What Seek Ye?

Due to I have spent most of my time reading the Book of Mormon for the last week, I did not give much study and attention to our Church newly installed gospel learning “Come, Follow Me”.

I feel fresh today as I joined the first Sunday School this year, the class was so edifying. In the class, our Sunday School teacher Brother Earnest asked a question to the members, “What is the one thing you would do today after you go back to home, which will draw you closer to Jesus Christ?”

The first thought came to my mind was, “I am going to have Family Home Evening this evening.” That was the answer that I given to Brother Earnest. He explained that there are so many blessings that Heavenly Father wants to give us, unless we do what we suppose to do.

This was the same thing that Sister E Chin and Sister Chelsea counselled me last 2 months ago. I learned then. That is why I am trying to do whatever which will invite the Spirit into our home again.

After dinner we gathered together at the living room and having our family evening for the proper one and we learned together about the lesson that we have today – We Are Responsible for Our Own Learning.

“What seek ye?” Jesus asked His disciples (John 1:38). You might ask yourself the same question - for what you find in the New Testament this year will greatly depend on what you seek. “Seek, and ye shall find” is the Savior’s promise (Matthew 7:7).

When I firstly joined the Church, my desire to read the Book of Mormon was so strong and I want to gain a testimony about it. Then after 4 years, I think it is time for me to read the New Testament, because I do not know much about Jesus despite the stories that I used to teach the children but I did not really sit down and read the New Testament itself, even though I have been baptised in His Church.

That is why I seek to know more about Jesus Christ, learn of Him and seek to know more about His attributes. Out of many, I want to learn more compassionate and more kindness.

Besides that, I desire to make my home a holy place, to invite the Spirit come to my home. How to do that? By doing the simple things that we are to do.

Other than my spiritual and home, I seek for a breakthrough or change of heart and attitude in my career so that I can make built up my residual income this year.

To truly learn from the Savior, I must accept His invitation, “Come, follow me.”

What we all must learn – is that being a disciple means giving our whole souls to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We progress in our discipleship as we identify what we lack, change, and seek to more fully follow Them.

Learning from the Savior starts when we strive to understand what He taught. For example, how does your understanding of forgiveness deepen as you explore the following?

a. The Savior’s teachings (see Matthew 6:14-15; 18:21-35)

• Savior teaches that if we forgive whoever that have offended us, Heavenly Father will also forgive us; If we do not forgive whoever that have offended us, the same as Heavenly Father will not forgive us as well.

b. An example from His life (see Luke 23:33-34)

• Jesus prayed and He asked Heavenly Father to forgive the soldiers who crucified Him because they did not know He was the Savior.

c. However, learning is not complete until we follow the Savior by living what He taught. How can you be more forgiving?

• Try to think about why the other person might have done what he did.
• Think of something good about the other person.
• Pray for help to forgive when It is hard.
• Don’t keep being angry at the person.

I am responsible for my own learning

What does it mean to take responsibility for your own learning? Look for possible answers in Elder Bednar’s statement and in the following scriptures: John 7:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; James 1:5-6,22;2:17; 1 Nephi 10:17-19; 2 Nephi 4:15; Alma 32:27; and Doctrine and Covenants 18:18;58:26-28;88:118. What do you feel inspired to do to be more active in leaning the gospel?

• To take responsibility for your own learning meaning we should take our own initiative in learning.
• A true learner exercising agency by acting in accordance with correct principles open our heart to the Holy Ghost and invites His teaching, testifying power, and confirming witness. It requires spiritual, mental, and physical exertion and not just passive reception.
• I feel inspired to

I need to know the truth for myself

How do we gain and nurture our own testimonies? Write down your thoughts as you ponder the following scriptures: Luke 11:9-13; john 5:39; John 7:14-17; Acts 17:10-12; 1 Corinthians 2:9-11; and Alma 5:45-46.

• We gain and nurture our own testimonies with prayer, search the scriptures diligently and open our heart to the Holy Ghost and Holy Ghost will teach us what we want to know for ourselves.

What should I do when I have questions?

