WHEN ANGELS SING WITH THE YOUTH INSIDE THE CEBU PHILIPPINES TEMPLE

By: Norberto Betita

The Cebu Philippines Temple

Joy fills the countenances of our grandchildren Keeshia-13 and KayAn-15 and our foster daughter Angelica-17 as they arrived home early morning from their scheduled youth Temple trip at the Cebu Philippines Temple from July 6-9, 2016. It was Sabbath Day and we were delightfully preparing for our Sunday services. Stories of their spiritual experiences while performing ordinances at the Temple were held in reserve until the three of them were assigned to stand before the congregation to bear witness of their feelings and spiritual experiences attendant to their performing ordinances for the dead.

Their journey to the temple was not without challenge. Keeshia and KayAn, were both active in school and were both in the honor roll. To be absent for two school days will be a great loss. Yet they felt that visiting the Temple at least once in a year is of paramount priority in their youthful life. So it was with our foster daughter who is already in college. She was originally included in the list of those who will be going but she differed because of a personal development opportunity as a student to attend a seminar on journalism. However, for reason not clearly known the seminar was rescheduled. Yet she still was very concerned about being absent from her classes for two days. She was given a day to decide, and she finally felt that going to the temple is a priority considering that this will be her last as a youth to be able to participate in such a spiritual undertaking.

Another serious concern was the weather disturbance which caused some parents to cancel their children’s participation. A tropical storm was expected during the week of their scheduled travel and the southwesterly wind was fiercely blowing before and even during the night of their trip to Cebu City. Fortunately, according to my granddaughters, few hours after they left the port of Surigao City the weather disturbances ceased and there was calm until they reached their destination safe and sound.

KayAn and Keeshia Palma after performing
ordinances for the dead

As Keeshia stood with conviction for her testimony during our Sacrament Meeting, she related that her visit to the temple for the second time was such a spiritually magnifying experience; it was for her worth challenging the whistling winds and the raging sea. Then with tear-filled eyes and shivering voice she related: “During our opening exercises in the room at the baptismal and confirmation area in the temple and while singing the hymns---More Holiness Give Me, How Gentle God’s Commands and I Know that My Redeemer Lives---and beyond the voices of those present, I heard some kind of voices joining with us in the singing. It was a penetrating chorus and perfect blend of choir voices.” She and her sister confided to me at home that as the couple temple ordinance workers delivered their short messages they felt some kind of powerful spiritual influence and deepest feelings as to give them goose flesh. In their young minds was the thought that those voices must have come from the many of those beyond the veil commissioned by God to express His grateful acknowledgement for their sacrifices to come to the Holy House of the Lord to perform sacred ordinances for the dead.

KayAn on her part confirmed with tearful testimony what her sister observed. She told me during my interview with her after the testimony that while she was singing the alto and two of their escort Priesthood leaders were singing the tenor and base, she heard such awesome and beautiful voices far more powerful than those voices in the room. She bore witness that such was a personal revelation to her that the heavens really rejoiced for the sacrifices they have made to perform ordinances of salvation for those waiting beyond the veil. She said, “Earlier we were told by the Temple President that in the temple we will experience spiritual manifestations and personal revelations.” She further stated that she felt a solemn connection to those whom she was baptized by proxy that she felt no intention to forget their names.

Our foster daughter Angelica likewise bore witness of such wonderful spiritual manifestations and bore testimony of its truth with tear-filled eyes. She declared with solemnity that she prayed hard the night before she was given an ultimatum by the District President whether to go or not. She felt grateful that she did not hold back the promptings and instead took the opportunity to be a substitute for one who differed her participation.

According to them some young men also observed that while they have their Priesthood opening exercises and there was only the wife of the temple ordinance worker presiding as the only one woman in the room, they were surprised to have heard more voices of women in a choir singing with them.

Such glorious spiritual experiences and heavenly manifestations motivated them to give more devotion to the work they were doing in the temple, as a result of which they were admired by temple ordinance workers as the most reverent group of youth. 

Some of the youth looking at the temple

Our most solemn and inspiring Sacrament Meeting was concluded by the testimony of our Branch President Fraodel Preciosa, who also was with the youth in the temple. Wiping his eyes from tears—which he termed tears of joy---he bore witness of such a remarkable feeling of peace while inside the temple after an experience of his leave of absence not being approved initially, but only after he told his manager that he would rather resign if he would not be allowed to utilize his leave benefits.

