Service = Happiness

“To measure the goodness of life by its delights and pleasures is to apply a false standard. The abundant life does not consist of a glut of luxury. It does not make itself content with commercially produced pleasure, mistaking it for joy and happiness. To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves. No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellowmen. Service to others is akin to duty, the fulfillment of which brings true joy.”

-= Thomas S. Monson =-

Sheila Debois sent this quote to me today. She is my provider of Daily Words of Wisdom (DailyWoW).

What a timely message this is. Yesterday during Sunday school, we started discussing about the teachings of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon. He was a great leader and a giant of an example of service to his fellowmen. He was a holy man who reigned in righteousness over his people. He labored with “all the might of his body and the faculty of his whole soul”. (Mosiah 1:17-18) In his own words he said, “And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne–". (Mosiah 2:14)

Such was the character of King Benjamin that the people loved him so much. He was a great political and spiritual leader. The balance that he was able to establish among his people was an accomplishment that is yet to be seen in this modern world.

Great was his wisdom as he reminded his sons, Mosiah, Helorum, & Helaman, about the value of the scriptures. “I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct”. (Mosiah 1:5)

It is indeed a blessing to have the opportunity, even the luxury to “have his commandments always before our eyes. Have we taken advantage? On the other hand, have we, because of neglect of the scriptures, dwindled in unbelief from time to time in our lives? Have we sometimes “suffered in ignorance, not knowing the mysteries of God”? Mark Twain once said, “A man who won’t read is no better off than a man who can’t.” This is certainly true of reading the scriptures. If we do not read the scriptures, what advantage do we have over those who cannot read them for whatever reason?

By reading the scriptures we come to understand what the Lord would have us do. President Monson in the citation above discusses how to measure a good and happy life. It is by service to others.

King Benjamin taught: “….when you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17). We are eternally indebted to God for the following, among other things: (see Mosiah 2:20-23)

- He has created us
- He has preserved us
- He has caused that we can rejoice
- He has granted that we can live in peace
- He is preserving us from day to day
- He lends us breath
- He allows us agency–that is, the power to live and move according to our wills
- He has granted unto us our lives

Now Benjamin lists the things we can do for God: There are only three of them:

- We can be grateful
- We can serve him
- We can keep his commandments

When we do these things, “….he [God] doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast"? (Mosiah 2:24)
We can never be too confident of our own might until we’ve acknowledged the hand of God in the use of that might. We can never own our accomplishments, regardless of how hard we worked for them and how much effort we put to them until we have acknowledged the help of God in those endeavors.

When we look at our meager efforts in this light, we begin to see why Benjamin could call us “unprofitable servants (see Mosiah 2:21).” Of course, God’s investment in the welfare of his children and his involvement in their lives is not a business venture from which he hopes to turn a profit. Benjamin’s explanation of the goodness of God makes it seem very much as though God pays reverse interest: the more we try to repay him for his goodness and blessings, the more his goodness and blessings upon us increase (Thought by Ted L. Gibbons). This makes it impossible to recompense our debt to him.

In our efforts to give back what is due to the Lord, we ought to serve Him with all our might, mind, and strength. Recalling how it was in the mission, we were blessed if we served Him faithfully. In the service of the people whom we were called to serve, we found happiness as we, in our inadequate state, were able to help them change for the better. After the mission, we are still given many opportunities to serve. In doing so, we forget about ourselves, worry about others, and as we lift them up, we lift our lives in the process.

In the light of President Monson’s words, it is not by traveling or by going to places of interest—finding pleasure by doing so, that we discover lasting happiness. It is not by merely satisfying our wants by acquiring the things we see other people have. It is, indeed, by serving others and learning to recognize the joys by so doing. We can never be content with the kind of life we’re living if we’ve only scratched the surface of our purpose in life. What is the purpose of life? To be
happy—but the kind of happiness that we ought to attain is the kind that is not disrupted by the end of worldly pleasure. It is not the type that is suspended if a loved one dies. The happiness that we ought to arrive at is the type that brings hope and direction—a force that we can reckon with in our quest for eternal life in the presence of our Father in Heaven.

