“ … And they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end.” - Alma 27:27

Monday, January 25, 2016

PRAY ALWAYS

Incredibly precious and powerful photo of Elders Lloyd and Shirley. Elder Shirley had just arrived to the mission and met his trainer Elder Lloyd. They are heading to the Singapore airport and then on to Elder Shirley's first area. 

"Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof." - Doctrine & Covenants 19:38

I AM HAPPY!

Sister and President Simmons, Elders Shirley and Lloyd
Good Afternoon everybody! I love you guys!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for the letters, prayers, love, emails, and example you give to me. I am surrounded by greatness both here in Malaysia and through technology. I am so blessed! This past week was amazing because we went to Singapore for zone conference and a worldwide missionary broadcast. In addition, we flew to Sibu for a new missionary training on Saturday.
We travel so much, but we also receive much inspiration. I'm grateful for the leaders I have had in my life who have pushed me to work harder, smarter, and repent. I want to grow! I am especially grateful for President and Sister Simmons. Their son visited our mission before he left for the Provo MTC to go on his mission, and I could tell how much they gave up in order to serve the Lord here in Singapore. They have given so much, but because of their sacrifice, they have helped more people than they could have ever helped before without the Lord's special calling for them. When we are obedient, the Lord blesses us in ways we could never comprehend.

This past week was filled with many miracles and much revelation. Before we left to Singapore, we knew that we needed to meet as many people as possible and help our investigators have guidance in their week. Tuesday morning, we decided to meet with an investigator because we knew that was our only time. We biked thirty minutes to her house as fast as we could, had an incredible lesson, felt the Spirit, and helped her understand even more of the Book of Mormon. She literally has no background of Christ, but she has been coming to church for about a month. As we were talking, she asked, "How can Christ's Atonement help my family while we're still on Earth?" We invited her to pray, read, and ask Heavenly Father. I'm excited to meet with her next time and find out!

On our way home, we were "sprint" biking to get back and finish our studies, but we stopped on the side of the road to help a man unload some things from his truck. A few minutes later, another man got out of the cab, and we started talking with him. When he gave us his phone number, we realized it was someone we'd met a few weeks ago, but had written down the wrong number. It was a miracle to meet him at a completely different place and time. I know that the Lord has a great plan in store for him. I know the Lord knows each one of us and wants us to come unto Him.

I then had another prompting to stop at a bus stop and talk to someone. As we started talking with this person, he told us he was a member from a different branch but was too nervous to call out to us because he hadn't been to church in a long time. It was a miracle that we met him at that time and place when we'd normally be home studying. I know that the Lord places people in our path when we make a plan and talk to everybody!

During zone conference, I was very impressed by the presentation given by Elder and Sister Benson about the physical and spiritual evidences of the Book of Mormon. The amount of physical evidence that the Book of Mormon is true is overwhelming...I had no idea about many of those things, and I know there are many more literary, archaeological, and historical evidences of the truth. I was most stricken by the importance of the Spiritual evidence. We can know something is true through facts, but physical evidence doesn't bring a change of heart. I know that only a Spiritual confirmation can change our hearts, change our desires, and change the natural man.
As we were teaching this week, I realized that the essence of a testimony is truth. The essence of conversion is staying true to the gospel. I pray that I can become more converted each day by staying true to the things I already know while being humble enough to respond to the Spirit's continual promptings.

I love the Book of Mormon! I know that it is true, and I know that if we follow and obey the teachings inside (along with the promptings we receive while reading) we will change. The Book of Mormon only teaches new things each time we read it if we continue to change and repent. If we are unwilling to change, the Book of Mormon will continue to be a lifeless history book.

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.


I am not perfect. Last week, as I listened to the broadcast, other trainings, and the Spirit, I realized many things that I need to improve and work on. I am a sinner! I am weak! But I also realized that the Lord has called me to succeed. I know that I am a child of God. I know that we are all His children. Satan's strongest tool is fear. If I fear the people around me, if I fear myself, if I fear making mistakes, I will never grow. I will never become like my Father.

I pray that we can continue to be proud of the truth of which we bear testimony. I pray that I can retain in my heart the truthfulness that Heavenly Father loves me. I know that Christ is my savior. I know that I was sent here to this Earth to succeed and to have JOY. I have never been happier, and I know it's because I am doing all I can to help others come unto Christ. 

