Five Loaves and Two Fishes

November 3, 2024

Five Loaves and Two Fishes

Dear Elder Yu,

I believe that you might have heard about the Christian TV series “The Chosen” before you went on your mission.

I have come across and listened to a BYU Devotional talk that just happened a few days ago, 29 October 2024 by the creator of “The Chosen” TV series, Dallas Jenkins. He talked about how to embrace failure and trust in God’s plan.

Dallas stated that earlier in his career, he aspired to Hollywood's fame and glitter, as well as to create films that were box office successes. For years, he worked on smaller independent films, but in 2017, he was given the opportunity to work with large Hollywood studios and make the type of big film he'd always desired. "I had arrived," Dallas recalled thinking.

However, when the film was released to the public, its box office performance collapsed. “Within two hours, I went from being a director with a very bright future to being a director with no future,” he said.

Dallas and his wife, Amanda, were distraught. As they sat at home in tears, Amanda was convinced that her husband should study the New Testament tale of Jesus feeding the 5,000—and she sensed God telling her, "I do impossible math."
Dallas initially assumed this indicated that the film's numbers would improve. But things grew worse. So Dallas remained up late composing a report, attempting to figure out what went wrong with the film. Then, to his complete amazement, an acquaintance sent him this message at 4 a.m.: "Remember, it is not your responsibility to feed the 5,000. It's merely to offer bread and fish."

Dallas claims the moment transformed his life.

"In that moment, I knew God was there." I knew God was watching over this. I knew God had taken me to that point of failure, and He had something in store for me. …
"I was not going to be able to solve or figure this out on my own. I still didn't understand what impossible math meant in this case because success was not on the horizon. But at that moment, all I cared about was God's will. I gave up. "Probably for the first time in my life."

Following that, Dallas created a short film about the birth of the Savior from the perspective of the shepherds. Compared to the scale of production of his previous feature, this short film "felt like a significant step-down." "It didn't even feel like five loaves and two fishes; it felt like one loaf and half a fish," Dallas tells me. On the other side, Dallas had never felt more in his element.

Dallas was inspired by this sensation to create The Chosen. However, he lacked the ability to create the visual depiction of Jesus and His followers that he envisioned.
Long story short, the short video Dallas created was spotted by Angel Studios (then known as VidAngel) in Provo, Utah. The company adored it. They were also intrigued by Dallas' idea for The Chosen and wanted to pursue it. But they intended to fund the series through crowdfunding—and Dallas was skeptical.

"Crowdfunding rarely works," he explains. But then he remembered the parable of the loaves and fishes, and he resolved to try again. "And something special happened," he explains. "I'm sitting at the computer, with my wife next to me, and we break the 10 million mark, shattering the all-time crowdfunding record by 16 thousand.

"I hear my wife sniffling, and I look over and she has tears streaming down her cheeks, saying, 'I do impossible math!'" He spoke it to her again, just as clearly as He had the previous year.

“In that moment, it was very easy to realize … this is impossible math. This is the kind of math that God’s part of, not the math equation based on numbers and interest. This is what He does: He takes the small, the broken, the surrender, and makes something out of it.”

“Whether in failure or success, the message is the same: When you make your five loaves and two fish. He does ask that of us,” he continued, “He could have just waved his hand like I am in front of you right now, and in front of thousands of people and the Loaves and fish could have appeared out of nothing.”

“But He does demand for us to participate for us to do the things that we don't necessarily need Him for so that He can do the thing that He only He can do – the miracle part, so He does involve Us in the process.”

“Isn't that so gracious of Him whether it's asking for the Five Loaves and two fish? Or whether it's telling His disciples to roll the stone away when Lazarus is raised? Or whether it's telling Moses to camp out at the edge of the Red Sea, and strike the rock, so the water would part.”

“He does ask us to participate but I'm telling you… especially whether in failure or success Five Loaves and two fish when you hand that to Him and He deems it worthy of acceptance, the transaction is over.”

“It's the Five-in-Two principle you bring what you have, you give it to God, and let it go, and when you get to that place, where you don't care about the results and you don't care about what they say.”

Dallas advised, urging the audiences (BYU students) to find peace and purpose in their efforts, regardless of the outcome.

“I implore you, starting now: Don’t wait until you’re in your 40s [like I am] for God to break you down and bring you to your knees in surrender. Starting now, get to this place — this superpower, actually — that comes from giving that up to God. It is not your job to feed the 5,000; it is only to provide the loaves and fish.”

