A CHILD’S TRIAL OF FAITH

by: Norberto Betita

Zaina Viveca Betita Pedrosa at 5

The trials of life are never designed just for those who are already of age as to be strong enough to bear the burdens of pain and sorrow. It happens even to the tender body and soul of a little child. Some even from the time of conception. It is sometimes unthinkable and paradoxical, by way of our natural perception, why Heavenly Father allows these tests of life to happen to innocent children, who are yet unaccountable for sin and so young and inexperienced as to bear the weight of adversity. But it always happens and at times even serious enough as to inflict the heart and bring tears to concern loved ones.

During Jesus’ ministry with His disciples, “…he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (see John 9:1-3). 

Her birthday dress

The trials that each of us experience, should be deeply understood as part of God’s dealings with man. In fact it is part of the purpose why we are here, even a manifestation of Heavenly Father’s great plan of happiness. Whether we suffer from it during the most tender and vulnerable times of life or during the entire course of our mortal journey, is a matter that we should always accept with forbearance and faith. After all the ultimate promise for those who overcome is so glorious that the Lord himself described it, thus: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne (Revelation 3:21). He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son (Revelation 21:7).”

These trials come to us in different types and in different situations, and even in different levels of pain and sorrow. But it is always our attitude in accepting the miseries and sufferings of life that we become stronger to bear the burdens attendant to every ordeals that we encounter. 

The family

I observed this positive attitude towards trials with my 5-year-old granddaughter Zaina Viveca. When she was seriously injured, her first word to her mommy was, “Don’t get angry mommy, it is my fault. I’m sorry, I have not been very careful.” To her grandma who visited her, “Please don’t cry, because I will also cry.” Grandma had to go to the bathroom to hide her tears out of pity for such a tender child bearing her agony with confidence, courage and faith. 

Even in the midst of her facing a consequential longer recuperation as a result of the gravity and severity of the injury, yet she remains to be just as happy as a little child should be. She feels no enmity to anybody who might have contributed to the accident, but accepted it as her own mistake. She was so brave as to face her trial with greater optimism and positivity that she will soon recover and be back to her normal life.

I personally have been taught by her. When I first learned about the accident, I was kind of hysterical--- crying like a baby. Several silly questions surfaced into my negative mind. But I felt humbled as I was informed of her personal response to what had happened even as a tender soul. By her ability to positively accept the depth of her trials, I perceived in her, even at this time of her early childhood, what Elder Marvin J. Ashton said, “Greatness is best measured by how well an individual responds to the happenings in life that appear totally unfair, unreasonable, and undeserved.” Indeed, what happened to her in her yet very tender years is kind of “unfair, unreasonable and underserved.” But her response was something which unbelievably could have been done or conceived by such a very young soul that she is. 

Attending Church Primary Activity

In the midst of her sufferings, she tried to just ignore and seemed not to be bothered by the physical discomforts and soreness brought about by the injury. She doesn’t want the pains and sufferings to have a place of residency in her yet very young life. Such attitude is even exemplified and demonstrated as she continues to desire to attend church and be present in her kindergarten school despite her yet inability to walk. Thanks to her dearly beloved mother who is always by her side, supporting her in all that she wanted to do and accomplish notwithstanding her crisis.

Perhaps she will not remember her excellent and admirable reaction to adversity this early in her life. But in the days to come when she will be able to read this account, which I purposely wrote as part of the chronicle of her life, she will be able to realize that she is meant for greatness and her earlier attitude of life, in the face of an enormous challenge, is one that will lead her to success. In due time she will be able to comprehend what Shakespeare wrote:

Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head. 

With her sister Jera and Primary kids

Someday she will understand that just as a knife becomes sharp with continued grinding, so we become more spiritually polished and perfected by the trials that we suffer. Paul taught that we are “…heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:17-18).

Our collective family prayers and fasting and sincere pleadings to Heavenly Father may have contributed to her recuperation, but it was the unbending faith and courage of this little child in her trials that draw the power of divine healing from heaven. Nothing comes in great power and intensity in this life than the faith and sincere petition of a little child to the One who dwells on high even God.

Advance birthday celebration at school

Yet more than the pains of injury, she also suffered an even harder blow of adversity earlier, at age two, which emotional consequence she might carry long into her mortal journey. Estrangement, like divorce, is such a venomous evil that brings pangs of sorrow and distress as to inject emotional pain that may take a long time of healing. However, as she continues to trust in the Lord she will have His promise, “…in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.” (D&C 101:36.) 

