Wise Men Still Seek Him - December 20, 2021

Spiritual Thought 

The nativity story with which you and I are familiar is a story of faithful individuals on a journey.  The class and distinction of the people involved is varied.  However, the uniting thread throughout each of these is an unrelenting, faith-filled devotion to drawing closer to the Savior Jesus Christ.  Shepherds were visited by a multitude of Heavenly hosts and immediately went in search of the newborn king.  It was their privilege to witness the birth of their Savior on the very night his incomparable mortal life began.  Wise men at long last found the sign for which they had so patiently and eagerly waited.  A new star had appeared, a new light beautified the heavens, standing as a witness to all that the Light of the World had descended from his throne in order to save a fallen world.  Merely seeing this divine witness was sufficient for these good men to abandon all they knew, risk a traitorous death from an evil king, and begin the long journey to the Redeemer.  While we do not for certain exactly how long this journey lasted we do know that the Savior was two or three years old by the time they reached him, no longer an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes but a toddler at the beginning of his young boyhood.  Finally, we read of the journey of Mary and Joseph.  Each of us can feel a pang of sorrow as we read of the hopelessly impoverished circumstances with which this family was faced.

My prayer is that as we read of these experiences we will see their relevance to our own mortal journey.  Our object and purpose is to reach our Lord and Savior, to return to him and be like him when we do so.  The path we tread to Rea h this conclusion will be varied and certainly will be difficult.  Series we may, like the shepherds, be blessed to see blessings come almost immediately from our sacrifices.  Often our journey may seem to never end or reap blessings.  When these experiences come may we remember the example of the Magi and continue to press forward following the one for whose birth a new star was placed in the heavens.  

I testify of the Christ Child whom we celebrate during this special season.  I testify that he is the literal Son of God and was born in order that he could pay the ultimate price for us.  He was born in order that the atonement and resurrection might be completed.  May each of us declare now and forever "Glory to God in the highest"

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Weekly Update,

Hello everyone,

Another week has come and gone and I am once again wondering how to do it justice in a few short paragraphs.  On Tuesday we had a zone Christmas party.  President Tingey, who is first counselor in the mission presidency, hosted it at his home.  It was a great opportunity to be able to celebrate Christmas and the Savior with other missionaries.  All of the missionaries were supposed to bring a white elephant gift that cost $5 or less.  As Elders Ditto, Arce, Gray, and I wandered further and further in to dark recesses of Walmart which I didn't know existed I still was not having any good ideas.  As we made our way towards the front of the store I noticed a small aisle display of 94 cent bags of cough drops.  I have had a lingering cough almost the entire transfer so, being the strange person that I am, and partially to poke fun at that, I bought five large bags of cough drops for my gift.  It didn't compare to Elder Ditto's bottle of Martinelli's complete with shot glasses (which Sister Johnson happened to open) or Elder Porter's Pride themed beach ball but I found it funny.

There was a man named Marshall in my last area who committed to be baptized but the baptismal date was outside of last transfer.  I was disappointed I would be unable to attend the baptism but the zone leaders said there was no reason I couldn't still attend.  He was baptized on Saturday.  It was a great opportunity to be able to see him make his first covenant with Heavenly Father.

I hope you all have a great week,

Elder Payne

Me, soaking wet after the blizzard on Tuesday.

The blizzard 

We found a piece of ice one night that looked like a sword.  This is me doing my best knight in shining armor imitation.

Riding our bikes in the snow.

We were invited to someone's mission call opening party.  They had a map with pins in it for everyone's guesses.  Somebody had guessed Madagascar.  It brought back a lot of memories and emotions to see it.

At Marshall's baptism.

We went to the zone leader's baptism on Saturday.  This is Elder Arce fishing a spider out of the water.