We Are All Enlisted

by Ranzel Ganzon

I would like to begin my talk today with gratefulness of heart for the great sacrifices of our young missionaries for where it not of them I would not have been a member of the Church. For where it not of my testimony of the Book of Mormon I don’t know where I am or who I am today.

My membership in this Church was a life-changing experience for me. My eyes were opened. I began to understand the true meaning and purpose of life. There I knew that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me and that I am literally a child of God and that He knows each one of us by name. I knew then that I have a Savior who loves me and I am filled with amazement that He came down from His throne divine just to rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine. And that, through the atonement of my Savior Jesus Christ I have a chance to return and live with God again someday. Then I also knew that through the promises and blessings of the holy temple I can be with my family even after this life. I knew that if I remain true and faithful to the end of the days of my mortal life, Heavenly Father will reward me with eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

These profound knowledge and beautiful promises inspired me to serve a full-time mission. I felt the urgency to share this wonderful feeling I have to my fellowmen. 

One of the sweetest blessing as a member of the church is knowing that everything in this life has a purpose.  That everything in this life was made for the good of men. And that, if men choose to do the right things in life things will always turn out well for him. That is an eternal law, and that law cannot be broken even by God himself. There is always an equivalent of good when we do good things in life.

If there is good, there is also evil. Lucifer, the father of all lies is a deceiver. His only mission on this earth is to bring God’s children to eternal damnation. He wants all of us to be as miserable as him. He is the opposition to all that is good.

We have fought hard against him before we came to earth. And now, Heavenly Father has enlisted us all to continue fighting against Lucifer and his army. We are the last and valiant spirits - the most chosen few. We have been reserved to come in these most perilous days to win this war for Him. We are the armies of Helaman for we have been taught in our youth. We are the Lord’s missionaries to bring to the world the truth.

Every one of us who have partaken of the fruit in Lehi’s dream is a partaker of the blessings of eternal life. As Lehi of old, we too want our loved ones to be partakers of this great blessing.

As my son prepares himself to enter the mission field, I was so impressed with how he has grown and changed just a few days before he left for the MTC. After his endowment, his whole countenance changed. His face was all beaming with a smile. You can see a natural excitement and eagerness in his moves and actions. As if I was pulled back in time looking at my own self when I was a young man and was all ready to report to the MTC. I was all excited and beaming. The light of Christ was just all over me. If you don’t know what I mean, just look at the faces of our missionaries and you’ll see what I mean.

Every member of this Church should have that beaming countenance and burning desire to be a part of this great work.  If there is anything that keeps us from cowering - that is Satan himself trying to work big time on us. He is a spirit and he has no power over us unless we let him overpower us.  

The only desire of the spirit inside us is to fight against the opposition. Satan is our arch enemy and he will do everything to process our mind to work against God. That is his only mission.

But our mission is different from him. Our mission is to bring back every soul to the presence of our Heavenly Father. My son wrote in his email to us his testimony of missionary work. He said, “Missionary work is not all about teaching, it’s all about bringing our fellow brothers and sisters come unto Christ and to lead them back to the kingdom of our Father in Heaven.”  

Heavenly Father has created a wonderful body for us. Every part of our body has a function. Say, for example, our index finger was created so we could use it to text our friends about the restored gospel. Computers, internets, and smartphones are all inspired inventions to enhance the speed of missionary work.

Our Church website, LDS.org, and Mormon.org has all the tools we need to put forth missionary work. Heavenly Father is leaving us no more excuses in doing missionary work. Post a spiritual message on Facebook and it reaches all your friends, both members, and non-members. I have so many likes from my non-member friends when I post excerpts from the talks of the General Conferences.

One good tip! Make it a habit to post a Book of Mormon scripture every day in your Facebook. By the end of the year, your non-member friends may have then actually finished reading most of the pages of the Book of Mormon. Isn’t that great?

Brothers and sisters, remember this words as revealed to the Prophet Joseph, “And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me! Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation.”

