Making the Atonement A Part of Our Lives

by Ranzel Ganzon

Recently, I was reading a very interesting book I borrowed from the library near my office. It is a compilation of hundreds of real stories of people who have experienced ADC or “After Death Communication” with their love ones who have passed on. From their stories they found from their departed love ones that life beyond the veil is way beyond compare from our life here on earth. In the Spirit World the spirits are bathe with light, and in that light is an extreme unexplainable feeling of peace and warmth. There is a tremendous feeling of love and comfort in that light; and in that light they feel the presence of God.

In almost all instances, all spirits tells their love ones not to worry about them and that they are happy where they are. For the departed spirit who leads a good life they feel at peace in the presence of God. But for those who committed serious mistakes in life still carries with them the guilt even beyond the veil.

A young man who died in a motorcycle accident visited his mother. He asked his mother to write a book about his life in the Spirit World. Everyday he would appear to his mom and he would dictate her everything that he wants written in that book. The message that has been clearly repeated again and again in that book is that it is very important that we, who still lives on the earth, should show love and kindness one to another, to forgive one another, to cheer up one another in times of sadness and to help each other in times of trials and adversity. Our dearly departed love ones in the Spirit World looks upon us with unconditional love, care and compassion.

If there is one thing I learned from reading this book is that it gave me a firm confirmation that it is true that there is life after this life. It confirms my testimony that it is true that we have a Father in Heaven who is waiting to welcome us home in Heaven; that we will be reunited again with our families after this life.

November 1^st is a special day in the Philippines, dedicated for all of our dearly departed love ones. We go and visit the graves of our grandparents, friends and love ones who have already passed on. As we commemorate on that day, we should also try not to forget that once there is one loving soul who lived on the earth, who dearly loves us all, who offered His life to atone us of our sins so we could have a chance someday to go back to the presence of our Father in Heaven. The gift of resurrection and the gift of eternal life was the most important gift given to us by our Savior.

As I read and ponder the life of our Lord Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice for our sins, I am deeply humbled and feel unworthy because of my weaknesses. I know that life on earth is a testing ground of our faith in Christ and His teachings. The earth is our school ground. This is where we can learn how to become like our Father in Heaven. Again and again we will be tried and tested of our faith. Trials will become more and more harder each day, but with faith in our hearts, Heavenly Father expects us to win this life. We have to earn our place in the kingdom of God. It is not an easy task but the reward is sure.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life which is the greatest gift of all the gifts of God.

When I think of the atonement of Christ, I think about the word “Love”. Love is synonymous to the word “Atonement”. The atonement of Christ was brought upon us because of the love of God for us His children.

In return, Heavenly Father expects us to pay back by sharing that same love to others. By being meek and humble, by being a peacemaker, by being patient and long suffering; remembering faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. All of these virtues qualify us in receiving the blessings of the atonement of Christ.

 

I was born and raised by the sea in the Philippines. Everyday I watch fishermen as they bade goodbye to their families as they sail to the sea. Most days the waves are gentle, the ocean is kind, and the boats return laden with fish. Occasionally, however, the waters turn rough. Skies darken, frightening waves rise, and the fishermen rejoice just to return safely to their harbor. 

Everyday we, Latter-day Saints set out into the world. Most days, life treats us well. We gain knowledge, make friends, and return home filled with the joy of life. Occasionally, however, the world turns rough. Discouragement pounds like waves, temptation and doubt darkens our spiritual sky. On those days we express joy as we return safely to our harbors we call home.

Each one of us who joined this church desires to be home again with our Father in Heaven. The atonement of Christ has made it possible for us to do so.

By remembering and living the atonement of Christ each day of our lives can we be sure of this wonderful promise.

