MY PERSONAL HISTORY: THE JOURNEY BACK TO COLLEGE

By: Norberto Betita

Playing with my youngest grandson Travis in November 2011.

It was five years since when I stopped college due to poverty. During those long years I have totally forgotten all about college education and its promise of a brighter future. I have enjoyed my job as a security investigator with a salary that was very competitive during the 1970’s. I worked twelve hours a day including Sundays and Holidays. Hence, I am receiving more than three times my basic salary. I married when I was 21 years and 5 months old with only two years of college education. Many of my friends thought I am so young for marriage. But I felt matured having understood well the patterns of family life which I learned from the Holy Bible. With a wife and a daughter to feed I was confident I could provide even beyond our basic needs. I felt self-assured that I have measured up to the words of Paul to Timothy which I long since carried in memory: “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Timothy 5:8.) Subsequently going back through college was out of my plans.

When I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1977 I learned many wonderful lessons of life which eventually changed my personal direction. I started to reopen the closed doors of the future and again set my vision forward. As a new member my first challenge was to convince my employer to have my day off on Sundays, but was denied. Then I made the critical decision to find a new job in the mainland that would provide me with the opportunity to be with my family and together attend church each Sunday and sacrifice a good paying job. The change was like facing a roaring storm with my salary very much lower than my former employment. What if my family grows and I would remain to be a security guard? What if my children would want to go to college? As I contemplated on the new challenges which I and my family were drawn against and the possibilities of greater difficulties ahead, I felt a revival of interest to go back to college while I have yet one child and still in her formative years. My deep desire prompted me to request my new employer to allow me to work at night so I can study during the day. I was so grateful then for the generosity of my Boss who granted my request without even a slight hesitation.

My early callings in the church led me to understand the importance and value of secular as well as spiritual education. We are taught, “Teach ye diligently . . . of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—that ye may be prepared in all things” (D&C 88:78–80).

Yes, that I and my family ‘be prepared in all things’ I immediately enrolled back to college on the first semester of 1977, the same year when I joined the church. My decision was consciously and significantly clear as a noonday. But all along I realized that the road provided for my journey back to college was an invariably uphill climb. The days following were filled with mind blowing struggles both in meeting college requirements and family needs. Yet with faith undaunted and courage strong my dearest Letty and I lift the burdens together to survive the mounting challenges. What gratitude filled my heart for a wife whose love, patience and selflessness remained constantly intense in the midst of our financial battles. Throughout the journey we experienced calm and winds, sunshine and shadows, joys and sorrows. The ascending route towards success and the painful slivers along the rough uphill road seemed to continually pull me back. But the vision of a brighter end for my family pushed me ever up the lonely highway. Eventual success did come as I was graduated with a degree in Commerce, major in Banking and Finance in 1979 from the Northeastern Mindanao Colleges in Surigao City, Philippines, ten years after my graduation from high school. Such a hard earned college degree led me to a career in banking, an employment that always pays.

The same time when I enrolled in college, I also enrolled in the Seminary Program of the Church although it was designed for high school age youth. As a new member I wanted to learn more of the Doctrines of Christ. I eventually finished the four-year program. And then I enrolled in the Institute program for another four years and also graduated with my wife. We even enrolled in other short courses offered in the Institute Program of the Church such as the Celestial Marriage class and so learned many important principles and doctrine on marital relationship and family responsibilities. Such spiritual education and learning coupled with secular degree continually kept our lives in balance.

I found added motivation from the words of the Prophets and Apostles. Gordon B. Hinckley wrote: “I am awed by the great forces of knowledge represented in our time. Never before have so many been educated in the learning of the world. What a powerful thing it is—the intensive schooling of a large percentage of the youth of the world, who meet daily at the feet of instructors to garner knowledge from all the ages of man.

“The extent of that knowledge is staggering. It encompasses the stars of the universe, the geology of the earth, the history of nations, the culture and language of peoples, the operation of governments, the laws of commerce, the behavior of the atom, the functions of the body, and the wonders of the mind.

