2010–2019
Wounded
October 2018


Emerụrụ-ahụ

N’ime ihe mgbanwe nke mnwale niile nke ụwa, jiri ndidi gaa n’ihu, ma ike ọgwụgwọ nke Onye-nzọpụta ga-ewetara unu ihé, nghọta, udo, na olile-anya.

N’ụbọchị March 22, 2016, ọ fọdụrụ ntakịrị ka ọ kụọ elekere asatọ nke ụtụtụ, ogbun’igwe abụọ nke ndi oyi mmadụ egwu gbawara n’Ọdụ-Ụgbọ-elu nke Brussels. Okenye Richard Norby, Okenye Mason Wells, na Okenye Joseph Empey akpọgawo rịị Nwanne nwanyị Fanny Clain nọdụ ụgbọ-elu maka ife ụgbọ-elu gaa mgbasa-ozi-ọma ya na Cleveland, Ohio. Mmadụ iri-atọ na abụọ tufuru ndụ ha, ma ndi mgbasa-ozi-ọma niile ahụ merụrụ ahụ.

Onye mmerụ-ahụ ya dị ukwuu karịcha bụụrụ Okenye Richard Norby, gbara afọ 66, ya na nwunye ya nwanne nwanyị Pam Norby so n’ezisa ozi-ọma.

Okenye Norby kwuru ihe gbasara nwa-oge ahụ:

“N’otu ahụ, amatara m ihe mere.

“Agbalịrị m ịgba-ọsọ maka nchekwa, mana otu-oge ahụ adara m n’ala. … ahụrụ m na ụkwụ aka-ekpe m nwere nnukwu mmerụ-ahụ. A [hụrụ] m ihe-ojii, dịwara ka ọnya-udude, ntụ ojii si n’aka abụọ na-atapụta. Eselitere m ya, ma chọpụta na ọbụghị ntụ-ojii kama anụ-ahụ m nke a gbaworo ọkụ. Uwe ọcha m naara atụgharị iche uhie site na mmerụ-ahụ dị n’azụ m.

“Dịka ịbịa na mmata nke ihe meworo jupụtara echiche m, e [nwere] m uche siri nnọọ ike, … Onye-nzọpụta ahụ matara ebe m nọ, ihe meworonu, na [ihe] m nọọrọ enwe mmetụta ya na nwa-oge ahụ.”

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Richard Norby n’ọnọdụ ịrahụ-ụra miri-emi

Enwere ụbọchị ndi siri-ike dị n’ihu maka Richard Norby na maka nwunye ya Pam. Edebere ya n’ọnọdụ ịrahụ-ụra miri-emi, sonyere ịwa-anụ-ahụ, nje-ịba n’ahụ na nnukwu ọnọdụ ejighị n’aka.

Richard Norby dịịrị ndụ, kama ọdịghị mgbe ndụ ya ga-adị kwa ka ọ dị mbụ. Mgbe afọ abụọ na ọkara gachara, mmerụ-ahụ ya niile ka na-ala; ihe-njide anụ-ahụ nọchitere akụkụ ụkwụ ya furu-efu; nzọ-ụkwụ ọbụla na-adị iche karịa na-oge ahụ n’Ọdụ-ụgbọ-elu Brussels.

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Richard na Pam Norby

Gịnị mere ihe a jiri mee Richard na Pam Norby? Ha nọọrọ na-emezu ọgbụgba-ndụ ha niile, jeworịị ozi mgbasa-ozi-ọma na Ivory Coast, ma zulite ezi-na-ụlọ dị ebube. Mmadụ nwere ike inwe nghọta sị, “O kwesịghị ekwesị! O zighị nnọọ ezi! Ha nọọrọ na enye ndụ ha maka ozi-ọma nke Jizọs Kraịst; olee otu nke a si mee?”

Nke a Bụ ndụ N’anụ-ahụ

N’agbanyeghị na ihe niile banyere ya ga-adị iche, ihe niile ahụ dị egwu, ule na mnwale niile ahụ a na-atụghị anya ha, ma nke anụ-ahụ ma nke mụọ, na-abịara nke ọbụla n’ime anyị n’ihi na, nkea bụ ndụ n’anụ-ahụ.

