by: Norberto Betita
I was born and raised a Roman Catholic-Christian. My parents are devout and have always encouraged us to attend church. When I was in high school I lived in a cottage where my elder brother resides. Years later I found a dusty Holy Bible on a shelf---a gift from a friend of my brother. That was my first encounter with the Holy Scriptures. Early in my readings I found several inconsistencies in our beliefs, which prompted me to read, study and ponder more. Through the years, I learned to love reading from the scriptures even memorizing some of the verses.
When I found a job as a security guard in a large nickel refinery in the islands, I carried with me the same Bible and took time to read from it during off hours and even during my tour of duty in remote areas in the mining site. Since then I became more aware of the many truths which were never taught in my church. I found that even the Ten Commandments which I memorized as a requirement for my first communion seemed to have some contradictions.
I since yearned to investigate other churches to find the truth but I found no time, until the opportunity was brought right at my door when American Mormon missionaries came and offered the message of salvation and family happiness. I and my wife were taught the gospel and so became earnest investigators. We both found the teachings to be true by inspiration from the Holy Ghost and thus submitted for baptism on February 12, 1977.
The challenges of joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints came early when my parents upon knowing that I was baptized into the church reprimanded me for so deciding to leave the faith of my birth without their permission. I explained to them that I am old enough to know and I do feel that I am on the right direction.
My job as an investigator in the security department of the large Nickel Refinery in the islands required that I should be on duty every Sunday, at which time more strife were taking place within the company premises as a result of drunkenness from among the hundreds of employees on day off. This deprived me of the privilege to worship on Sunday with my family. I was told my only choice was to leave my job. The choice was crucial considering that my salary then was more than enough to support my family of three. However, with my wife’s affirmation, I eventually decided to join my family in the mainland and worked as a wage earning security guard in a government corporation with very minimal pay. That was a very tough shift, especially as regards meeting family needs. Yet I find real joy and happiness living with my family and having the opportunity to be able to attend worship services with them each Sunday.
Our collective faith, hope and courage as husband and wife allowed us to endure the mounting challenges of providing for our fundamental needs. With our combined meager income and inspired by the counsels of Prophets and Apostles on the value of education, I and my wife decided that I go back to college. We believed that such will eventually provide keys to open doors of opportunities in preparation for the future of our family. I did enroll for a college degree and in so doing greater difficulties became an almost insurmountable plight. But I eventually finished a degree in Banking and Finance. I was also blessed to pass government civil service eligibilities both for non-professional and professional careers. With such achievement, I was appointed as storekeeper and recommended for a permanent government position. Such should have been a boost. However, a test of honesty and integrity came right on my table before the appointment was approved. I was made to sign a government voucher in which the expenses were spent for personal use. I refused with the thought that I have sacrificed much to prove my worth as a “Mormon”, and I choose not to be corrupted. I resigned to live a simple “Mormon” way of life.
For months I was without a regular job and depended on the meager income of my wife. We already have two children. I took odd jobs, but income was very negligible. I had the chance of having passed Bank examinations for employment. In one I was declined due to age---discrimination most common in the Philippines. My remaining chance was with a government bank. While waiting for my employment, a member friend offered to train me in commercial vegetable gardening, and on a vacant lot of approximately 200 square meters, I was able to help provide for our needs until my appointment with the Philippine National Bank came. My first assignment was in a town where there was no organized branch of the church. Although we do not have work on Saturday and Sunday, yet the travel required eleven hours. If I went home Saturday to attend church on Sunday, I will have to go on a leave of absence from work on Monday. But I made it sure that at least I would be able to attend worship once in a month with my family. Good that my request for transfer was approved a year and a half later.
I consider all the challenges and adversities I encountered after my baptism as part of my conversion process. My deeper understanding and testimony of the Atonement has given me daily power to overcome the tests of difficulties, sorrows and despairs, disappointments and failures in my life. My increasing faith in a living God and His promised grace and mercy provided me with a continuing desire to hold fast to the gospel and endure my mortal journey.
In the church, I have to take every opportunity of service. I was ordained to the Holy Priesthood, as a deacon, teacher, priest, elder and much later as a high priest. I always have the opportunity to pass, prepare, and bless the Sacrament. In such sacred responsibilities, I learned even more to respect the Priesthood I hold. In the branch, district and stake organizations, I served in different capacities. I was called three times as Branch President, three times as counselor to the District Presidency, and as a counselor in the Stake presidency. I was also called to serve as counselor to two Mission Presidents of the Butuan Philippines Mission. I was in the Elder’s quorum presidency, a Branch Mission Leader, a counsellor in the Branch Presidency, Sunday School President and others. In all these responsibilities, I felt the hand of the Lord helping me through.
Once as a new convert, I was called to be a teacher of the Sunday School Gospel Doctrine class, replacing a prominent lawyer. I did not have any teaching experience. I am just a young father with two years of college education. To sit in the class are professional teachers some with master’s degrees, a lawyer, doctors, an accountant, a radio commentator and other professionals. I should not have accepted the call, but the branch president promised that I would be assisted. I was set apart, and rather than worry about my inadequacies and fears, I sought God’s help and prepared my lessons more diligently. Indeed, God qualified me through the Holy Ghost and I learned the Doctrines of the Church more than ever, which eventually prompted me to teach Seminary and Institute classes and to serve in other capacities, and even motivated me later to earn a master's degree in Business Administration.
When I found a job as a security guard in a large nickel refinery in the islands, I carried with me the same Bible and took time to read from it during off hours and even during my tour of duty in remote areas in the mining site. Since then I became more aware of the many truths which were never taught in my church. I found that even the Ten Commandments which I memorized as a requirement for my first communion seemed to have some contradictions.