Their most inspired testimonies which brought tears into my eyes, were reaffirmed as our Sunday services ended with our priesthood and relief society classes taking up lessons entitled, The Temple---the Greatest Symbol of Our Membership, by President Howard W. Hunter. Said he:

“When I contemplate the temple, I think of these words:

“”The temple is a place of instruction where profound truths pertaining to the Kingdom of God are unfolded. It is a place of peace where minds can be centered upon things of the spirit and the worries of the world can be laid aside. In the temple we make covenants to obey the laws of God, and promises are made to us, conditioned always on our faithfulness, which extend into eternity” (The Priesthood and You, Melchizedek Priesthood Lessons—1966, Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1966, p. 293).

The spiritual blessing which were experienced by the youth of the Surigao Philippines District, as they heard angels sing with them in the temple was a confirmation of Elder John A. Widtsoe’s declaration as quoted by President Howard W. Hunter:

“Temple work … gives a wonderful opportunity for keeping alive our spiritual knowledge and strength. … The mighty perspective of eternity is unraveled before us in the holy temples; we see time from its infinite beginning to its endless end; and the drama of eternal life is unfolded before us. Then I see more clearly my place amidst the things of the universe, my place among the purposes of God; I am better able to place myself where I belong, and I am better able to value and to weigh, to separate and to organize the common, ordinary duties of my life so that the little things shall not oppress me or take away my vision of the greater things that God has given us” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1922, pp. 97–98).

They left the portals of the Temple carrying with them the faith and calming assurance of the prayers offered by the prophet Joseph Smith:

“And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them;

“And from this place they may bear exceedingly great and glorious tidings, in truth, unto the ends of the earth, that they may know that this is thy work, and that thou hast put forth thy hand, to fulfil that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of the prophets, concerning the last days (D & C 109:22-23).”

Gone were the terrifying sounds of whistling winds and the frightful roars of heaving waves as the glorious promise for those who come to the temple overtakes the atrocious power of nature. The threatening storm dispersed as the youth prepared to bear witness of “the exceedingly great and glorious tidings,”--- of having the privilege of hearing the angels sing with them and the truths they learned inside the House of the Lord--- “in truth, unto the ends of the earth.” They crossed the calmed and stilled sea back home no longer worried about their missed secular opportunities for they have their minds and hearts filled with knowledge and learning which are of infinite worth.

TRAVIS, MY GRANDSON AND HIS INFECTIOUS LANGUAGE

by: Norberto Betita

Travis Betita Preciosa

I felt worried when I was told by his mother that the result of the ultrasound revealed that his kidneys differ in size---one is bigger than the other. I feared because his grandmother and aunts had histories of kidney problems. While his parents may have been praying for him, I did my own sincere personal pleadings to Heavenly Father for the foetus to grow normally and to be born healthy. My fears slowly became extinct as I was told after each scheduled visit to the doctor that the baby is okay. His father blessed his mother right on the day when he was to be delivered. Indeed, he was born normally, healthy and strong on June 28, 2001. I was relieved, although his parents were advised to have him checked by Pediatric Nephrologist after two years for any possible kidney problem. He was blessed and given a name of TRAVIS BETITA PRECIOSA by his father, who was the Branch President in our branch on the fast and testimony Sunday immediately following his birth. His name was historically known as being used in America in honor of William Travis who was the commander of the Texan forces in the Battle of the Alamo. It is meant to traverse or cross---the act of passing through.

It’s been five years since, but there had been no visible signs of kidney malfunctions in him. Penury deprived him of the needed check-up by an specialist. But his parents are looking forward to have him brought to Cebu City for Pediatric Nephrology.

Dancing with Ate KayAn

He is now five years old. Our noses bleed as he speaks. We didn’t know how he got his English language and accent that even if he speaks in Visayan his intonation is still the same. Instead of saying tambay for medicine he would say tsambay. When his cousin told him, “this is a gift”, he responded “no that is a present”. While strolling around the city with his parents he saw scattered garbage and he told his mommy “it’s disgusting”. Perhaps he had learned the language from the educational videos which she daily viewed and some children’s video games that he was viewing. If we talk to him in Surigawnon---our local dialect, he will not respond. We all speak in Surigawnon at home, but we have a hard time influencing him to speak the dialect. Instead we are the ones infected by his extra-terrestrial vernacular. We sometimes thought he is an American or English spirit who mistakenly entered his mother’s womb probably thinking that she was an American or an English woman because of her fair complexion. It is no wonder though that he has a brown hair, because his maternal first degree granduncle was born and grew up with a curly brown hair and white skin tall and handsome like him.