Ka m chere n’ụtụtụ a maka ndi n’ekwu okwu nanị n’agba nkea nke ọgbakọ, ọ gbatara m n’uche na abụọ enwewo ụmụ ha nwụrụ ma atọ enwewo ụmụ-ụmụ nwụrụ ndi n’atụghị anya alaghachịwo n’ebe obibi ha n’eluigwe. Enweghị onye gbanarịrị nrịa nrịa na obi-ọjọọ, ma dịka ekwuworo nime izu-ụka nkea, otu onye-mụọ-ozi n’elu ụwa onye nke anyị hụrụ n’anya, Nwanne nwanyị Barbara Ballard, nwụrụ. Onye-isi Ballard agaghị echefu ma ọlị ọgbụgba-ama gị n’ụtụtụ a.

Anyị na-achọ obi-ụtọ. Anyị na-ele anya udo. Anyị nwere olile-anya ịhụnanya. Ma Onye-nwe-anyị na-awụkwasị anyị uju nke ngọzi ịtụnanya niile. Mana tinyekọta ọńụ na ańụrị ahụ, otu ihe doro anya: a ga-enwe nwa-oge niile, oge-awa niile, ụbọchị niile, oge-ụfọdị ọtụtụ afọ, oge mkpụrụ-obi unu ga-enwe mmerụ-ahụ.

Akwụkwọ-nsọ niile na-akụzi na anyị ga-edetụ ihe-ilu na ihe-ụtọ ọnụ ma na a ga-enwe “mmegide n’ihe niile.” Jizọs sịrị, “[Nna unu] na-eme ka anyanwụ Ya na-awakwasị ndi ọjọọ na ndi-ọma, ma na-ezitere ndi ezi-omume na ndi ajọọ-omume mmiri-ozuzo.”

Mmerụ-ahụ nke mkpụrụ-obi abụghị sọ ndi ọgaranya ma ọbụ ndi ogbenye, otu ọdịnala, otu obodo, ma ọbụ otu ọgbọ ka ọ dịịrị. Ha na-abịara ndi niile ma ha bụ akụkụ nke ihe ọmụmụ anyị na-anata site n’ihe-omụmụ ndụ anụ-ahụ nke a.

Agụpụghị Ndi Ezi-omume

Ozi m taa bụ nke ka nke maka ndi nke na-edebe iwu-nsọ niile nke Chineke, na-edebe nkwa niile ha kwere Chineke, ma dịka ndi Norby ahụ na ọtụtụ ndi ikom, ndi iyom, na ụmụntakịrị ndi ọzọ nime ọgbakọ nkea zuru ụwa, mnwale niile na aka-mgba niile a na-atụghị anya ha ma na-egbu mgbu chere ha ihu.

Mmerụ-ahụ anyị niile nwere ike si n’ọdachị sitere n’ụdị-okike ma ọbụ ihe mberede n’enweghị ihu-ọma. Ha nwere ike ịbịa site n’aka di ma ọbụ nwunye n’ekwesịghị ntụkwasị-obi, ikpugharị-ndụ ihu n’ala n’ebe di ma ọbụ nwunye nke ezi-omume na ụmụ ya nọ. Mmerụ-ahụ niile ahụ nwere ike ịbịa site n’ọchịchịrị na ọnọdụ ahụzighị ụzọ nke ọma site n’obi ọjọọ nke enweghị olile-anya, site n’ọrịa a na-atụghị-anya ya; ịta-ahụhụ ma ọbụ ọnwụ-erughị-eru nke onye anyị hụrụnanya; site n’obi-ọjọọ nke otu onye-otu ezi-na-ụlọ hapụrụ okwukwe ya; site n’ịnọdụ nanị gị mgbe ọnọdụ niile na adịghị eweta ịbụ onye-nsom-ije ebigh-ebi; ma ọbụ site n’otu narị ihe ndi ọzọ na-agbawa-obi, “[iru-uju niile] na-egbu mgbu nke anya n’apụghị ịhụ.”