In'Ting'ible (Intangible)

I was leafing through Friendster last night and I thought I’d look at those of my childhood friends. They aren’t all in cyberspace as some find the Internet as too innovative. Creating a Friendster account would be too much for them to do. There were profiles like those of Renelyn’s (Gleng), Rhodora’s (Doray), Desiree Lou’s (Lot), Arbel’s & Aida’s, Dulce’s that steered me to look back and reminisce. They all look too grown up as children make up their lives now. Looking at their photographs reminds me of the old days and how it used to be. I realize how long it has been since we basked in each other’s presence. I couldn’t help but become poignant as I glance at the images of their children. A little over 10 years ago, these kids weren’t even thought of.

After high school, and even in college, we believed we wouldn’t come to a point where we’d have to part ways. As everyone else did, we all had to find ourselves and make the most out of life, even if that involved separation from each other. They are my friends who I consider my family—friends who became part of my life that in a way, helped shape me into who and what I am.

My mother passed on when I was 11. The remaining years were spent with my father. My sister married when I was 14. I had no other family member my age to share my growing up years. My friends had to cover that part. They became my family.

Through the years I’ve met and became acquainted with new people who eventually became my good friends—friends from school, work, and church. I knew then as I know now that wherever I go, the people I meet and become close with will have one way or the other, an effect in my life. Moreover, each of them plays a role in my growth as an individual.

Meeting new people and making friendships are inevitable component of our existence. They come and go. Heaven knows when we will have the privilege of reunion again.

This time, one of my colleagues and a close friend will return to her beloved home in Cagayan de Oro. Ting has resigned from her job as part of the Call Center bandwagon for a little over four years. We took the same route on our way home. We spent jeepney rides (sometimes cab rides) together. To make a long story short, she, as did my acquaintances from before, took part of that wonderful and miraculous course of friendship with me. I count the making of friendship a miracle for even if the process consists of just a few months; the quality can be as good as friendships made in years. Ting is no different from my old friends. She knows me inside out as they do. We laughed & shared serious matters together the same way as those friends of mine and I laughed and shared tears years before. This is what makes life gratifying. This cycle of making friends and creating memories make most of our probation here in this world.

The process sees itself in action as Ting and I part ways. As always, I thank God for memories. The times shared—the meaningful discussions, the humor, the idle conversations—all are now sealed and wrapped up in the memoirs of life. Even if reality suggests that we see each other again in the future, the “call center friendship” episode has ended. I can never see Ting come in to the same door, sit on the same station, and eat at the same pantry again. Furthermore, I will never be sharing jeepney rides with her again on the same route.

We still have another getaway this coming weekend together with Ting and the team. After that, the tangible will turn into intangible. We can do nothing but hold on to memories—intangible as it is. Just as my relationship with my old friends became discolored through the years because of absence, the same may come to pass with my friendship with Ting. Nevertheless, just as with all my friends whom I haven’t seen for a very long time, sweet remembrances will be shared if God permits our paths to cross again.

I will forever be thankful for the friendship Ting and I made in the short time of knowing each other. I hope that moving forward the friendship will remain as sweet and meaningful as it is now. Ting, my friend, will always have a special place in my heart.

Parasites (Informational)

Ting, a colleague and a dear friend brought up an unusual topic on our way home this morning. I couldn't recall exactly how it came about but she started wondering, first of all, what cockroaches have to do with our existence. Then, mosquitoes came into the picture. The odd idea that if these insects weren’t in existence, there wouldn’t be any production of insecticides, such as “BAYGON” & “RAID”, just to name a few. And the manufacture of such would involve employment. Then we agreed that a far-fetched purpose for these insects is to generate jobs!

At the back of my mind, I knew that all things and creatures serve a purpose but I wasn’t really thinking as all I was meaning to do was to get home and get some sleep. However, while I was walking on the way to the house I couldn’t get the question off my mind. I knew that sometime in school we were taught about parasites in our Science subject and that roaches and mosquitoes, among others, belong to that group.