Once he was brought by his parents in a mall. While he was being cuddled by his father, whose complexion seemed to be even darker than the brown Filipino race because of the nature of his work, a saleslady asked if Travis was a son of a foreigner. His mother interrupted; and the saleslady grinned as she was told that the one carrying him was his father.

He started his pre-school at four. He did not resist being left alone by his parents during his first day in school. There he learned to associate and slowly absorbed and communicate d the local dialect. Until now he still has a hard time conversing fluently the local language at home and school, but he now understands when we talk to him in the dialect. We don’t know how long he will be adjusting with his school classmates and what will be the measure of his competence.

His language is truly infectious. At home his cousin Cian seemed to have been confused of the two languages we are using, that he adopted also the English language, especially that they are always in company. When his first cousin Jelliene came to study in a local public school, she was also infected with Travis’ English accent. Because of these two that seemed to have been born with English as their lingua franca, all the more that we are using the language now. Even our about two year-old granddaughter Zaina Viveca is now learning the language because they are usually together at home most of the time. However, what is most important is we understand each other. 

Today, June 28, 2016 is his 5th birthday. We are not sure what will be his future, yet we are happy to witness his wonderful growth and development daily, while he hops and pops like the “Five little monkeys dancing on the bed” who sometimes fell down and bump their heads. We are hoping and earnestly praying that God will bestow through His divine providence that which is best for him. As grandparents, I and my wife may not have the opportunity to see him grow to maturity, but my undeviating wish is for him to be nurtured in the gospel by his parents to help him grow in righteousness and virtue and worthily serve in the Church and Kingdom of God. May the meaning of his name be a daily reminder for him to pass through every gate of adversity and cross the chasm that may divide along his route to the marvellous prospects of his future. It is my ardent hope that he will be able to read this article about him when he becomes old enough to understand and I am gone.

TO OUR SIXTH GRANDSON TRAVIS, HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

KAYAN: “THE JOY OF TRYING AGAIN”

by: Norberto Betita

KayAn Betita Palma, preparing for
the contest

One day she returned home from a school contest and cried before her mother for she was the only one in their team who did not win. We tried to console and comfort her, that it was just a contest and there will always be losers. We told her in tones which expressed unyielding optimism that such day was her turn to lose, but that she need not despair of the defeat for there are yet more contests to come as she moves her way forward on her journey to success. As a young woman, she had been taught in the family, and she knew it by herself as she listens to Apostles and Prophets that “One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final” (Thomas S. Monson).

She had been a gifted child. She had other talents that are hidden within her coil. In her academic journey she had been a consistent honor student from kindergarten until her elementary graduation and on to her grades 7-8 in high school. She knew as she was taught that it is impossible for her to attain the highest honors if her efforts are only equal to a lower rank. Yet she is trying her best wanting to make it to the top. However, she understood that there are limits to her energy and level of excellence, which at times are affected by circumstantial obstructions and barriers. But her courage is ever strong and her faith vibrant.

Her motivation and inspiration comes right from the accomplishments of her bemedaled maternal aunt, who also was an alumnus to both her elementary and high school Alma Maters. She also wished that she will find her way to qualify in one of the premier universities where her aunt graduated Cum Laude. We taught her however that it is not the marks that count but the consistent honest effort and determination that accurately pilot one to his or her destined success and glory. 

Getting ready for the National Science quiz - Grade 9 level

Given another chance in a Science quiz, she was ranked only for a second place which should not have qualified her to participate in a national competition. But providence gave place and she was given the chance to compete in the National Science quiz---National Children’s Science Congress---held in Laguna where she placed second for Grade 9 level; and the National Environmental quiz---National Science Quest---held in Baguio City where she was awarded the third place, grade 9 level. As she relish and savor the joy of her national achievement, she now acknowledged the fact of the familiar and oft quoted statement, ”Faith in God includes faith in God’s timing” (Neal A. Maxwell).

In expressions of sincere gratitude she wrote and posted on her Facebook account: “I am tremendously grateful to Heavenly Father, to my family especially my parents, my coaches, and to everyone for guiding and supporting me financially, morally and spiritually. I wouldn't have garnered all of these awards without you.” Indeed, with her, we in the grandfamily of KayAn, likewise express our most sincere thanks to her ever highly qualified coaches and teachers---Ms. Floramyr P. Sarvida, Ms. Ludem C. Bacolod, Ms. Lydia P. Lavares and the rest of the team chaperons---without whose unbending determination and overpowering energies to lead their students to excellence, the children should not have attained the joy and glory of the finish line in their most recent academic race. These multi-awarded teachers, even in international awarding halls, deserve our respect and accolade. 