There are many ways to do missionary work without screaming out loud. We have a neighbor downstairs. They are young couples and the wife was pregnant at that time when we knew them. We chatted and make friends with them in the lift. The father would sometimes invite my son, Eszel to play basketball in the evenings. Then, finally, the wife gave birth to a beautiful twin baby boy but with the shocking news that both boys were born with a congenital heart problem.

It was painful news for these young parents. But I tell you that I am grateful to be married to a woman with an instinct to help. Upon knowing the situation, my wife was quick to take action in assisting the couple went through their needs. She right away called all her friend doctors and nurses to get some advice. She offered to let our house helper babysit the babies whenever one of the boys has to go to the hospital for a heart operation or check-ups.  

My wife would also make soups for the mother and cook some dinner for them whenever they are in the hospital watching over their boys. This couple became our good friends. One day, I received a text message that they have read about my son’s Melchizedek Priesthood ordination that I’ve posted in Facebook and they requested if it is possible that my son, Eszel could give his twin baby brothers a priesthood blessing.

It was a very touching moment as my son pronounced a blessing to each of his baby brothers. The room was filled with the spirit as both mother and father cradled the boys in their arms to be offered a blessing. This was my son’s first time to give a blessing.

The following day, the couple sent us a beautiful message filled with love and gratitude to my son. They said that they felt a wonderful peaceful feeling during and after the blessing.  They felt comforted and assured that things will turn out well for the boys.

Both babies underwent heart surgery, with one of them twice. Now after a few months later, before my son left to serve his mission, we received good news from the boy’s doctor that both boys’ hearts are now functioning well and on its way to full recovery.

Our neighbor is now an avid follower of my son’s mission blog. We regularly chat and say hello to them, we would borrow one of the boys sometimes and they regularly tick “Like” in all of our FB spiritual messages.

My wife and I regularly include them in our prayers and hope that one day that seed we’ve once planted in their hearts will grow up to be a beautiful and fruitful tree.

President Thomas S. Monson once said, “Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved. We can turn from the paths which would lead us down and, with a song in our hearts, follow a star and walk toward the light. We can quicken our step, bolster our courage, and bask in the sunlight of truth. We can hear more clearly the laughter of little children. We can dry the tear of the weeping. We can comfort the dying by sharing the promise of eternal life. If we lift one weary hand which hangs down, if we bring peace to one struggling soul, if we give as did the Master, we can—by showing the way—become a guiding star for some lost mariner.” 

I testify before you today that I know that this is the one true church. I know that this gospel is true and I can feel in my heart that the spirit lives here. I am so thankful for the atonement, and that Joseph Smith was unafraid to ask the toughest question of all – and also that he was unafraid to stand up for what he believed in. I look forward to spending the rest of my life practicing these principles that are being taught to me in this Church, and to getting closer to God through personal revelation, and to become as Christ-like as possible in my short time in this earth.

I bear with you my testimony that we have all been invited by Heavenly Father to be partakers of eternal life. But He has also charged us to do our part in bringing our lost brothers and sister back to Christ. It is my testimony that the sweetest joy we can ever have is when someday in the eternities, as we stand at the gates of heaven, we will be there with open arms to welcome the souls of those whose lives we once have touched.

I bear with you my testimony that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. He knows our name and he cares for us. I bear with you my testimony that President Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of God. As we listen and apply his teachings into our lives, we will be blessed. I love and sustain the leaders of our Church. They are called of God. We must constantly seek guidance and inspiration from them.

I bear with you my testimony that the Book of Mormon contains the true gospel of our Savior. Joseph Smith indeed is a true prophet of God.

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

Families - Essential Part of Heavenly Father's Plan

by Ranzel Ganzon

Good afternoon dear brothers and sisters.  

It’s a wonderful privilege to be invited here today on behalf of the District Presidency. I bring with me the blessings and greetings from our District President. I was asked to give a talk today and I am inspired to give a message on the importance of families. 

 

I know that the most wonderful gift that Heavenly Father has given to me in this life is my family. We knew from the teachings of the gospel that families can be together forever.  

Even before the creation of this world, God – our Heavenly Father, organized us His spirit children to take part in a glorious plan. Families were organized before the world was made. We rejoiced and sing with the angels in heaven as we prepare to come to earth.   