Well, it’s been a long time since my brain obtained this knowledge and unfortunately I couldn’t just tap on it at my disposal.

I had to go online and make a little bit of research. Here’s what I found out:

Parasites do play an important role in our vast ecology. They are part of the global food web – 'the circle of life'. Here is why:

Cockroaches eat just about anything. Being omnivore scavengers, they decompose and recycle the organic litter left behind by larger animals. The other big bonus is that cockroaches do not care about what they eat. Possessing a wide variety of bacteria and protozoa in their digestive system, they can eat everything! This is one of the main reasons as to why cockroaches have survived for such a long period of time – 300 million years to be exact. Cockroaches declined in number as the earth’s climate changed periodically, but they are currently thriving due to human impact. The little scavengers live for two things – heat, and a decent feed (both of which we have in abundance). Humans have re-created the Utopia for cockroaches. Our homes are kept warm all year round, and we leave food lying all over the place. To top things off, there are plenty of places to hide for the cockroach – under the stove, in the dishwasher, behind the toaster – the list is endless.

Funnily enough, most cockroaches aren’t pests. There are almost 3,500 species of cockroach in the world, and only 10 are on the World Health Organisation list of human pests. The majority of the cockroaches do not care about humans and their houses – choosing instead to recycle the waste products that are left outside. They also serve as food to small mammals, birds, amphibians and lizards.

*** Posted online by m*STAR (http://www.orble.com/mstar/)

Here’s another one from John Carlson, Medical student, MD/PhD (parasitology) , Tulane University, School of Medicine, discussing about mosquitoes.

Generally, the idea that everything has a purpose assumes that ecosystems are in balance and that all organisms in the ecosystem play a role in maintaining that balance. I believe that you are asking me what purpose mosquitoes have in maintaining balance in an ecosystem.

In a classic example of a balanced ecosystem, there is a prairie of grass, rabbits that eat the grass, and wolves that eat the rabbits. If there were no wolves, the rabbit population would get too large, eat up all of the grass, and then starve themselves to death. If the rabbits were not there, then the grass would not be trimmed, trees would take over the prairie, and the ecosystem would be lost. In this example of a balanced ecosystem, every animal is necessary for the survival of the ecosystem. If one of the organisms is gone, then the ecosystem will collapse. Each of these organisms have a purpose, as most people would define it.

Now let us add a parasite to this system. Let's say that ticks feed on both the wolves and the rabbits. This takes blood away from both the predator and prey, and makes the animals less energetic. The animals won't be sick enough to stop their important role in balancing the ecosystem, but there might be fewer numbers of them. Is the tick important? The tick really doesn't have a role in balancing the ecosystem. It could be said, therefore, that ticks do not have a purpose.

Let's go one step further and say that a certain bacteria infects the rabbits. In order to get from inside one rabbit to inside another rabbit, the bacteria must be transported by a tick. In that case the tick has a purpose for the bacteria. But neither the tick nor the bacteria have a role in balancing the ecosystem.

Now let's say that a scientist comes and collects some of the ticks. She takes the ticks back to her laboratory and finds a chemical inside them that is useful in treating humans with heart disease. She collects more ticks and uses them to make a new medicine that saves many lives. Now the tick has a purpose to humans.

Let's say that an ecologist goes into the ecosystem and discovers how the bacteria get moved from one rabbit to another through the tick. He studies the ways in which the bacteria lives, and then writes a scientific article on the interesting life of the bacteria. Other people read about this interesting bacteria, and it is very inspiring to them. The bacteria has a purpose to the people who find it interesting.

The mosquitoes that were biting you in Coasta Rica probably do not have a purpose in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem there. Some may be eaten by frogs or fish, but there are plenty of other insects for those animals to eat. If all of the mosquitoes were killed, the ecosystem would probably not suffer, unless the poisons used to kill them also killed organisms that are required for the balance of the rainforests. (This is one very difficult problem with trying to control pest insects!)