With one of her best qualified coaches---
Ms. Floramyr P. Sarvida

Together with KayAn, other SNNHS students were also awarded medals and trophies for winning in the contests. To them we express our warmest congratulations!

KayAn is still young at age 15. Her life’s journey is still long and winding. She knew that this life is a contest, a trial and a test. There will still be more defeats and wins, failures and successes, battles and victories, but as in her study of the Old Testament in the Seminary she knew as did the preacher in the Book of Ecclesiastes, “...that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Yes, there will be sorrows in defeats and joys in winnings; there will be despairs attendant to failures and laurels that come of success; there will still be more Goliaths to battle but evermore Davids to win the needed victories. For in every defeat, every failure, every battle, there will come the joy of trying again and again. Perhaps in the coming many laps of her continued race in life, she will eventually find meaning from the words of an unknown author of the poem Champion:

The average runner runs
until the breath in him is gone,
But the champion has the iron will
that makes him carry on.

For rest the average runner begs
when limp his muscles grow,
But the champion runs on leaden legs,
his courage makes him go.

The average man's complacent
when he's done his best to score,
But the champion does his best,
and then he does a little more.
(Author Unknown)

The SNNHS team and their humble national achievements

During one of our family home evenings, we discussed about the importance of individual plans and goals. I explained to the children that goals and objective are the links that connect our best efforts to our achievements. One could not attain a wish to study in a premier university if the effort is only equivalent for a local college. One could not progress to the highest attainable degree if the toil and slog is only for an average vocational attainment. One could not achieve the glory and wonder of success if the sweat of labor is measly and inadequate. One could not obtain the full blessings from God with superficial obedience to His Commandments. It is only in rising from every fall; overcoming daunting failures; and swimming against the heaving waves of life’s stormy seas that one could find greatest delight in the glory of triumph and victory. It is only by obedience to God’s unenforceable laws that predicated blessings are poured out in bountiful abundance. I am sure that KayAn will have these truths always kept in the cellar of her mind and written in the tablet of her heart. 

WE EXPRESSS OUR WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR BELOVED GRANDDAUGHTER KAYAN AND THE SNNHS TEAM FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY ACHIEVEMENTS!

SACRAMENT MEETING MESSAGE: TRANSLATING MOVIE LINES INTO SPIRITUAL LINKS

by: Norberto Betita

KEESHIA BETITA PALMA

Perhaps one of the worst nightmares of a 13-year-old young woman is when a Branch President Uncle told her early Saturday night that, “O, I almost forget that you had been assigned to be the Sacrament Speaker tomorrow.” And, all that she could say, with her big eyes kind of bulging by surprise, was “Are you sure? Is there no other better choice?” When she was told, “We trust you more,” she could do nothing but start her preparation asking us of some pointers, until she finally decided to open the TV and rehearsed herself with the animated movie THE GOOD DINOSAUR. She was left alone in the living room while most of us were already asleep. I was told that she ended up crying while reflecting on the meaning of each line in the movie.

My granddaughter Keeshia has long since battling with stage fright. Even in ordinary classroom presentations she usually had to remove her shoes as her personal way of controlling the unusual bodily movements resulting from her fear of an audience. During her elementary grades she had been participating in many activities which required her to face larger and bigger audiences at school, until she finally was elected president of the pupil government. Yet she admits that she still battles with it even now. She always confided to me of such a predicament and usually asked for an advice. I had told her that faith is the best antidote for any kind of fear, and to develop such needed faith is for her to accept tasks or assignments that would require personal confrontation with her own fears.

Before our Sacrament meeting started on that day of January 31, 2016, she rehearsed me of my own advice for her not to hold the microphone when speaking in front of the congregation. I reminded her that you may adjust it to match your height before you start speaking, but never again to take your hand back to it while talking. Then she went to be seated on the stand. 

As she stood at the pulpit, she looked totally confident. She positioned herself appearing more radiant and brave as she held the microphone for the first time to match her height. After a short introduction about her subject she started to read her quotes from the movie The Good Dinosaur and explained each extemporaneously both in English and local dialect. Her voice as ever was bold and stimulating.

She quoted the Momma of the dinosaurs: “This is our farm and we’re all gonna take care of it together.” She then translated the scene as being an expression of the importance of home and family unity, especially as regards each family’s goal for eternal exaltation. She took the words as a counsel for each member of the family, it being the center of God’s eternal plan of happiness to work together for the common good of all in attaining both temporal and spiritual goals.

