Are you looking for the words of Christ?
Then, search no more, for behold out of the dust I bring you good tidings of great joy! Another book of scripture that you may or may not have heard of before. Now, I'm sure you've heard of the Bible, and yes the ancient Jewish ministry is quite the riveting read, but what if I told you, there was MORE? Throughout centuries of time, like a fractured puzzle, the Bible as we know it, has lost many plain and precious pieces. Without the entirety of the finished picture, how could we expect to see the desired result? We desire to be complete, yes? And finished, correct? How can we expect to allow true doctrine to change our attitudes and behaviors, if the true doctrine we understand is incomplete? Well-- dearly beloved-- fear no more. Another testament of Jesus Christ is here to save the day; but not just the day, it is here to save our souls. The Book of Mormon; Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Some say it is the "Mormon Bible" others, "the Golden Bible"... or to even quote Mark Twain, "chloroform in print." But I say to you today, the Book of Mormon is exactly what it says it is; another testament of Jesus Christ. It is safety for the soul, it holds a power of unending righteousness, it is unequivocally the words of Christ. And I stand (or rather sit in the library) before you today to testify that I know this book is true, I know it is the word of God, and I know it is the words of Christ your spirit is searching for. I want my name to be inscribed with the witnesses who testify that they know the Book of Mormon is true-- now, what can that witness do for you, you might ask? To quote a latter-day prophet, even President Russell M. Nelson, "The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls. My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day." The search is over. Truth has been restored. A complementary volume to the words of contemporary Christianity has been established. True doctrine can be understood, attitudes and behaviors will change, the words of Christ is here to stay... and it can all be found... in a book. As we begin this week's edition of the GONZALES GAZETTE: CHAPTER NINE I encourage you all to ponder in your hearts the message it contains and then to ask God, the eternal Father, in the name of Christ if these things are true. I can promise that those who pursue this celestial course will gain a sure witness of its' divinity. OKAY, enough preaching, welcome y'all to the fullness of gazettes...even, THE GONZALES GAZETTE: CHAPTER NINE.
*words of Christ included.*
You may or may not be able to tell, but I have absolutely received a confirming witness of the words of Christ this week. Imagine living your entire life in black and white. In a monochromatic world, you wouldn't know any better if all you had ever known was a two-tone color scale. You go about doing good, expecting the happenstance of life to be forever in a monotonous grey. Now, imagine one day you step out of your humble abode, and suddenly...you can see. Vibrant flowers exhilarate the mind and boisterous blues burst into view. With this new discovery, you could never imagine going back to the bland lifestyle you lived before. Hid from a life full of color, because you didn't know you didn't have it. If all you'd ever known was a world of black and white, you'd never know the possibilities of color. Or even a step further, imagine never being able to open your eyes-- your daily view is the chasm of your mind. Would you ever know light, having always lived in darkness? Would you even consider the possibility of a brighter day, if all your days were far too dim?
"...he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God." -Alma 19:6
And I too am carried away in God with the precious gift of the marvelous light of the Book of Mormon in my life.
[He],
In the dark,
Found light
Brighter than many ever see.
In the dark,
Found light
Brighter than many ever see.
[He],
Within himself,
Found loveliness,
Through the soul’s own mastery.
Within himself,
Found loveliness,
Through the soul’s own mastery.
And now the world receives
From his dower:
The message of the strength
Of inner power.
From his dower:
The message of the strength
Of inner power.
“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” -John 1:5
This was the focus of our Zone Conferences this week, and if you couldn't tell, the message really resonated with my soul. READ THE BOOK OF MORMON, ALRIGHT?
And on the topic of Zone Conferences, in the midst of light, we can really comprehend the reality of darkness. One of my favorite parts about serving in this capacity is ministering to all the other missionaries. There is no greater joy than to receive revelation with the elect. We have had an edifying and uplifting couple of days. However, I couldn't help but notice, that preparatory to all of this miraculous goodness, were the pitiful tactics of Satan. Satan, like a chihuahua from the underworld, is relentless in his annoying strategies to detract our focus and to distract us from receiving blessings. He gnaws on our celestial slippers with his gnashing teeth and will do anything in his limited power to turn our membranes insane. Before every spiritual opportunity, it is likely that we will experience a session of his relentless feasting. He desires to have our souls; chained and bound. Without. Fail. Before every conference, an inevitable spiritual opportunity, he tried his hand at our slippers. Whether it be physical or spiritual inhibitors, he will yank every tool out of his slimy toolbox to capture the spirit of the moment and drag it down to the gulf of endless misery and woe. BUT-- as much power as he has to bruise our heel, it is within our power to crush his head-- which may be a little graphic involving the chihuahua analogy-- so we'll just say... close his mouth. Satan cannot bark up the priesthood tree. The sacred powers reserved for prayed and the administrations of the priesthood are the exact funnels we can use to detain this dog demon. We cam off conquerors! Yea, we are [MORE than conquerors through Him that loved us!] And we ended up feasting on a spiritual buffet with our heavenly slippers intact!
I encourage you all to conquer Satan through the power of the Book of Mormon and to embrace the promised blessings God has reserved for those who identify as His children. Elder Jones and I COULD have chosen to stress over the little things out of our control-- being outside of our area, being hungry, not having time to minister-- but when we trust in Him who has created us, we find greater joy in the reservations we have laid up in heaven. When we were hungry, he gave us meat... it's as simple as that. In the Savior's own words:
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. -Matthew 6:30-34
I trust in those heavenly promises-- I know God provides for his children. Elder Jones and I have had the most spiritual experiences answering the questions of the soul for all of our friends down here in the bayou. It truly is an utmost pleasure to be a missionary and a servant for Christ. As we have ministered to each other we have grown with love for one another, for all the missionaries in this mission, and for the beloved Varner's who lead and guide us every day. I love representing the Savior and His words contained in the Book of Mormon! I know that we can conquer Satan and the chihuahua servants who uphold his work if we merely yield to the almighty power of prayer and the priesthood. I testify that all these things are true! I encourage you all to CONQUER THOSE CHIHUAHUAS, to take a step into the colorful light of truth, and to embrace the testimony that you have of Jesus Christ! In this, there is safety for the soul, in this there is peace. I LOVE YOU ALL! HAVE A GREAT WEEK EVERYONE.
A conqueror of chihuahuas,
Elder Boyd
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