We Are Also Beggars

by Estela Ganzon

First of all, please let me greet you all a very Joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

As we commemorate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we were also reminded of His teachings and ministry during His earthly life.

As you all know, I came from one of the poorest countries in the world. Poverty is a widespread challenge in almost all households in the Philippines. Obviously, when a person is poor he is mostly affected physically. But the emotional and spiritual damage to that person is more unbearable.

I came from a poor family and I can sincerely say that I can deeply feel how hard it is to be in a position that you can’t even afford to buy a meal for your family. At a very young age of eighteen, I was the breadwinner of my family.

With a meager income and a family of ten, I have to make sure that the immediate needs of my family come first. I beg each night to the Lord to bless me that I may continually have the strength in order to stand strong so I can support my family. I can tell you that I have a strong testimony of the blessings of fasting. I am who I am today because of my testimony that God really hears and answers prayers.

We don’t have all the details of our Lord’s temporal life, but he once said, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to rest his head.” Even He, who was the creator of heaven and earth and everything there is in it, in His adult life, He was homeless.

In our day, the restored Church of Jesus Christ on its first year anniversary, the Lord commanded the members to look after the poor and the needy and to see to it that they are taken care of their daily needs.

A journalist once told Mother Teresa of Calcutta that statistically, her effort in helping the poor will accomplish nothing at all. Mother Teresa shot back to the journalist by saying that her work was about love and not statistics. True, she said, that her work is nothing but a drop of water in an ocean; but if we didn’t do it, the ocean will be one drop less than it is.

I sincerely believe that as a true disciple of Christ we have a sacred duty to care for those who are needy. For one thing, we can as King Benjamin taught that we should not withhold in sharing our blessings to those who are poor and needy.

“For are we not all beggars?”

Are we not begging from Heavenly Father to hear and answer our prayers? Don’t we beg for the forgiveness of the mistakes that we have made that caused others to suffer? Don’t we implore to Heavenly Father that His grace will be sufficient to compensate for our weaknesses? Is there any wonder that only by pleading to God that we can be forgiven of our sins?

Rich or poor, we are all beggars in the sight of God!

In the Book of Mormon, the Zoramites have driven away from their houses of prayers because they cannot afford to buy beautiful dresses. The missionary companions Alma and Amulek told the Zoramites that whatever privileges others may deny them – they can always pray in their fields and in their houses, in their families and in their hearts.

To those who rejected the poor Zoramites, Amulek told them, “after you have prayed, and turned away the needy, and the naked, and not visit the sick and afflicted, and not impart of your substance… your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and you are as a hypocrite who does deny the faith.”

I bear witness of the miracles, both temporal and spiritual, that comes through the blessings of fasting. I bear witness of the miracles that come to me. The humanitarian service of the Church has helped millions of people around the world. Our fast offering reaches the hearts and souls of those who are needy, sick and afflicted, naked and hungry. These offerings come from the grateful Latter-Day Saints.

I am thankful for God has answered my prayers. Heavenly Father has blessed me with a family of my own. He has given me a wonderful life. In return, it is now my turn to give what I can give.

Time after time, people come to us to ask for help. In our own little humble way, Brother Ganzon and I share the little things that we have. Be it a tiny bed for a terminated sister, a small amount of money for a family who wish to go to the temple, a pair of shoes for a needy missionary, a priesthood blessing to a weary heart and forgiving those who have sinned against us.

We don’t think these are enough to give in return to our many blessings. The only little things we hope for is that we may have lightened someone’s heart and soul through these small and simple things we do.

I hope and pray that as we live and share our blessings, those little beams of sunshine we plant in every human heart may grow brighter and brighter each day until we stand before the judgment seat of God, and He shall proclaim, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”

In closing…I would like to share one of my favorite hymns which go like this…

"Because I have been given much

I too must give,

Because of thy great bounty Lord

Each day I live,

I shall divide my gifts from thee

With every brother that I see,

Who has a need for help from me."

I know these things to be true, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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.

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.