The Lord so loved little children that when His disciples asked Him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

“…Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

“And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me” (Matthew 18:1-5).

They are so precious to Him that He declared with such an sternest warning: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6). 

The sisters

As she grows in the nurture of the gospel she will come to realize that all the trials that she had gone through and will go through are temporary and only a proving event in her mortal probation. All will come to pass. More opportunities will, in due time, be available to help her overcome the challenges of life.

Her childhood may have been battered by unwanted events and occurrences, but all have its divine purpose. I know the Lord is by her side and provides her each day with the comfort she needed in her sufferings. Children as so special to the Lord, that during His visit to the Nephites, “…He commanded that their little children should be brought.

“So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst; and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto him.”

Then …”he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

“And when he had done this he wept again;

“And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.

“And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them” (3 Nephi 17: 11-12; 21-24).

Zaina Viveca may not yet be able to fully comprehend the great love and ministering power that the Lord has for her at this time of her trials. But on the day when she will be able to understand these writings and look back to that awful past of a child’s trial of faith, she will gain an enlarged vision and an advanced perspective about the purpose of life and salvation through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The celebrant

Today, August 28, 2019, she turns five years old. Despite her plaster cast, she is very excited for this, her birthday, to come. Her most caring and loving mother was taken aback and was carried into the heights of the same excitement, seeing her so happy and unconcerned about her situation and physical condition. There may not be a sumptuous feast, but as always the pick of the bunch in the menu---the love of family---is always laid with delight on the tabletop. We wish her the best for today and throughout the coming years of her life. May Heavenly Father continue to provide comfort to her very young life through the Holy Spirit and may His divine healing power restore and fully recuperate her injury. May Heavenly Father’s love beacon as a guiding light through her yet long and challenging journey to the blissful shores of life.

THE GRATIFYING EXTENSIONS

by: Norberto Betita

Norberto G. Betita at 67

The knowledge that I gained about Heavenly Father’s great plan of happiness and the glory that awaits me in the life hereafter, somehow appeals a longing for life’s wrapping up. The continued trimming of my wings by old age and lingering afflictions demands a restful estate of existence afar off the cares of the world. However, it is not for me to implore for a final march into the dark tunnel and slide forward to the other side of the veil. It is only God who has the power and authority to serve the summon.

Therefore, while I thought that I have lived long enough in this life, I still have to give forbearance to however long He required of me for an extension to stay in this troubled world. I have to endure in patience the challenges of continuing infirmities and weariness.

I’m already in the period of life when all things seem to be against all my efforts to improve my physical health. I realized that no matter my efforts and no matter how much resources I spend, my physical body is already due for deterioration. My body is now becoming like a vintage machine. I may still have to seek from the expert mechanics of this mortal coil, but I could not have the guarantee of a perfect restoration. My doctors may provide me with the best medical prescriptions; I may have the most applicable vitamins, and expensive supplements; I may be able to provide myself and eat the best foods, fresh fruits and veggies, but still it cannot assure for me the ultimate cure. Old age will slowly drag me down the precipice onto the point of no return.

I know, however, that there is a restoration of all things, “…which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets.

“The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.

And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God” (Alma 40:20-23, 25).

What a glorious promise! What a grandiose destination for an infirmed and weary soul that I am, to think about and to wish to go aboard. But in each of us, God has a reason for an extension. Although we are already in such a short time between sunsets and evening stars, we still have much to do that would satisfy the longings of the heart for the gratifying extensions of our mortal life. 

In my life, I have always wanted to guide my children to live gospel oriented lives. So are the rest of the buds in our family tree, although I understand that my responsibility to my grandchildren as regards leading a life of obedience is only by showing the best example that I could present. While my children are now old enough to be on their own, I still cherish and treasure those moments when they were yet under our nurturing and guiding hands. At this time of my life when I can no longer impose upon them the needed rules and nurturing imperatives, I am immensely grateful for the privilege to know and see how our efforts to raise them in righteousness have gone so far. I love President Gordon B. Hinckley’s words on this regard. Said he: “You have nothing in this world more precious than your children. When you grow old, when your hair turns white and your body grows weary, when you are prone to sit in a rocker and meditate on the things of your life, nothing will be so important as the question of how your children have turned out. It will not be the money you have made. It will not be the cars you have owned. It will not be the large house in which you live. The searing question that will cross your mind again and again will be, How well have my children done?” (Your Greatest Challenge, Mother, Gordon B. Hinckley, October 2000, General Conference). 

