We ate with the valdez family on the 4th. We didn't think anything special would happen because no one gets very worked up about the 4th of July in our ward, especially in comparison to 5 de mayo. For some reason we all woke up with brisket in our eyes and it carried in our conversation the whole day, how much we wanted some good texas barbeque. To our amazement, the valdez family made some of the best sausage, ribs, pork chops, steak I've ever had in texas. They served it up with mexican soda, tortillas and some home made salsa. That's good eating. He told as we were leaving that while he was driving home from a trip he saw a bunch of paper flying around in the area. When he pulled over there was nearly 300 dollars flying around in the middle of nowhere. So he snatched it up, and vary charitably put it toward making us a tex-mex barbeque. It was all meat. Not a single veggie in that entire meal. MMM.
We went to MLC on thursday and it had a powerful impact on me. Missions are going home this week that i've looked up to as examples for a long time. There is a tradition of departing missionaries giving a departing testimony, and 3 of theirs inspired me to know what more I could do to magnify my call, and make it a change that could endure the test of time. I was so grateful that day, for the clarity of thought that came as I prayed and acted on the prompting. My testimony became more meaningful, and it seems to burn now within my bones. I've been caught with the fire of the restoration.
My study this morning was on the agency and faith. I thought, if faith is to rely wholly upon the merits mercy and grace of christ, how can I act without being commanded? If i'm relying then I can't move unless it be the will of God that I do so. The clarification comes from seeing we rely upon his merits, mercy and grace, and not on his impulses, or his daily guidance only. Second, when christ taught that we should let our good works show, he taught that his light was the light we should be showing unto all nations. The key comes from remembering agency is our ability to ascertain and make decisions according to the will of God, which we find studying his word. If we learn and apply true Doctrine, and found our decisions off of the light we've received, then we are relying upon God's will, or his Word. Acting in faith, or relying wholly upon Christ, means we make our decision according to true doctrine and the light we've attained, and it doesn't infringe our agency, it is the only way to exercise true agency. What an inspiring reason to search after, learn and apply true doctrine, so that we can live according to a higher light that enables us to more fully exercise our agency.
I love you very much!
Stay Salty!
Elder Tyler Meidell
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