Faith to serve (or beat the aliens)

Today I had the opportunity to share some of my thoughts on faith and experiences from my mission in sacrament meeting at church. I shared a similar talk three times before in congregations near my home. Maybe next time I get asked to talk I should write a new talk instead of recycling an old one. However, I like sharing this.

Returned home from unique mission

• Served 8 months in Slovenia/Croatia
• 14 months in Referral Center Mission

As the first principle of the Gospel. Faith is a principle of power. It gives power to enable all the other principles. How powerful is faith?

• Apostle Paul gives us example“Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” Hebrews 11:33-34
  
• With faith the Lord can help us beat the oncoming alien onslaught (pause for laughter)

Become independent...

• If we can take care of ourselves, we leave ourselves more open to receive revelation
• Have independent personal testimony
• Know the scriptures and read the Book of Mormon

D&C 84:85- "Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man."

• Eggs served at MTC are the same as at Scout Camp- If you can survive scout camp, you can survive a mission.

To gain faith in the Lord we need to serve him:

For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart? Mosiah 5:13

I gained experience with this on a mission. When walking through a thick, depressing fog with a
Zone Leader, I was asked, "how do you stay so optimistic when the weather and our lack of success are so depressing." I quoted Buckaroo Bonzai, rocket-scientist, brain surgeon, rock-star comic book hero from the cheesy 80s movie my dad would make me wath, the Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai across the eighth dimension, "No matter where you go, there you are [in the lord's service]."

I broke my foot in slovenia, walking 15-25 miles daily, and how Elder Nelson, a podiatrists son saved my foot from further injury. I shared how I was going to be sent home, and the reassurance that I received after reading D&C 50: 40-42]

40 Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.41 Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;42 And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.

Trust in Lord provided means to finish my mission.

I was transferred to the Referral Center where I could continue serving online. I had to accept the assignment on blind faith, not knowing what to expect until I arrived there.

Missionary work is being performed through Mormon.org chat, Facebook, Skype, Instant Messenger. Most lessons were typed rather than spoken.

[Joke about asking to have a projector set up and type out my talk rather than delivering it verbally.]

Can you feel the spirit over chat?

Can you feel the Spirit when you read scriptures, Ensigns, conference talks and other inspired printed communications?

The Referral Center Mission has the highest number of baptisms per missionary bringing gospel to all the world. This is fulfillment of the command to “Go ye unto all the world and preach the gospel unto every creature.” Mark 16:15

All who seek full happiness can find it in the gospel of Jesus Christ, taught in His Church. Through Christ’s doctrine, we are taught that we can be part of the great plan of happiness that He has prepared for all of us, His sons and daughters. As we keep His commandments, we are blessed and come to know true happiness. We learn that happiness lies in doing small things that build up, that increase our faith and testimony. - Elder Claudio Costa

Jaz vem da Jezus Kristus je naš Odrešenik in da On

A Good Monk

On my mission, I've begun to think of missionaries as a fair bit like monks. Missionaries are somewhat sheltered from the distractions of the world to focus on serving God and their fellowmen.

It made me laugh that my mom saw that connection as well and sent me this.  Replacing monk with missionary was really a riot, though seriously, it's not like you might think.

A Good Monk…

• Will not think too much of his own comfort
• Will not be tempted by rich food
• Will not make noise in the cloister
• Will not argue with brother monks
• Will not be disorderly in church
• Will not be careless
• Will not disregard senior monks
• Will not become lazy as an old monk
• Will not want his own way
• Will not think of the world outside

Tracting Shoes

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" [Isaiah 52:7]

I have to admit I was rather shocked when I saw this Mormonad poster the other day.  It combines a scripture that is very dear to me, as you might have already seen, and a pair of shoes that looks very much like the shoes that I once wore while tracting (going around inviting people to learn about Christ's restored church).  Mine are certainly much more worn in (or out).  Traveling by foot and stopping to share the good news with those you meet on the street for two years is certainly a way to become more familiar with the Master's recorded ministry.  Maybe these worn-out shoes are a reflection of the shape of my feet; however, it's certainly worth it.

Elder Moxley's Shoes August 22, 2009

  

Segullah: One in Thine Hand?

I love the New Testament, especially the four accounts of Christ's life by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The Book of Mormon is certainly the Keystone of our religion, and especially important to us as "Mormons."  However, I don't believe this detracts from the New Testament or the Old Testament. I found a great post on the blog, Segullah, with a discussion I enjoyed reading about the relationship between the Book of Mormon and the Bible, especially the New Testament:

We celebrate having “two sticks” become one in our hands, right? The Church added the label “another witness of Christ” to the front of the Book of Mormon; wasn’t the Bible the first witness? Aren’t the Bible and the Book of Mormon a team – two witnesses that clarify what have been points of contention for centuries before the Restoration? 

 I hope you'll check it out and let me know what you glean from it that particularly helps you understand the relationship between this diamond and pearl.