but it goes to say that before we ask, "why me?" we instead first, "remember Him." He is merciful, he is loving, he is all-encompassing with his arms of endless love. He is forgiving, patient, kind, gentle, meek, optimistic... the list goes on for scriptural eternity. We slam too many doors in his face, yet he keeps knocking... We sometimes don't keep all our commitments, but he keeps extending... Truly, if our mission is like His, maybe it would be most helpful to remember that in order to accomplish our missions, we must be like Him.

What we are offering at that doorstep is not ourselves, but Christ. If anything, I realized this week that as a representative of Him who is, "mighty to save" I am giving nothing of myself to these precious souls in the South. I am the messenger, I am the mouthpiece, and I am the instrument... but I am not the Savior. What I and every other Elder and Sister are offering when we come to your door, is a connection to Him. We are offering you complete access to the comfort of Christ through the fulness of the blessings of his atoning sacrifice. We are inviting you to, "experience the joy of redemption" and to drink from the fountain of living water, that you may be whole.

Did you know the loving God has provided a way for you to experience guaranteed peace, through one of his most beloved gifts? That he has granted knowledge of security in salvation and an endless flow of blessings, contingent upon sacred promises? That the power of God is on the Earth today, and as such has the overwhelming influence to bring about many mighty miracles in the name of Christ? That your family can be together FOREVER through the plan of a loving Father? Did you know that you can be cleansed from sin EVERY WEEK as you renew promises made under the proper authority? Did you know that there are MORE words of Christ, available to you today, that you may receive further guidance and instruction from the Lord? Did you know that a modern-day Moses walks the Earth, and if you listen to his counsel you can live with God again? Next time you say, "not today" think about these words from President Oaks:

As the prophets of this dispensation have told us, the missionaries’ purpose of being in the mission field is to save souls, to baptize converts, which is to open the doors of the celestial kingdom to the sons and daughters of God.

No one else can do this.
Other churches cannot do it.
Good Christian living cannot do it.
Good faith, good desires, and good reasoning cannot do it.
Only the priesthood of God can administer a baptism that will satisfy the divine decree that “except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Sorry y'all, just WAY passionate about the gospel. I just have SUCH a desire to share this message with the world. Just remember next time you say no... you're declining much more than two boys from out west. THE CHURCH IS TRUE.

In other news... you remember that beautiful pattern set by Ammon where he served the King and then taught him about the Gospel? That us this week, except instead of cleaning stables we went up to these three teenage girls who taught us how to do the, "mmm" dance and requested that I sing Baby by Justin Bieber to their fanbase of Instagram Live. If I went viral, I'm sorry in advance. 😂 BUT, the good news of the Gospel was that this series of white boys dancing softened their hearts to the gospel and allowed us to schedule a return appointment to teach them and their family how they can be together forever!

Now if that ain't a Southern story, I don't know what is.

Well yall, that oughtta do us for this week. I love the Gospel and I love being a missionary. I hope that you all remember your purpose as children of God-- and strive for that 5G connection with the Savior. Make this week full of the remembrance of Him! Choose to be healed by his stripes and to follow him through His Gospel. Though our missions may be similar to His, we must be much more like Him is we hope to accomplish ours the same way. WE CAN DO IT THOUGH. That's the good news about the gospel- the Lord is not selfish. He wants us to be like Him, we just need his help to do it. He is the pioneer for our divine inheritance and as we follow his footsteps with faith I testify that "when he comes, we will be like him." HAVE A GREAT WEEK! ELDER BOYD LOVES Y'ALL!

From your favorite pair of Thor's thighs,

Elder Boyd

This Week's FB Post:

Whose love can compare to that of the Savior,

Whose life was paid as an unfathomable favor.

For you and for me,

He suffered in Gethsemane,

That we as families might be,

Sealed forever eternally.

Never wondering how, but instead remembering why,

The Savior himself was the ultimate sacrifice,

Our pains and weaknesses, he willingly assumed