Anyị niile ghọtara na ihe isi ike niile bụ ihe ya na ndụ so, mana mgbe ha bịakwasịrị anyị n’onwe anyị, ha nwere ike ịkpachi anyị ume. N’enweghị ịtụ-egwu, anyị kwesịrị ịnọ na njikere. Onye-ozi Pita sịrị, “Echekwala na ọ bụ ihe na-anaghị eme eme bụ ihe gbasara mnwale n’ekpo-ọkụ nke na-anwale gị, dịka a ga-asị na ihe na-anaghị eme eme mere unu.” Tinyere ịtụ-anya niile na enye ihe nke ańụrị, ịtụ-agwa kara dị oji nke owu niile nke mnwale na ihe dị egwu ka ejikọtara ọnụ nime akwa atụmatụ nke Nna anyị. Mgbalị niile a, na-agbanyeghị isi ike ha, ugboro ugboro ha na-abụzi ndi nkuzi anyị kachasị.

Mgbe anyị na-akọ akụkọ ahụ dị ebube ndikom nta ndi agha 2,060 onye-amụma Helaman, anyị nwere mmasị na akwụkwọ-nsọ a: “Dịka ịdị-mma nke Chineke siri dị, ma na nnukwu ịtụnanya anyị, na kwa n’ańụrị nke ndi agha anyị niile, enweghị otu mkpụrụ-obi n’ime ha nke lara n’iyi.”

Mana ahịrị-okwu ahụ gara n’ihu: “Ma ọbụghị ma enwere otu mkpụrụ-obi n’etiti ha nke na-anataghị ọtụtụ mmerụ-ahụ.”Onye ọbụla n’ime 2,060 ahụ natara ọtụtụ mmerụ-ahụ, ma onye ọbụla nime anyị ga-enwete mmerụ-ahụ nime agha nke ndụ, ma ọbụ n’anụ-ahụ, na mụọ, ma ọbụ ha abụọ.

Jizọs Kraịst Bụ Ezigbo Onye-Samerịa

Adala mba—otu ọbụla mmerụ-ahụ nke mkpụrụ-obi unu siri mie emie, ebe ọbụla ha siri bịa, n’ebe ọbụla ma ọbụ n’oge ọbụla ha mere, ma otu ọbụla mkpụmkpụ ma ọbụ ogologo oge ha dị, unu ekwesighị ịla n’iyi na mụọ. Unu kwesịrị ịdịgide ndụ na mụọ ma baa ụba n’okwukwe na ntụkwasị-obi unu na Chineke.

Chineke ekeghị mụọ anyị ka anyị ghara ịdị na-achọ enyem-aka Ya. Onye-nwe-anyị na Onye-nzọpụta anyị Jizọs Kraịst, site n’enweghị-ngụta-ọnụ onyinye nke Aja-mgbaghara-mmehie Ya, azọpụtaghị anyị nanị n’ọnwụ ma na-enye anyị site na nchegharị, mgbaghara maka mmehie anyị niile, mana Ọ nọ kwa na njikere ịzọpụta anyị site na mwute niile na mgbu niile nke mkpụrụ-obi anyị niile e merụrụ ahụ.

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Ezigbo Onye-Samerịa Ahụ

Onye-nzọpụta ahụ bụ Ezi-onye Samerịa anyị niile ezitere “ịgwọ ndi ahụ obi gbawara.”Ọ na-abịakwute anyị mgbe ndi ọzọ na-agabiga anyị. N’ọmịkọ, Ọ na-etesa ọgwụ ọgwụgwọ Ya na mmerụ-ahụ anyị ma na-ekegide ha ihe. Ọ na-eburu anyị. Ọ na-elekọta anyị. Ọ na-asị anyị, “Bịakwute m … ma aga m agwọ [unu].”

“Ma [Jizọs] ga… [ata ahụhụ] mgbu niile na mkpagbu niile na ọnwụnwa niile n’ụdị ọbụla; … nke ga-eme … ka o [nwe ike] iwekwasị n’onwe Ya mgbu niile na ọrịa niile nke ndi Ya [iwekwasị n’Onwe Ya] adịghị ike niile anyị, [mmadụ] jupụtara n’amara.”

