The Baguio Beat: Mission Presidents' Seminar in Cebu

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Mission Presidents' Seminar in Cebu

We had a wonderful, spiritual week at the Mission Presidents' Seminar on the island of Cebu. One week after Baguio Mission transfers we, along with 16 other mission presidents and their wives, traveled to Cebu where we met with the Philippines Area Presidency and Elder David F. Evans. There are so many good things on the horizon for missionary work in the Philippines and in missions all over the world. There will be some changes due to the new age requirements of young men (now 18 years old and a high school graduate) and young women (19 years old). Even the lesson manuals for the young men and young women will change to include subjects in Preach My Gospel.

One afternoon, we all boarded a bus that took us to the Cebu Temple. On the way to the temple, we stopped for tours at a famous guitar shop and a factory that makes dried fruit, such as dried mangoes, pineapples, coconut, bananas, etc. After the tours, we arrived at the beautiful Cebu Temple. After being fed spiritually, we went to the church building across from the temple and enjoyed a delicious meal. At the end of the seminar, we got a picture taken with Elder and Sister Evans and our "MTC batch." The week was truly a feast--spiritually and temporally!

The Alegre Guitar Shop

The sign says it all!

The Cebu Temple--as beautiful during the day....

....as it is in the evening.

Our MTC Batch
(L-R) President and Sister Barrientos, Laoag Mission; President and
Sister Monahan, Baguio Mission; Sister Evans, Elder David F. Evans,
First Quorum of the Seventy serving as Executive Director of the
Department; Sister Lopez and President Lopez, Bacolod Mission.

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A Message from President Monahan

August 2013

The Atonement and the Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9) teaches us to flourish, despite challenging conditions. Through Christ's Atonement we can grow to our full potential.

In the parable, a sower tossed identical seeds over four different soils (Matthew 13:3). Some seeds "fell by the way side," devoured by birds (13:4). Other seeds fell "in stony places," and lacking deep roots, sprang up and withered in the sun (13:5-6). A third group "fell among thorns" which "choked" the roots (13:7). The last seeds "fell into good ground," taking root and bringing forth a varying abundance of fruit (13:8). Each of the differing soils represent our receptivity to God's will and word. The seeds were identical, yet flourished only in receptive soil. Notably, the seeds which flourished were subject to the same storms and sunshine.

The seeds which fell by the wayside represent those persons who hear the gospel but allow the wicked world to "catch away" that which was sown (Matthew 13:19). The second seeds are those who joyfully receive the gospel but allow trials or persecution to harden them like stony ground (13:20-21). The third seeds represent those who hear the word but allow the thorns of greed and deceit to choke tender testimonies (13:22). The seeds sown in "good ground" represent those who hear and obey the word, bringing forth different yields of fruit in abundance (13:23).

As we yield our hearts to God, the roots of our character grow deep in good ground. The nutrient-rich soil of faith in Christ's Atonement nourishes us to withstand all spiritual attacks of wind and weather.

In the process of weeding out our individual thorns, faith in the Savior's Atonement and repentance bear the fruit of our true potential "that (we) might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord..." (Isaiah 61:3). Although rocky soil can be plowed and improved to yield fruit, the best environment is free from the stones of sin and the weeds of apathy which stunt our growth and choke our character.

Much like the seeds in the parable, we are sometimes scattered into less than ideal soil; even environments we did not choose. No matter our circumstances in life we are still free to choose our attitude and allegiance. That freedom to repent and exercise faith in Christ's Atonement may well determine our upgrade to richer spiritual ground.

May each of us allow the Savior's Atonement to plant us in fertile soil, where we become a tender seed "springing up unto everlasting life" (Alma 32:41).

June 2013

Parable of the Great Supper

In Luke 14:16-24, a certain man hosts "a great supper" and bids those previously invited to attend, saying through his servant: "Come; for all things are now ready." The invited guests make excuses one by one: land needing an inspection; oxen needing care; a newlywed busy with married life. Each invited guest agrees to attend the feast, but declines with varying excuses on the day of the supper (Luke 14:17). When the master hears the excuses, he commands his servant to go into the streets of the city and invite the poor, the maimed, the halt and the blind to the feast. He further instructs the servant to go beyond the city walls to "the highways and hedges" that "my house may be filled" (Luke 14:23).