To become parent on earth we accepted a sacred calling of being a steward and caretaker to a group of other spirits who will become our children on the earth. From us, they will learn the ways and things of this world. They will have to be nurtured, and fed, and taught of the good things in life. We pledge accountable to whatever upbringing these children will have in their life. As parents to these children, Heavenly Father expected that we be good example to them; that we show all our love, and kindness, and patience, and understanding to each and every one of them unconditionally and without reservation.  

As a father and a mother, Heavenly Father expected that we be peacemakers, loyal and loving to each other as a couple. From our ways, our children will grow and learn the importance of love and devotion, peace and kindness, and the meaning of true happiness that comes from sacrifice.   

Our families can bring us joy in this life. But sometimes, because of some unfortunate events in life, some of our children may fall astray. There are some that will find their way out from under the safety of our wings. Just like the story of the prodigal son who went his own way but lost. Yet again, Heavenly Father expected that we should always be ready for this with open arms to welcome back those who had gone astray.  

I grew up in a humble home with loving parents who truly loved and cared for their children. I have 3 siblings – a brother and a couple of sisters. My mother was a simple housekeeper. My father works as a conveyor operator. His salary was slim yet my mother was able to manage it in order to make things meet to my father’s next pay day. I never heard my mom complained about my father’s earnings. They seem to be happy and contented. We lived by a river bank in a small stilt house. But we call it a home. With her care, our home was always clean and orderly.  My mother sees to it that our home is as comfortable as she would like it to be for all of us. At night, with her beautiful sweet voice she would sing us a lullaby to sleep.  

We were always neat and clean to school. My mom makes sure that her children always look best. She baths us everyday and sprays us with her perfume. Everyday my mom would walk half a mile to school under scourging heat just to bring us our kalamansi drinks and sandwiches during recess. 

My father is a humble and honest man. He is very friendly and jokes around a lot. I remember him one day, when I was only six or eight, when he slowly creped behind the front door and let fly a Maya bird to our family’s delightful surprise.  

Life was so simple back then. Those simple memories were the sweetest memories I have in my life. My mom passed away when I was 12. Things have changed since then. My father remarried. Our step mom was one of my mom’s best friends and she was good to us. We have grown and found success through life and struggle. My father passed away around 12 years ago. 

Now, I have my own family. Heavenly Father was kind to me. He has given me a loving wife and two wonderful sons. Indeed, I could say that I am blessed so much to experience a good family life. It was not all that perfect, but at least it was the best for me. 

As I watch my sons grow and to witness their achievements and failures in life, I am happy to take part in their life’s journey. I am glad that my wife and I were both there together on their side through thick and thin. In times of sickness I am glad that I was there to hold their hands when they needed me most for comfort and warmth. 

President Thomas S. Monson told this story, “Near the end of his life, one father looked back on how he had spent his time on earth. An acclaimed, respected author of numerous scholarly works, he said, ‘I wish I had written one less book and taken my children fishing more often.’ Time passes quickly. Many parents say that it seems like yesterday that their children were born. Now those children are grown, perhaps with children of their own. ‘Where did the years go?’ they ask. We cannot call back time that is past, we cannot stop time that now is, and we cannot experience the future in our present state. Time is a gift, a treasure not to be put aside for the future but to be used wisely in the present.” 

Brothers and sisters let us not waste our time being away from our husbands, wives and children. Let us earnestly set a goal to be reunited with them as soon as possible. Time is precious. We cannot pull back time. Money cannot buy our love and presence with our family.  

Elder Boyd K. Packer counseled, “Fear is the opposite of faith. We move forward, certain that the Lord will watch over us, particularly in the family.” 

I bear witness that Heavenly Father is always there to guide us and direct us. He will provide us with all our daily and urgent needs as He has promised time and time again.  

I bear with you this testimony that things are true, in the sacred name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Missionary Work

by Ranzel Ganzon

Good evening, dear brothers and sisters. Eight months after I joined the Church, I received with great anticipation my Melchizedek Priesthood. I was ordained an Elder and the following Sunday, I was called and set apart as a Branch Mission Leader. 