Bịanu, Unu ndi n’enweghị nkasị-obi, ebe ọbụla unu nọ n’ịta ndụ ahụhụ;

Bịanụ n’oche-eze ebere, sekpuru n’obi ume-ala.

N’ebe a wetanu obi mmerụ-ahụ unu niile; n’ebe a kwuonu nnukwu ihe-mgbu unu.

Ụwa enweghị mwute nke elu-igwe n’enweghị ike ịgwọ.

N’oge ntaram ahụhụ sikarịsịrị ike, Onye-nwe-anyị gwara Onye-amụma Joseph , “Ihe ndịa niile ga-enye gị mmụta-ihe, ma ga-abụ maka ọdịmma gị.” Olee otu mmerụ-ahụ na-egbu mgbu ga-esi bụrụ maka ọdịmma anyị? N’ime ihe mgbanwe nke mnwale niile nke ụwa, jiri ndidi gaa n’ihu, ma ike ọgwụgwọ nke Onye-nzọpụta ga-ewetara unu ihé, nghọta, udo, na olile-anya.

Adakwala Mba

Jiri obi gị niile kpee ekpere. Mee ka okwukwe gị n’ime Jizọs Kraịst sie ike, n’ịbụ ezi-okwu Ya, n’amara Ya. Jide aka n’okwu Ya: “Amara m zuru-oke nye gị: n’ihi na ike m ka a na-eme ka o zuo oke n’adịghị-ike.”

Cheta, nchegharị bụ ọgwụ siri ike nke mụọDebe iwu-nsọ niile ahụ ma tozuo-oke maka Onye-nkasi-obi ahụ, na-echeta na Onye-nzọpụta ahụ kwere nkwa, “Agaghị m ahapụ unu n’enweghị nkasi-obi: Aga m abịakwuru unu.

Udo nke temple ahụ bụ ọgwụ na-eteju mgbu nye mkpụrụ-obi e merụrụ ahụ. Jiri obi gị merụrụ ahụ na aha ndi ezi-na-ụlọ unu laghachi n’ụlọ Onye-nwe-anyị ugboro ugboro otu o kwere omume. Tempụl ahụ na-egosipụta nwa-oge nta anyị na ndụ nke ụwa ruo n’obosara ebe nke ebigh-ebi.

Lee anya n’azụ, na-echeta na igosipụtara itozu-oke gị n’ọnọdụ oge a n’abịabeghị n’ụwa gị. I bụ dike nwa nke Chineke, ma site n’inye-aka Ya, Ị ga-enwe mmeri n’ime agha niile nke ụwa nke a dara ada. I mewo ya mbụ, ma I nwere ike ime ya ọzọ.

Lee anya n’ihu. Nsogbu na mwute gị niile bụ ihe mere eme, mana ha agaghị adigide ruo mgbe ebegh-ebi. Abalị unu kpuru ọchịchịrị ga-agafe, n’ihi na “Ọkpara ahụ … jiri ọgwụgwọ n’ime nku ya niile” [bilie] .”

Ndi Norby ahụ gwara m, “Ngharịpụ na-abịa nleta n’oge ihe mere mana a naghị enye ya ohere ịnọgide.” Onye-ozi Pọl sịrị, “A na-enye anyị nsogbu … mana ọ naghị ewute anyị karịa; anyị na-anọ na mgbagwoju-anya, mana anyị anaghị anọ n’ịda mba; a na-esogbu anyị, mana a hapụghị anyị; a tụdara anyị ala mana e bibighị anyị.” Ike nwere ike ịgwụ gị, mana adakwala mba.

Ọbụna n’ebe Ị nọ na mgbu nke mmerụ-ahụ nke onwe gị, Ị ga esite na mkpalite nke ebumpụta ụwa garuo ebe ndi ọzọ nọ, n’ịtụkwasị obi na nkwa Jizọs kwere: “Onye ọbụla nke ga-atufu ndụ ya n’ihi M ga-achọta ya.”Ndi merụrụ ahụ ndi nelekọta mmerụ ahụ niile nke ndi ọzọ bụ ndi mụọ-ozi nke Chineke n’elụ ụwa.