No one knows, however, all of the secret chemicals those mosquitoes might have. One day, one of the chemicals inside a mosquito might be used to make a new drug. If all of the mosquitoes were killed, scientists would never have the chance to find out.

Also, mosquitoes have many fascinating life styles. They carry many fascinating parasites between different animals. So for people who love to learn about the strange way that life works, those mosquitoes have a purpose that way too.

*** Taken from http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2000-09/968278449.Gb.r.html

4 A's of Prayer

It was time to talk about Enos in Sunday school. His example of prayer is a classic and from it comes a profound meaning for this so important act in life.

(If you want to know who Enos is and about his family and history, you may want to find out here > http://mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/the-restoration-of-truth/the-book-of-mormon or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enos_%28Book_of_Mormon%29)

Among other things, Enos teaches us by example of four great principles associated with powerful prayer focused on a particular need. Interestingly enough, all of them can be written beginning with the letter “A”.

1. ALONE:

Enos made his first great petition while he was hunting. In the course of his pursuit of beasts, he had a deep and rich experience and stopped hunting and started praying. His prayer, at least in terms of its location, was much like the prayer of Joseph in the Sacred Grove. Joseph said, “After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God.” (JS–H 1:15) Amulek taught, “But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.” (Alma 34:26) President Kimball said “We, too, ought to find, where possible, a room, a corner, a closet, a place where we can “retire” to “pray vocally” in secret.” (Ensign, Oct. 1981, p. 4)

2. ALOUD:

Enos knelt before his maker and “cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication. . . . I did raise my voice high that it reached the heavens” (Enos 1:4) Nephi said it this way: “I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, My God . . .” (2 Nephi 4:35.)Nearly one hundred times in the Book of Mormon some form of the verb "to cry" is used to denote prayer. A "cry" is usually vocal. Amulek indicates this in his stirring sermon on prayer when he counsels: "And when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually." (Alma 34:27, emphasis added.) In other words, when we do not or cannot pray vocally, then we should pray in our hearts. (Ted Gibbons, Put off Thy Shoes, p. 68)

President Spencer W. Kimball said: We recall the many times the Lord instructs us to pray vocally. "And again, I command thee that thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private. (Doctrine and Covenants 19:28.) So central is this to our prayers and personal religious life that the Lord instructed the priesthood brethren to "visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties. (Ensign, October 1981, p. 2.)

3. A LOT:

Not all answers come at the first petition. Our repeated requests are not an effort to change the Lord but to change ourselves. Read the seventh paragraph in the entry under Prayer in the Bible Dictionary. We are not trying to get the Lord ready to answer our prayer, but to get ourselves ready to receive the answer he wants to give us. “All the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.” (Enos 1:4)

Speaking of this experience of Enos, Pres. Harold B. Lee said,“I once read that scripture to a woman who laughed and said, "Imagine anybody praying all night and all day." I replied, "My dear sister, I hope you never have to come to a time where you have a problem so great that you have to so humble yourself. I have; I have prayed all day and all night and all day the next day and all night the next night, not always on my knees but praying constantly for a blessing that I needed most. (The Improvement Era, October 1966, p. 898.)

Boyd K. Packer said, Sometimes you may struggle with a problem and not get an answer. What could be wrong? It may be that you are not doing anything wrong. It may be that you have not done the right things long enough. Remember, you cannot force spiritual things.Sometimes we are confused simply because we won't take no for an answer. (Ensign, November 1979, p. 21.)

4. ANSWER:

After we have prepared ourselves and done “the right thing long enough,” the answers will come: “And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed. And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.” (Enos 1:5,6) I think we must have a great faith in the willingness of the Lord to speak to us. Joseph Smith said, “It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God, and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another . . .” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345)

*** Taken from the lessons of Ted L. Gibbons of LDSLiving.com

Science and Faith

This was sent to me through email. If I am to describe this discussion using an image, this is how it's going to turn out.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy speaks to his Class on the Problem Science has with GOD, The ALMIGHTY. He asks one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .

Professor: You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?

Student: Yes, sir.

Professor: So you Believe in GOD ?

Student: Absolutely, sir.

Professor: Is GOD Good ?

Student: Sure.

Professor: Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?

Student: Yes.

Professor: My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him. Most of us would attempt to Help Others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD Good then ? Hmm ?

( Student is silent )

Professor: You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella. Is GOD Good ?

Student: Yes.

Professor: Is Satan good?

Student: No..

Professor: Where does Satan come from?

Student: From . . . GOD . . .

Professor: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?

Student: Yes.

Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make Everything. Correct?

Student: Yes.

Professor: So who created evil ?

( Student does not answer )

Professor: Is there Sickness ? Immorality ? Hatred ? Ugliness ? All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?

Student: Yes, sir.

Professor: So, who Created them ?

( Student has no answer )

Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you. Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?

Student: No, sir.

Professor: Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?

Student: No , sir.

Professor: Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD ? Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?

Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

Professor: Yet you still Believe in HIM?

Student: Yes.

Professor: According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student: Nothing. I only have my Faith.

Professor: Yes. Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.

Student: Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?

Professor: Yes.

Student: And is there such a thing as Cold?

Professor: Yes.

Student: No sir. There isn't. ( The Lecture Theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events )

Student: Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat, a Little Heat or No Heat. But we don't have anything called Cold.. We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as Cold. Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat. We cannot Measure Cold. Heat is Energy. Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it. ( There is Pin - Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )

Student: What about Darkness, Professor ? Is there such a thing as Darkness?

Professor: Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?

Student: You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the Absence of Something. You can have Low Light, Normal Light , Bright Light, Flashing Light . . . But if you have No Light Constantly, you have Nothing and it's called Darkness, isn't it ? In reality, Darkness isn't. If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?

Professor: So what is the point you are making, Young Man?

Student: Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is Flawed.

Professor: Flawed ? Can you explain how?

Student: Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD. You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought. It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing. Death is Not the Opposite of Life : just the Absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you Teach your Students that they Evolved from a Monkey?

Professor: If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.

Student: Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?

( The Professor shakes his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument is going )

Student: Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and cannot even prove that this Process is an On - Going Endeavor, are you not Teaching your Opinion, sir? Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher ?

( The Class is in Uproar )

Student: Is there anyone in the Class who has ever Seen the Professor's Brain?

( The Class breaks out into Laughter )

Student: Is there anyone here who has ever Heard the Professor's Brain, Felt it, Touched or Smelt it? . . . No one appears to have done so. So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have No Brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?

( The Room is Silent. The Professor stares at the Student, his face unfathomable )

Professor: I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.

Student: That is it sir . . . the Link between Man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that Keeps Things Moving & Alive.

Rain

It was a delight to listen to the pouring rain last night. It’s been a very hot summer and we’d appreciate a downpour every now and then. I just wish that would happen during mid-day to make my rest more comfortable—to, in a way, bathe the oven!

A rainy day or a rainy night brings back many memories. Aside from the fun bathe in the rain when I was a kid, there was that elementary school nostalgia when I bring along my raincoat and have my teacher button my way to it since mom wouldn’t come pick me up.

Gone were the days of raincoats in high school. I brought along an umbrella. It’s funny how we show off our umbrellas and compare as to which was bigger, but it was always enjoyable when I get to share with friends, especially my crush (just pray that she didn’t bring along an umbrella).

I would rather not talk about my memory of rain in college. That took place in Manila, particularly in Espana in Sampaloc. A downpour would mean cancellation of classes as flashfloods rise faster than you think. You’d later find yourself stranded and if you want to go home, you have to trek your way through the dirty floodwaters. My birthdays always had to happen on a rainy day. We had to walk our way through the ‘swamp’ just to buy food to eat for the fete.