Indeed, in partnership with my dearest Letty, we prepared our children both temporally and spiritually for their battle ahead of them. We provided them with the needed secular learning that they can possibly obtain as well as spiritual knowledge through the Seminary and Institute. While we desire for their temporal advancement, we have always impressed upon their young minds the paramount importance of seeking “first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (see Matthew 6:33). Since then, and even while in college, they have served voluntarily and as called upon in different capacities in the church.

As I now reflect on this extended life in my mortal journey, I rejoice in the privilege to witness my children being active participants in the great and marvelous work of salvation and not just the lazy and idle spectators. As of this writing, my eldest Hazel is counselor in the Branch Primary Presidency; my son Robert Sherwin is District President and his wife Analiza serves in the District Young Women Presidency; my daughter Lori Lynne is District Primary President and her husband Fraodel is Branch President; my fourth child Kathleen Beth is now Ward Primary President; and our foster Daughter Angelica is Secretary to the Branch Young Women Organization. Our two grandchildren---Craig Kirby and Rulon Asher---were ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood as Teacher and Deacon, respectively. Of course as an example for them, and despite our feeble and weary bodies, we still serve. Letty is branch Relief Society President and Institute Teacher. I am presently serving as District Sunday School President and District Auditor. My last born Shauna Megan, although she had served before, is now pregnant for our 11th grandchild. I hope though that in due time, she will again be called by inspiration to serve and be supported by her non-member husband Richard. These to me are marvelous achievements far beyond the glory that the worldly wealth and mammon can provide.

 

While their journey is still far distant to the finish line, and we as parents are now dependent on Heavenly Father’s gift of extension, I wish to remind them to continue to march on to the covenant path with the same fervor and cadence. Heavenly Father’s promise are sure: “…it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection…and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths… to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.

“Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them” (D & C 132:19-20).

With such promises are shown to the prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon the grandeur of the Celestial Kingdom. The vision described thus: “And thus we saw the glory of the celestial, which excels in all things—where God, even the Father, reigns upon his throne forever and ever;

“Before whose throne all things bow in humble reverence, and give him glory forever and ever.

“They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness and of his grace;

“And he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion” (D & C 76:92–95).

As I now look at the majestic potentials of my children and grandchildren as they are at present and the rest of my yet coming posterity, I marvel at the love that Heavenly Father has for His children as to prepare for them such breathtaking and compelling promise of a magnificent state and condition of divine royalty. Thus, it would be such an awfully reckless and stupid diversion of them to stray and turn away from the covenant path.

So that at this time of my weariness attendant to old age and lingering afflictions, I thank God for the gratifying extensions that He has afforded me to continue to witness my children and grandchildren actively participating in His work and glory, “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).

My life may not be as rewarding as it is now with diminishing dynamism and physical limitations. I am now prune to inevitable shortcomings. The path to progress is now constricted. Yet I tried to live with joy and contentment. I found that even in this final episode of my life story, there are still many things that could be done even in the 11th hour as to merit God’s love and blessing. Elder Dieter Uchtdorf said: "No matter how bleak the chapter of our lives may look today, because of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we may hope and be assured that the ending of the book of our lives will exceed our grandest expectations."

As I now turn 67 today, August 25, 2019, I renew my deepest commitment to always remember the Lord Jesus Christ, whose hands and feet are scarred by that cruel nails as He died on that forbidding cross for me, a sinner. I bear solemn witness of His redeeming love and mercy and His ever extended hands that help me bear the burdens of life. He is my Saviour and Redeemer; my elder brother; my best friend; my advocate to the Father; and my righteous judge. He is the light of the world and the “Lamb which is in the midst of the throne” (Revelation 17:7) of Heavenly Father.

I express gratitude to Heavenly Father for still giving me an extension of my life in mortality to cherish and relish the wonderful memories of the past; the magnificent spiritual accomplishments of the present; and the brilliant prospects of that blessed day when I will finally be summoned to embark into the doors of death and take a perfect view of the grandeur of the life that awaits me in the Spirit World.