“With so much knowledge available, one would think that the world might well be near a state of perfection. Yet we are constantly made aware of the other side of the coin—of the sickness of society, of the contentions and troubles that bring misery into the lives of millions.

“Each day we are made increasingly aware of the fact that life is more than science and mathematics, more than history and literature. There is need for another education, without which the substance of secular learning may lead only to destruction. I refer to the education of the heart, of the conscience, of the character, of the spirit—these indefinable aspects of our personalities which determine so certainly what we are and what we do in our relationships one with another.”( Gordon B. Hinckley, First Presidency Message, Ensign, October 1988.)

When I joined the Philippine National Bank in 1982, my salary is one of the highest under the same position level. I was first assigned in Tandag, Surigao del Sur. After a year and a half I was transferred back to Surigao City. When I heard that a law school was to open in Surigao City I planned to enrol while my two children are still very small. But the law school never opened until when my children became five and some already in college. I tried to enrol one subject in an MBA program of San Nicolas College. However, because of work pressures, I stopped and forgot all about it. Then sometime in the year 2000 the management required us to submit our career goals for the next ten years. Promotion for managerial or supervisory position in the provincial branches of the bank was very difficult to attain. But I took courage to submit a goal to finish a Master in Business Administration (MBA) and to become an officer of the Bank within the required period. In 2001 I enrolled in the MBA program of the Saint Paul University. Tuition and fees seemed insurmountable, but with the help of a very generous friend, I survived and eventually earned my MBA degree in 2003. Promotions came in succession until I was finally appointed bank officer and eventually retired as Junior Assistant Manager.

I once read a quote of Harold B. Lee from a column by George Moore about George Washington which says, “We can become educated persons, regardless of our stations in life, if we never quit learning.” (Harold B. Lee, General Conference, April 1971).

When I enrolled in the MBA, although it was purposely for my personal career goal, I always have in mind that perhaps this will be one best example that I might show to my growing children of the value of continuing education and advance learning. All five of them have earned college degrees. They knew all about my educational journey. My wish is for them and the rest of my posterity to follow the same road that they may be able to surmount the increasing challenges of the coming years and the uncertain future.

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MY PERSONAL SEARCH FOR TRUTH

By: Norberto Betita

Since childhood I have an unrelenting desire to learn of the truth which I seemed not to find in the religion of my birth. I have found early in my childhood some inconsistencies about my former religion. My father would tell me that it would be a grievous sin to read the Bible, but I found my grandfather, who was of the same faith reading the Bible each day. I usually spent my weekends with my maternal grandparents to help them fetch water and gather firewood. For so long I have noted that very thick Bible on the center table of their sala set near the window where the morning light of the rising sun provides greater brightness and illumination through the open window. There my grandfather would read. But I never have tried to open such a Bible as it was prohibited in my religion.

My earlier righteous predilection and preference were learned most from my grandparents, particularly my grandfather. He would teach me stories about his life---his failures and successes. Most often he would tell me that he should have been financially stable, but most of his earnings were from deceitful gambling. He is an expert gambler during his younger days. He told me that he has handled so much money from gambling, but it usually was lost the same way. He even showed me his techniques and expertise in deceitful gambling, but he incessantly advised me never to indulge in such a dirty vice including drunkenness and other wickedness evident during those times.  My parents do not have so much time teaching us during our early childhood as they were too busy raising and rearing thirteen children in poverty. But they always encourage us to obtain education and showed us their example of hard work. Our family life is kind of a hand to mouth existence, and all of us children and adult have to work together to live. I also learned a little of good manners and right conduct as a subject in school and I tried to earnestly live by the correct moral principles.  