Because the invitations were made in advance, "we can assume this supper was to be a sumptuous one" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, Deseret Book Company, Sept. 1915, p. 420). Each excuse was credible, yet each invited guest allowed personal cares to interfere with the commitment to attend the most important engagement. The guests who excused themselves lost the joy and nourishment of the feast, and also lost the respect of the royal host. The excuse-making guests are the covenant House of Israel. Their personal cares and material wants killed their commitment to the master of the feast. The second invitation to those in the streets represents the gospel going forward to the gentiles who were looked upon as spiritually poor, halt, maimed and blind. Later, even the pagans beyond the city walls--strangers to the Holy City--were also invited to the supper. (James E. Talmage, Id at p. 421.)

In each of us there is a war between duty and selfishness. Wants are often mistaken for needs. Duty to the Master requires complete loyalty. It is not enough to make promises; we must actually attend His feast. Like the guests who declined the invitation to the great supper, we lose the blessings of the feast when worldly cares and selfishness smother our commitment to the Master.

This parable is not only a lesson about covenant people losing promised blessings, it is also a warning about distraction. Our desires and choices determine our eternal destiny--our feast (Alma 29:4-5). President Uchtdorf said, "For what we love determines what we seek. What we seek determines what we think and do. What we think and do determines who we are--and who we will become" (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Love of God," Ensign, November 2009).

May 2013

The Christlike Attribute of Diligence

To the Nephite saints the Savior defined His mission: "...and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or evil" (3 Nephi 27:13-14).

The Savior commanded us to "teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." (Matthew 28:19). With this commandment comes a sacred promise, "...and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20).

As we teach and testify we are entitled to "abide in the Savior's love on conditions of obedience: "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love" (John 15:10). These commandments include faith in His Atonement, repentance, baptism and enduring by diligence to the end (3 Nephi 27:16,19).

To accomplish the Atonement for all sin, grief and pain, Jesus never gave up. "Though He experienced suffering beyond our comprehension, He was not a quitter" (Elder Russell M. Nelson, "The Mission and Ministry of Jesus Christ," Liahona, April 2013).

Likewise, the Lord's missionaries never quit. Diligence is a defining characteristic of our Savior's love and ministry. Our diligence in emulating Jesus is a defining characteristic of our love for Him. "Diligence in missionary work is an expression of your love for the Lord and His work" (PMG, 121).

Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). When we truly love Jesus, we "diligently seek him" (1 Nephi 10:17; D&C 106:3) and strive to become like Him (3 Nephi 27:27). With diligent, daily effort we keep the commandments, preach His gospel and endure to the end. Then Jesus promises to hold us "guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world" (3 Nephi 27:16).

Just as the Savior never gave up on us or His supernal purpose, we do not give up on Him. We know our purpose. We are focused, "follow(ing) the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God" (2 Nephi 31:13). It is only by facing our trials with faith and diligence that we triumph over all life's challenges. Then the Master will say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21).

March 2013

The True Meaning of Easter

Easter or Eastre is a Norse goddess whose pagan festival celebrates the spring equinox (see Bible Dictionary). The word “Easter” appears only once in the New Testament in Acts 12:4. A more appropriate translation is “Passover.” Christ is the Passover. He is the Creator of spring, as God “created all things by Jesus Christ” (Eph. 3:9).

After ordering the scourging of our Lord, Pilate brought Him before the angry mob. Arrayed in a purple robe and crowned with bloody thorns, Jesus silently bore Pilate’s declaration, “Behold the man!”
(John 19:5). Man of Holiness is one of Christ’s names. (see Moses 7:35). Unwittingly, Pilate had borne a second witness of the Savior’s divinity. Seeking to release Jesus, Pilate would later petition the crowd: “What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call King of the Jews?” (Mark 15:12).

From the chief priests came the condemning reply: “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15). So it has ever been with the world’s witness. We have no king but Caesar: the king of power, the king of greed, the king of pride; all symptoms of the natural man. Our dear Lord was condemned by men fearful that if they “let him thus alone, all men will believe on him, and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and our nation” (John 11:48).

The historian Josephus tells us that at the Feast of the Passover, upwards of 256,500 lambs were slaughtered in and around Jerusalem. Christ, as the emblem of the Passover, is the true lamb whose sacrifice is universal. As John earlier declared: “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36). Innocent, holy, without spot, our Lord was “lifted up by men so that all men might be lifted up by the Father” (3 Ne. 27:14).

With the declaration of angels, “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5), comes the supernal answer to Job’s question: “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14)

Christ is the Firstborn and Only Begotten Son of the Father, “the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Cor. 15:20). Ironically, the sands of Golgotha pelted Roman and rebel alike, yet Christ is the only refuge from the storm.

In an ever-approaching day, Pilate, Herod, the chief priests and all men shall know what Paul declared: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Cor. 15:55).