Now, how do we make the atonement a part of our daily lives? Making the atonement of Christ possible in our daily lives means living and sharing love each day of our lives. By sharing love, we become one with Christ. We radiate the love of Christ through us. As we touch with love the hearts of the people we meet each day, we shower our paths with the sunshine of hope, love and happiness.  As we touch with love the hearts of the people we meet each day, we bring their soul a little more closer to heaven. As we smile to a stranger we meet on the street, we spread with us the message of peace and love.

Let us make ourselves be an instrument of God in spreading peace to the world. For His atonement is free for all who wish to receive it. The atonement of Christ made it possible for us to hope to eternal life.

When the missionaries taught me about the Atonement, it impresses my heart that despite of my being inadequate, I can still hope to receive the gift of resurrection. It impresses my heart that someday, if I only try to do my very best, I will have the chance to return to Heavenly Father.

With this in mind, I shall offer my service to the Lord in His Church and to His children. I will make it goal to keep intact the bind that sealed my family forever. I will make it a goal to be more loving and caring to my fellowmen.

The gospel brought tremendous blessings into my life. If it were not of my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I may not probably be living the same life I am enjoying right now. Let us give thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for making these blessings possible for us.

As Latter-day Saints, it is our duty to share our happiness to others. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ will surely bring joy to every human soul in this planet. Love is universal, and so is the Atonement of our Savior.

May we make the atonement a part of our daily lives. As we walk through this life, may we shower our paths with hope and love so those others who are walking behind us will have the privilege to pick up and partake of the love of God in their lives.

I know with all my heart and soul, without a shadow of doubt that this Church is the only true and living church of Christ upon the face of this earth. I have prayed about it sincerely in my heart and there is no way that I can deny it.

 

The Book of Mormon contains the true and everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. People may mock it, people may deny it, but you cannot deny the spirit that lies within that book. The spirit of Christ is poured in every page of that book. Men are imperfect but the book is perfect. 

Millions of people from all walks of life who have read it and who have sincerely prayed about it carries in their hearts the testimony that God is a loving God, that He has created this wonderful things for us to enjoy the sweet blessings life.

If you still have doubts in your heart, I invite you to pray to our Father in Heaven. Ask for pure wisdom and true understanding, that your heart may be softened and that the light of Christ my once again open your heart and mind so that your testimony will blossom again as you once more partake the sweet blessings of eternal life.

I lovingly sustain our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson and his counselors. I know that when the time comes as spoken by the prophet of old that all souls shall kneel and bow down in the presence of God, I hope and pray that we may find ourselves unspotted from the sins of this world.

If there is a testimony that I would love to repeat again and again in my life, it is the testimony that there is a God in Heaven and we are His children, and that He loves us and cares for us. He answers our prayers. I know that through the atonement of my Savior Jesus Christ it will make it possible for me to reach my eternal goals.

I love my Savior and this testimony I leave with you in the sacred name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Simple Wishes

by Estela Ganzon

Good afternoon my dearly beloved sisters. I am so blessed today to be given this wonderful chance to share with you some of my thoughts on how to live life and reach our dreams. 

Sisters, there is a wonderful saying that goes like this… “we only live once, but if we do it right, once is enough.” 

I was born in a little sleepy town of Pangasinan in the Philippines. Most of the folk’s livelihood over there is farming. At a very young age, I became a dreamer. I dreamed of a better life. I dreamed of a simple but more luxurious life. I want to have something in order to get what I wanted to have in life.  

But when I look up the stars at night, my dreams seem too impossible to reach. As I grew up my dreams slowly faded in the distance. I remember, as a little girl, I have to help my family find food in the fields. I have to help catch frogs, snails and field crickets with my sisters so we will just have something for dinner. During harvest time, my sisters and I would run to the fields to gather rice grains leftovers on the ground by the harvesters, picking up each rice kernel one by one, so our family will be able to survive another meal. I look at my tiny hands and it’s filled with little wounds. I cried.  