This profoundly affected Jenkins, helping him realign his focus and trust in God’s plan. This principle, which emphasizes the importance of offering one’s best and leaving the results to God, became a guiding force in his life and work.

I know that these past weeks must have been a quite difficult situation for you to do the proselyting work due to transportation and car issues. Missionary work can be hard. And realizing that doesn’t make you a bad missionary.

When you're struggling, remember that God is on your side and that He is ready and prepared to assist you when you ask. He is always willing to listen to your heartaches and understands exactly how you feel.

Don’t be hesitant to ask for strength to manage your expectations or to control your attitude. Don’t be afraid to call down miracles for you and the work in your area. You can also reach out to your companion or leaders, who most likely have felt the same way you do at times and might know how to help you.

I feel prompted to share with you this talk because I know that you might feel a little uplifted by this talk. I know that you have offered and given to God all that you have – your Five Loaves and Two Fishes, and let God do His Maths.

Know that you are loved. And remember that Heavenly Father and the Savior are there to bear your burdens and challenges with you.

Love,
Mommy

P.S.: This is the link of the talk, it is under BYU Speeches https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/jenkins/five-loaves-and-two-fishes/

I Belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

November 2, 2024

I Belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Dear Elder Yu,

I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I know who I am.
I know God’s plan.
I’ll follow him in faith.
I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ.
I’ll honor his name.
I’ll do what is right;
I’ll follow his light.
His truth I will proclaim.

This letter comes a week late after I realized that our family has been baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for already 10 years since 26^th October 2024. I saw these photos came into my mailbox as a notification from One Drive for my memories from that day.

It was so co-incident that last week we studied the Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 27 to 4 Nephi about “There Could Not Be a Happier People” when I taught the Primary children that “I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ” and sang the song together and talk about why we are thankful to belong the Savior’s Church.

Reflecting through the years, it has never been easy to be on the path of discipleship. Coming to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wasn’t just about learning new doctrines, such as the premortal life and baptism for the dead; it was a change in culture, lifestyle, and expectations. Resolving those differences was a hard road to walk. Before our family joined the Church, I still remember the churches we used to go to, which in so many ways were quite unlike the ones we know now.

The clergy and choir at church were dressed in robes during worship service—their equivalent of sacrament meeting—ministers delivered sermons and did all of the talking. The churchgoers repeated the Lord's Prayer together and sang hymns that sounded like songs. There was a cross in the choir loft. They used grape juice instead of water for the sacrament, and high school kids attended Sunday School with the adults in a class that talked about current issues in society.

You still remember that I once said to you and Annabelle that, latter-day saints indeed are peculiar people as told by President Gordon B. Hickley because the world customs and social beliefs are so much different.

The world teaches that it is OK to drink alcohol or smoke. Having a boyfriend or girlfriend as a teenager is OK. The world teaches that you could even have sexual relations before marriage as long as you believe you are in love. I never know about having a testimony. The first time I saw a fast and testimony meeting—wow! I could not believe how odd that seemed. No one ever stood to share their beliefs like that in the churches out there.

Annabelle and you considered growing up in the Church, churchy things become pretty normal. You get used to the regularity of the meetings, the building you attend, and the kind of clothes people wear at church. Things like giving talks in sacrament meetings, paying tithing and fast offerings, and fasting once a month are just a part of life. Living the Word of Wisdom, accepting callings to serve, and living the law of chastity are all part of what you learn to do.

However, for converts, it can be a big adjustment trying to take it all in. Certainly, receiving a testimony of gospel principles is the first step toward membership in Christ's Church. Having a testimony, however, does not make the transition to living as a member of the Church any easier.

Fortunately for us, our church members are patient, compassionate, and consistent. They took us to events and invited us to their house for dinner, family home evening, and so on. That made a significant impact not just in my joining the church, but also in my remaining active and finding strength when my testimony wavered. I guess I owe a lot to the sisters in the Relief Society for helping me figure things out.

Here are some of the challenges new converts face. How might our friendship and missionary work help them overcome these challenges?

1. Struggling to understand new doctrine.
2. Choosing different media, music, movies, and books.
3. Understanding scripture language.
4. Coping with lack of acceptance from non-LDS family and friends.
5. Wearing different clothing.
6. Dedicating the time to attend church and seminary.
7. Learning new practices and customs in the worship services.
8. Having to change habits, language, and ways of thinking.
9. Adapting to LDS social culture.
10. Learning the LDS-specific meanings of terms, like gospel, apostasy, and restoration.

