And gratefully, within the veil of heavenly protection, we were kept safe from these temporal waters. I have a testimony that God is truly a tangible being. Contrary to the imagination, he is real. He is authentic. He is a personage of love and sacrifice. His was a great vicarious gift on behalf of all who would live and do yet live upon the face of the Earth. When we know who we are in our relationships-- it changes us. I know this to be true-- the knowledge that we are all begotten sons and daughters of a REAL God, can endow us with the power to conquer the nervous whims of the adversary. If we, but only. knew who we were and what we are capable of, Satan and his mighty tempestuous tempests would have no power over the hearts of the children of men! It is true-- Satan's hurricanes are swallowed up in the protection of an almighty, and very real, Savior. I have felt his omnipotent hand in our lives this week, as we have braved the spiritual and temporal storms of the South. Barry and Satan, your whirlwinds are no match for the foundation of Christ and the Varner's! It's been a hurriCAN do kinda week-- and I can't wait to tell y'all about it in the GONZALES GAZETTE: CHAPTER THREE!
This week can be summed up in three phrases: Zone Conference, Hurricanes, and the joy of Christ. Quite the trio if I do say so myself-- and would you believe me if I said, they're all RELATED?
So, you might be asking yourself, what do a congregation of missionaries', their revelation, physical whirlwinds, and the exceedingly great blissful emotion for the eternities have in common? everything.
In the Louisiana Baton Rouge mission, we not only have a loving Heavenly Father-- but a VERY loving Earthly (proxy) mother and father; the Varner's. Y'all if there ever weren't any more charitable people. When they heard the word that tornadoes would be whipping their scally-wag tails through the bayou country, they immediately called for an evacuation of all the missionaries to the mission home. Yes, that's right, cooped inside for a period of three days, we were in quite possibly the greatest place for hurricane safety. Tell me, do your hurricane relief shelters come equipped with, Bluebell ice cream, a family of the great and noble ones, and the tender, love, care, and spirit of two of the most loving people to ever trace their footsteps upon this Earth? I think not. I don't think it was possible for me to feel safer-- or stuffed for that matter! The Varners are truly called to this mission for a heavenly reason. They were divinely appointed to lead and guide and love us through this refining transition in our spiritual journey's. I feel privileged beyond measure to serve alongside such a dynamic duo-- I really wouldn't be the missionary I am today without them and the Lord, and I know that he uses them as a type of Christ in my life to motivate me to be and to do better. I love the Varners and if it weren't for them and the sure foundation of the mission home, I know we wouldn't have been able to see the miracles in the storm.
But before we were on, "apocalyptic lockdown mode: featuring bluebell ice cream" we were touring the Northern parts of the land of Mississippi on our Zone Conference escapade! That is one of my favorite things about being in this position-- quite literally I need a lengthy papyrus scroll to maintain the number of qualities and techniques that I learn and admire about the battalion of unstoppable missionaries we have here in the South. We get to have individual experiences with each of the Lord's anointed; not everyone has that privilege. Well, I certainly didn't take it for granted! I learned so much from these faithful Elders and Sisters-- they truly are called of God. And I am subsequently honored to rub shoulders with some of the finest spirit children this world has ever seen.
We discussed the importance of doing the little things-- or as a Sister in New Orleans put it, "finding Jesus in the paperwork." We all know that by small and simple things, great things are brought to pass-- right? (Alma 3:7) But do we ever consider what great things lie in store when we concentrate on the little details of consecration? A meaningful morning prayer. An early search in the scriptures. A monthly fast, with a purpose. The incremental development of the attributes of Christ. Ministering. Having an optimistic attitude. Glorifying the Father. Taking care of his children. I mean, Jesus did the little things didn't he? He probably got up early-- I doubt he missed a day of scripture study. He listened. He empathized. And when the time came-- his, "little acts of Christlike kindness" compounded in one-- that is, one garden. The compilation of his desires, actions, thoughts, attributes, and character-- was Gethsemane. If it weren't for the Character of Christ, there would have been no Atonement-- and his character consisted of concentrated acts of, "little things." Likewise, what do our little things surmount to? Our own garden. Our own little portion of time in Gethsemane. No, I'm not saying even in the slightest that we must go through what Christ went through-- in the words of Elder Holland, "that is pathetic and frankly sacrilegious." All I am saying is that if we expect to be like Christ, we must be willing to walk a portion of the path that he walked. A life impacted by grace eventually starts to look like Christ's life- is your life impacted by grace? What is your garden? All of these thoughts really point to our purpose here in this life: to prepare to meet God. And what is the greatest way, every week, that we prepare to meet God, we identify with Christ and the Garden, and we apply our little things to see great miracles? The Sacrament. Brother's and Sisters, we can make a much more valiant effort to prepare for the sacrament throughout the week. Is your greatest desire, to have the Spirit to be with you? It should be. Are you making a conscious, daily effort to always remember him? I sure hope so. If you want to become like Christ, prepare yourself to change yourself by worthily partaking of the sacrament every week. I testify that this practice WILL change us.... but it all starts with those little acts of Christlike goodness. No, we are not perfect-- and NO we are not Christ. But, let's become like Him, shall we? And let us do so by identifying with our own gardens through contemplative and reverent sacramental worship.
