MY PERSONAL HISTORY: ORDINATIONS TO THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD

by: Norberto  Betita

I joined the church in February 12, 1977 having been baptized by Elder Robert Sherwin Allred and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by Elder Alan Fred Burtenshaw, under the Philippines Cebu Mission. Despite the very strict requirement for me to work on Sunday in the island, I tried to make sure I am at Church on Sunday immediately following my baptism. On the second Sunday of my membership, February 20, 1977, I was interviewed by President Henry F. Acebedo our Branch President and after the sustaining vote, I was conferred the Aaronic Priesthood and ordained to the office of a deacon by Henry F. Acebedo an Elder of the Church. I was then 25 years old.

During those times all male members of the church twelve years old and above have to be ordained to the offices of Deacon, Teacher, and Priest before he could be advanced to the Melchizedek Priesthood.  As an ordained Deacon I have to pass the sacrament together with the youth and I have to diligently perform this function and other assignments in order for me to be advanced to the office of a teacher. After proving my worthiness, I was again interviewed and ordained to the office of a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood on September 11, 1977 by Henry F. Acebedo our Branch President. Being an ordained Teacher I have to make sure that I performed my assignments to prepare the Sacrament or to pass the Sacrament when there are not deacons available. As I diligently performed these duties, I came to even feel greater respect of the calling recognizing that it was the Lord who first prepared and passed the Sacrament emblem. To perform the ordinance for Him and on His behalf was to me such an honour.

It was only two years after, on February 11, 1979 when I was finally advanced to the office of a Priest having been ordained by President Henry F. Acebedo, whose office is an Elder. It was for me a very sacred privilege to be able to administer the Sacrament which is the most sacred ordinance administered each Sabbath day. During the District Conference of the Cebu Philippines District, Philippines Cebu City Mission, I was sustained and eventually conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordained to the office of an Elder on September 23, 1979 in the presence of my wife by Fred Cabanos Dimaya whose Priesthood office is Elder. Tears just freely flowed from my eyes as blessings were pronounced. The Mission President then of the Philippines Cebu City Mission was President Ralph C. Trejo.

From such ordinations in the Holy Priesthood of God I had also been called to different positions in the Church and had served for many years in various capacities. I had performed all necessary ordinances for my children and accomplished my patriarchal duty to bless my family.  As the church grew in Mindanao and more units were organized, I have had many opportunities to serve in Priesthood leadership positions which sustained me and my family in our membership in the church. As Branch President I had the opportunity to be able to meet Elder Dallin H. Oaks during his first visit in the Philippines as a new Apostle, and I have the opportunity to have an embrace with a living Apostle at the Philippine Davao Mission Office in Davao City. After that meeting Elder Dallin H. Oaks sent me a copy of an autographed picture of him.

Although there had been no plans yet for us to go to the Manila Temple for our family sealing, I and my wife tried to qualify for a temple recommend and during a conference of the Butuan Philippines District we have an interview with President Vergara of the Philippines Davao Mission for a Temple Recommend for the first time. I felt that it was part of my priesthood responsibility to have my family receive the sealing ordinance of the Temple. During the interview President Vergara encouraged us just to prepare to go and to sacrifice in order to receive the blessings of the Temple. We prepared by saving part of our meagre income and selling Sister Betita’s most treasured jewelleries. Then when we deemed that we have saved enough and were about to go to the Temple we unexpectedly received a check from President Vergara in an amount more than enough for our round trip ticket. We also received confirmation from a returned missionary, Sister Emata of Makati City that we will be housed at their family home. Then on December 13, 1986 with our children Hazel, Robert Sherwin and Lori Lynne, we together kneel before the Holy altar inside the sealing room at the Manila Temple and were sealed together as a family for time and all eternity.

Three years later during the organization of the Butuan Philippines Stake, I was called for an interview by President George I. Cannon of the Seventy and Philippines Area President and Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The following day during the conference, I was sustained as second counsellor in the Stake Presidency and as candidate to the office of a High Priest in the Melchizedek Priesthood, and immediately thereafter, I was ordained a High Priest by President George I. Cannon and set apart as second Counsellor of the Stake presidency of the Butuan Philippines Stake on February 19, 1989.

Indeed, my ordinations to the different offices in the Holy Priesthood of God had given me and my wife and family enough strength that sustained us in all the trials and adversities of our mortal life. The feeling of being trusted by God with such authority and power in the Holy Priesthood up to this time is to me beyond comprehension. As I witnessed miracles in our lives through the ordinances of the Holy Priesthood, I find no adequate words to convey my feelings of gratitude for such a sacred privilege to be worthy of this divine trust.