I lived through those days and looking back, I think I know & understand the importance of rain in my life. For me the rain is a symbol of God’s blessing. Moroni, a Book of Mormon prophet wrote about a certain “dearth” (famine) in the land when the people basked in wickedness (Moroni 9). “And it came to pass that there began to be a great dearth upon the land, and the inhabitants began to be destroyed exceedingly fast because of the dearth, for there was no rain upon the face of the earth” (v. 30). The famine occurred because of the absence of rain. Notice what happened when the people humbled themselves—only then did the Lord send rain. “And it came to pass that when they had humbled themselves sufficiently before the Lord he did send rain upon the face of the earth; and the people began to revive again, and there began to be fruit in the north countries, and in all the countries round about. And the Lord did show forth his power unto them in preserving them from famine” (v. 35). Because of the rain, “the people began to revive again, and there began to be fruit…..”. Notice the effect of rain among the people.

We all hear some people grumble about life’s difficulties. Sometimes the hardships lead to transgression of God’s laws. That is somehow extreme. Let us just say that because of life’s hardships, people tread on the paths of omission, not necessarily intending to disobey. While on that path, however, the things that are supposed to be done which aren’t done leads one away from God, thus the beginning of a more errant life. Then the “dearth” comes. There’s no more rain, just famine. People then die down and bear no fruit at all. Life becomes even less mediocre, if not useless and miserable.

When life becomes too unhappy and unfruitful, one would want rain to come as the Philistines of old (Gen. 27:28, Deut 33:13) to make their land fertile. Just as the dews of heaven come when we start to realize our mistakes and our lack, the rain follows when we stay on the path of recovery and become “sufficiently” humble. Then we become revived and once again, productive.

I want to think of rain as the gift of the Holy Ghost. We keep a dazzling “downpour” of this gift if we tread the paths of obedience & righteousness. Just as I remember how fun and joyful it was with my experience of rain in my youth, the same feeling vibrates as I remember the rainy days in my spiritual quest for happiness.

New Prophet

It was a privilege watching the General Conference proceedings. I was able to take a peak Sunday morning before going to church, and eventually continuing to finish some sessions early this morning. This conference is historic and significant. We will all be honored to experience the proceedings this coming weekend and the first session will be, what we traditionally call, the Solemn Assembly. We will have the opportunity to raise our right hand to sustain our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson.

As of this writing, the concluding session of this year’s Annual General Conference has not been uploaded in the Internet. I realized this when I, inattentively, clicked on the link for the Sunday afternoon session of October conference last year, thinking that it was of the most recent conference. I thought while I am on it, I might as well take another look at President Hinckley. I moved towards the end of the streaming video and there was President Hinckley’s closing remarks. Who would forget his humor, referring to this year’s April conference, “I’m 97, but I hope I'm going to make it”. Oh we do miss him! We miss his humor, his wit, and his charm.

Now we have a new prophet in the person of Thomas S. Monson. I wish I could say that I adore him as much as I adore President Hinckley. Then again, I realize that my attention was drawn to Gordon Hinckley because he was such a visible leader of the church in my growing up years. When he became prophet, I already loved him. Now, the focus is shifted to another person, who sat by President Hinckley as his counselor all those years. The only difference is, from 1995 to 2008, President Hinckley remained healthy until the day of his death in January of this year. Prior prophets such as Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, & Howard W. Hunter, were sickly towards the end of their days leaving President Hinckley the most recognizable figure in the first presidency. That didn’t happen during President Hinckley’s tenure as prophet, which leaves Thomas Monson in the shadows.

Now that President Monson is the prophet, I think of his talks all these years. When I figured out that he’s going to be the next in line, I began observing his life and his teachings. I am impressed that he became a Bishop at age 22, & eventually became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve at age 36. Those are in themselves, testimonies of his commitment, worthiness, & dedication to the work of the Lord. I remember his talks in parables & those about compassionate service. He’s made a mark in the ministry as a living example of his talks & teachings. I can recall his diligence in continuing correspondence with people, his home teaching experiences, which eventually turned out successful. When I think of President Monson, I am reminded of the hymn, “Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd”. I believe that his presidency will be a hallmark of taking care of the poor and the needy, & a keen focus on the less/in-active members of the church—the lost sheep.

