Idem Usung-isang eke Eyen Abasi

Etop otode Elder Neil L. Andersen

Eke Eboho mme Apostle Duopeba

Nte ndito ediomi Abasi, nnyin imema, ikpono, ikama, ikpeme, inyung idara mme spirit oro ekeworoke eto ererimbot spirit edi.

Nnyin owo kiet-kiet ima ibɔ ukut ito idiok-udongo eke ererimbot, nte ufokemana ye mme ufan ema ekewawara ebe ekpong uwem isong. Yak ami mfiak nti owo ita emi nnyin itimde inana, edade-eno kpukpru mbon emi nnyin inehede ima.

Emi edi Brother Philippe ye Sister Germain Nsondi. Brother Philippe Ngondi akanam-utom nte patriarch eke Brazzaville Republic eke Congo Stake kini enye ebede efep. Enye ekedi abia-ibok mbakara emi ekenehede abuana mme eno esie ye mbon efen.¹

Emi edi Sister Clara Elisa Ruano de Villareal otode Tulcán, Ecuador. Enye ekenyime mfiak-mmen-ndi iko Abasi ke edi-de isua Edip-ye-inang ndien ekedi adausung emi emade. Ufokemana esie ekedoho sanga-sung ke ndikwo edimai kwo esie eke: “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.”²

Emi edi Brother Ray Tuineau otode Utah, ye ediye ufokemana esie. Nwan esie, Juliet, ete, “Ami nyom [ndito-iren mi] man [eti ke ete mmo] ke ofuri ini ama odomo ndida Abasi nte akpa-nkpo.”³

Jehovah eketing ete, “Mbufo eyedu otokiet ke ima, emi edinamde mbufo etua ebanga ndinana mmo emi ekpade.”⁴

Kini nnyin ituade, nnyin nko iyedara ke oyoho-ubong Eriset eke Andinyanga nnyin. Otode ke Enye, mbon ima ye ufan nnyin eyeka-iso ke isang nsinsi mmo. Nte President Joseph F. Smith anamde-anwanga ete: “Nnyin ikemeke ndifre mmo, nnyin iditreke ndima mmo. … Mmo ema ebe-iso eka, nnyin ke ibe-ika, nnyin ke ikori nte mmo ekekoride.”⁵ President Russell M. Nelson ete, “Mmongeyet mfuho nnyin … akabare edi mmongeyet idorenyin.”⁶

Nnyin Imediongo ibanga Uwem mbemiso Idimana

Nsinsi ekikere nnyin idinamke ifiok nnyin kabanga mbon emi ekpongde uwem emi okpon kpot edi nko eyeberede ifiok nnyin abanga mbon emi ekebakde isang mmo ye mbon edukde uwem idahaemi.

Owo kiet-kiet emi edide ererimbot edi isio-isio eyeneren mme eyen-anwan eke Abasi.⁷ Isang idem nnyin iketongoke ke emana. Mbemiso nnyin ikedimana, nnyin ikodu otokiet ke ererimbot mbenge-idem ke ebiet emi nnyin “ikebode mme akpa ukpeb [nnyin] ke ererimbot spirit.”⁸ Jehovah odoho Jeremiah ete, “Ke mmeŋka-mbotke fi kaŋa ke idibi, mma mfiok fi; ke afo muka-unyuŋ utoho ke itie eyen mma ndianare fi nnim.”⁹

Ubakowo ekeme ndibup edieke uwem otongode ye edibot emine kiet, mme kini emi esit otongode ndibre, mme kini nsekeyen ekemede ndidung ke misineke ke idibi, edi eke nnyin, mbume iduhe ke ndito iban ye irenowo spirit Abasi edu ke usung isang idem mmo ndi-di isong man ebɔ ikpokidem ye ifiok-ukpeb uwem isong.

Nte ndito ediomi Abasi, nnyin imema, ikpono, ikama, ikpeme, inyung idara mme spirit oro ekeworoke eto ererimbot spirit edi.

Ata Utibe Ntip-nsin eke Iban

Eke nwan, enyenede eyen ekeme ndidi akwa nwaidem ke ikpokidem, ekikere, ye ke okuk. Nnyin imema inyung ikpono nti iban eke Ufok Abasi emi. Ke ikikke ye ifiok, mbufo emebiom mbiomo eke ufokemana mbufo. Mbufo emema. Mbufo emenwam. Mbufo emewa-idem. Mbufo emesongo mbuotidem, enwam mbon edude ke unana, ndien enehede etip-esin ke obio.