My father works in a timber mill and my mom is a simple housewife. I am the eldest and I have four sisters and three brothers. During my secondary years, I worked as a maid to one of our rich relative in order to support myself throughout my studies. In school, I bring my own lunch. I only have sautéed tomato with egg most of the time. If lucky enough, I have a little dried fish to go with it. Under scourging heat of sun, I have to walk for a couple of kilometers from home to school and back again four times a day for I don’t have money to get a trike ride.  

My dream is to be a Nutritionist; I studied for a couple of years but my heart sinks whenever I see my mother tries to look around for money just to support my allowances. I finally made a painful decision to quit my studies and worked as a restaurant waitress to help support our family. Then, later, I also have to find a job in Manila to help support my younger sisters and brothers finish their studies.  

During those times, I knelt down every night and with tears in my eyes, prayed a lot to Heavenly Father, that someday He may answer my simple wishes in life.  

Then, finally, a twist happened! I became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. A young priesthood brother introduced me to the church. After joining several other churches, I finally found a place where I can call my very own. Finally, I feel like the heavy burden on my shoulders was lifted up. I can finally see the sun shining brightly behind the dark clouds of my life. 

During those dark clouds of my life, I learned to be humble, I learned to be patient. I learned to find hope in my heart despite the many trials of life.  

When I joined the Church, my whole perspective in life changed. I began to set goals for my life. First of all, my most important goal is to marry a worthy priesthood holder. My goal is to marry in the temple. My goal is to have wonderful Christ-loving children. My goal is to be strong in the gospel. I wrote all of these goals in my little diary book, we call – the Book of Remembrance. In this book, I had my friends write a little note for me to strengthen my testimony of the gospel. But, I reserved the very first page. That page was entirely reserved for that worthy priesthood holder who will bring me to the holy temple, and there at the altar, be sealed with him to all time and throughout all eternity. I fasted and prayed for my goals.  

I talked to my Father in Heaven, as a young daughter begging for a simple wish. I waited and waited.  Finally, one by one but slowly my prayers were heard and answered. I met a young returned missionary. I adored him because of his intelligence. He was my Institute Class teacher. We had our first dance together during a church ball, and with my heart beating like crazy, he proposed to marry me and to bring me to the holy temple and there be sealed for all time and eternity. 

As I slowly reach my goals, one by one, I drew a line across them. Brother Ganzon was that worthy priesthood holder who I gave the privilege to write on the first page of my Book of Remembrance. In our life together, we were blessed with two Christ-loving boys. They are the little jewels of our hearts.  

Just like you sisters, a month after our marriage, with Brother Ganzon being jobless, I bade to leave home to work as a domestic helper in Hong Kong. That was the most difficult decision that we have to make. With the bad economy hitting every family in the Philippines, Brother Ganzon and I knelt down and prayed hard to know whether we were making the right decision. It was the saddest day of my life, as I gave my last hug to my husband. At the airport, I hold my tears as he holds his.  

A year in Hong Kong was like eternity to me. There were no mobile phones twenty five years ago. A few minutes of long distance call cost thousands of pesos. The only way we can communicate with each other was by sending voice tapes and letters.   I would include some pretty photos of mine with the letters. Sometimes I would sing some church hymns for him of which he plays every evening before he goes to sleep.  

A couple of years later, Brother Ganzon joined me in Hong Kong. He was offered a good job which supported us during our early years in Hong Kong. Looking back more than twenty years from now, I could only testify that Heaven Father is really there. He hears and answers our prayers.  

During the deepest trials of our faith, He has promised to lift us up, to comfort us and to answer our prayers.

My dear sisters, I can feel the difficulty of the challenge you are facing in your life. We all came from the same situation. Life is like climbing up a mountain. We just have to keep going. Each step may get harder but don’t stop! The view is beautiful at the top!  In life, we can always take the easy way out and give up, but real strength comes when we decide to keep pushing forward no matter what the circumstances are. 

Never give up on what you really want to do. Don’t worry about being successful but work toward being the best person and success will naturally follow. Have the courage to follow your heart, it somehow already know what you truly want to become. Difficulties in our life don’t come to destroy us. But help us to realize who we really are.  