1. Seek understanding through divinely appointed sources.
2. Act in faith.
3. Keep an eternal perspective.

The Parable of the Sower

Finally we talked about the parable of the sower, and what can we do to cultivate “good ground” in our home? A good living environment that we can learn the gospel together.

How we can make our home more gospel centred and make our home a holy place?

And, here are some of our lists that we can think of and we want to tick off at least one of the them each week!

The Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Today is end of the first week of 2019. I have finally completed my scripture study of the Book of Mormon for the first time cover to cover!

It have been really struggling for me in completing the reading of the Book of Mormon since day one I have got to know the Church. My initial plan was to complete reading the Book of Mormon before I be baptized 4 years ago, because I want to know it for myself.

My so called instinct at that time, wanted it so badly and my mind was telling myself that the quickest way to know was to read or listen to the Gospel Library App “Doctrine and Covenants Stories” for children - to know who was Joseph Smith and how our Church was organized and the history of the early members of the Church.

And second after which, I should read or listen to the “Book of Mormon Stories” for children - to know what is in the stories. I had a testimony of Prophet Joseph Smith was called of God and I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God, after my own ‘express reading’ and I got baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Throughout the years after my baptism, I always have a ‘mission’ which is to complete reading the Book of Mormon.

2015, I read till 2 Nephi and stopped;

2016, I read reached Enos and stopped, continued to Mosiah and stopped;

2017, I read till Mosiah and I faced some challenges, then I have got an impression that I should read the Doctrine and the Covenants;

January 2018, President Thomas S Monson had passed away, and the First Presidency message he left for us was the The Gift of Repentance. It touched my heart so much that even the last message the prophet offered to us was Repentance.

I reflected on myself and I realised that I did not give much attention to the counsels of the prophet. President Monson had always asked us to read and study the Book of Mormon.

I made it my 2018 New Year resolution was to complete the reading of the Book of Mormon. I continued back where I left. Then due to the daily activities that fill much time each day – things like work, home, school, taking care of family. I surrendered and stopped at Alma.

Entering last October, I faced little trial and challenge. I remembered that during the General Women Conference, President Russell M Nelson extended four invitations to the sisters. One of those was read the Book of Mormon by the end of 2018. The thought of ‘I still can catch the last train of the year of 2018!’ came to my mind and I still can complete my 2018 New Year resolution.

I picked up my Book of Mormon again and continue on Helaman, and then 3 Nephi. I had never felt the Spirit so strong in guiding me study through the 3 Nephi during my trial and challenges!

I have nothing but to agree completely 101% that 3 Nephi is the highlight of the Book of Mormon! I have learned about the Savior’s words and actions during Jesus Christ’s ministry among the people of the Book of Mormon.

Everyday I have been touched by the Spirit and it seems as the Savior was administering to me one to one:

He teaches me how the Holy Ghost often speaks to us in a still, small voices that we feel in our heart;

He teaches me how to listen to the voice of the Lord through Holy Ghost, so that I will be able to understand the communication He gives me;

He teach me how to pray to Heavenly Father in His name;

He teaches me by pondering and praying to the Father, I can receive greater understanding, and so much more!

These serial of learning have made me believed that there are no such thing as co-incident, but it is all divine design or His plan. He knows that I will encounter this trial at this point of time and he administered me one to one through 3 Nephi.

Entering Mormon, Ether and Moroni, it was another amazing experiences that I have!

The prophet Mormon teach me I can choose to live righteously even if I am alone.

The brother of Jared teach me more about faith, prayer, revelation, and the relationship between exercising faith in Jesus Christ and receiving spiritual knowledge.

Moroni teach me the way to judge between good and evil, and the relationship between faith, hope, and charity.

Finally, there are 3 questions that concluded the Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students for the Book of Mormon:

What differences has studying the Book of Mormon this year made in your life?

There are so much differences made in my life as I have studying the Book of Mormon on 2018. It have draw me closer to the Savior, teach me how to live in the gospel and put into action of the things that I have learned. And, I can feel that my faith is growing from the day one I read the Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 4 years ago.

