Akwa Mboho
Mbumede Iyatesit eke Minenke
Akwa Mbono eke Ofiong April 2021

Mbumede Iyatesit eke Minenke

Otode Elder Dale G. Renlund

Eke Eboho mme Apostle Duopeba

Jesus Christ odiongo se minenke onyung enyene odudu ndino iboro.

Ke 1994, afai uwot-owo ama ada itie ke idut Usiak-utin Africa eke Rwanda emi ubak ntak eketode ntutungo enwan eke mbon obio. Ema ewot ibat akande ubak owo million ke enwan oro.1 Nte etingde, mbon Rwanda ke akamba ndaha ema enam emem,2 edi mme nkpo-ntibe emi ke akaka-iso edinyeŋe.

Isua duop emi ebede, kini nkade Rwanda, ami ye nnwan mi itoŋo nneme ye aka-isang efen ke anwa ubom-ofim Kigali. Enye ama eseme abaŋa afai uwot-owo ndien enehede obup ete, “Edieke edide ke Abasi odu, nte Enye ikpenamke nkpo kabaŋa afai uwot-owo oro?” Kabaŋa owo emi—ye eke ediwak nnyin—ndutuho ye ukut eke minenke inyeneke se edade edomo ye eti ofonido, edima Ete ke Heaven. Ntre Enye edi akpaniko, Enye ofon-ido, onyung enehede ama ndito Esie kiet-kiet. Ubahade emi ebighe nte ubon-owo ndien ukemeke ndinam anwaŋa ke esisit ini mme ke edibihe ini.

Man etoŋo eno ifiok kabaŋa emi, yak nnyin iyarade nsio-nsio ndaha eke minenke. Kere-baŋa ufokemana emi eyen kiet-kiet esibode ekpri okuk ofuri udua ke anamde esisit utom ke ufok. John, eyen-eren nnyin, ama edep iniŋe-uyo, eyen-anwan nnyin, Anna, ama osuho okuk esie. Ke akpatre, Anna edep enaŋ-ukwak esie. John ekere ke inenke koro Anna edinyene enaŋ-ukwak kini enye minyeneke. Edi mbumek John okotoŋo ubahare oro, idige edinam eke ete ye eka. Ubiere Anna ndinana iwiwa inem edita iniŋe-uyo ikenamke idiok nte kiet ino John, koro enye ama enyene ukem ufaŋ nte eke eyeneka esie nnwan.

Ntre ke akade-iso ubiere nnyin ekeme ndinyene sifon mme se mifonke. Nte Jehovah akayarare, “Edieke owo enyenede ediwak ifiok ye ikikke ke uwem emi oto ke ntingenyin ye nkopitem akan owo efen, enye eyenyene ediwak ufon ke ererimbot eke edidide.”3 Ini emi mbon efen ebode ufon oto ke nti mbumek, nnyin inenke ndidoho ete ke enam nnyin idiok kini nnyin ima ikenyene ukem ufang oro.

Uwutnkpo efen kabanga se minenke okoto ndaha kiet emi nnwan mi, Ruth, ekenyenede nte eyenowong. Usen kiet Ruth ama ofiok ete ke eka esie oyom ndikidep obufa ikpa-ukot nno Meria, ekpri eyeneka esie nnwan. Ruth ama otoho ete, “Eka mi, nkpo oro ifonke! Ekesuk edep akpatre obufa ikpa-ukot eno Meria.”

Eka Ruth obup ete, “Ruth, nte ikpa-ukot fo ekem fi ke ukot?”

Ruth oboro ete, “Ihn, ekem.”

Ndien eka Ruth odoho ete, “Ikpa-ukot Meria ikemke enye aba.”

Ruth enyime ete ke eyen kiet-kiet ke ufok akpana enyene ikpa-ukot emi ekemde enye. Okposuk ke Ruth akpama ndinyene obufa ikpa-ukot, ekikere esie ke etuk enye ama osop kini enye okutde ndaha oro ke enyin eka esie.