AND ALSO, really striving to call upon the powers of heaven to receive personal; revelation through daily feasting upon the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon. As I have applied this in my own life and mission, I have witnessed great conversion and change. There is POWER in that Book! I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God-- I know it can protect, guide, and pacify us in our carnal states. It can truly help us to "put off the natural man" as we "become saint[s]" through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And that really all happens at the sacrament table. So, read The Book of Mormon throughout the week to help yourself to have a personal experience with the Atonement of Jesus Christ on Sunday.
And why should we do all of these things?
Joy.
That which the world cannot offer-- fully proffered through the Savior Jesus Christ.
Joy.
Pure. Joy.
This is the heavenly gift. And, it's President Varner's favorite word-- so there's authenticity in that. Joy. Joy is what helps us to feel like Christ. I mean, can probably imagine, the Savior was a VERY happy guy. He "went about doing good" at every opportunity, and performed miracles for them whom he loved most Wouldn't you want to feel the same way he felt? In opposition to the Savior's suffering, proper acceptance and application of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ increase our capacity to feel like Him; to feel joy. Think about all of the suffering, pain, and anguish he went through in the Garden... Now, imagine the opposite of those feelings. That blissful emotion is truly available for each and every one of us. As we learned this week, joy is a principle of power. Joy is contagious. As our joy increases, our desire to share the Gospel increases. We can feel joy even in the face of opposition and rejection. We are entitled to heavenly feelings as children of God-- but they can only be handled and controlled on the principles of righteousness. If you want to feel like Christ felt, do as Christ did. Go about doing good! Exercise faith sufficient to see and to perform miracles in His holy name! Adjust your life, to align with the charisma of Christ, and you'll feel better than you've ever felt before. You'll feel...
Joy.
Pure. Joy.
And that truly is the "why" of preparing for the sacrament and reading the Book of Mormon every day. It really is the formula for a happy and successful life! If you want joy, feast upon the words of Christ and worthily renew your covenants every week. I promise, no spiritual or temporal hurricane will hider you in your righteous efforts. The Master of ocean and Earth and skies is on your side, and if God is for us who can be against us? Not Barry or Satan, that's who.
Well y'all, that's about all that I have. SERIOUSLY. Think about the sacrament. Read the Book of Mormon. Strive to feel pure joy. If you want to be happy, there you go! We are so blessed down here-- kept safe not just from pathetic tropical storms, but also the fiery darts of the adversary (also pathetic, might I add.). I love the Varner's. I love Jesus Christ. I love being with and learning from so many missionaries who help me to know what I can do to better represent the Savior. I truly am the least amongst my brethren... but am also so grateful for the greatest little thing of all; the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We are so blessed to have a Savior-- so focus on the little things so you can become more like and feel more like, HIM! If you do so, I promise, no Barry...nor Satan... nor any other pathetic means of distraction can get in your way. Really, just think of hurricanes as a type of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; it's time to, "enter the waters." (but not before reading the Book of Mormon and partaking worthily of the sacrament of course.) HAVE A GREAT WEEK Y'ALL! ELDER BOYD LOVES YOU!
Superior-ally,
Spiritual Hurricane Boyd
This Week's Pics/Videos
Note: Many of these pics/videos came from President and Sister Varner
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