DISTRICT CONFERENCE MOMENTS: A LEGACY OF LOVE, KINDNESS AND RESPECT

by: Norberto Betita

Elder and Sister Teh with my family

The tick of each second as it rounds the circle of a time piece seems to have increased its speed that the memories of the enjoyable past run close and fast as to easily connect to the pleasant encounters of the present. Indeed, time flies fast into the circle of life and as recollections open the portals of the mind and heart we are brought to remembrance our common race through life and thus recall in vivid reminiscences of those we once have been spiritually associated. Then as in the words of Elton John in his song The Circle of Life, we find that:

“Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with the scars.”

The year 1986 was such a time of historical excitement and stimulation in the Philippine Archipelago as it was the beginning of a transition government, a shift from what was then termed as a dictatorial regime. While political animation and vibrancy came to seemingly limitless heights, the works of spreading the words of God remained a constant and normal activity among the ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ in many parts of the country.

During such a time, I was the Branch President of a small branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Surigao City. That was 33 years ago and now the branch has already grown into a district with 6 branches. Communication was very inadequate then and mail deliveries were generally sluggish. Seldom do we have any information of a new missionary coming into our place to serve until they were already at our doors. 

Elder Teh as a young missionary in Surigao City with my young family

However, such was not the case on Elder Michael John U. Teh. During one of our meetings with the District Presidency, we were told that we have a new missionary coming, in the name of Elder Teh. President Henry F. Acebedo, a physician, who was then our District President jokingly told us that he is from Singapore as his Chinese family name suggests. President Acebedo’s clinical secretary who is a member, was also informed about the new missionary as coming from Singapore. So that when Elder Teh and his companion arrived at the clinic, she communicated with him in the English Language, until all the words and phrases she had shortly reserved for the engagement was consumed. That’s when Elder Teh ended the prank and answered her in perfect Visayan of which the missionary was very fluent being a native of Davao City. 

With my 3 original children as they are now

While most missionaries have common virtues of love and kindness and respect, Elder Teh has a very special touch that easily connects him to the members. He’s been so keen of each members’ tickle, both old and young, and even to other missionaries, as to easily get their attention and respect and friendship. He was then the kind of a young man whose influence created an increased capacity for cooperation in the Lord’s work. No wonder then that he has been a successful influencer of members’ desire to become active participants in the Lord’s missionary work.

When we were in Manila for our temple sealing as a family, he must have known that we were destitute of funds. He probably wrote his mother in advance, before we even leave, that we are going to the temple and he asked for some amount of money purportedly for the Christmas season, to be sent through us. He instructed his mother not to close the envelope, so that should we be short of funds, we will be able to use the money. We have never utilized it anyway, but we appreciated very much his concern about our possible dilemma while in a place far away from home.

When he was transferred to another area, he sent us a picture as a reminder of him, expressing his love for our family. We don’t have any contact, personal or otherwise, for several years. In fact, as far as I could remember we only met once at the Church Administration Office when he was yet working as Manager of the Member’s Statistical Records Division which was then my direct contact as Branch President for statistical reports. We have not met since then, until he was called as a General Authority Seventy and was assigned to preside over our district conference for the first time. He surprised us with a visit at our home with a gift of a Cassette Tape version of Stephen R. Covey’s work---The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. By his touch of thoughtfulness, during his most recent visit, he again gifted us with a Manila Philippines Temple puzzle, perhaps to remind us of the prophet’s counsel to attend the temple regularly. 

My growing family with already five children

 Although my two other daughters were not yet born when he was serving in Surigao, they know him, because we always talked about him in the family. We apprised them of how he loved and respected us and how we appreciated and cherished his kindness. The children’s love and respect of him even magnified when he was called as a General Authority Seventy.

Once, while I and sister Betita were in the Cebu Philippines Temple, we accidentally met him together with the area presidency at the garment’s counter, and he was just so excited to embrace us and introduced us to the Area President and the other counselor. We were elated and thrilled for such kind of affection and fondness he extended to us. 

Sneaked shot of Elder and Sister Teh at the NAIA by my daughter

Most recently, my youngest daughter, observed him and Sister Teh at the Manila International airport waiting for their flight to Bacolod. She immediately and excitedly sent us a sneaked picture of him and Sister Teh. That’s how he is loved in the family and how such connection influenced even those of our children and grandchildren who were not yet born when he was here for his mission.