Owo idikemeke ndinam ubak se minenke anwanga, se minenke eke minamke awanga esibumede iyatesit. Se minenke oto ke ndidu ye ikpokidem emi mifonke, enyenede-unan, mme enyenede udongo. Uwem isong oyoho ye se minenke. Ubak owo emana ye inyene; mbon efen inyeneke. Ubak owo enyene ndima ete ye eka; mbon efen inyeneke. Ubak owo edu uwem ke ediwak isua; mbon efen, edu esisit. Ndien ke aka iso onyung akaka iso ntre. Ubak owo enam idiok ndudue kpa kini mmo edomode ndinam eti. Ubak owo imekke ndisuhode se minenke kini mmo ekpesuhode. Nte ubiak, ubak owo eda unen-edimek emi Abasi okonode mmo man etuhode mbon efen kini mikpinamke ntre.

Nsio-nsio osuk se minenke ekeme ndibuaha kiet, editongo ata akamba nkpo se minenke. Nte uwutnkpo, udongo COVID-19 edinehede abiat mbon emi ema ekebem-iso eyo ediwak ukut, kabanga se mifonke. Esit mi ofuho ono mbon emi ekutde oruk idioknkpo oro, edi ami mfioei ye ofuri esit mi nte ke Jesus Christ ofiok ukut oro onyung enyene odudu ndino ukok. Iduhe nkpo edade-edomo ke se minenke emi Enye ɔkɔyɔde. Ikenenke ke Enye ndikibo ofuri ubiak ye ukut eke ubonowo. Ikenenke ke Enye ndikibo ndutuho nno idioknkpo ye ndudue mi ye eke mbufo. Edi Enye emek ndinam oro oto ke ima emi Enye enyenede ono nnyin ye Ete ke Heaven. Enye enehede ofiok se nnyin ikutde.4

Nwed Abasi ewet ete ke Israel eset ema eseme ke Abasi akanam se minenke ye mmo. Nte iboro, Jehovah oboro ete, “Koro nte eka ekeme ndifre eyen eba esie, tutu enye ikemeke ndinyene mbom mbanga eyen esit idibi esie? Ntem ibietke ite ke edima eka ekeme ndifre nsek-eyen esie, Jehovah ofiori ete ke ukpeme Esie enehede odu. Enye osongo ete, “Ihn, mme eka ekeme ndifre, edi ami ndifreke fi. … Sese, mmakap fi nsin ke eka ubok mi: ibibene fo esuk edu mi ke iso kpukpru ini.”5 Koro Jesus Christ ama anam anana-adanga, uwa ufak, Enye enehede enyene mbom ye nnyin.6 Kpukpru ini Enye ofiok nnyin ye ndaha nnyin.

Ke uwem isong, nnyin imekeme “nnehede ndi” mbine Andinyanga nyung mbo mbom, ukok, ye unwam.7 Kpa kini nnyin ibode ndutuho emi minwanagke, Abasi ekeme ndidiong nnyin ke ndimem, didie-didie, ye nworo-nda usung. Nte nnyin ikpebde ndifiok mme edidiong emi, mbuotidem nnyin ke Abasi eyekori. Ke uwem nsinsi, Ete ke Heaven ye Jesus Christ eyediong ofuri se minenke. Nnyin imenehede iyom ndidiongo nte edinamde ye ini edinamde. Didie ke Mmo edi-nam oro? Ini ewe ke Mmo edi-nam oro? Ke ifiok mi, Mmo iyarake danga mme ini ewe. 8 Se ami ndiongo edi ke Mmo eyenam.