I'm grateful for an amazing companion. I'm grateful to be here. I'm grateful for this gospel in my life. I am happy!

Love, Elder Lloyd

Monday, January 18, 2016

LET'S GOOOOO!


This past week has been filled with more and more amazing experiences. I'm so grateful to be a missionary. I love representing the Lord! I have never felt the Spirit stronger and more consistently in my life. I'm grateful for the Restored Gospel, and I'm grateful for the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It is through learning, exercising faith unto repentance, and following the Spirit that we are able to become who the Lord wants us to be. 

One of the first things that helped me increase my faith this week was something that happened every single day, over and over again. PRAYER IS POWERFUL. There were many, many, many instances when our prayers were answered immediately. We would pray, somebody wouldn't answer the phone, then we'd pray again. ANSWER! Literally and spiritually! 

We had fifteen minutes to eat a quick dinner before English class, prayed to know who to sit with, and sat down with a lady who was only spending the night in our city. She felt alone and forgotten and had no idea how anything could get better. We shared a message of the Savior and his love for all of us.  Miracle! 

We rode our bikes through dirt, grass, gravel, water, and over bumps, hills, etc. only to have the wheel pop off right when we stopped our bikes in front of our house. Miracle! There were miracles every single day as we prayed in faith, obeyed the promptings of the Spirit, and did all that was in our power. I know the Savior is with us as we work!
One of the most amazing days was yesterday. We decided to do a group fast in order to find prepared people to share the gospel with, and three people came to church who have never attended before. One of the boys is a young man we've seen every Monday when we go shopping, but we've never invited him to learn the gospel. He came to church, had a wonderful experience, connected with an old primary school friend, then met with us afterwards. He talked about how he is searching for forgiveness and an anchor in his life that can only come through Christ. I'm so excited for him and the amazing progress that will come this week. It was amazing to see the member that knew him from primary school sit with him, catch up, and bear his testimony during the lesson. 

I know this gospel is true! I know that it can bring hope and joy. When our efforts are combined with the member's, true progression takes place and the Spirit is poured upon us.

We had many, many other amazing experiences this past week...after church, we met some of the most prepared people I've ever talked to. Our last appointment was with a family who has 4 young children who sat listening/interacting reverently for 30 minutes while we shared with them. I love this gospel! 

I never realized how much joy could come as I was able to feel the Spirit and be a part of other people's spiritual experiences. I now understand what people mean when they say this is the best two years!!!

I am so grateful to be serving with my companion. He is a big reason why I have been able to feel the Spirit more strongly and have many faith strengthening experiences. His testimony is rock solid, he's obedient, he works hard, and he knows why he's here. 

While studying this past week, I realized that having the Spirit in the work doesn't mean we're directed like robots. I think most of the time, having the Spirit with us is a confidence that can only come when we've done all we can to qualify for the Spirit, then going forth with a knowledge that what we do is what the Lord would have us do. We've had amazing experiences as we have confidently and boldly born our testimonies with no doubts about whether or not we're perfect, what we're saying is perfect, or how we're saying it is perfect, because we know the gospel is perfect. We know that it will bring joy to others. I love being a missionary! 

11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

I pray that I can continue to humble myself before the Lord. I know that I am nothing. I cannot speak Chinese. I cannot preach this gospel. I cannot work miracles. I cannot train another missionary. I cannot solve the problems and help resolve concerns that others have. Only through the Spirit and the grace of our Savior am I privileged to be a small tool in this Great Plan of Happiness. 

21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.

I know that if we can continue to have more faith, repent, and obey, our will gradually will become like His. I pray that through repentance, I can become like our Savior and Heavenly Father. I love being a missionary!!!!

I love this work. I love our Savior. I love having the Spirit with me. I still mess up each and every day...I say something weird in a contact, I don't teach the correct lesson, I'm not bold enough with commitments....but I have hope and confidence that progress is being made. Thank you for your testimonies, examples, and prayers! 

Love, Elder Lloyd



Monday, January 11, 2016

BEST DAY EVER!



I love being a missionary!!!! Sorry for all of the travel pictures...if I counted right, in the past 7 days I was on 12 different flights and traveled throughout Malaysia and Singapore. It's pretty humbling to realize that this is all part of the mission in which Heavenly Father called me to serve. With that said, it has also made me be much more grateful to be a missionary who can talk to everyone, teach, and stay in one place for awhile. I love B and the people there! It is such a special privilege to be able to be a missionary in Singapore and Malaysia. We are surrounded by some of the best people in the whole world. Elder S and I, the zone, and the mission are continually blessed with many miracles and an outpouring of the Spirit as we do our best. This past week was incredible!!