As I watch him during the Solemn Assembly, being sustained by each quorum/auxiliary in the church, I recognize that I love him. He may not be as adorable as President Hinckley, but he has his own marks of being a prophet. He is a giant of a spiritual man in his own right. He is filled, as is the Savior, with “compassion towards the children of men” (Mosiah 15:9), and his works has brought to pass abundant outpouring of love and gratitude. I know that he is a prophet of God. I look forward to be among those who will be privileged to be in his presence when he comes to dedicate another House of the Lord here in the lovely city of Cebu.

Prophet's Death

It’s been over a week that’s passed since we said goodbye to President Hinckley. I had not written anything or bring out my thoughts about his passing until now. I just can’t believe he’s gone.

I’ve seen his funeral service over satellite transmission on the Sunday before last. We’ve heard tributes & documentaries about his life. We saw how a spiritual giant of a man lived his life & now it has ended. It’s remarkable how much love is brought about by the occasion.

I love Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley. Most of the years in my life were spent watching him, learning about him, reading his works, & just loving to talk about him, than any other modern day prophet. I was called upon to serve a mission by this man. My entire two years were full of memories about his teachings & his love, particularly for missionaries.

Prior to the start of my mission was the privilege of being in the midst of President Hinckley in the Araneta Coliseum, in Manila, on May of 1996. I started my mission on December of that same year.

I wrote in my journal:
From the time he entered the coliseum to the conclusion of the conference, I was touched. From the signing of “We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet” to the singing of “God be with you ‘til we meet again”, I was moved to tears. I sang those hymns as if I was personally singing and dedicating each verse to him.

….With a loud and clear voice he re-emphasized, as he always does, in his interviews & talks, that in this world of shifting values, the church is a solid rock that stands amidst them. It is a rock that stays firmly & deeply rooted in the ground amidst the rushing waters of the stream. It is a mountain that stands no matter how strong the storm is. Ours is a church that considers values and standards the Lord has given as never changing. In connection to the last Article of our faith, he said: “We believe in being chaste, pure, clean. We believe in being morally clean”. He said that we cannot indulge in immorality without injuring ourselves. We cannot do wrong and feel good. On the other hand, we cannot do good and feel bad about it.

I remember, in this special conference, that he challenged us, that before we leave the coliseum, to resolve in our hearts to change for the better & improve. I thought that we, as individual members of the church, have a great responsibility as our prophet. We in our own sphere of labor have a responsibility to build & further the kingdom as our prophet has in his sphere.

Again, from my journal:
When Pres. Hinckley gave his blessing, by virtue of his apostolic calling, in the Presidency of this church, he did so with power and authority. I know that as I know that I live. When he said that this church is a church of continuous revelation, he did so by virtue of his personal experience. I know that no other person living in this world communes with God more personally & intimately than the living prophet.
When he expressed his love & gratitude for us, when he expressed that he wished he could shake hands & embrace each & every one of us in the “big dome”, I intimately felt that expression. He was true & sincere in his intentions.

Our sacrifice to have gone and see & hear our prophet speak was not in vain. We have been so enriched. In sacrifice comes the blessing & I know we will be blessed.

My church orientation was since childhood, is only limited to this branch (my home branch) & district & Manila; however as Sis. Hinckley put it, I have seen a lot & have felt so much to ever deny this church. It is true!

Follow the prophet, remember his words & obey. I love our prophet, I love this church. I love the Book of Mormon. I love the prophet Joseph Smith. I love the Savior very much & I love our Heavenly Father. I only hope I could measure up to their expectations.

That testimony was borne out of inspiration from being with a prophet of God, President Hinckley. I can recall the feeling. Since then I have come to greatly love him.

Now that he’s gone I’m amazed at his life.

Looking back, in the mission, we were inspired by President Hinckley’s incredible capacity to work. At one time, during his birth month of June, we dedicated our work to his cause. He was 88 then, & we committed to work for at least 88 baptisms that month, and we made it! I also remember it was during my mission when he made his first appearance on Larry King Live. He was remarkable. He had a sharp mind. He was smart in his responses, & he was so loveable in his countenance.