Sisters, don’t be pushed by your problems; be led by your dreams. Say this to yourself…”I’m going to succeed because I’m crazy enough to think I can."  

Just believe in yourself. Believe in who you really are – because you are a daughter of God. If success is important to you, you will find a way. No one among us here is too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. Success is the sum of our small efforts repeated day in and day out. Let’s stop waiting for things to happen. We have to go out to make it happen.  

Don’t let someone tell you that you can’t do something. Not even me. You got a dream. You have to protect it. When people can’t do something for themselves, they’ll going to tell you that you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period! 

Sisters, you can never be defeated unless you give up. Think about this. If you don’t step forward, you will always be on the same spot all your life. 

Let me share with you a story shared to me by my son, Eszel. There was once a baby eagle who doesn’t want to be hatched. So she stayed in the egg for many, many years. One day, she got bored and decided to see the world. So she started hatching and finally freed herself from the eggshell.  But then, when she looked around her, all she saw was only she in the nest. She felt so lonely because all her brothers and sisters had already grown up wings and flew away. The mother eagle was not even there anymore to give her a feed. Poor little baby eagle, she chirped and chirped but no one heard her. As days goes by, without food and no one to take care of her she slowly passed away. 

Sisters, are we that baby eagle who refused to hatch? Will we wait for that time when finally we decide to see the world, yet instead, there is nothing out there to see anymore but only our lonely self? 

Dear sisters, life is not all about Hong Kong. Think and move forward. So, go for what you want; ask questions; wear make-ups on Sundays; dress beautifully; wear your favorite perfume, and take that extra one step forward because you never know where it might lead.  

Be positive in every direction. Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.  

Today, we come together as leaders of this District to prepare you a workshop training in order to help you kick start a new life. We will have break up sessions. We will teach you how to groom yourself. We will teach you how to be self-reliant. We will teach you of your rights as an employee. We will teach you how to overcome some of your weaknesses, how to care for others and many more. 

Please take this training to your heart and start building a new life. I bear with you my testimony that we are all daughters of a loving Father in Heaven. I testify that life is beautiful, if only we know how to discover it. I know that with prayer as our armor of faith we will find wisdom. We will find joy in this life. Life has so much more to give. We just have to take that one step forward and leave it to our Father in Heaven to do the rest.  

May we feel joy in our hearts as we finish this day with a prayer.  

I would like to extend a heart full thank to Sister Hosford and Sister Forte for making this event possible. To our District President, President Tai, and his counselors for their full support and love to each one of us in this District. And to all who will be teaching in the workshops, for the tireless effort they have put into it. 

I would also want to thank Heavenly Father for all the wonderful gifts He has given us in this life, most especially for the atoning sacrifice of our dearest Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This, I testify in name of our beloved Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Wish Upon A Star

by Ranzel Ganzon

Good afternoon dear sisters. It is a great privilege for me and Sister Ganzon to be given this important assignment to share with you how we feel about your needs and to counsel with you so all of us should be able to benefit and bring something in our hearts tonight as we go back home from this workshop. 

First of all, we would like to extend our love and appreciation to our District Relief Society Presidency – Sister Hosford, Sister Ganzon and Sister Forte together with the effort of our Relief Society Presidents from each branch in making this training possible. And of course, with the backbone support of our District President, President Tai and President Hillam. 

I love stories, so I would like to start this day with a story. Once upon a time, there was a little frog who lives deep in a bottom of a well. Even though it’s dark and wet yet she loves being there.  She lives in the bottom of the well all her life that she’s forgotten that there is another world outside. 

One day, she heard some birds chirping. It was springtime and the birds were singing. She hasn’t heard of such a beautiful sound before. It sparked her curiosity! “I want to follow that beautiful sound!” she exclaimed! So she started jumping and hopping from one brick stone to another inside the well until finally she found herself standing on the top of the well! “Oh, wow!” she exclaimed! “This is such a beautiful world out here! Why have I been so foolish all my life staying down in the well when there is a beautiful world out here!”   

