Elder Jeremy Ashton Boyd: GONZALES GAZETTE: CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Is holiness to the Lord engraven on your temple?

If you've ever doubted the worth of your soul, just know that you are a temple.

If you've ever wondered which way to go, know that you're never lost when you can see the temple.

If you've ever struggled to feel happy or whole, complete yourself in the temple.

If you find yourself down or stuck in a hole- if you feel like your burning bosom is cold, if you're weary, and tired, with nothing to show...

Go to the temple.

Become whole.

Restore the fire inside of your soul.

Accomplish eternal goals--

Within the walls of your heavenly home.

Go to the temple.

Holiness to the Lord, forever inscribed,

Accomplish unfathomable deeds through your strife

Endowed with power from on High,

A covenant bond, never to break,

while of sacred emblems, we freely partake,

worthy, and holy; the weightier stakes,

Your celestial mansion awaits--

Enter the temple,

And come... and stay.

Choose to stay-- but not just to stay... choose to stay forever and abide in the Savior in His holy house. Choose to be holy. Choose to be happy. Choose... to come to the temple. It's been a regulatory week of riveting and righteous living... I cannot wait to tell y'all (as I am fully entitled to speak like a Southerner after 2 years of abiding here) all about it in the GONZALES GAZETTE: CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

I wish to speak about the House of the Lord. I pray that the Spirit will be with me as I type, that you may be taught personally from on High through whatever the Lord feels inspired to distill through me.

I imagine a clear Savannah (thanks Elder Bednar) where animals of all shapes and sizes alike, freely come to the watering hole to drink. The Sun is perfectly setting in the west, no predators in sight, just a natural creature, and his satisfied craving. Surrounding that watering hole is a special barrier of protection-- even, a divine shrubbery-- that keeps predators out, and thirsty prey inside. The water is always distilled, filtered, pure... There is no competition to drink, for there is plenty to share. In the distance, carnivores spectate in animosity and envy... they wish to drink, but they hesitate to go where no predator has gone. United, the animals comfortably partake of the hydration and nourishment the waters provide. They feel safe, full, and refreshed... The watering hole is always available-- if you know where to find it. Hidden in plain sight, the shrubbery permits only the worthy to enter therein. All leave the watering hole, satiated to endure joyfully another day in the Savannah. They are instilled with the capacity to withstand the scorching heat of the natural world-- their bodies' functioning at the highest capacity, alert and aware. But if they are not careful... they'll be lulled into hydrated security. As all animals know, one can only survive on borrowed water for so long... eventually they will have to come back to the watering hole to drink. Out in the Savannah, a much more threatening presence competes for attention... the predator. Sure, they may not be permitted to partake of the water of life freely... but in their jealous frenzy, they lie in wait on the outskirts of the shrubbery to attack through a beguiling disguise. If the animals are not careful, they will find themselves surrounded by the enemy. Together, they form a perfect defense... but alone, they stand not a chance against the armies' of hungry hippos. Our enemy may not drink, but he can certainly eat... and he will devour whom he may- if caught unaware and unprepared for his attack. The watering hole. A safe-haven from earthly predators, a sanctuary of promise, a physical and spiritual renewal, and refreshment... a type and shadow of the temple.

The temple is open to all earth's critters--- they all have a place in the choir AND the house of the Lord. All are invited to come and partake of the waters of eternal life freely! There are; however, a few worthy contingencies to enter therein... that is, one must be worthy to be made worthy through drinking. Certainly, Satan (our ultimate predator) has no place within the safety of the Lord's house. Within the walls, we can find peace, purity, and power through sacred promises we make with the Savior! If taken worthily and remembered correctly, members and friends alike leave feeling spiritually refreshed; with a reminder of who they are and why they are here. We must; however, be vigilant in remembering and keeping those promises we have made at, "the watering hole." If we are not... we become prey to the predators of the world-- who devour our moral integrity with carnal satisfaction United as Saints, we can strengthen and lift each-other against the relentless attacks of the adversary. Together, we form a perfect defense, as we put off the natural man and become saints through the covenants provided because of the Atonement of Him whom we call the, "living waters." And His living waters will distill upon our soul, should we drink of them regularly and carefully. The temple is a sacred home, available to all, who are worthy enough to look past the shrubbery to drink of its' holy waters. I love the temple... I am TRULY going there someday, to feel the Holy Spirit, to listen and to pray. Beware of your predators and come... partake of the waters of life freely... and stay.

It has been so exciting to prepare the mission for the temple open house. And it looks like the prophets and apostles are aligned with our mission because THEY ARE PREPARING THE SAINTS FOR THE TEMPLE. I am awaiting that reverent experience that is available to each of us as we enter... to ponder those words located above the door... "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" and to think about what those words mean in our lives. Are we holy unto the Lord? Is holiness to the Lord inscribed on our temple? Are we holy beings in with holy thoughts and actions in the Lord's holy house? Just some questions to think about...

AND OF COURSE GENERAL CONFERENCE!!! The Super Saint Bowl! I have a deep and abiding testimony that the Lord calls living prophets and apostles in our day. And THAT is why General Conference has become a favorite of mine... not that the conference itself has changed, but because I have changed.

A few of my favorite quotes from this weekends' session

“I testify that as we commend ourselves to the Lord and consistently and resiliently trust in Jesus Christ and His divine purposes in our lives, He will visit us with assurances, speak peace to our souls, and cause us to ‘hope for our deliverance in him.’”

“Keeping promises is not a habit; it is a characteristic of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.”

“If you hesitate in this adventure because you doubt your ability, remember that discipleship is not about doing things perfectly, it is about doing things intentionally. It is your choices that show what you truly are, far more than your abilities.”

“The age-old paradox is still true. In losing our worldly self through covenant belonging, we find and become our best eternal self — free, alive, real — and define our most important relationships.”

“It’s not our successes, but rather our sacrifice and efforts, that matter to the Lord.”

“Joy is not fleeting pleasure or even temporary happiness. Joy is enduring, and is founded on our efforts being accepted by the Lord.”

“This is who you and I really are, and who you have always been: a son or daughter of God, with spiritual roots in eternity and a future overflowing with infinite possibilities. You are — first and foremost and always — a spiritual being.”

It has been a week of happiness and holiness-- in the words of literally everyone in General Conference, I feel, "enduring joy." I feel joy in covenant belonging, in miracles galore, and in the Restoration of the Gospel. I feel joy in being a representative of Jesus Christ; I know that JOY comes from and because of Him. I feel my joy increased through my sorrows, as my tragedies excavate the inner chambers of my soul, to increase my capacity to feel happiness and holiness. I am happy being happy and feel great joy in the reality of living prophets and apostles. I sustain our beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, and anxiously await and prepare for the coming of the Savior! I know that safety comes in worthily making and constantly remembering the covenants we make, and that as we enter into eternal relationships, we can find never-ending happiness in the presence of that, "God who gave us life." I testify of these things by the power of the Holy Ghost which is in me, that all may know, that I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. I invite you all to come and stay... to take part in the spiritual treasures of the temple! The watering hole is yours... come, and drink. HAVE A GREAT WEEK Y'ALL! ELDER BOYD LOVES YOU!

Happier and holier,

Elder Boyd

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