N’ime nwa-oge nta ole na ole, anyị ga-ege ntị n’ihe si n’ọnụ Onye-amụma anyị hụrụnanya, Onye-isi Russell M. Nelson, nwoke okwukwe ya siri ike n’ime Jizọs Kraịst, nwoke nwere olile-anya na udo, Chineke hụrụ nanya mana ewezugaghị ya site na mmerụ-shụ niile nke mụọ.

N’afọ 1995 nwa ya nwanyị Emily, ka ọ na-ele anya ịmụ-nwa, a chọpụtara na o nwere ọrịa kansa. E nwere ọtụtụ ụbọchị nke olile-anya na obi-ụtọ dịka a mụrụ nwa ya n’ahụ-ike. Mana ọrịa kansa ahụ laghachiri, ma Emily ha hụrụnanya ga-agabiga site na ndụ nke a nanị izu-ụka abụọ ka ncheta ọmụmụ 37 nke ya gachara, na-ahapụ di hụrụ ya n’anya na ụmụ ise ka dị ntakịrị.

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Onye-isi Nelson n’ekwu okwu nafọ 1995

N’ime ọgbakọ ozuruọha, nwa-oge nta ka ọ nwụchara, Onye-isi Nelson gwara mmadụ na nzuzo: “Anya-mmiri nke mwute m kwodara ya na ọchịchọ na m kwesiri imewo rịị ihe karịa n’ebe nwa anyị nwanyị nọ. … Ọbụrụ na m nwere ike nke mbilite n’ọnwụ, agara m enwe ọnwụnwa ịkpọghachi [ya] azụ. … [Mana] Jizọs Kraịst ji ọtụghe-ụzọ niile ndi ahụ ma Ọ ga-eji ha mee ihe maka Emily … na maka mmadụ niile n’oge nke Onye-nwe-anyị.

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Onye-isi Nelson n’ime Puerto Rico

N’ọnwa gara aga, ka m gara ileta Ndi-nsọ nọ Puerto Rico ma mgbe m chetara oke-ifufe ịla-n’iyi nke afọ gara aga, Onye-isi-nduzi Nelson jiri ịhụnanya na obi omiko kwuo okwu:

“[Nke a] bụ ihe ya na ndụ so. Ọ bụ ihe mere anyị jiri nọrọ n’ebe a. Anyị nọ n’ebe a inweta anụ-ahụ na ka a nwale ma leere anyị ule. Ụfọdụ ule ndi ahụ bụ nke anụ-ahụ, ụfọdụ bụ nke mụọ, ma mnwale unu niile n’ebe a abụrụwo ma nke anụ-ahụ ma nke mụọ.”

“Unu adanyebeghị. Anyị na-eweliri unu aka elu. Unu Ndi-nsọ nwere okwukwe atụfuwo nnukwu ihe, mata ihe site na ha niile, unu emesiwo okwukwe unu ike n’ime Onye-nwe-anyị Jizọs Kraịst.”

“Site n’idebe iwu-nsọ nke Chineke, anyị nwere ike ịchọta ańụrị n’etiti ọnọdụ anyị niile jọkarịsịrị njọ.”

Anya-mmịrị Niile Ka A Ga Ehichapụ

Ụmụnne m nwoke na ụmụnne m nwanyị, ọ bụ nkwa m na-ekwe unu na ime ka okwukwe unu bawanye n’ime Onye-nwe-anyị Jizọs Kraịst ga-ewetara unu mgbakwunye ume na olile-anya karịrị akarị. Maka unu, ndi ezi-omume, onye ahụ na-agwọ mkpụrụ-obi anyị niile, n’oge nke Ya na ụzọ Ya, ga-agwọ mmerụ-ahụ unu niile. Ọdịghị ikpe n’ezighị-ezi, ọdịghị nsogbu, ọdịghị mnwale, ọdịghị ịnọ na mwute, ọdịghị obi-mgbu, ọdịghị ịta-ahụhụ, ọdịghị mmerụ-ahụ—otu ọbụla o siri mie-emie, otu ọbụla o siri dị obosara, otu ọbụla o siri na-egbu mgbu—a ga-ewepụ site na nkasi-obi, udo, na olile-anya na-adigide nke Ya bụ Onye ogwe-aka ya abụọ ghere oghe na ọba-aka ya abụọ ma onye merụrụ-ahụ na-aka ga-anabataghachi anyị azụ n’ihu Ya. N’ụbọchị ahụ, Onye-ozi Jọn na-agba ama, ndi ezi-omume “nke si na nnukwu mkpagbu [pụta], ga eguzoro “a haziri n’uwe-mwuda ọcha niile … n’ihu oche-eze nke Chineke.” Nwa-atụrụ ahụ ga “ebi n’etiti [anyị] … ma Chineke ga-ehichapụ anya-mmiri niile site n’anya [gị].” Ụbọchị nkea ga-abịa. Ana m agba aka-ebe otu ahụ n’aha Jizọs Kraịst, amen.