Sisters, how often are we just like this little foolish frog? Oftentimes, we’ve been too preoccupied of so many other things in life that we’ve forgotten our own self. We forgot that there is a much more beautiful world waiting for us out there.  

When God told the Israelites to go out of Egypt and be freed from slavery, He promised them of a beautiful and bountiful place that they can call their own. They and their children, and their children’s children will not be slaves under anyone anymore. It will be a land of milk and honey.  

But you know what? They refused to go! They want to stay in Egypt all their lives because in Egypt, they have food to eat. They don’t have to find food. The food is already there. Do we see a similarity between the Israelites and us, here in Hong Kong?

If we have to sum up the status of our countrymen here in Hong Kong, we can come up with three groups of individuals. The first group would be those who are very young, very ambitious, university graduates who wants to further their career and consider Hong Kong as a stepping stone to go to another country in order to find a better life and thus pursuing their career, and also maybe with it, is a good reason to bring their families with them abroad. We do not have any problem with these individuals as they are on the right track. 

Another group of individuals are mostly mothers, who have goals to stay in Hong Kong for a few years until they can just have enough to start a small living back in their home countries where they can be reunited with their families again. For these individuals, the Church has created a welfare training program in order for them to obtain special knowledge on small scale projects to kick start a decent livelihood when they’re ready to rejoin their families.   

Our District Presidency and the rest of the District Welfare Council have been talking a lot of these lately, and we are trying our best to brain storm on how these things could work out together and yet at the same time not infringing any boundaries beyond the Church capacity.  

Now, here is the problem. We have another group of individuals, who are not residents of Hong Kong, but want to stay in Hong Kong all their lives. These individuals have no plans at all. These are they who are caught between a web of difficult situations. Ask them about their future plans two to three years from now; they will give you a smirk answer… “I don’t really know. I still have a lot of obligations at home.  

Got the clue? Remember, she’s not saying – to herself, but at home. She is that little queen frog at the bottom of the well. She wants to stay there at the bottom of the well all her life. She doesn’t care that there’s another world out there. She made herself a voluntary sacrifice. Its fine for her to be used and be abused. 

So all winters, all summers, all springs, she’s just there in her little dark world. She has decided to be the bank of the family. She is in her own little world a single welfare unit society. A friend comes to borrow money, she lends all that she’s got… kasi, she has “pusong mammon”. Her niece calls her… “Tita, can you buy me the latest i-phone?”  “Ok, Tita will send it right in a minute”. Uutang pa ng pera si Tita, may pambili lang ng bagong i-phone ni Inday. Tita, I’m marrying my jobless boyfriend. Will you buy my wedding gown? Ang ganda ganda ni Tita! Oh, by the way, I’m pregnant! I need money to buy milk for my baby and also can you include the P10,000.00 monthly rent for our apartment”. “Ok, no problem, iha, basta nandito si Tita”. Super Tita is on the rescue again.   

After many years in Hong Kong, Tita, has grown old. After waiting for twenty years, her boyfriend has decided to marry another woman. He exclaimed, “No use of waiting!” Tagal-tagal! 

Remember that niece? Now, she’s got 10 children. They’ve all grown strong and healthy. They’ve all finished their universities. Thanks for the full scholarship Tita has provided, plus daily allowances.  

Now, it’s time for Tita to go home for good. The strong body she used to have when she was young has now shrunk to a weak disabled body. When she arrived home, not even one of those she supported was there to meet her at the airport. In the minds of those people… “Our bank has given up on us. Let’s send another one!” 

Sisters, does this story rings true to most of you? You may not want to admit it, but it could be one of you. You may probably be a mother in this story, a sister, an aunt, a friend, or a grandma. Whoever we are in this story, I would like to invite you tonight to take a quick look in the mirror and ask yourself a question… “Is it worth to allow people to use and abuse me all my life?” Is this the life that Heavenly Father wants me to have? 