Last but not least, share with you, President Gordon B. Hickley’s quote:

“We are a peculiar people. There is a wholesomeness about you that is beautiful and wonderful. We don’t smoke, we don’t drink, we don’t even take tea or coffee. That is strange for a lot of people. We do vicarious work for the dead. We teach that marriage in the house of the Lord is for time and for all eternity, that families can actually be forever. We are a peculiar people, and thank heavens we are. If the world continues to go in the direction it is going, families breaking up, pornography everywhere, drugs and things of that kind, we will become an even more peculiar people. God has blessed us generously and kindly and greatly. How thankful we ought to be” (fireside, Sydney, Australia, 14 May 1997).

I am grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ that enabled all these wonderful and beautiful things to happen in my life, most importantly I got to know His restored gospel. I am grateful for my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is a precious thing to me. It isn’t a simple or ordinary thing; this is the Church and kingdom of God. This is the kingdom of God on earth. I share all these things in the name of our Savior, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love,
Mommy

12th Week in the Mission Field✨️

Well this week is soo cool, we were able to meet someone new. Teaching people is awesome and we also met with several families too✨️✨️

Also it's gonna be Wint-fall like Fall but it's going to be colder and colder I am grateful for the cold though, it's like soo funn✨️

Multi District Council 

This has been one of the most funnest District Council I have been. We were able to discuss on how we can bring people we teach to come to church and it's soo exciting ✨️✨️

Not only that but we had a wonderful meal with out District in Texas Roadhouse. Not authentic but Texas ground EeeHaa I had my first wonderful Steak, though it tasted weird. Still a wonderful experience ✨️

Best district ever ❤️

Previous P-Day

We had a wonderful game of LASER TAGG I was able to get to know all these missionaries and they are AMAZINGGG!!

Love, Share and Invite 

Well currently as we went and do LSI with as much member family as we can. I was able to train my ability to recognize the prompting of the Holy Ghost. But more than that know what to share towards the families we meet. Like it's such an interesting way that the Holy Ghost speaks to me and to each and everyone of us too. The best part is that the Spirit just prompts me with simple thoughts and from there things starts to expand ✨️✨️

I also came to learn something on my mission. "Just do it✨️" And that's how we improve by just doing it. it was so nerve wrecking at first, nonetheless I came to build courage to open my mouth even when I don't have everything I wanted to share in mind. Just do it!

How can I talk to people with more courage?

How can I be an obedient and happy missionary?

How can I know this is the right thing to share?

JUST DO ITT! using your best judgement and trusting in the small and soft thought that pops into your mind. Just trust it and gradually it will be expanded and expounded! It's soo crazy and funny with how it works but I love it

So just do it! Like Top Gun "Don't think, just do" Well with your best judgement to discern if it's from God but other than that yeah JUST DO ITT!!

Understanding

Another lesson that I have recently come across is how every individuals have their own story and hardship they face. So don't judge them. ✨️ Like it's really super hard not to judge people and it's always enlightening and comforting to learn about what others face which gradually develops compassion and empathy. Charity ❤️ true love of Christ and its been super duper hard for me. However I still love everyone like myself.

A wonderful example was when I was teaching Reina, when we asked how her day went. She said it's fine and great. I thought okay that's good, let's start the lesson. My comp Elder Hall (We went on exchanges) ask how so? And immediately Reina listed out a bucket load of the wildest and crazy thing that had happened to her recently and just telling us everything to which it just slapped me. Like how could I be this oblivious to all these. Maybe thats how the Savior does it. Just asking questions to show LOVE and understand everyone. And it's just soo interesting so I am going to work on that a bit more too✨️✨️

Obedience

Recently I have been studying regarding about the Endowment and the first Law of Obedience and just what it meant. While I wasn't able to finish my study, but I came to realise. OBEDIENCE CHANGES YOU✨️ It helps us to become ever more like US or YOU BECOME MORE YOUUU as you keep the commandments and covenants Heavenly Father has given to us. I LOVED IT❤️ The line between a

1. 18 years old acting missionaries

2. ✨️ Concencrated and AMAZING MISSIONARY

3. Clanka missionary

It all depends on our desire and commitment to live and change ourselves to become ever more like the Savior. To desire and want to help others to come unto Christ and even ourselves as well. And it's just ✨️✨️✨️ But hey I can't say much cause I too am balancing myself and doing my best to be ME. There's a lot of journey I have to take but I am starting on it.