Without Jesus, the Caesar’s of our blood rule the natural man. Without Jesus, there is no lasting joy in life because there is no eternal purpose in death. Without Jesus, spring would have no contrast with the long adagio of winter–both in the temporal and spiritual sense. Christ is the renewal of life through His supreme sacrifice. He is the Lamb of God, the true Passover, the King of kings.

February 2013

Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement

In Gethsemane, all humanity "hung on the hinge of Christ's character" (Maxwell). Gethsemane was a working olive garden. The first virgin press of the olives results in pure, extra virgin oil. So pure is this oil that we use it to heal the sick. That night in Gethsemane, like the purest oil, the purest Son emerged to take upon Himself all grief, all pain and all sickness and sin from Adam to the end of the world.

Like any precious gift, faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement must be accepted by those who are ready to receive it. The healing power of the Atonement begins by yielding our hearts to Christ. We must offer Him "our whole souls" (Omni 1:26). Elder Maxwell taught, "there are no conditions in unconditional surrender" (Maxwell).

Some of us continue to withhold from Christ portions of our inner selves, be it our will, our love or our trust. Like Ananias and Sapphira of old (Acts 5:1-5), when we hold back a portion, we not only lose the Spirit but we deny ourselves the eternal blessings the Atonement offers. The Savior set the standard for those blessings: "...what manner of men ought ye to be, verily I say unto you, even as I am" (3 Nephi 27:27).

King Benjamin also showed us how to access the full blessings of the Atonement. He taught that we must "yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and put off the natural man and becometh...as a child..." (Mosiah 3:19). The Savior spoke in absolute terms: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:3). Little children are full of love and without guile. Charity, then, is the hallmark of the Atonement. Disciples of Christ put off selfishness and put on the selfless character of charity.

As we teach faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, may we ourselves become fully converted to Jesus. The surrender of our will to Jesus is the only surrender which is also a victory. As we do so, we will enjoy the richest blessings of the Atonement, even to the "measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). We will know true joy with the life that is and "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor 4:17) in the life to come.

January 2013

Enduring to the End

Enduring to the end is so much more than working until our heart stops; it is serving and being worthy to enter the temple--to the end as in "endowment" (paraphrasing Elder Nelson). In Preach My Gospel enduring to the end is taught in the section on laws and ordinances. Enduring to the end is a law of heaven.

From the Doctrine of Christ we learn an important truth about enduring to the end. "And now my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved" (2 Nephi 31:16).

Only by following Christ and His example of charity, perfect obedience and submission to our Father's will, can we be counted as enduring to the end. Such enduring also requires that we serve "with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy" (2 Nephi 31:13).

A hypocrite is defined as one who promises one thing but does another with intent to deceive. In the gospel sense, a hypocrite is "one who pretends to be religious when he is not" (Bible Dictionary).

For missionaries there is no greater demonstration of our love of God than serving with full purpose of heart (Doctrine & Covenants 4) and with no motive other than the salvation of the souls of the children of men.

Jesus gave us the ultimate test of whether we love Him: "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). One cannot endure to the end without keeping the commandments and all gospel covenants.

Let us examine our motives and our desires, "following the example of the Son" (2 Nephi 31:16) in all our missionary and member efforts. That is the essence of enduring to the end. It is also the end reason we serve--to become like Jesus.

December 2012

A Christmas Message

Schools celebrate Winter Break but are prohibited from mentioning the creator of winter and all seasons. Cities string glittering stars across roads but ignore the heavenly light shining “out of darkness”
(2 Corinthians 4:6). Stores greet us with “Happy Holidays” but remain timidly silent about the Holy Days.

The true spirit of Christmas is not found in pretty bows, glossy wrapping paper, or sparkling lights, though all these things can remind us of the love Jesus offers us.

The baby Jesus, born in a feeding trough for sheep, would one day feed with the Bread of Life all who come unto Him. In return, He asks his followers to feed His sheep.

“And she brought forth her firstborn son
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and
laid him in a manger; because there was
no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).
To the shepherds an angel declared,
“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
people. For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord”
(Luke 2:10-11).

The true spirit of Christmas
The reason for the season is Jesus Christ.
The empty Garden Tomb is a testament to
the loftiness of a lowly manger. We revere
the birth in Bethlehem by honoring the
sacrifice of Calvary and Gethsemane.

Safe in your mouth
No one ever described love better than
a four-year-old child interviewed by
Art Linkletter. When asked what love
is the little boy replied, “Love is when
someone says your name just a little
different, and you know your name is
safe in their mouth.”

Is the name of Jesus Christ safe in your
mouth? It is only safe when you open
your mouth.