We are all children of a loving God. He knows the intentions of our hearts. But He also allows us to make choices. He wants us to teach ourselves how to sacrifice for others but in a wise way that we don’t allow others to take advantage of our goodness and generosity.  

There is always a good saying that goes like this…” Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; but, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” 

This is what we need to keep on reminding ourselves again and again. In my life, I have supported my sisters through college, and when they’re done, they fish for themselves. 

It’s hundred percent important for all of us to set goals in life. On my job interviews, I am always asked by the interviewers with the same question again and again… “Where do you see yourself one year from now; two years from now; five years from now; ten years from now?” 

Why such question? What’s the logic for that question? Employers apparently ask this question because they are looking for people who know what they want to do and who are focused on specific professional goals. If you lack goals, you will have difficulty answering this question. Be sure you arrive at the interview with a clear vision of what you want to do today, tomorrow and five years from now. That is the logic. Now, if I may ask you, where do you see yourself one year from now, two years from now, or five years from now, can you give me a straight answer? If you can’t then, you have a big problem to resolve. Because I can tell you now, sisters, that Hong Kong is not forever, and that’s the truth. Sooner or later our body will retire and the only way out of Hong Kong is back to our home country.  

Save for yourself. Learn as many new skills as possible. The internet is flooded with easy to reach resources. YMCA in Hong Kong is a must for those who are seeking for new skills. If the schedule of your studying comes in conflict with your church meeting in the afternoon, then attend Victoria 1 Branch in the mornings until you finish your schooling. Let your Branch President know about your plans so he can give you sound advice. 

I tell you sisters, that nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. Careful thinking and hard work will solve nearly all your problems. Try and see for yourself. 

We are telling you this because one day you find ten years have gotten behind you. If no one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun. All the rest of your friends and families are already on the finish line, yet you haven’t even left the starting line.  

Sisters, know where you are going. If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else.

Dream! Ok, let me talk a little something about dreams. Do you know that dreams are necessary for life? You know that in my dreams, I’m ageless. That’s what I like so much about dreaming.  

I am a dreamer because a man without a dream is a man without a vision in life; and a man without a vision in life is a man without a future.  

Have you ever wished upon a star? When I was a child, there was a rhyme we would say in the evening when the sky began to get dark. As soon as it was dark enough for us to see the very first star in the sky, we would say,  

Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight. 
 

Remember the story of Pinocchio? The little puppet boy who wished to be a real boy? One day, his friend Jiminy Cricket appeared before him and sang him this song: 

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires will come to you

If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do

Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true

Sisters, tonight as you go home, look up to the sky and when you see a star, kiss you thumb, close it in your hands, place it close to your bosom and make a wish. In your room, kneel down and pray for your wish that Heavenly Father will help you make it come true.  Work for it. Dream of it to happen and I know that with faith in your heart, you will reach that dream. 

This is my testimony that Heavenly Father lives and He answers our prayers. I know that there is nothing in this world that can stop us from achieving our goals in life if we only try to start it with a little faith in our hearts. 

This testimony I leave with you in the sacred name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Law of Obedience

by  Ranzel Ganzon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One important thing I learned when I joined this Church is how not to say no. When I was called to serve as a counselor to President Tai, without hesitation and without any question I accepted it with a resounding, “Yes”. I could have said, “No”. But I didn’t. Because, when I joined the Church, in my baptism I have solemnly promised the Lord, I will follow and do whatever Heavenly Father wants me to do for His Church.

I know how important it is to be obedient in every way. I know that when I obey, Heavenly Father will bless - not only me and my family, but He will also bless those whom I come to serve with. Obedience brings happiness and blessings.

 

I was given an assignment today to speak about the Law of Obedience. As I think through about this topic I realize how inadequate my knowledge when it comes to law. I am no lawyer, - I am an interior designer. Ask me about designing your home and we can sit here for hours about the right colours and lightings for your home.