Every time I have to travel for zone conference, MLC, exchanges, or for any other reason, I get a little bit stressed because I don't like to leave my area and feel farther from my investigators and members. Slowly, I am realizing that they are not "mine," the Lord is taking care of them, and as I do my part, blessings will follow. Even though I had to leave a few days, Elder S was able to have many learning/growth experiences that he wouldn't have been able to experience otherwise. I am so proud of him. His Chinese is improving rapidly, his faith never fails, and he continues to push us harder and harder to work smart and do his best. 

While travelling, I was able to have an incredibly eye-opening experience. Almost every person I talked to was a positive contact and were willing to exchange contact information, but while waiting for one of my flights, I still felt a little hesitant about opening my mouth and talking to the person across from me. 

Bountiful High Missionaries: Elders Lloyd and Roundy and Sister Kitchen
He was my age, had earphones in, and he didn't "look" like he would care about the gospel. I finally ignored Satan and just waved my hand in front of his phone, complimented him on his nice Adidas basketball shoes, and the conversation went flawlessly from there. He goes to church to feel good, even though he's not Christian. His parents are atheist, and he's never learned about God. His favorite musical is the Book of Mormon, but he's never been able to actually learn about what we really believe because he was too scared to ask his Mormon friends in KL. 

He told me he was going back to London for school, but would be sure to get into contact with the missionaries. We pulled up discover.mormon.org and he was ecstatic! He loved it! I gave him a Book of Mormon, and he was shocked that I would give it to him for free. We filled out his contact information online, and I know that he will continue learning in London. Even though I have gained a testimony of forgetting myself and talking to everyone, I still find myself hesitant at times. I'm grateful the Lord continues to trust me with prepared people that he knows I'll talk to. I hope I can always retain His trust and be His hands here in Malaysia. I love being a missionary!!!

Another amazing miracle that happened last week occurred when we only had about 30 minutes before our next appointment. We decided to start biking towards the meeting place, but as we started, Elder S asked to go a different way. We went down a different street, biked for a few minutes, then I had a feeling to go back down a side street we'd already passed. We turned around, and talked with the first person outside we saw. She wasn't interested, but she gave us a referral to an incredibly open, welcoming, enthusiastically Christian Filipino. We then went further down the street and talked to a Chinese lady who has been searching for God since she stopped going to church years ago but was too scared to talk to anybody about it. Within 10 minutes, we had been led to a few of God's children that could only be found if there was "perfect timing." I'm so grateful for the small promptings that we have each day. I know that as we continue to follow the Spirit, we will be blessed with more and more. 

There were many other miracles this week during contacting, lessons, church, studies, reporting, etc. It truly is a joy to go to bed every night with a smile on my face knowing that I did my best, and the Lord is pleased. Things certainly aren't perfect -- I have a loooooong way to go, but there is faith and hope. People continue to reject the message, but the people that accept are the only people I need to concern myself with right now. 

Rambutan fruit from the Malay "rambut" meaning hairs
6 And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness.

I love reading this scripture with my "son," Elder S. We are doing the Lord's work! We must do all we can if we expect to conquer Satan and the natural man in all of us. I am grateful for Elder S's influence on me. We will give all of our heart, might, mind, and strength to doing the Lord's will.
My Companion Elder Shirley
2016 truly is the best year ever!!! I have written, "best day ever" at the top of my planner every night in preparation for the next day, and Heavenly Father continues to bless us with all we need to make each day better.

Elder S has helped me immensely, and he is already a better, more mature, spiritual missionary than I. I am grateful for the chance I have to serve with him. His attitude is incredible, and he continues to put his faith in the Lord and open his mouth.

Thank you for your love and support. I am so grateful to serve at this time, in this place, with these people. I know we are engaged in the work of the Lord. It is a blessing and a privilege to be here, and everything good is from the Lord, not from us. I can only continue to obey and pray to become a more effective tool for my Savior.

Love, Elder Lloyd

Coconut Anyone? 
Fresh Coconut Juice! 
We need a straw!
The Joy of Planning!  

Eastern Malaysia
Sunsets and Sunrises are Elder Lloyd's favorite