At that time, I was really new to the teachings of the Church, but my learning has greatly increased through the blessing of this calling. My home branch was new and almost if not all are pioneering members of the Church. 

It was always a joy for me working with the missionaries. I have several branch missionaries working with me and we spend as much time as we can have helping the missionaries find investigators, helping them with their teachings and home visiting new and inactive members. 

It was a tough calling but the spirit was there. I feel light and strong despite a long and hectic day of walking and teaching. My calling then as a Branch Mission Leader prepared me for the bigger challenges I faced in the mission field serving as a full-time missionary. I was called to serve as a full-time missionary exactly one year after my baptism. 

Fast track ahead, 3 years after my mission, I found myself working here in Hong Kong as an Architectural and Interior Designer. I thought that was it. Yet once again the Lord has called me to continue serving in His Church. My first calling was to serve again as Branch Mission Leader. 

This time it was not the same experience as I have had in my home branch in the Philippines. Hong Kong Island Branch, before it became Island 1st & 2^nd Branches, used to be a very large branch of Filipino members, comprising a membership of more or less than 2 hundred members with baptisms of more or less than ten new members each month. It was an exhausting part for the Branch President to keep track of the activity of each of the new members joining the Church.  

Part of the burden that lies upon the shoulders of the Branch President now becomes a part of my calling. As a Branch Mission Leader I was to report directly to the Branch President of the whereabouts of each and every newly baptized member of the Church who are one year and below. I was to report whether they have completed their new member’s discussions which was taught by the Branch Missionaries. I was to report whether the newly baptized member is actively attending all the Church activities and participating class lessons. I was to provide reminders to the Branch President of the upcoming interviews of the new member, to give them callings and to sign their temple recommends for baptism for the dead.  

I also have to make sure that the branch missionaries are doing their part in their callings. I have to assign companionships and review which lessons are they already with their assigned new members.  I have to complete a weekly report detailing all activities of the newly baptized members. I actually have designed a special template outlining step by step all of the necessary activities a newly baptized member has to take upon and accomplish within a year. I fill it up every week and discuss it with branch council.    

The weight of the calling of the Branch Mission Leader is more or less like the calling of a Branch President. Only that he is mostly in charged in shepherding the newly baptized members of the Church.  

Under the bishop’s direction, the ward mission leader has the following responsibilities: 

He coordinates the ward’s efforts to find, teach, and baptize investigators.  

He coordinates this work with the work of the full-time missionaries and ward missionaries.  

In ward council meetings, the bishop may ask him to lead discussions on missionary work.

He conducts missionary coordination meetings and directs the work of ward missionaries.

He arranges as many teaching opportunities for the full-time missionaries as possible each week. 

He organizes convert baptismal services, assisted by the full-time missionaries. 

He helps coordinate the confirmations of new members in sacrament meetings. 

He participates with full-time missionaries in teaching and fellowshipping investigators. 

He attends the Gospel Principles class, and he may teach the class when assigned by the Branch President. 

In my honest opinion, a Branch President won’t be able to fully function well in his calling first and foremost without the help of the Branch Mission Leader and its branch missionaries. What a responsibility! 

President David O. Mckay, once admonished that - ”every member is a missionary”.  Each one of us, and not only the Branch Mission Leader, was given by the Lord the mantle of responsibility to go forth and teach and to care for His sheep. Each one of us carries the responsibility of overseeing the younger sheeps of the fold. We may not be serving as a full-time missionary yet we can still be missionaries. The Lord expects us to show our very best example to those who we come to contact with.  

There is a tremendous need of missionaries in our Church. My son is preparing to serve a full-time mission in a few months time. Our family is very excited about that. At last we finally got one valiant soldier in our family who is willing to serve God in this holy war.  

It is my sincere testimony that Heavenly Father loves each one of us, His children. And that He has prepared a way for each one of us to return to His presence someday. I know that Heavenly Father has promised many and wonderful blessings to those who are willing to come and follow the teachings of His son Jesus Christ.  

It is my testimony that God lives. He hears and answers our prayers. I know that when we serve with a sincere heart, with all our might, mind and strength… Heavenly Father will look down upon us and say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” 

And I share this testimony with you in the sacred name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.