So Obedience brings us blessings and allows us to be ever more like us and also it's our own personal journey between us and the Lord. And I just love that idea and it's always a wonderful reminder for each and everyone of us✨️ So keep going guys, find your answer to the question of your soul and it will just keep expanding too!!

Companion

Well Elder Tang indeed is an interesting guy not chesme-ing. But he truly is a wonderful companion. He has his own teaching methods and while when I just arrives to be his new homie, I came to learn how much he could do better and after 5 weeks I am soo proud and comforted with the changes he is able to do!! Like he's back baby! And we are kicking in the work even being able to rekindle the stake that we were covering and it's AMAZINGG✨️✨️

Elder Tang truly is a wonderful companion with a bunch of teaching opportunities for me to gain. And I am so glad and thankful for him FR ❤️  Also I learned how important we are for our comps and it's really interesting✨️✨️ Like the love we share for the work and also to support one another. I'm just saying all comps are my POOKIE✨️ and I love them all, and also you guys too miss ya'll for real

So yeah mi compañero 怎是一个祝福神给了我们 I look forward for how the future is going to be✨️✨️

Spiritual Thought

则个星期我们在学则冠以感激。说实在，我看到当我们有一个感激的形态去面对世界。由于我们谦卑的来看我们的困难，机会，祝福和快乐。神会不断的祝福我们。透过这一个感谢的镜片，神感到快乐和安慰因为我们能认出他的帮助在我们的生命中

我知道神很爱他每一个儿女，所以他派了先知，使徒，门徒和传教士来传讲他的福音。I know all this to be true and I say all this in the sacred name of Jesus Christ Amen

Extra photos

Yeapp here's some extra photos and it's funnn. ✨️✨️

Receive Divine Help for Life’s Battles

Dear Elder Yu,

My job has been busy and having a project handover deadline and a tight schedule to catch up lately. It was always physically exhausting and drained brain come back home from work. I am really glad that have Annabelle who takes care of the daily house chores and with Ally’s stuffs.

It feels like I have to go through a mini daily battle every day to tackle things that pop up suddenly in the projects, trying to solve them one by one at a time. I feel blessed that I can feel the Lord watching over me every moment of my daily life because I can see how some ad-hoc things in projects turn out to be just fine at the end of the day. And I am grateful for that!

It is so co-incident that I read this article last Sunday which I wanted to write to you but did not manage to. It coincides with the previous week’s Come, Follow Me focus on the Book of Mormon Alma chapter 43 – 52. And I hope this sharing might help you when you go through a little storm in your days trying to be a good missionary of the Lord.

It is natural to wonder why Mormon included the war stories between the Nephites and the Lamanites when he had limited space on the plates. We indeed have our share of wars in the latter days, but Mormon’s remarks are still valuable for more than just explaining the tactics and the tragedy of warfare. His teachings also equip us to fight the war that “we are all enlisted”, which is the battle that we wage every day against the forces of evil. This is a real war, and the result will have an impact on our eternal lives.

Elder Dale G. Renlund shared 3 principles that we able to be like Moroni in battling our adversaries in our daily lives:

1. Understand Our Purpose

We must never lose sight of the larger picture of our divine nature, everlasting destiny, and the evil forces that oppose us. Correctly comprehending Heavenly Father's plan will inspire us to continue battling for our eternal salvation and release from spiritual bonds.

2. Strategize for Success

We can employ the same methods Moroni used to cope with spiritual adversaries. We might begin by realizing what Satan is trying to do in our lives. He tries to derail us from our mission. When confronted with temptation, we must ask ourselves:

• How does this action on my part stack up against the revealed word of God?
• What are the consequences of taking this action?
• Will this action help me fulfill my purpose on earth?

We should also comprehend the consequences of succumbing to even little temptations. As we succumb to temptation, we swallow "poison by degrees" (Alma 47:18), a highly successful method employed by the powers of evil that can result in spiritually disastrous consequences.

I think that is how adversaries always make us feel as if we are not enough, and never enough! Just remember the Savior when this kind of thought comes into your mind.