I since yearned to investigate other churches to find the truth but I found no time, until the opportunity was brought right at my door when American Mormon missionaries came and offered the message of salvation and family happiness. I and my wife were taught the gospel and so became earnest investigators. We both found the teachings to be true by inspiration from the Holy Ghost and thus submitted for baptism on February 12, 1977.
The challenges of joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints came early when my parents upon knowing that I was baptized into the church reprimanded me for so deciding to leave the faith of my birth without their permission. I explained to them that I am old enough to know and I do feel that I am on the right direction.
My job as an investigator in the security department of the large Nickel Refinery in the islands required that I should be on duty every Sunday, at which time more strife were taking place within the company premises as a result of drunkenness from among the hundreds of employees on day off. This deprived me of the privilege to worship on Sunday with my family. I was told my only choice was to leave my job. The choice was crucial considering that my salary then was more than enough to support my family of three. However, with my wife’s affirmation, I eventually decided to join my family in the mainland and worked as a wage earning security guard in a government corporation with very minimal pay. That was a very tough shift, especially as regards meeting family needs. Yet I find real joy and happiness living with my family and having the opportunity to be able to attend worship services with them each Sunday.
Our collective faith, hope and courage as husband and wife allowed us to endure the mounting challenges of providing for our fundamental needs. With our combined meager income and inspired by the counsels of Prophets and Apostles on the value of education, I and my wife decided that I go back to college. We believed that such will eventually provide keys to open doors of opportunities in preparation for the future of our family. I did enroll for a college degree and in so doing greater difficulties became an almost insurmountable plight. But I eventually finished a degree in Banking and Finance. I was also blessed to pass government civil service eligibilities both for non-professional and professional careers. With such achievement, I was appointed as storekeeper and recommended for a permanent government position. Such should have been a boost. However, a test of honesty and integrity came right on my table before the appointment was approved. I was made to sign a government voucher in which the expenses were spent for personal use. I refused with the thought that I have sacrificed much to prove my worth as a “Mormon”, and I choose not to be corrupted. I resigned to live a simple “Mormon” way of life.
For months I was without a regular job and depended on the meager income of my wife. We already have two children. I took odd jobs, but income was very negligible. I had the chance of having passed Bank examinations for employment. In one I was declined due to age---discrimination most common in the Philippines. My remaining chance was with a government bank. While waiting for my employment, a member friend offered to train me in commercial vegetable gardening, and on a vacant lot of approximately 200 square meters, I was able to help provide for our needs until my appointment with the Philippine National Bank came. My first assignment was in a town where there was no organized branch of the church. Although we do not have work on Saturday and Sunday, yet the travel required eleven hours. If I went home Saturday to attend church on Sunday, I will have to go on a leave of absence from work on Monday. But I made it sure that at least I would be able to attend worship once in a month with my family. Good that my request for transfer was approved a year and a half later.
I consider all the challenges and adversities I encountered after my baptism as part of my conversion process. My deeper understanding and testimony of the Atonement has given me daily power to overcome the tests of difficulties, sorrows and despairs, disappointments and failures in my life. My increasing faith in a living God and His promised grace and mercy provided me with a continuing desire to hold fast to the gospel and endure my mortal journey.
In the church, I have to take every opportunity of service. I was ordained to the Holy Priesthood, as a deacon, teacher, priest, elder and much later as a high priest. I always have the opportunity to pass, prepare, and bless the Sacrament. In such sacred responsibilities, I learned even more to respect the Priesthood I hold. In the branch, district and stake organizations, I served in different capacities. I was called three times as Branch President, three times as counselor to the District Presidency, and as a counselor in the Stake presidency. I was also called to serve as counselor to two Mission Presidents of the Butuan Philippines Mission. I was in the Elder’s quorum presidency, a Branch Mission Leader, a counsellor in the Branch Presidency, Sunday School President and others. In all these responsibilities, I felt the hand of the Lord helping me through.
Once as a new convert, I was called to be a teacher of the Sunday School Gospel Doctrine class, replacing a prominent lawyer. I did not have any teaching experience. I am just a young father with two years of college education. To sit in the class are professional teachers some with master’s degrees, a lawyer, doctors, an accountant, a radio commentator and other professionals. I should not have accepted the call, but the branch president promised that I would be assisted. I was set apart, and rather than worry about my inadequacies and fears, I sought God’s help and prepared my lessons more diligently. Indeed, God qualified me through the Holy Ghost and I learned the Doctrines of the Church more than ever, which eventually prompted me to teach Seminary and Institute classes and to serve in other capacities, and even motivated me later to earn a master's degree in Business Administration.
Despite our very difficult circumstances, we traveled to Manila for our Temple ordinances, selling some of the most treasured possessions we have. We contemplated that those materially prized possessions do not even amount to anything when compared to the wonderful promise of eternal life with our family in the Celestial mansions prepared for the righteous.
Through the years I have come to a continued and increased understanding of the eternal worth of my decision to be baptized more than 39 years ago. While trials and adversities barred me from attaining temporal growth and progress, yet it endowed me with increased faith in and testimony of a living God and the joy of living the “Mormon” way of life.
I am now on the quite lane along the road to ageing, walking with faith in every footstep of my life’s mortal race. As I look back to the most challenging past, I came to realize that all the winds of adversity, the shadows of uncertainties, the dark valleys of sorrow, the pains of afflictions, and the wrestle with deprivations are but steps to an ascending pathway to Heaven. The process of my conversion is still ongoing and in progress, until perhaps at the time of my final call, when the grave will become my mansion. But I am full of hope in the promise that “...God shall wipe away all tears from [my] eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelations 21:4) And, as I commit myself to the covenants and promises I have made with the Lord then will I finally see beyond the darkened clouds of the horizon the illuminated peaks which give hope and sure witness of the eternal worth of my conversion.
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