Edisana Ubiong ke Ndikpeme Uwem

Mme isua eke ebede, ke ndinehede nkere mbanga ibat usiongo-idibi ke ererimbot, Presdent Gordon B. Hinckley eketing-iko ono iban Ufok Abasi ke mme iko eke enyenede-ufon ono nnyin mfin emi. Enye odoho ete: “Mbufo emi edide iban-ndɔ ye mme eka edi osongo eke ufokemana. Mbufo eman ndito oro. Se ata-akamba ye edisana ubiong se oro edi. … Nso itibe ino itoro nnyin kabanga nsana-mma eke uwem ubonowo? Usiongo-idibi edi idiok, ata-mbiara, ye ndiok-nkan ye ndedehe nkpo, emi oyohode ofuri isong. Ami mbenge iban Ufok Abasi emi nte ekunam enye, ekpon-ekan enye, ediangare nsanga ye mbon emi esimade ndaha-oro emi owutde ete ke oro ofon. Esisit ndaha ekeme ndidu emi oro ekemede nditibe, edi mmo itimke iwak.¹⁰ … Mme eka ndito irenowo ye iban eke Abasi, emi uwem mmo edide edisana. Ndikpeme mmo edi edisana ubiong emi enode eke mu-dudaha nte mbubru.”¹¹

Elder Marcus B. Nash eketing ono mi abanga mbuk eke edima nwan isua Anang-ye-inang kiet emi, kini ndungore baptism esie, “nte etide usiongo-idibi kiet [ke ediwak isua ama ekebe].” Enye ye ndodobi esit ete: “Ami mmebiom mbiomo eke edisiongo-idibi eyen kiet kpukpru usen uwem mi ke isua Aba-ye-itiokiet. … Iduhe se namde emi ami ekpemende ubiak ye mfuho oro efep. Ami nkenyeneke idorenyin tutu edikpeb mi akpaniko iko Abasi Jesus Christ. Ami ndikpeb danga nte mkpekabare-esit … ndien ibighike ami ndiyoho ye idorenyin. Ke akpatre ami ndidiongo ke ekeme ndifen nno mi edieke ami nehede nkabare-esit ke mme idioknkpo mi.”¹²

Nnyin imenem esit ke edisana eno eke nkabare-esit ye erifen-nno.

Nso ke Nnyin Ikpenam?

Nso idi utom nnyin nte mme sung-sung mbet Jesus Christ? Yak nnyin inam mbet Abasi, ikpeb mmo ino ndito nnyin, inyung ibuana mmo ye mbon efen emi enyimede ndikop.¹³ Yak nnyin iting ata esit nnyin ibanga edisana-ndaha eke uwem ye mbonowo emi esinmade mme ubiere ke obio. Mmo iditimke inim ke se nnyin inimde ke akpniko, edi nnyin ibenge ke mmo eyenehede efiok ntak, eke nnyin, mme ubiere emi ɔbɔhɔ ndaha se owo oyomde ono idemesie me uwem esie.

Edieke eyen eke mubengeke-idem uyom amanade, yak nnyin inwam ke ima, osongo, ndien,nte edide, unwam okuk, inwam eka ke ndiyak eyen esie amana onyung aka-iso ke isang uwem isong esie.¹⁴

Inem-nkpɔ ke Ndida-owo-nte-eyen

Ke ufokemana nnyin, nnyin ima inehede ibɔ edidiong ke isau Edip emi ekebede, ekpri eyen-anwan isua Efurekiet edifiok ete ke imo isanga ye idibi. Enye ye ete eyen oro ikedɔhɔ ndɔ, ndien mmo ikemeke ndidung otokiet. Ekpri eyen-anwan emi enim ke uwem eyen emi odude enye ke idibi edi nsongurua. Enye ama aman eyen-anwan ndien enyime eti ufokemana kiet eda eyen oro esin ke ubon mmo enyene. Eke Bryce ye Jolinne, eyen oro ekedi iboro ono akam mmo. Mmo enoenye enying nte Emily enyung ekpeb enye ndibuot-idem ye Ete Heaven esie ye ke Eyen Esie, Jesus Christ.