Ke ndaha eke minenke, utom nnyin kiet edi ndinim ke “eyenam ofuri se minenke kabanga uwem enen oto ke Erisio-isop Jesus Christ.”9 Jesus Christ ama akan ererimbot onyung “emen” ofuri se minenke efep. Oto ke Enye nnyin imikeme ndinyene emem ke ererimbot emi iyung isong esit.10 Edieke nnyin iyakde Enye, Jesus Christ eyediong se minenke ono ke ufon nnyin.11 Enye eyedong nnyin esit ndien afiak ono se ikosop:12 Enye eyenam se minenke esin ke ufon nnyin. Kini edisimde danga ye ini, ana nnyin ifiok inyung inyime, nte Alma akanamde, sia “inamke baba nkpo kiet: koro Abasi ofiok kpukpru nkpo: ndien ami mmoyuho ke ndifiok nte nkpo edika ntem.”13

Nnyin imikeme ndimum mbume nnyin kabanga danga ye ini kanga inyung inyene mbuotidem ke Jesus Christ, koro Enye enyene odudu ndinam ofuri nkpo enen onyung oyom ndinam ntre.14 Ke nnyin ediyiri ke ndidiongo danga mme ini iworoke nkpo ndien, ke ebede, edi ikpikpu.15

Nte mbuotidem nnyin ke Jesus Christ okoride, ana nnyin idomo nditie nte Enye. Kini nnyin inyenede esit-mbom ino mbon efen inyung idomo ndinehede se minenke ke ebiete emi nnyin ikutde:16 nnyin imikeme ndinam ndinen nkpo ke ndaha ukeme nnyin. Ke akpaniko, Andinyanga eketeme nnyin ete “ke ana isongo ke ndinam nti nkpo, ndien inam ediwak nkpo ke odudu idem {nnyin}, inyung ida ediwak edinen-ido idi.”17

Owo kiet emi okosongoke ke edinwana ye se minenke edi ebiere-ikpe Bryan Stevenson. Utom ubiere-ikpe esie ke United States abanga ndida-nno mbon emi edoride-uyo, etre okposong ufen, onyung ekpeme akpan unen ubonowo. Mme isua ekebede, Ete Stevenson ama ada-ono erenowo kiet emi ekedoride uyo ke owot-owo ndien edibiere ete ke enye odot mkpa. Ete Stevenson ama oyom unwam oto ata Ufok Abasi erenowo emi, okposuk ke erenowo emi ama akafiak-edem onyung obo esuene ke obio oto ke edima iban emi ekenehede efiok.

Man anam eboho ufok Abasi ese se ikedide akpan-nkpo, Ete Stevenson eketing ono mmo abanga nnwan oro ekebiomde ke efebe emi ekedade esok Jesus. Mme andikidori enye uyo ekeyom ndito enye ke itiat nwot, edi Jesus eting ete, “Yak owo emi ananade idioknkpo … , ebem iso emen itiat oto enye.”18 Mme andikidori nnwan oro uyo ema efiak edem. Jesus ikobiomke nnwan oro edi owut enye ete okunam idioknkpo aba.19

Ke ama ɔkɔnɔ mbuk emi okure, Ete Stevenson okokut ke edinen-ido, ndik, ye ifiopesit esin kpa ikot Abasi ndibiom mbon emi eduede ikpe. Enye ndien ete, “Nnyin ikemeke ndikut nte oro adade,” ndien enye odoho mbon ufok Abasi oro ete ekabare edi “mme andikpan ndori-uyo.”20 Nditoirenowo ye iban, editre editop itiat edi akpa nkpo ke ndinam nkpo ye mbon efen ye esit-mbom. Udiana edi ndidomo mmum itiat emi mbon efen etopde.

Danga nnyin inam nkpo ke sifon ye ke mifonke edi ubak udomo ke uwem emi. Ikpe nnyin ididige ke se nnyin itingde edi-di kadanga nnyin inam nkpo ye usuhode owo ye mbon ukut.21 Nte mbon Latter-day Saint, nnyin iyom nditiene uwutnkpo Andinyanga, ndika ke ofuri ebiet nnam ufon nno owo.22 Nnyin iwut ima ino mbohidung nnyin ke ndinam utom man isongo eti-ndaha ofuri ndito eke Ete ke Heaven.