The words of Poppa Dinosaur to Arlo his son---“The river’s not something to mess around with,” was deciphered by her as a reminder of a portion of Lehi’s dream in the Book of Mormon. As a similar warning, she quoted for us one verse thus: “And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the fountain of filthy water which thy father saw; yea, even the river of which he spake; and the depths thereof are the depths of hell” (1 Nephi 12:16).

Poppa dinosaur to his children: “Now hold on. It’s not that easy. You’ve got to earn your mark by doing something big…For something bigger than yourself.” She meant these statements as an expression that each of us is blessed with gifts that provide us with unlimited potential for growth and development no matter our circumstances. We each can accomplish bigger and move higher than where we now stands both temporally and spiritually.

Poppa dinosaur to his son Arlo: “Sometimes you got to get through your fear, to see the beauty of the other side.” She related this to her own personal battles with fear---particularly her stage fright---and how she struggled to go through it. Notwithstanding her inherent fear of an audience, she never wanted to snub opportunities to squabble and wrestle with fear by participating and accepting assignments that would require her to face an audience, such as the opportunity to speak in Sacrament Meeting even at short notices. She explained about the joy of winning the fight and rejoicing in each victory, which is the beauty of the other side of fear.

She demonstrated the importance of holding fast to the ‘rod of iron’ as taught in Lehi’s Dream as she quoted the words of Poppa dinosaur to his son Arlo: “As long as you can find the river, you can find your way home.” She explained that the Iron Rod “was the word of God, which lead to the fountain of the living waters, or to the tree of life” (1 Nephi 11:25). She made clear that for as long as we hold fast to the iron rod and so partake of the living waters, which is a representation of the love of God; we surely could find our way home back to our Heavenly Father.

She quoted the dialog between Poppa dinosaur and son Arlo: Poppa: “I know you have it in you.” Arlo: But I’m not like you.” Poppa: You are me and more.” In this she assured us that each are blessed with divine potentials far greater than our mortal capacities. She elucidated that we sometimes are shortsighted as to feel so unimportant and weak, yet our prospects are unlimited.

There were tears in her eyes as she related the scene where Arlo was saved by his father, and his father died. She interpreted this part in relation to the Atonement where Jesus Christ offered His sinless life as a ransom to redeem us from sin and death.

She quoted Triceretops: “On your path to Clawtooth Mountain, that creature (referring to Spot---the critter) will keep you safe. Don’t ever lose him.” This reminded her of the role of the Holy Ghost in her own life and our lives collectively. She explained that as we continually keep ourselves worthy of its influence by obedience to the commandments, the Holy Ghost will guide us all along and we will never be lost in our eternal journey.

There were more tears as she recounted the words of Arlo to Spot, referring to his family: “There is Libby, and Buck, and Momma, and Poppa---Family.” Arlo’s Father was lost in the rushing waters from saving him. She looked like wanting to untangle her emotions as she related a few things about her own family and explained the worth of every member of the family in God’s eternal plan of happiness. Although she did not elaborate on her own experience of losing her father by estrangement, yet her tears reflects her utmost concern. Then perhaps intending to conceal her deepest feelings of disquiet, she said of those loved ones who dwelled as prodigals; “We need to learn how to love them before we judge them.”

She has been a constant and open defender of her estranged father. She was the only one in her family who had the courage to ask us---her grandparents---not only once but several times, “Can you forgive Daddy?” She rejoiced each time we reminded her of the Lord’s own words: “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D & C 64:10). In fact, last Christmas she talked to me if she could have the favor of inviting her father to dine with us during the Christmas Celebration. When I told her it is no problem, she immediately called, but she turned very sad as she was declined.

On the words of Thunderclap: “I was at a real point… and the storm swept me up in a real high point. And then left me at a high relevation,” she explained that meeting and enduring our own storms of life---our personal trials and challenges---will send us to a higher and farther end of success.

Again she explained about her personal fears as she quoted Butch: “You can’t get rid of your fear. You can’t beat her. But you can get through it. You can find out what you’re made of.” She said, she realized that each time she battled with her fears she finds herself going through it and knowing her own capabilities and personal gifts from the Spirit. She understood better the words of Dieter F. Uchtdorf that she is “made of the stuff of eternity.”

She concluded with these words: “Not all movies are bad. If you are a fan of Apostles and Prophets and if you live the Gospel, you will be able to learn a lot of righteous spiritual principles in selected films.”

As our Sacrament Meeting concluded, she sat beside me somewhat worried about her message being too long. I assured her she had left more than enough time for the concluding speaker. And when she asked me how her message had gone, I told her “You brought tears into my eyes and that was one sure witness that your message was inspired, edifying and strengthening. You attained another victory over your stage fright.”