True gifts
“For God so loved the world that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

May we recognize as did Emerson that,
“Rings and other jewels are not gifts,
but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a
portion of thyself” (Ralph Waldo Emerson,
“Gifts,” Essays XIII, 1844).

Giving ourselves
This Christmas season may each of us
commit to giving more of ourselves
and worry less about the elusive
“perfect” gift. Ours can be a season of
peace from the Prince of Peace. May
Jesus Christ be the true spirit of the
season and forever safe in our mouths.
As the Lord’s missionaries, may we
remember our purpose by boldly
inviting others to repent and come
unto Christ. That is the spirit and
reason for Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

November 2012

Becoming as a Little Child

Jesus taught, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3). What are the virtues of little children? King Benjamin lists the qualities of a child which we must emulate: “submissive, meek,
humble, patient, full of love” (Mosiah 3:19).

Submissive
The dictionary defines submissive as “yielding to governance or authority.” My little granddaughter submits to her parents, not because they demand her submission, but because yielding to her parents is a natural result of the love and comfort she feels from her mom and dad.

Meek
Meek is not weak. Godly meekness commands respect and dignity. The meek are not concerned with first place. They lift those around them and are happy when others succeed.

Humble
Observe how quickly a child forgives and forgets. A forgiving heart is a central feature of humility.

Patient
In the Guide to the Scriptures patience is defined as “the ability to endure affliction, insult or injury without complaint or retaliation.” While most would argue that patience is not a childlike virtue, young children are resilient. In that sense, they are spiritually patient.

Full of love
We yield to that which we love. The Savior said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24). Divided loyalty divides our love. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland reminds us that “the crowning characteristic of love is always loyalty” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The First Great Commandment,” Oct. 2012 General Conference). Jesus loved little children. We must have that same love for others to be counted as true disciples.

Conclusion
Becoming “as a child” is the door to heaven. Humility is not weakness. Submissiveness to God is “the only
surrender which is also a victory”
(Neal A. Maxwell). Patience is godliness; love marks the Savior’s path. May we recognize that becoming childlike, not childish, is the first teetering step in learning to walk the disciple’s road.

October 2012

TRUE DISCIPLES

Three examples from the Book of Mormon show us how to be true disciples of Jesus Christ.

THE PEOPLE OF AMMON
During a brutal war between the Lamanite and Nephite nations, a group of Lamanites converted to Christianity and the Nephite cause. These people of Ammon, known as Anti-Nephi-Lehies, made a covenant with God that "they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man's blood" (Alma 24:18). To keep this covenant, they buried their swords "deep in the earth" (Alma 24:17). When their Lamanite brethren attacked the entire group in an onslaught of death, these new Christians bowed before their attackers. As a result, 1005 were killed. Pricked in their hearts, a greater number of the Lamanite attackers converted to Christ than the Ammonites "who had been slain..." (Alma 24:26). The people of Ammon had kept a promise to God. Of their character the Book of Mormon records: they "were perfectly honest and upright in all things" and "firm in the faith of Christ" (Alma 27:27). The godly character of the Ammonites flowed through to their children. In a later battle, 2060 of their sons fought valiantly to preserve the Nephite nation. Having been taught by their mothers, these stripling warriors "were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted (Alma 53:20).

CAPTAIN MORONI
Captain Moroni provides a second example of discipleship. Called to lead the Nephite army at age 25, he fought to preserve Christianity and freedom for his people. So great was his character that if all men were "like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever" (Alma 48:17).

KING BENJAMIN'S PEOPLE
King Benjamin's people provide a third example of Christ's disciples. Because of the preaching of the word and their faith in the coming of the Savior, King Benjamin's people experienced a "mighty change" in their hearts and had "no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2).

DISCIPLESHIP
From these three examples we see that disciples of Jesus Christ are distinguished by their love of God and fellow man, a grateful heart, perfect honesty, firmness in faith, exactness in keeping covenants, and placing God first. This leads to a desire to "do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2). As Christ's true disciples, we always do our best. We understand the purpose of trials and are grateful for blessing and "furious winds" (Ether 6:5). We bury our swords of selfishness deep in the soil of faith, work and charity. Like the disciples of the Book of Mormon, we can draw closer to Christ by following His character in all we think, do and say. Thus, as Christ's chosen missionaries, when we invite others to come unto Him, we will teach with greater purpose and power. As we develop the character of Christ, perhaps one day our children and grandchildren will say that if all men and women were like us, "the devil never would have power over the hearts of the children of men" (Alma 48:17).

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Mission Presidents' Seminar in Cebu

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