We can fortify ourselves against Satan's temptations by following the guidance of our latter-day prophet. This helps us maintain an everlasting viewpoint from which to judge our deeds. Strategizing how we will deal with temptations in all aspects of our lives will help us make better decisions at the moment. Preplanned methods and techniques will assist us in avoiding diversions from our everlasting mission.

3. Prepare for Metaphorical Battles

Spiritually, we prepare individually by keeping the commandments of God. We make and keep covenants with God that draw the power of Jesus Christ into our lives. We can better prepare by strengthening our families. We can collectively gain strength and prepare for our spiritual battles as we join in communities of Saints.

I am indeed grateful for your companion by your side to uplift, encourage, share, and guide you along the way. Please tell Elder Fleshman that I am thanking him and grateful for being such a good companion to you!

Like Captain Moroni, we can receive divine help and power from the Lord for the battles we face in life. It is just like what you have been facing as a missionary, and myself as a wife, mother, and employee. Moroni demonstrated concepts that we can use to meet the challenges of our modern existence. As we exercise our faith in the Savior Jesus Christ, He will shower us with His strength.

After reading your email, I just felt as if I needed to tell Elder Stratfold and Elder Paewai about your thoughts on both of them and how grateful you are for them to teach our family the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I am reaching out to both on Messenger. Elder Stratfold was so happy to read my message and he is happy to know that you are already on your mission to serve the Lord. And, here is his message:

“Of course, I remember you and your family! It was the happiest time of my mission. Thank you so much for your message, it has made my week.

I am so happy to hear that Isaac is on His mission, it makes me feel very old as I remember him as a 9-year-old. It was such a pleasure teaching all of you, thank you so much for being so patient and receptive.

My Wife and I now have 3 kids, we had twins born in January last year so life has been very busy. We are planning on coming for the dedication of the Singapore temple and driving from Singapore and then up through Malaysia so we would love to see you all then, that will be a few years away of course.

Give my Love to the rest of the family, especially Isaac as he is serving the Lord, I am so proud of Him, Love you guys How are the rest of the family?”

Lastly, Heavenly Father believes you can be successful. Strive to see the value in yourself as He does! Even though this quote Elder Holland addressed to all the mothers, I want you to know that his counsel applies to you too, “Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are.” Remember your purpose and the value you bring to everyone around you. You can do this!

Love,

Mommy

Grateful for Gaining Strength from Your Testimony

Dear Elder Yu,

I do not know how to describe to you the joy I felt when I read your email. You have learned and gained so much knowledge that the Lord wants you to know during your first living endowment! I love how you came to understand the simple truths and the knowledge of how much Heavenly Father loves His children.

I could not comprehend the things that I learned in my endowment during our 1^st temple trip at Cebu Philippines Temple. It took me some time, even my second trip to the temple – Hong Kong Temple, only to realize the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for me and my small family.

This brings my memories back then to our family Hong Kong temple trip in 2019. During our family temple trip: Annabelle and you went missing in the busy streets of Hong Kong; your Daddy lost his job; your Daddy’s car broke down on the highway on his way back to Kulai after he came back from temple, and many more.

I realized that Heavenly Father blessed us with so much more after the Hong Kong temple trip. Annabelle and you gained your testimonies: both of you know that Heavenly Father hears and answers your prayers; You all have the testimony of the Holy Ghost that guided you to find your way back to the group safely and went back to the temple patron house.

I knew that it was not a coincidence that your Daddy lost his job while we were in Hong Kong. I know that Heavenly Father wants him to come back, He wants him to stay nearer to us, closer to the family, rather than having a woman outside in JB.

Everything happened for my sake and our family's good. I am so touched that I know that all these happened because Heavenly Father knows that I am trying my best to be faithful, striving to keep my covenant with Him. I can feel Heavenly Father’s love for me and my family.

I love how you mentioned that you can feel the Lord’s presence standing beside you while you are in the Celestial Room, checking on you how’s life being on earth? Is life treating you well and did you have fun? You are so hilarious on this!

My first thought was that it was not fun at all! Maybe it is because I have been too hard on myself facing all these challenges and feeling alone. Too many frustrations, upsets, and disappointments blurred my mind and hardened my heart to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit!

Your first invitation to me to write and share with you has somehow lessened the burden on my shoulders as if the Savior is yoking with me together. I can feel as if I am gaining the strength I need, the Holy Spirit flooded me with the memories and the testimonies that I had to me, the comforting words from Annabelle whenever I was feeling down. I know that the Lord is working on me through Elder Yu and Annabelle.