Emily edikori okpon. Nnyin imenem esit koro Emily ye eyeyen-eren nnyin, Christian, edima kiet eken enyung enam-ndɔ ke ufok Jehovah. Idahaemi Emily ye Christian enyene ekpri eyen-anwan.

Mmi-mmi emi Emily ewet ete: “Ke ofuri ofiong usukkiet ekeami nkeyomoke idibi, ami nnyene ini ndikere mbanga mmme nkpo-ntibe [eke] emana mi. Ami nkere mbanga ata eka mi, emi ekedide isua Efurekiet kpot. Nte ami nkutde ubiak ye edikpuho-nkpo emi asangade ye ediyomo-idibi, ami ndikere nte okosongde ndiyomo-idibi ke ekpri isua Efurekiet. … Nditua kpa idahaemi ke ndikere mbanga ata-eka mi, emi okofiokde ke imo idikemeke ndino mi uwem eke [enye oyomde ono mi ndien ayak] mi ono ubon efen. Ami nkemeke ndikere se okokut ke ufang ofiong usukkiet oro—nte ekutde danga idem esie okpuhode, uwem unyen emi enye akananake, ndifiok ke utit ufen ima eke eka-eyen emi, ke enye eyeyak eyen esie esin ke ubok owo efen. Ami menehede nem-esit ke eti mbumek esie, keenye ikenyimeke ndida unen-edimek esie ke usung emi ekpekemende uwem mi efep.” Emily etre ntem, Ami mmeno-ekom ke edisana uduak Ete Heaven, mmekom nti ete ye eka mi oro [ekemade enyung ebɔɔk mi], nko nkom temple edide ebiet emi ekemede ndidian nnyin nte ufokemana ke nsinsi.”¹⁵

Andinyanga “ada ekpri eyen-owong onim ke ufot mmo; onyung emen enye akama ke ubok Esie, onyung odoho mmo ete, Owo ekededi eke adarade kiet ke otu oruk mkpri ndito-owong [emi] ke enying Mi: adara Mi“¹⁶

Kini Mukemeke Ndinam Nnen-nnen Udong Oworo-osu

Ami mmeno ekom ye esit-mbom mi kabanga mme ebe-ye-nnwan emi edɔde-ndɔ inyung ikemeke ndinyene ndito emi mmo enehede eyom ye iban ye irenowo emi minyeneke ifet ndidɔ-ndɔ nte asangade ye ewuhɔ Abasi. Osong ndidot-enyin ke nkpo uwem eke miworoke-isu edieke esede ke enyin ikpokidem kpot. Nte isungutom Abasi,ami nnwongo nno mbufo ke nte mbufo ebuotde-idem ke Jesus Christ ye ke ediomi mbufo,mbufo eyebo udori edidiong ke uwem emi ye nti udong mbufo ke nsinsi ini eke Abasi.¹⁷ Inemesit ekeme ndidu ke usung-isang uwem isong kpa kini ofuri nti idorenyin nnyin miworoke-isu.¹⁸

Ke emande eyen ekure, ndito-owong ke ekaka-iso eyom unwam nnyin. Ubak enehede eyom unwam eti-eti. Ke isua-ke-isua otode nti bishop ye mme oyoho eno utre-udia ye okuk mbufo ndida-nnwam ubonowo, uwem ata ediwak ndito-nwong ekut ubɔhɔ. Mmi-mmi emi First Presidency esin ke imefiak idian dollars million Edip man enwam UNICEF ke utom mmo man eno ibok billion iba mkpi-nsin ke ofuri ererimbot.¹⁹ Abasi ama ndito-owong.

Edisana Ubiere ke Ndinyene Eyen

Edi nkpo mkpaidem ke otu usuk idut emi enyenede nkpo ke ererimbot, esisit ndito ke eman do.²⁰ “Mbet emi Abasi okonode ndito Esie ke nditɔt nyung nyɔhɔ isong osuk ododu.”²¹ Ini oyomde ndinyene eyen ye ibat ndito se edinyene edi ndedibe nneme emi enamde ke ufot nwan ye ebe ye Abasi. Diana mbuotidem ye akam, mme edisana ubiere emi ekeme ndi-di mme inem, eriyarare ifiok-ukpeb.²²

Ami nyeting mbuk eke ufokemana Laing eke Usuk-usuk California. Sister Rebecca Laing ewet ete:

“Ke ini ndaeyo eke isua 2011, uwem ama enehede ofon ye ufokemana nnyin. Nnyin ima ikop inem ndɔ inyene ndito inang emi isua mmo edide—Usukkiet, Itiaba, Ition, ye Ita. …

“Uyomo-idibi ye uman-eyen mi [ekesidi] ke okposong … [ndien] nnyin ikop [ata] inemesit ke ndinyene ndito inang, [ikere] ke ufokemana nnyin ama ekem. Ke Ofiong October nte mkangde-utong nno akwa mbono, ami nehede nkere ke nnyin iyenyene eyen efen. Nte ami ye LeGrand ikereke inyung ibong-akam, … nnyin ididiongo ke Abasi enyene isio-isio uduak ono nnyin akan se nnyin ikenyene ino idem nnyin.

“Ke ikurede okposong uyomo-idibi ye uman-eyen efen, nnyin ima inyene ediye nsekeyen anwan. Nnyin ino enye enying nte Brielle. Enye ekedi utibe-nkpo kiet. Esisit-ini ke enye ama ekemana, kini osuk odude ke [ubet uman], ami nehede nkop uyo Spirit etingde ete: ‘Ayak kiet efen.’

“Ke ufang isua ita, utibe-nkpo efen ada itie, edide Mia. Brielle ye Mia edi nkpo idaresit ono ufok nnyin.” Enye ke akpatre ete, “Ndiyak idem nno ndausung eke Abasi nyung ntiene uduak emi Enye enyenede ono nnyin ke kpkpru ini eyeda akamba inemesit edi akan … ndiberi-edem ke asian nnyin.”²³

Andinyanga amama osongurua eyen kiet-kiet.

“Ndien enye emen mkpri nditɔ mmɔ, kiet kiet, onyuŋ ɔdiɔŋ mmɔ. …

“Ndien … mmɔ ewɔŋɔre enyin mmɔ ese heaven, … ndien mmɔ ekut nte mme angel esuhɔre ewɔrɔ ke heaven … nte ke ufɔt ikaŋ; ndien [mme angel] … ekanare mkpri nditɔ oro ekuk, … mme angel enyuŋ enam utom enɔ mmɔ.”²⁴

Ami mmetie ntiense nte ke idem isang-usung mbufo nte eyen Abasi iketongoke ino mbufo ke akpa ofim eke isong ndibumere nduk obufuut mbufo ndien iditreke kini enwekde akpatre ibifik mbufo ke uwem isong.

Kpukpru ini yak nnyin iti ete ke spirit eyen Abasi kiet-kiet ke edi isong ke idem isang-usung esie.²⁵ Yak nnyi idara edi-di mmo, ikpeme mmo, inyung ima mmo ke kpukpru ini. Nte mbufo ebɔde nsongurua ndito emi ke enying Andinyanga enyung enwam mmo ke isang nsinsi mmo, ami nnwongo nno mbufo ke Jehovah eyediong mbufo onyung ayak ima ye unyime Esie ono mbufo. Ke enying Jesus Chrst, amen.

Mkpri nwed

1. Personal correspondence.

2. Personal correspondence. Se “Ami Mmodiongo Ke Andifak Mi Odu Uwem,” Ikwo,, no. 136.

3. Personal correspondence.

4. Doctrine ye Covenants 42:45.

5. Joseph F. Smith, in Conference Report, Apr. 1916, 3.

6. In “‘A Fulness of Joy’: President Nelson Shares Message of Eternal Life at His Daughter’s Funeral,” Church News, Jan. 19, 2019, thechurchnews.com.

7. Se ““Ufokemana: Etop emi enode Ererimbot,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

8. Doctrine ye Covenants 138:56.

9. Jeremiah 1:5. The New Testament tells of the unborn John the Baptist leaping in the womb as Elisabeth encountered Mary, who was expecting the baby Jesus (see Luke 1:41).

10. Ata ndaha eke Ufok Abasi Jesus Christ Mme Ndisana Owo Ukperedem Usen:

    “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in the sanctity of human life. Therefore, the Church opposes elective abortion for personal or social convenience, and counsels its members not to submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions.

    “The Church allows for possible exceptions for its members when:

    “Pregnancy results from rape or incest, or

    “A competent physician determines that the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy, or

    “A competent physician determines that the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.