I also remember the 6 B’s he gave us, leaving the A’s for our school teachers to give (his humor). Be smart. Be grateful. Be clean. Be true. Be prayerful. Be humble. I shall never forget this plea from a prophet especially when it was made into music by Aaron Edson. He, too, was moved by this significant talk by Pres. Hinckley. These are 6 B’s I continually govern my life with up to this time.

Also remarkable was his optimism. I’ve never met or heard of a person who’s possessed with the kind of optimism President Hinckley had.

I remember the Mormon Tabernacle Choir had to go to Europe for a tour in 1991. The plans had been made & most significantly, accommodations were already arranged. Then, the Gulf War broke out. Discussions were made as to how the tour would go about & choir management was looking into canceling the trip altogether. Either way, complications will come. The choir president met and consulted with President Hinckley and presented the idea of canceling the trip. The beloved prophet didn’t like the sound of that and simply said not to cancel, “the war will be over then”, he envisioned. True it was. A ceasefire was declared prior to the choir’s trip to Europe. What a vision! What an amazing stack of optimism! Where did this come from?

I was born 1974. The President of the church then was Harold B. Lee. It wasn’t long until he passed on and Spencer W. Kimball became president. When I was growing up, I saw Gordon B. Hinckley installed in the First Presidency—first as a 3rd counselor to President Kimball, and then as regular counselor to Presidents Benson & Hunter. That was a long period of time that when it was Howard Hunter’s time to become president, I alluded that Gordon B. Hinckley should have been the next in line since he’s been in the First Presidency for the longest time. Little did I know that the Presidency is determined from seniority in the apostleship.

In those years as counselor, when the prophets were ill, he stood alone in the First Presidency. As a human like the rest of us, he felt alone and somewhat discouraged in facing the challenges of a worldwide church at that time. He found comfort by the Lord’s voice, “be still and know that I am God”. This is where & how, I believe, he acquired his optimism. He knew that despite difficulty, the Lord is in control. He is at the helm and is governing His church. President Hinckley had confidence in the work, and was confident that the Lord will always lead the way. So no matter what problem & trouble comes along the way, he was optimistic that the Lord will see the church through. His genuine faith in the Savior solidifies his optimism. This has brought about great things for the church in his administration, such as building temples and bringing the church out of obscurity by maximizing the use of media, to name just several of his accomplishments.

I know that you can relate when I say that I love President Hinckley because he was the prophet of my time. Nearly all my 33 years were lived in the shadow of President Hinckley. He has influenced my life & in a way, directed my life by his teachings, admonitions, and his humble pleas. I have come to love my mission because of him. I obtained a greater testimony of the Book of Mormon & of the Savior because of him. I can’t recall a talk or speaking engagement when he didn’t talk about the Savior and his testimony of Him.

As critics talked about Joseph Smith when he died that Mormonism has lost their prophet and may, in a way, diminish the religion—the same can be said of Gordon B. Hinckley with respect to his contribution in making Mormonism part of mainstream Christianity without compromising its theology. When it’s true that Mormonism, at this point in time, had lost a great prophet, it does not lead to mean, as skeptics view it, that the religion will take a backward step. It wasn’t so in Joseph Smith’s time, it’s not going to be this time. In his own words he said, “… but my successor will carry on, & there’ll be no problem. The church won’t lose a step. It’ll just move forward”. President Hinckley pioneered almost every aspect in the church & his leadership initiated a resplendent future of Mormonism.

What a great time it is to be alive—to have consumed the influence of a great spiritual leader & to witness the calling of a new prophet. I have confidence in Pres. Thomas S. Monson. He, too, as President Hinckley, was schooled and well prepared to assume this prophetic responsibility. He’s as energetic & hard working as was Pres. Hinckley. And most of all, he’s as humble and compassionate as Gordon B. Hinckley.

President Hinckley has touched my life and, for as long as I live, will hold his memory in my heart.