Like you said, “He will never abandon us but rather wants to help us. And we can get a of His divine help and guidance, when we do our very best, to obey our covenants with Him. Unless Heavenly Father breaks the promise, we are always in a covenant with Him. No matter what.”

I love your parable about an orange. It reminds me of “becoming”. The gospel of Jesus Christ is about the continuous active process of becoming. This is something that I learned in this week’s Come, Follow Me when reading Alma Chapters 36 – 38. It was the counsel that Alma the Younger gave to both his sons, Helaman and Siblon. Alma testifies to Helaman of his conversion after seeing an angel of God. Alma is the perfect example of “a becoming”. We might not as Alma as a singular event, but rather every small and simple means that makes up the process of becoming. It is ok if we are not perfect, but we are striving. That is the idea of becoming.

I feel as if everything is so coinciding when receiving your email and it is healing to write my thoughts and shares with you. I gained so many insights from you, Elder Yu, and my beloved daughter Annabelle Yu. Both of you indeed strengthened me and gave me the courage and strength I needed to go through the path before me.

Seeing you standing in front of the temple, made me want to go back to the temple and feel His presence. I know that Heavenly Father wants me to return to the temple because there is something He wants to reveal to me. It is stated in my patriarchal blessings that I will receive revelations about my personal lives, I will receive revelations of the lives of my family and I will receive revelations from Heavenly Father that His love for me is pure and exquisite.

Frankly, I have a feeling, and not sure if this time, the relationship between your Daddy and I could work or fix back anymore. But I just got calm and assured feelings in my heart that everything would work out for good for me. So, please do not worry and I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are watching over us!

Love,

Mommy

P.S. About the temple work, let me sort my family tree out then will give you the information. I actually have a name, my great grandfather but I only have his surname, I do not have his first name, as I have tried to search for some time. However, the FamilySearch system showed that his name is ready for temple ordinances even only has a surname. I wish I could have his first name and I know how to address him… if not, I can only call him 陈先生 or 陈太公 …hmmm…

Grateful for Your Questions

Dear Elder Yu,

Time flies, and this is your third week in the MTC. I hope you are well adjusting to your new life in Utah. We could see your bright smile and joy for the past 2 weeks when you video-called us during your P-Day! We love our missionary son so much!

Things happened between your dad and me since you left for Utah for your mission. I know I shouldn’t tell you all these things and burden you with all these things. It should have been resolved between myself and your dad, but it was so hard...

Your Dad kept emphasizing, that Alvin and Yi Peng can't be husband and wife any longer. He wants to be just a friend, not a couple in a relationship. Last Sunday, I saw his video posted on his TikTok account, he was having breakfast with a girl whom he called his lover in the video. I was very upset and called him immediately. I asked him why he treated me like this. I stopped the call, and your dad texted me a long message later in the evening. I did not talk to your dad since last Sunday as he only called Annabelle. I do not know how am I going to live through the past week.

Until last week after your P-Day call, and I asked you about the conversation you talked about, you posted questions to me, which reminds me that I should put my focus on Jesus Christ instead of dwelling on the sadness, frustrations, disappointments, and anger, which I cannot control. I felt something in my mind and heart as your questions directed my attention back to the Savior.

You asked me: “What made you want to be baptized and enter the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? And what was/is your testimony when you entered that covenant with the Lord? Cause making that decision is a very hard yet sacred choice that you have made. So I wanted to understand why you choose to follow the Lord ever since that moment when the missionary invited you to be baptized.”

Well, to answer your first question, “What made you want to be baptized and enter the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?”

I think I shared this a long time ago. time ago with you and Annabelle, that I always believed and knew that, there is a Creator even when I was much younger as a primary child. I am grateful that I have a mother who gave me no restrictions when I wanted to seek learning, even a long-distance correspondence of religion studies to learn about Buddhism and God.

I think the main reason why I want to be baptized and enter the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is because I prayed to Heavenly Father in Jesus’s name to seek His help to gather our family as a whole again after your Daddy and Mummy went through our first divorce. I promised Jesus Christ that I would someday go into His Church as a family and in my heart, I was wondering which church I should go to. When our family walked into the baptism fond, I knew that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church on earth and led by the Savior because of the little promise I made at that moment, only Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and myself know about it. And He made it happen, bringing a broken family back together again!