    “The Church teaches its members that even these rare exceptions do not justify abortion automatically. Abortion is a most serious matter and should be considered only after the persons involved have consulted with their local church leaders and feel through personal prayer that their decision is correct.

    “The Church has not favored or opposed legislative proposals or public demonstrations concerning abortion” (“Abortion,” Newsroom, newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org; see also General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 38.6.1, ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

11. Gordon B. Hinckley,“Walking in the Light of the Lord,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 99; Liahona, Jan. 1999, 117.

    President Gordon B. Hinckey odoho ete:

    “Abortion is an ugly thing, a debasing thing, a thing which inevitably brings remorse and sorrow and regret.

    “While we denounce it, we make allowance in such circumstances as when pregnancy is the result of incest or rape, when the life or health of the mother is judged by competent medical authority to be in serious jeopardy, or when the fetus is known by competent medical authority to have serious defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.

    “But such instances are rare, and there is only a negligible probability of their occurring. In these circumstances those who face the question are asked to consult with their local ecclesiastical leaders and to pray in great earnestness, receiving a confirmation through prayer before proceeding” (Gordon B. Hinckley, (“What Are People Asking about Us?,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 71; Liahona, Jan. 1999, 83–84).

12. Se Neil L. Andersen, The Divine Gift of Forgiveness (2019), 25.

    On one occasion in France, during a baptismal interview, a woman spoke to me of her abortion of many years before. Ami mmenem esit ke mfonido esie. Enye ama ana baptism. Ke ke ufang isua kiet, ami mma mbo ikoot ke phone. This wonderful woman in the year since her baptism had been taught by the Holy Ghost. She called sobbing: “Do you remember … I told you about an abortion from years before? Ami mmatua mkpofiok ke se ami nkanam. Edi isua ekebede [mi] ama okpuho mi. … Esit mi owongore etiene Andinyanga. I am so pained by the seriousness of my sin that I have no way to restore.”

    Ami nkop ata ima Abasi nno nwan emi. President Boyd K. Packer said: “Restoring what you cannot restore, healing the wound you cannot heal, fixing that which you broke, and you cannot fix is the very purpose of the atonement of Christ. When your desire is firm and you are willing to pay the ‘uttermost farthing,’ [se Matthew 5:25–26], the law of restitution is suspended. Your obligation is transferred to the Lord. He will settle your accounts” (“The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 19–20). I assured her of the Savior’s love. The Lord not only lifted the sin from her; He strengthened and refined her spirit. (Se Neil L. Andersen, The Divine Gift of Forgiveness, 154–56.)

13. See Dallin H. Oaks, “Protect the Children,” Liahona, Nov. 2012, 43–46.

14. Safeguarding the lives of a daughter or son of God is also the responsibility of the father. Every father has an emotional, spiritual, and financial responsibility to welcome, love, and care for the child coming to earth.

15. Personal correspondence.

16. Mark 9:36–37.

17. See Neil L. Andersen, “A Compensatory Spiritual Power for the Righteous” (Brigham Young University devotional, Aug. 18, 2005), speeches.byu.edu.

18. See Dallin H. Oaks, “The Great Plan of Happiness,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 75; see also Russell M. Nelson, “Choices,” Ensign, Nov. 1990, 75.

19. See “Bishop Caussé Thanks UNICEF and Church Members for COVID-19 Relief,” Newsroom, Mar. 5, 2021, newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

20. For example, if the United States had maintained its fertility rate of 2008, just 13 years ago, there would be 5.8 million more children alive today (see Lyman Stone “5.8 Million Fewer Babies: America’s Lost Decade in Fertility,” Institute for Family Studies, Feb. 3, 2021, ifstudies.org/blog).

21. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The scriptures record that “children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). See Russell M. Nelson, “How Firm Our Foundation,” Liahona, July 2002, 83–84; see also Dallin H. Oaks, “Truth and the Plan,” Liahona, Nov. 2018, 27.

22. Se Neil L. Andersen, “Children,” Liahona, Nov. 2011, 28.

23. Personal correspondence, Mar. 10, 2021.

24. 1 Nephi 17:12, 24.

25. “In reality, we are all travelers—even explorers of mortality. We do not have the benefit of previous personal experience. We must pass over steep precipices and turbulent waters in our own journey here on earth” (Thomas S. Monson, “The Bridge Builder,” Liahona, Nov. 2003, 67).