As it was, she brought with her no written talk but the lines she had quoted from the movie THE GOOD DINOSAUR. However, her translating the movie lines into spiritual links impromptu was exceptionally admirable for a thirteen year old as she was. Perhaps out of fear or deep emotional feeling, she had her hands back holding now and then the microphone, but it did not in any way interrupt the impressiveness and solemnity of her Sacrament Meeting Message.

OUR 1,325,376,000 SECONDS OF MARITAL JOURNEY

by: Norberto Betita

I was already awake early dawn but I tried not to disturb my wife in her most sound slumber. I waited until she woke up and offered her early morning prayer before I finally hugged her tight and greeted her with more ‘I love yous’ not for a daily routine but for our 42nd wedding anniversary. While she was preparing our breakfast, I offered my personal prayer in deepest expressions of gratitude to Heavenly Father for giving me and my wife such long years of togetherness and unbounded love. I burst into tears as I thank God for all the cherished memories of enduring the many ups and downs in our marital journey. As she finished her cooking and went back to our room we held hands together and again offered our thanks to God for all that He has blessed us through the years. I again have my tears flow as I thanked Him for every single thread that He added each day to our marital bond as to help us endure the mounting challenges of our marital relationship and with the sealing promise that we will be together for this time and throughout all eternity.

On this our 42nd wedding anniversary we would have been married 15,340 days including the ten leap years, in all equivalent to 368,160 hours; 22,089,600 minutes or a total of 1,325,376,000 seconds! I thought that if perchance the last number could only be converted into pesos that should have been more than enough to buy the suggested modern 42nd wedding anniversary gift---an improved real estate---for my ever dearest wife. Yet in my mind was the wondrous thought that those every minute moments of equally most joyful and extremely challenging experiences are not worth even that much in cash as it is to us priceless. Every second of that long 42 years are of infinite worth for it is during those instances that the stones and mortars---joys and sorrows; sunshine and shadows; calm and winds; health and sufferings; goodwill and tribulations---of the family foundations that is built to endure into the eternities, were put in place. No amount or type of a gift can ever match the worth of the glow and radiance that glitter from a refined marital relationship as it passes the intensified heat of the refiner’s fire. For me and my wife, a loving hug, a tender kiss and most sincere expressions of love are precious enough to gladden and brighten our day of celebration.

In all my life, I have always considered my ever dearest wife as the best things that ever happened to me. Our children might have thought that she’s perfect as a wife, or that I am perfect as a husband that they always compare our relationship with their early marital challenges and experiences. Of course we’re not. We are a partnership of equally imperfect beings, but with a common goal. We have so many of good times as well as bad times. As it is with them in their early marriages, in our times we sometimes also build walls between us. We have troubles and misunderstandings, failures and successes, yet we tried to remain focused in our common marital objective which helped us to resolve our differences. We together submit our burdens to the ever loving Heavenly Father for help and throughout those long years He never had forsaken us. He has provided us with additional daily thread to add to our marital bond and so strengthen the knot of our relationship. These daily strengthening threads roll up and enlarge even more by loving, forgiving, repenting and understanding each other.

The echoes of the challenging and inspiring past still remain fresh and sweet in the memory, while the joy and challenges of the present create an added cupola to protect us from the remaining storms of our lives. Throughout those 42 years we learned and understand that marriage is not a journey of ease and comfort but of finding joy in the midst of unvarying trials and tribulations. We came to realize that as we center our relationship in the gospel of Jesus Christ the adversary will have no power to break the bonds of our marital union no matter how powerful and formidable his attack may be on our relationship. It is only when we allow anger and hatred; selfishness and greed; and marital infidelity to have place in our hearts that we become subjects and easy converts and enlists to the devil’s ever alluring temptations. 

As we are getting older, we look forward to be able to celebrate our golden wedding anniversary. My darling wife would say that we might not be able to reach that length of time. I assured her we would. I have faith in Divine Providence. That has been my wish from this day and onwards. I am most optimistic that our PHP50 worth of wedding reception will reach a milestone of 50 years of enduring marital love, unity, harmony and peace.

To my ever dearest and infinitely beautiful Letty, I express my deepest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation for her unbounded love that defies all barriers along the path of our 1,325,376,000 seconds of marital journey. I hope that my daily expressions of love bestow a parallel as we walk together far into the realms of eternity.

HAPPY 42ND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO MY EVER DEAREST LETTY!