“What was/is your testimony when you entered that covenant with the Lord?”

When I entered the covenant with the Lord, I think I had the testimony that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and my family so much, that He sent His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ to die and live again for me; I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that family can be together for all time and eternity; I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are always with me because I can see Their hands in every single aspect of my life, from helping me to get our current home, how the Lord paved the path in front of me after divorce, reunite with your Daddy, registered of marriage again, and how the Lord directs our family towards His Church. All these are the testimonies that I had. All these small pieces and bits strengthen me to keep the Word of Wisdom, the Law of Tithing, and make myself worthy to enter my baptismal covenant with the Lord. I further walked into the temple and made temple covenants with the Lord, even though I only went to the temple twice.

Writing here, I find that it is funny, as I will still be able to write all these things calmly because I thought it was supposed to be the opposite. Anyway, it is a healing that I can change my focus to the more important matters now. I am grateful to the Lord for getting me to where I am now. The Holy Ghost has brought back my sacred spiritual memories reminding me to remember the Savior. I am thankful to Elder Yu, for posting these questions to me because I know you are guided and instructed by the Lord.

I am grateful to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, who gave me the precious opportunity to become a mother to His divine son and daughter, Issac and Annabelle. After you go on with your mission, Annabelle helps a lot in the home. She takes care of her Mummy like her big brother. I feel blessed that I have 2 not so little guardian angels anymore to teach, share, encourage, uplift, love, and care for me! I love both of you so much!

Elder Yu, I hope I can learn and grow spiritually together with you over the coming 2 years. So, please do not worry about what happened in the home and focus on your two years to serve the Lord—"invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”

Love,

Mommy

Image via https://latterdaysaintmag.com/hand-in-hand-with-angels/#google_vignette

Letter to My Children

Today is a national holiday – Nuzul al-Quran. We had a good sleep throughout and woke up at about 9 a.m. Issac wanted to go to the nearest Puchong Prima photo studio to take his U.S. visa photo. Then we went for our lunch at Kopitiam near our home.

We decided to go to Main Place USJ21 to have some ‘lepak’ time in Starbucks as now Starbucks has every day during Ramadan month has RM5 on a second handcrafted beverage with any handcrafted beverage purchased. We got ourselves a chocolate cream chip and a peach passion blossom cream Frappuccino.

We had a good time spending time together doing our interest. We went to Popular for a while and we had our early dinner at Ayam Penyet Best Station. I am glad we had a good time together this afternoon.

This reminds me of the letter that I wrote to my children in my Institute assignment: list five or more promises that will help me “rear [my] children in love and righteousness, provide for [my children’s] physical and spiritual needs, and teach [my children] to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizen wherever they live” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,”) After each of the promises, I need to write to my children why I think it is so important that I, as their parents, fulfill that promises. And need to refer specifically to the sixth and seventh paragraphs of the family proclamation for ideas. Here is what I wrote:

Dear Children,

I promise to pray with you every day. I know it is important that you have a personal relationship with your Heavenly Father. I know He is there, and He will hear and answer your prayer. You can pray to Him anytime and anywhere.

I promise to study the scripture with you. I know you will find peace and strength to resist temptations when you study scriptures daily because scriptures are the words of God. You will invite the Holy Ghost into your life.

I promise to teach you by example how to budget time and resources. Teach you about self-reliance and the importance of preparing for your future. It encourages you to independent learning to unlock your potential and grow to be passionate and capable contributors to the work of salvation.

I promise to spend individual time with you, letting you choose the activities and the subject of conversation, and eliminating distractions by putting away electronic devices. I promise to help you create happy memories by building our family traditions, meaningful vacations, and wholesome activities.

I promise to be there and listen to you if you approach me with a problem, see issues from your point of view, and resist the urge to give you a solution. Instead, ask questions for clarification and arrive at a solution together. I want you to know it is ok if you make a mistake, and making a mistake does not affect my love for you.

Love,

Mother

Tender Mercies by Annie Henrie Nader. Image via AltusFineArt.com

This is a painting of a mother with her two children, and an angel supporting her. It is a sacred moment of sacrifice, endurance, and great love. This painting is also a tribute to the many tender mercies in our lives – the sweetness found in motherhood, and also the angels who come to our rescue in the form of friends and family. By seeing these tender mercies we come to know God’s great love for His children.