Notes

  1. Personal conversation, Jan. 26, 2018.

  2. In a conversation earlier this year, Richard Norby said to me, “We answer to what has been given us.” He shared this from his journal: “The tests and trials that come to each of us give the opportunity and privilege to better know the Savior and understand in deeper detail his atoning sacrifice. It is he we lean on. It is he we seek out. It is he we depend on. It is he we have confidence in. It is he that we love with all our heart, without any reservations. The Savior has covered all the physical and emotional pains that are part of mortality. He takes the pain from us. He absorbs our sorrows.”

  3. See Doctrine and Covenants 29:39.

  4. 2 Nephi 2:11.

  5. Matthew 5:45.

  6. “Lord, I Would Follow Thee,” Hymns, no. 220.

  7. 1 Peter 4:12.

  8. “We will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” (Abraham 3:25; see also Doctrine and Covenants 101:4–5).

  9. Alma 57:25.

  10. A friend wrote to me: “A nearly five-year battle with emotional ‘darkness and gloom’ in varying degrees takes you to the very edge of your capacities, resolve, faith, and patience. After days of ‘suffering,’ you are tired. After weeks of ‘suffering,’ you are exhausted. After months of ‘suffering,’ you begin to lose your ground. After years of ‘suffering,’ you submit to the possibility that you’ll never get better again. Hope becomes the most precious, and elusive, of gifts. In short, I’m not sure I know how I got through this trial, save it was [the Savior]. It’s the only explanation. I can’t explain how I know this, except that I do. Because of Him, I got through this.”

  11. See Luke 10:30–35.

  12. Luke 4:18; see also Isaiah 61:1.

  13. 3 Nephi 18:32.

  14. Alma 7:11–12. “He descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:6).

  15. “Come, Ye Disconsolate,” Hymns, no. 115.

  16. Doctrine and Covenants 122:7.

  17. “Thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain” (2 Nephi 2:2). “I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day” (Alma 36:3).

  18. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

  19. See Neil L. Andersen, “The Joy of Becoming Clean,” Ensign, Apr. 1995, 50–53.

  20. John 14:18.

  21. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

  22. In the first verse of the Book of Mormon, Nephi explained that he had “seen many afflictions in the course of [his] days” (1 Nephi 1:1). Later, Nephi said, “Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions” (1 Nephi 18:16).

  23. 3 Nephi 25:2.

  24. Personal conversation, Jan. 26, 2018.

  25. 2 Corinthians 4:8–9.

  26. President Hugh B. Brown, while visiting Israel, was asked why Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son. He responded, “Abraham needed to learn something about Abraham” (in Truman G. Madsen, Joseph Smith the Prophet [1989], 93).

  27. Matthew 16:25.

  28. Russell M. Nelson, “Children of the Covenant,” Ensign, May 1995, 32.

  29. Russell M. Nelson, in Jason Swensen, “Better Days Are Ahead for the People of Puerto Rico,” Church News, Sept. 9, 2018, 4.

  30. Russell M. Nelson, in Swensen, “Better Days Are Ahead,” 3.

  31. Russell M. Nelson, in Swensen, “Better Days Are Ahead,” 4.

  32. See Russell M. Nelson, “Jesus Christ—the Master Healer,” Liahona, Nov. 2005, 85–88.

  33. Revelation 7:14.

  34. See Revelation 7:13, 15, 17.

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