When we were told that he will be coming again for the second time to preside over our Surigao District Conference, Sister Betita suggested for us to invite him and Sister Teh for a dinner. I asked her if she had enough money. She jokingly said, we will ask him to pay the cost. Then three days before his arrival, our son Robert, who is our District President, received a message that Elder and Sister Teh wanted to have a dinner with the whole family. Of course, Sister Betita was ecstatic that her kind of silly imagination was, by some providence, relayed through the airwaves and transmitted into the mind of Elder Teh. Indeed, the whole family was very happy and excited to meet the two of them and have a dinner with them. 

Elder Michael John U. Teh with me

Such was an enjoyable sumptuous dinner. Elder and Sister Teh appreciated our acknowledging their invitation as much as we were very much grateful for having such the honor to be their dinner guests---sixteen of us in the family. However what was most memorable was Elder Teh’s sincere appreciation of our increasingly active participation as members of the Church. We value so much his reminder to the whole family that it doesn’t matter if we don’t have much of the worldly mammon for as long as we are continually working for our wondrous inheritance in the celestial kingdom of God. It brought to memory the context of his General Conference message: “There is no end to what the world has to offer, so it is critical that we learn to recognize when we have enough. If we are not careful, we will begin to chase after the temporal more than the spiritual. Our pursuit for the spiritual and eternal will then take a backseat, instead of the other way around. Sadly, there appears to be a strong inclination to acquire more and more and to own the latest and the most sophisticated.” With which he quoted the prophet Jacob in 2 Nephi 9:51, “Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.” (Where Your Treasure Is, April 2014 General Conference, lds.org.) 

Elder and Sister Teh ministering with the Lerio family

With his recent visit, Elder Teh and sister Teh, again left for us and the rest of the members of the Surigao Philippines District, a legacy of love, kindness and respect which surely will last a lifetime. They visited a new member family of brother and sister Lerio who were struggling. They had been preparing for their temple blessings when a crucially distressing and heartrending trial came upon them which eventually resulted in the loss of their beloved granddaughter. They were persecuted by some relatives and friends, believing that the loss of a child was a curse for their leaving the religion of their birth. But they hold on to faith that it was God’s providence that the child be taken for a better and more important purpose. Accordingly, Elder Teh gave the father, who is not a member of the church, a Priesthood blessing of comfort and love.

They also visited a long time member, brother and sister Ariar, who are now old and feeble, and also gave sister Ariar, who is sick, a Priesthood blessing. Knowing that one member, whom he baptized when she was only 13 years old, is still in Surigao City, he was moved with enthusiasm to meet with her. His efforts was never in vain for a few minutes before they left for the airport, Rachel---already a mother of two---came to meet him at the hotel. It was a short but one memorable reunion. 

With one of the members he baptized---Sister Rachel (2nd from left)

Their conference messages resonate angelic zeal as to merit reverential veneration. Emotional expressions may have brought for them and for us tears, but such were tears of joy and gladness and meaningful display and confirmation that by their counsels and instruction we had been edified and spiritually strengthened.

The reiteration and emphasis of the prophetic declaration by President Russel M. Nelson about the reduced Sunday services hours was instructive. The prophet said: “The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.” (Becoming Exemplary Latter-Day Saints, General Conference, October 2018, lds.org.)

The reminder to be on guard because the “the assaults of the adversary are increasing exponentially, in intensity and in variety (Ibid.)” is expressive of sincere concern for the spiritual wellbeing of individual members and their families. 

With members after conference

Simultaneous with those wonderful training instruction and counsels there was that wonderful and humble demonstration of camaraderie which for us leaves a legacy of love, kindness and respect.

Chances are that we might not be able to meet again. With more than a hundred stakes and several more districts in the Philippines to visit it would be impossible for them to be able to have a return visit before Elder Teh will be reassigned to another area and country. But I’m sure that they will be remembered and their goodness will ever linger not only in my own family but to others as well.

With district leaders after conference

I am 13 years Elder Teh’s senior and my life in mortality may not be long enough. But I will eternally cherish and treasure his love and kindness and respect which virtues were also noted by an old American woman who once served in the Manila Philippines Temple, a friend to President Thomas S. Monson. When after his mission she met President Monson, she told him of a very loving, kind and considerate young man who works as Temple recorder. When Elder Michael John U. Teh, years later, was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 31, 2007, that’s when she wrote about her impressions of the man as being divinely confirmed.

The time piece of mortality continues to calculate the hours and the calendar of life takes its role to renew and count each and every passing day and provide sequence of each coming year. Indeed, there will be more dawns and sunsets; there will be more Christmases and New Years as the earth continues its orbit. For Elder Teh, as a servant of God, there may still be more work to do and more people to influence. His love and kindness and respect for people he had been called to serve as a General Authority Seventy will yet find more space in the hearts of many of the sons and daughters of God.