 

Yet there is only one thing I know about the law of obedience – and that is when Heavenly Father created the universe in which we live, He created a law. The scriptures tells us that, “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

 

Heavenly Father is bound to this law. Even God himself cannot break that law. For the Lord said, “I, the Lord, am bound if ye do what I say, but if ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.” The sun, the moon, the stars and the planets are governed by this law. They gracefully glide in space without collision. They are bound to follow this law.

 

When I was little, I would lie down beneath the stars at night and delight to watch the magnificent splendor of the universe. It’s wonderfully beautiful to witness the majestic power of God in action.

 

 When God created the earth, He commanded the heavens and the earth to follow the same law. He commanded the trees to grow and bear fruits. He commanded the beasts and the fowls of the air to multiply in its own kind. Apples grows apples, grapes will grow grapes. Lions will bear lions. Humans will bear humans.  

 

Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were also given a law; and to break that law will bear serious consequences. Disobedience to the laws of God will mean suffering, misery, heartache, sickness, trouble and sadness. Obedience to the commandments of God means happiness and joy in life.

 

But the question is … of all the good knowledge that we know that this is true, yet why do we stray? Why do we let ourselves be influenced by the deception of Satan? In this dispensation the power of Satan will increase; we see it in every hand. We must learn to listen and follow the commandments of God. There will be some things that will take patience and faith. Some come to believe that you can just choose and pick whichever commandment to follow. Things like saying our prayers, honoring the Sabbath, reading the scriptures, paying our tithing, attending our meetings, and the list goes on.

 

The blessings of obedience will only come to those who follow.  I love listening stories in talks; that’s why I love President Monson’s talks because they are full of personal stories. I love sharing my missionary experiences because they are full of the many colors of faith.

 

One day, my companion and I were walking down a road on our way to visit a new member. Under the beating heat of the sun, we found a man lying on the street half naked. He was drunk and dirty. With full of compassion, my companion and I stopped and decided to help the man. We pulled the man up bearing his arms on our shoulders and carrying him back to his home. His family was so delighted to see us. They know that we are missionaries and they always wanted to know more about us. His wife told us that the time was long and overdue. They have suffered much and have given up hope on him. They were poor and only the wife earns the living for the family.

 

We laid her husband on the floor and asked to come back to teach their family the following day. The children were delighted. And the mother, too! They promised that when their father recovers, they will tell him the whole story about us.

 

The following day, we visited the family and to our surprise, the whole family was present. Their little nipa house looks a little bit tidier now than yesterday. The children were neat and clean, the mother and the father, too! Happily we asked the family if we can share a message about Jesus Christ to them. They gladly accepted. The mother promised that if we can make her husband give up his drinking habit they will all join the Church. It was a challenge my companion and I gladfully accepted. Then we taught them the first missionary discussion. After the lesson, we taught the family how to pray. Then we challenged them to read the Book of Mormon. Then, we invited them to come to Church.

 

On the Church that Sunday, the mother and the children came as they have promised. But the father stayed at home refusing to come. The rest of the family enjoys the Church meetings and before they left, my companion and I promised the children that we will not give up with their father. 

 

 Finally, after a few visits, it was the time to teach the family about the Word of Wisdom. To his families’ delight, the father accepted the challenge. At last, after a few Sundays, my companion and I were delighted to see the father joined his family to the Church. Finally, the family accepted the invitation to be baptized. It was a beautifully spiritual experience for my companion and I as the family follow, one by one, their father into the waters of baptism.

 

The joy that comes by obedience to the laws of God brings peace and happiness to all. Heavenly Father’s law to us His children is a loving law. It is a law that will lead us back to the right path towards our journey to the kingdom of God.