Ndifiak nkere ofon, ke ikerede ibanga mme ufon ye unana-ufon nnyin ke esit Eke John man ofiok ntak emi Anna ekenyenede enang-ukwak ama enyene se oworode. Eke Ruth man okut unana ikpa-ukot eke Meria ke enyin eka esie ama owut unwana. Nkpo ekeme ndinwnaga ke ndidomo nkut nkpo ye ekikere nsinsi. Nte nnyin ikabare itie nte Andinyanga, nnyin idinyene mbom, ifiok, ye ata-ima.

Ami mfiak nka mbume emi nsanga-isang nnyin ke Kigali okobupde emi esemede abanga se minenke ke afai uwot-owo eke Rwanda ndien obup ete, “Edieke Abasi odude, nte Enye ikpenamke nkpo kabaŋa afai uwot-owo oro?”

Ke misuhokede ukut emi okotode afai uwot-owo oro, ndien ke amakefiok ke nnyin ikemeke ndifiok oruk ndutuhɔ oro, nnyin iboro ke Jesus Christ anam nkpo kabanga iyaresit unomo oro.23 Nnyin ima inam ediwak ukpebnkpo iko Abasi kabanga Jesus Christ anwanga ye Edifiak-mmen Ufok Abasi ndi.24

Ke oro ebede, owo-nsanga nnyin obup, ye mmongeyet ke enyin esie ete, “Mbufo edoho ke odu se ami nkemede ndinam nno ete ye eka ye uncle mi emi ema ekekpa?”

Nnyin iboro,“Oh, edi ntre!” Nnyin ndien iting iko ntiense ite ke ekeme ndinam ofuri minenke kabanga uwem enenoto ke Erisio-isop Jesus Christ ndien ke ekeme ndidian mme ufokemana ke nsinsi oto ke odudu Esie.

Kini isobode ye se minenke, nnyin imikeme ndinuk idem nnyin mkpong Abasi mme ke nnyin imikeme ndikpere Enye nyom unyanga ye unwam. Nte uwutnkpo, anyan-ini ekong ke ufot mbon Nephi ye Laman ama onomo mme owo ke nsio-nsio usung. Mormon edikut ete ke “ediwak owo eme ekabare esong-esit” kini mbon eken “ema ekemem-esit oto ke ukut mmo, ekesim mmo ndisuhore-idem mmo kiso Abasi.”25

Ekuyak se minenke osong mbufo esit mme edisabade mbuotidem mbufo ke Abasi. Edi, ebup Abasi eyom unwam. Eyak idara ye iberedem mbufo ke Andinyanga okpon. Utu ke akabare odiok, eyak Enye anwam mbufo ndikabare ndi nti.26 Eyak Enye anwam mbufo man eyo, man ukut mbufo “ebe oduk ke idara Christ.”27 Ediana ye Enye ke utom Esie ke “ndikok esit eke obungode,”28 edomo ndidiong se minenke, nyung nkabare ndi andikpan ndori-uyo.29

Ami mmetie ntiense nte ke Andinyanga odu uwem. Enye odiongo se minenke. MMe idiongo ke eka-ubok Esie eyeka-iso eti Enye abanga mbufo ye ndaha mbufo Enye eyesin unwam ono mbufo ke ofuri nnanaenyin mbufo. Eke mbon emi edukde etiene Enye, ediye anyanya eyeda-itie ntong ntuanga: idara ye inemesit eyeda-itie mfuho ye ukut: ekom ye edinam-idara eyeda-itie ubiongo ye unana-idorenyin.30 Mbuotidem mbufo ke Ete Heaven ye Jesus Christ eyennyene udori akan nte mbufo ekerede. Kpukpru se minenke—akpan-akpan mbumede iyatesit eke minenke—eyediong esin ke udori mbufo. Ami nting iko ntiense emi ke enying Jesus Christ, amen.