What lessons or principles have helped you “come unto Christ” and strengthened your faith in the Savior?

All the lessons in the Book of Mormon have helped me “come unto Christ” and strengthen my faith in the Savior. It have been such a wonderful experiences that I had for each and every book from 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi, Jacob, Enos, Mosiah, Alma, Helaman, 3 Nephi, Mormon, Ether and finally Moroni. Each book with a different trial and challenge that I have, they walked together with me.

Trials and challenges were bitter, hard and sometimes painful, but if we exercise our faith together with the word of God, they will become our testimonies.

What is your testimony of the Book of Mormon?

I have the testimony of, the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It come forth by the gift and power of God. The Book of Mormon was written specifically for us in the latter-days. It is another testament of Jesus Christ. The examples of the stories recorded inside indeed teach me how to become faithful in Jesus Christ and even teach me how to hold on to my covenant with the Lord.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is the revelator and prophet in these last days whom restored the gospel and organised His Church on the earth again.

I know that we do have a living prophet, and the Lord still speaks to us again through his living prophet, President Russell M Nelson.

Please, come, and get to know us by yourself.

You would never truly know us through the mouths of others.

Unless, you come and investigate yourself, read the Book of Mormon with a sincere heart and real intent and ask Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ - to know that the Book of Mormon is true?

I promised you that, you will receive your answer.

Moroni 10:4-5
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost."

"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”

Issac’s Home-Study Seminary Time

We were having our dinner somewhere at Burger King Tropicana Avenue as I have Canaan Land Group meeting. Issac took out his seminary scripture study journal and started to do his homework.

I feel glad that now he has the initiatives to take out his scripture study journal and start to flip through his Gospel Library App and do it.

How blessed I am to have him in my life!

Sleeping Belle ^^

This little girl is so tired and taking her rest early today ^^.

Issac’s First Seminary Assignment

This year Issac turns to 14 years old. It is time for him to start the Seminary class. I just asked him start to study the scriptures and follow according to the Gospel Library App Home-Study Seminary Program.

This year the students will be studying Doctrine and Covenants. As we are not in United States and our students are few, thus we are following the Home-Study program.

The student will first complete reading assignments from the scripture, then they will complete the individual lessons. Once a week they will meet with a seminary teacher to submit their work and participate in a weekly lesson.

There are 32 units to be completed during this year and they will need to work on their seminary assignment each school days, even though they will not attend a seminary class each day.

Seminary is a really good daily religious education program for the youth to follow and grows their faith onto Jesus Christ and His teachings. Here are some of his assignments which he did at home.

Simple Lunch

After we attended the Church on Sunday and I requested a Blessing from Brother Kelvin, I drove to Skudai, Johor together with both Issac, Annabelle and Oscar the furry cat. It was almost 9.00pm. when we reached Skudai.

These few days the children and I just stayed at home as Alvin need to work during day time. Thus, I just try to clear his fridge as he will be moving out from this current house to his new company job site near Kulai.

This is what I did for the children – Yong Tau Foo, together with fish bone corn soup and fried egg for our lunch. It was kind of ugly when I fried those stuffed fishpaste and minced pork brinjals and bitter guords… I am glad that both children are always very supportive even my cooking is not so good. 

It is kind of blessed that I have both of them in my life. Sometimes I really feel both of them are the guardian angel that the Lord have given to me, and He knows that they will protect me and guide me to walk on the path, especially with my relationship with Alvin now.

Future Missionary Wristband

Issac received a Future Missionary Wristband from a young man in the Church whom will go for his mission soon. Normally it is the tradition that a young man that received his mission call letter, will extend his wristband to the following youths in the Branch to encourage them to go for a mission.

Since the day when we joined the Church, I encourage Issac to go to serve for a mission if he is grow up and reach 18 years old. As I had witnessed so much changes to the young men in the Church gained their own testimonies on the Savior when they came back from their mission. They were not only change spiritually but physically in terms of attitude as well.

That is my hope that both children would have a heart and desire to serve for a mission as they grow older and they put the Lord in the centre of their life.