When I was about twelve years old and in Grade six, we were taught some doctrines of the church and were made to memorize prayers as a requirement for our first communion. I have memorized the rest of the prayers except the Nicene Creed. Before our communion we were required to confess. As I have my confession of the petty childhood mistakes, I was made to say the memorized prayers repeatedly for a number of times as a requirement purportedly for me to be forgiven. But I failed on the one---The Creed. We are told earlier that we could not participate in the communion if we are not able to complete the requirements. In my young mind I thought that perhaps I was not forgiven by God of my sins because I failed to memorize one required prayer. However, for fear of being messed about by my classmates, especially that I was a candidate for honors I participated, after all nobody knew that I failed in one required prayer.  For sometime though I was haunted with my dishonesty that for so long I no longer attended mass except during our elementary graduation.

During high school, I seemed to forget all about church except during fiesta celebrations. My parents are very devoted Catholics and we celebrated the fiesta even to the extent of going into debt. But as a young man I enjoyed such a tradition for it is mostly the time when families are gathered together, and there is so much enjoyment---food, games, dances and other youthful activities. But what I disliked most is the fact that there were so much wine at home that made my brothers and father and friends become drunken, quarrelsome and irritable.

Later in high school, I found a dusted Bible on the shelf at my brother’s cottage where I also live. It was given to him by an officemate who is a member of a different Church. I have it cleaned and took courage to read despite prior restrictions from our church and my father.  I found that it contained only the Book of Proverbs and the New Testament. I was young then and without any Bible knowledge, so I thought that it was a complete Bible. I enjoyed reading the Proverbs and in my young mind I wondered why such a good book was prohibited. Even in my youthful understanding I found many good lessons of life. I was especially grateful that some of the things taught by my grandparents were true. I also found several scriptural verses which confirmed that wine is a thing to abhor.  

I took such a Bible as a personal possession, although I only read it occasionally. When I was in college, my readings become a little more frequent especially from the New Testament. I do not have enough resources to hangout with friends after school, as many of our schoolmates do. So I immerse myself in reading both from my books and the Bible. But sad to say, I felt being distanced from my church as many inconsistencies were confirmed. My young mind began to wander and search for meaning of the things I learned. Many things were new to me then.  I thought that maybe there is a Church that could help me understand. Yet never did I attempt to investigate for fear that I may be disowned by my parents and siblings. When I stopped college due to poverty and found a job as a security guard I always carried with me the Bible and read such when on duty during the night, especially in secluded areas of the mining company. At times in my readings, I am brought to tears. One day I found an advertisement inviting anyone to a Bible correspondence school. I thought that perhaps such will give me more light of the truths I am seeking. I wrote to the given address but received no reply. It was in my readings that I learned that the Bible I am reading is not a complete Bible.  But I continued to read and learn good principles from it.

For some time I stopped reading the Bible after I finished reading the New Testament. I knew I needed Religion in my life, yet I found that the church I was in could not explain the things I learned from the Bible.  Although I lost interest in our church, I find occasional visits on some early dawn to pray the Lord’s Prayer. But I never attended any mass.

Before marriage I already learned the Lord’s pattern of family relationships found in the New Testament as taught by Apostles and prophets, particularly from Matthew 19: 2-8 and from Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians 5:22-27; 6: 1-4. Although my interpretation of such is limited only according to my mortal understanding, I tried to live by these patterns notwithstanding marital challenges. That is why when Mormon missionaries came and declared that they have a message for family happiness, I was immediately fascinated and thought that at last I have found somebody else to add to my understanding of God and His Gospel. Although my wife was hesitant because of her English language limitations, I accepted the invitation to investigate the church and eventually accepted and was baptized together with my dearest wife on February 12, 1977 by Robert Sherwin Allred, a missionary from Utah at Sabang Beach in the Philippines. (See My Conversion Story---A Choice of Eternal Worth and Why I Choose the Mormon Way of Life).

Since then life has changed for me and my family and we found greater joy, love, harmony and peace at home notwithstanding the many adversities and challenges, poverty and deprivations. We understood better the meaning of life, the truth of life hereafter, and the continuity of family life in the Kingdom of God.