WHEN DEATH PROVIDES SORROWFUL RELIEF

By: Norberto Betita

Their wedding day

There is no greater refining test perhaps for a righteous man than for him to be pinned in bed for more than nine years suffering a debilitating disease; totally incapacitated even more than an infant. No greater love, sacrifice and faith is expressed by a loving wife than for her caring and nursing a suffering husband 24/7 and alone for the same period of such a very painful struggle; a burden more difficult than rearing and caring for a little child. Perhaps there is no comparable more painful grapple and strain and lamentation than for a wife witnessing daily her dearly beloved husband suffer in agony and pain and patiently enduring the saddest view of life without even the chance of relief, than painstakingly awaiting the final call to leave this frail existence. No greater love is expressed by a beloved wife than to sit beside her agonizing marital partner and fulfilling her eternal covenant to love and to hold for better or for worse for time and all eternity. The day, however, did finally come when death provides sorrowful relief as the ailing and excruciatingly suffering husband breathed his last as he was finally appointed to surrender his mortal coil and free his eternal soul for repose. 

Death happens to all of us. It comes to the rich and the poor; the weak and the strong; the joyful and forlorn; the young and elderly; and to the wicked as well as to the righteous. It grabs the child’s life in the tenderness of infancy; it summons the youths in the bloom of hope and the glory of expectations; it opens its heavy doors for the men and women in the heights of success; and it offers relief to the sick and afflicted as they yield in final submission to the will of their maker. While it brings about sorrow and grief in the hearts of the bereaved, yet it is not the end, but only a chapter of an eternal story. All must pass the portals of death as a necessary prologue to a new episode and beginning.

My brother-in-law Doroteo Friolo Gilvero was a man of righteous predilection. He came to Surigao City as a missionary of his former religious affiliation. He earned a living as a tailor. When he married my wife’s sister, he started his own small tailoring shop and went back to college eventually earning a degree in accounting. He tried to test his interest in insurance underwriting and passed the required examinations and so became a licensed insurance sales underwriter while at the same time continuing his tailoring shop. When he converted into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he eventually became the first Bishop of Surigao Branch, under the Butuan Philippines Stake. He went to Digos City to start his own insurance and other services business. While there, he again served in different capacities without fail. His family was sealed at the Manila Philippines Temple.

As his business continued to regularly grow, he trained his only child---a son---to work with him. While they were in this kind of father and son partnership, he unexpectedly suffered a stroke. Efforts had been done for him to recover, but in vain. He slowly was immobilized and stuck in bed for the next nine years. Having his son trained and prepared in the business was truly a blessing as to have it sustained and conserved in his absence.

Indeed, in life, we daily witness unanticipated and bewildering afflictions, tragedies and calamities both to the righteous and the wicked. These are not all about punishments and consequences of sins. To the righteous it comes as a trial of faith; a process of sanctification. My brother-in-law had lived his life in harmony with God’s eternal plan, looking beyond all the challenges of life and with visions far into eternity. Sometimes we feel justified to question why he suffered that much agony and pain. But we knew and understand that everything that happens to us is according to God’s will.

While his passing may have been a relief for the family, yet to the heavily burdened wife, sorrow and tear-filled loneliness engulfed the soul. Yet grief and tearful separation is such a necessary prelude of the promised glorious reunion in the life to come. Surely the bereaved family will be missing the loss of a loved-one, but the hope and assurance of a glorious resurrection provides comfort and a never ending view and vision of a future reunification in the realms of God. The timeless promise of the family being together forever provides added meaning to all the sacrifices that the family had faced and endured; even the challenges yet to come. Death is the healing balm to the ills of mortality. It comes as a realization that everything on earth is temporary, even life itself. To the dead, death clears away the mounting doubts of a life hereafter and so expects of us to believe in their present reality. Therefore, for the dead, the best homage is not to take sorrow but more of gratefulness. In our moments of sadness it is best then to trust in God’s infinite promise to the faithful and obedient: “And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow” (Alma 40:12).

For us, the living, it is of paramount significance that we express gratitude for each added new day that comes in our mortality giving us more opportunities of service and love for people around us as we prepare best for our final call. We are so lucky we are given enough time to mend our mistakes and to show more of our love for the Lord Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. While it may be true that we suffer the anguish and sorrow of pain from the many natures of the burdens of life---afflictions, injuries, trials and tribulation---yet it is a joy that still we are given more opportunities to live our life to the fullest. We are privileged to enjoy the beauty of winning our battles and the wonders of victory.

I express my personal condolences to the bereaved family of my brother-in-law, DOROTEO FRIOLO GILVERO, for his passing. May his dearly beloved wife; son and family; siblings and relatives be ever comforted of the promise that, “…God shall wipe away all tears from [his] 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. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son” (Revelation 21: 4, 7).