 

As a father to my sons, perhaps the most compelling story of faith and obedience in the scriptures is the story of Abraham. Abraham was challenge by the Lord to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. As I contemplate upon this story, I asked myself a question. If I was asked by the Lord to sacrifice my own son as Abraham did, will I have that same faith and courage to obey Him?

 

Because of his magnificent faith and obedience to God, the Lord blessed Abraham and his seeds, and he was called the father of all nations for his seeds shall multiply as the stars of heaven and as the sands of the sea.

 

Contrast this to the story of the children of Israel. Remember the story of them worshipping the idolatrous golden calf from the 32nd chapter of Exodus? Note that the children of Israel were just freed from the bitter bondage of Egypt and seen the wonders of God in the desert and the divided sea. They were free, they thought. Then Moses left them to go up the mountain to receive the law. No sooner was he gone for the space of forty days and forty nights, when in spite of all his teachings, in spite of all the marvels they had seen from God’s work, the children of Israel became slaves again – not this time of a tyrant like Pharaoh, but slaves of their own passions and their own fears.

 

Brothers and sisters, if we will not be ruled by God, we will certainly be ruled by tyrants – and there is no tyranny more superior or more destructive than our own selfishness without the law. I testify that we cannot break God’s law. We can only break ourselves against them. Satan wants us to believe that we can make exceptions to God’s rule; and that our transgressions are justifiable – but that is a lie. And not only we offend God by breaking His laws, we also offend ourselves and others, thereby, we experience heartaches, suffering, and misery – the exact opposite of happiness.

 

I know that one of the keys to a truly happy life is to learn, as early as possible, that wickedness never was happiness and to never forget the truth, preferably learning from others’ mistake rather than making our own.

 

I know that each one of us, who made the first step to enter the waters of baptism, has demonstrated of our sincere faith and obedience to God’s law. We were challenged by the missionaries to pray and seek for guidance and direction from God – and we followed. We are here today as members of the Church because we were obedient to His teachings and its leaders. We are here because we want to listen and to learn how to follow.

 

Our obedience to the commandments is an expression of our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Savior said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments”

 

Isaiah declared to ancient Israel, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: “But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it”

 

I was reminded of my decision to follow the desires of my heart to serve God as a full time missionary. As you all know how hard it is to get a decent job in the Philippines. Quitting my job would mean disaster to my career. Quitting my job would mean a difficult life after my mission. But without any hesitation, I applied to go. I know that Heavenly Father will be mindful of my needs if I choose to follow him. With only faith as my armor, I packed my bags and go.

 

As a missionary, I labored as hard as I can. I remembered stricken twice by typhoid fever after long hard months of walking under the scourging heat of sun and heavy rains. I was almost sent home because of my weakening health. But I promised my Mission President that I don’t want to quit. I don’t want to give up. I want to bring the bacon back to my home ward.

 

I finished my mission with honors. I arrived home with no job waiting. I waited for answers from my Father in Heaven. Then one beautiful day, I received a letter from my mission president with an invitation for me to work in the Philippines Presiding Bishopric Office as an architectural designer. That was an open door to the other blessings Heavenly Father has promised me.

 

Brothers and sisters please don’t give up. Sometimes it is necessary to be obedient even when we do not understand the reason for the law. It takes faith to be obedient. The Prophet Joseph Smith, in teaching obedience, said that whatever God requires is right, though we may not know the reason until much later.

 

The blessings of heaven await us. As we bow our heads each night with a humble prayer, may we ask for strength and guidance, for light and direction, that we may always be led by the light to the eternal glory of the Father.

 

It is with my humble prayer, that may each one of us feel the love of our Savior in our lives. May we always be grateful in all things, whether it be great or small, because all of these are blessings from our loving Father above.

 

I know that this church is true. I’m so grateful for the atoning sacrifice of my loving Savior. I know that President Monson is a true prophet of God. His counsels are not only for us, members of this Church. His message is for the whole world to hear and obey. For obedience to the laws and commandments of God means happiness and joy to everyone who listens and obey.

 

In the sacred name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.