Mkpri nwed

  1. See John Reader, Africa: A Biography of the Continent (1999), 635–36, 673–79.

  2. Though hopeful, the Rwandan reconciliation is complex. Some question its depth and durability. Se for example, “The Great Rwanda Debate: Paragon or Prison?,” Economist, Mar. 27, 2021, 41–43.

  3. Doctrine ye Covenants 130:91; emphasis added.

  4. Se Hebrews 4:15.

  5. 1 Nephi 21:15–16.

  6. Se Alma 7:11–13.

  7. Se Hebrews 4:16; see also Isaiah 41:10; 43:2; 46:4; 61:1–3.

  8. A word of caution: We should resist the temptation to create our own theories as to how and when, regardless of how well reasoned or plausible. We cannot justifiably fill the void for what God has not yet revealed.

  9. Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service (2018), 52; see also Isaiah 61:2–3; Revelation 21:4. “All that is unfair about life can be made right” likely means that the consequences of unfairness to us will be resolved, mitigated, or lifted. In his final general conference talk, “Come What May, and Love It,” Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said, “Every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude. … A principle of compensation prevails” (Liahona; Nov. 2008, 28).

  10. Se John 16:33.

  11. Se 2 Nephi 2:2.

  12. Se Job 42:10, 12–13; Jacob 3:1.

  13. Alma 40:5.

  14. Se Mosiah 4:9.

  15. See Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Liahona, Nov. 2020,93. Myopic means nearsighted.

  16. For example, Captain Moroni affirmed that it is wrong for individuals to stand by and “do nothing” when they can assist others (se Alma 60:9–11; see also 2 Corinthians 1:3–4).

  17. Doctrine and Covenants 58:27; see also verses 26, 28–29.

  18. John 8:7.

  19. See John 8:10–11; the Joseph Smith Translation of verse 11 includes, “And the woman glorified God from that hour, and believed on his name,” suggesting that the Savior’s lack of condemnation and His commandment to “sin no more” impacted the rest of the woman’s life.

  20. Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption (2015), 308–9.

  21. Se Matthew 25:31-46.

  22. See Acts 10:38; see also Russell M. Nelson, “The Second Great Commandment,” Liahona, Nov. 2019, 96–100.

  23. Se Doctrine ye Covenants 1:17, 22-23.

  24. These precepts are clearly articulated in “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

  25. Alma 62:41.

  26. See Amos C. Brown, in Boyd Matheson, “‘It Can Be Well with This Nation’ If We Lock Arms as Children of God,” Church News, July 25, 2019, churchnews.com.

  27. Alma 31:38.

  28. Se Luke 22:42–43. To heal the brokenhearted is to restore those whose minds, will, intellect, or inner self has been shattered or crushed (see James Strong, The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible [2010], Hebrew dictionary section, 139 and 271).

  29. See, for instance, Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Liahona, Nov. 2020, 94; Dallin H. Oaks, “Love Your Enemies,” Liahona, Nov. 2020, 26–29. President Nelson eteme ete, “Mfin emi ami mmekot mbon Ufok Abasi nnyin ke ofuri ebiet nte eda usung ke ndisin mme ido ye edinam utuk emi. Ami mkpe mbufo ubok nte enyene ukpono eno ofuri ndito Abasi.” This is more than just being opposed to attitudes and actions of prejudice. President Oaks quoted the Reverend Theresa A. Dear: “Racism thrives on hatred, oppression, collusion, passivity, indifference and silence.” Then he said, “As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we must do better to help root out racism.”

  30. Se Isaiah 41:10. Receiving a crown of beauty means that we become joint heirs with Jesus Christ in the kingdom of God. See also Donald W. Parry, Jay A. Parry, and Tina M. Peterson, Understanding Isaiah (1998), 541–43.