May this reassuring proof and confirmation eliminate and expunge the mourning and sadness when death provides sorrowful relief and eventually bestow spiritual uplift and cheers into our hearts.

WE SANG TOGETHER AND SHOUTED FOR JOY

by: Norberto Betita

My best friend Letty and I were there as we sang together and with “all the sons of God shouted for joy (Job 38:7)” as we are called to participate in a grand council in heaven for the presentation of the eternal plan of happiness. Letty and I rejoiced together with the rest of the spirit children about the great plan of happiness. We started to crave for the opportunity to have a body of flesh and bones as the Father has, that we may be glorified also as our heavenly parents are. We longed to enjoy the glory of being born on earth and be tried and tested to prove our worth of the sacrifices that has to be done by a Savior which would eventually bring us back into the presence of the Father in a perfected and glorified state. We strongly supported the great plan of redemption and eternal happiness.

We were in presence when the war in heaven commenced and when the battle was finally won there again were heard shouts of joy. “And [we] heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of Christ: for the accuser…is cast down…(Revelation 12:10).” I and my friend Letty joined with the chorus of exultant gladness as we are ushered into the grand celebration and the eventual triumph of good over evil.

Letty and I were assigned to be born in the last dispensation of the fullness of times to help usher in the Second Coming of the Lord. We were honored to have been given such a rare opportunity, which many of the nobles and great ones were looking forward to be born in such a time. Yet we were told that it will be a time of deepest trials and great calamities. It will be a time when the work of salvation is going to be in its last stretch and more will be opposing the truth of the great plan of happiness and eternal salvation. There will be a great battle between good and evil that will be initiated and wedged by Satan and his cohorts. We were given perfect knowledge of all that is going to happen, and we express our willingness to be a part of it.

While in premortality we made plans and preparations for our journey into mortality. We wished to meet again and be united together. We knew however that our preparations will be quite impossible to attain considering that our premortal plans will all be forgotten as we are required to pass through the veil of forgetfulness. But we asked Heavenly Father to grant our wishes.

Our time eventually came to journey into mortality and cross the veil of forgetfulness to enter into the physical body prepared to accommodate our spirits into becoming a living soul. She left first and I bade her goodbye with the promise that I will meet her again on earth. Yet all those memories were gone as it came my part to pass the veil.

However, through the providence of God we meet again. It was of no coincidence that she would be attracted to me with my personality giving the impression of a straggler, while she is well-liked and trendy. By her widespread popularity in the campus, and the smartly expressions of her outside beauty, she appeared even hardest for me to get by. Yet again providence gave place for our roads to cross and my nasty assumptions of her personality and character all vanished. Then eventually with feelings mutual and hands clasped we entered the covenant of marriage. In due time we received the gospel message and our marital bond was sealed for time and all eternity. For some time our mortal understanding opened the memory of our wonderful plans made in premortality and we since worked for its attainment with a covenant and a promise to be true to each other in time and throughout all eternity. 

Today is her 66th year when she left her premortal existence and be born on earth to sojourn in this part of her journey to eternity. Indeed, such a mortal probation had been years, months and days of great sacrifices as had been called upon even while in premortality. We are grateful though that our mortal understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ had reminded us of our premortal life and that day when we sang together and shouted for joy sitting abreast in that grand council in heaven in expression of our submission to the great plan of happiness which Jesus Christ presented and approved by Heavenly Father.

In her was gone the worldly youthful attractiveness of long ago, replaced by the golden beauty that shines in glitters of loveliness, resultant of the refiner’s fire that confirmed and displayed her premortal prettiness. The mortal external beauty which was once adored by friends and admirers is now lined with wrinkles which is a symbol of an inner exquisite charm and comeliness that forms out of the boundless love and sacrifices, and a lifetime of service. The beauty in her wrinkles painted and made abstract by those long years of parenting and service in God’s kingdom will be enhanced as she endures the remaining lap of her journey in mortality, until the timeless origin of her premortal beauty blooms back with brilliant glow into eternity. 

I awaken at early dawn to sing for her a mañanita song, but I was choked by the thought of great gratitude for her eternal love that no words came out, but tears rolled. I instead hugged her tight as I uttered more meaningfully the enduring phrase which I made a daily routine for her---I LOVE YOU! As she sleeps back to complete her night’s rest, I opened her laptop and find for her an hour of beautiful birthday songs, while I arose and sit in front of my computer to write these thoughts on this her 66th year of mortal journey.

TO MY EVERDEAREST LETTY, HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!