Bishopfo—Ewuradze no Nguankuw do Nguanhwɛfo
Bishop no wɔ asodzi tsitsir dɛ ɔsom dɛ oguanhwɛfo dze ma ebusuasantsen a wɔreba no kwankyerɛ dze hɔn aba Jesus Christ nkyɛn.
Mo nuanom adɔfo asɔfodzifo, ndwom a yɛpɛ ara yie ne nsensaneeba kor a ayɛ atsenkã bisa dɛ, “Ana Zion mbabun bɔtwentweɔn?”1 M’akoma mu mpaamukã a ɔgyegye ho nyiano ma dɛm nsɛmbisa no nye “Oho!”
Ama yɛaayɛ ahwɛyie dɛ nyiano no bɔkɔ do ayɛ nokwar no, megye dase ndɛ dɛ dza ɔgye ebusuasantsen a wɔreba no wɔ mber a ɔhaw na nsɔhwɛ soronko yi mu abamba no, nye asodzi tsitsir a Ɔsor Egya dze ama awofo na bishop na n’apamfo.2 Hom mma memfa mankasa mo sũahu mfa nkyerɛ bishop na n’apamfo no hɔn ho hia ohia mu.
Ber a meyɛ deacon no, m’ebusua tui kɔr fie fofor wɔ ward forfor bi mu. Nna merehyɛ junior high skuul ase, ntsi mokɔr skuul fofor so. Nna mberantsɛ kuw nwanwa wɔ deaconfo quorum no mu. Hɔn awofo dodowara yɛ asɔrmba a wɔbɔ hyew. Me maame bɔ hyew yie, m’egya yɛ soronko wɔ akwan biara mu mbom nna ɔnnyɛ asɔrba a ɔbɔ hyew.
Bishop ne ɔpamfo a otsĩa ebien no,3 Onuabanyin Dean Eyre, yɛ baanodzinyi a oetu noho esi hɔ. Ber a meda ho m’enyi rekã wɔ ward fofor no mu no, wɔdze too gua dɛ wɔbɛyɛ egya-na banyimba dwumadzi wɔ Bear Lake—bɛyɛ akwansin 40 dze kɔ Manndween dɛ mobɔkɔ a m’egya nnkã ho. Naaso Onuabanyin Eyre maa nsato soronko maa me dɛ menye no nkɔ. Ɔkasaa yie na obu mu ara wɔ m’egya ho na ɔkyerɛkyerɛɛ siantsir a ohia dɛ menye deaconfo quorumfo nkaafo no bedzi ehyia. Ntsi meyɛɛ m’adwen dɛ menye Onuabanyin Eyre bɔkɔ, na minyaa sũahu nwanwa.
Nna Onuabanyin Eyre yɛ Christ no dɔ ho fasusu mapã wɔ dɛ ɔhyɛɛ ne bishop na n’apamfo hɔn asodzi dɛ wɔbɛma awofo no abamba ber a wɔrohwɛ mbabun no do na wɔretsetse hɔn no. Ɔmaa menyaa nkitahodzi pa wɔ me ward fofor no mu na ɔbɛyɛɛ me kandzifo.
Ɔka abosoom kakra ma maakɔ m’asɛmpakã wɔ afe 1960 no, Onuabanyin Eyre kaa beebi a ɔnam kokoram yarba ntsi. Ogyaa ɔyer na mba beenum a, hɔn mu biara nndzii mfe 16. Ne mba mpanyimfo beenu, Richard na Chris Eyre no, ama meehu dɛ hɔn egya nnyi hɔ no, bishop na n’apamfo agye hɔn abamba na wɔaweɔn hɔn na hɔn enuanom nkakraba no a wɔdze Christ no dɔ, iyi ho yɛ me enyisɔ.
Awofo no hɔn ebusua ebusua no n’asodzii ne kɛse da hɔn do daa.4 Quorum presidencyfo so ma mboa a ohia na kwankyerɛ ma quorumfo no ber a wɔboa hɔn ma wopegya Aaron Asɔfodzi ndwuma na tum no bɛyɛ hɔn abrabɔ adze tsitsir.5
Ndɛ mebɛpɛ dɛ mibetsĩ mu wɔ bishopfo na hɔn apamfo do, hɔn a yebotum afrɛ hɔn yie mu ara dɛ “nguahwɛfo wɔ Ewuradze no nguankuw do”—a yetsĩ mu dɛ wɔyɛ nguanhwɛfo ma ebusuasantsen a wɔreba no.6 Ɔyɛ enyikã dɛ Ɔsomafo Peter frɛɛ Jesus Christ dɛ “hom akra hɔn Guanhwɛfo nye Hwɛdofo.”7
Bishop no wɔ asodzi etsitsir enum wɔ no nhwɛdo mu wɔ ward no do:
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Ɔno nye sɔfopanyin hwɛdofo wɔ ward no mu.8
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Ɔno nye Aaron Asɔfodzi no ne president.9
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Ɔyɛ ɔdodow ɔtsɛmbuafo.10
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Ɔhwɛ nkwagye na nkwagye ntowdo edwuma do, a ɔrohwɛ nkɔhweabanfo so hɔn do.11
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Na ɔhwɛ nkaa nkyerɛwee, sikasɛm, na asɔrdan ho dwumadzi do.12
N’asodzi dɛ sɔfopanyin hwɛdofo no, bishop no nye ward no no sunsum mu baanodzinyi. Ɔyɛ “Jesus Christ no suanyi nokwafo.”14
Dza ɔkã ho no, “bishop no na ɔhwɛ nkwagye na nkwagye ntowdo edwuma do wɔ ward no mu.”15 Bishop no wɔdɛ ɔdze daa daa asodzii a ɔwɔ erekyɛ asɛmpa no, erehyɛ asɔrmba afofor na hɔn a wɔresan aba no dzen, erosom, na temple na ebusua abakɔsɛm edwuma hyɛ elderfo quorum na Relief Society presidencyfo nsa.16 Bishop no hyɛ ndwuma yinom dzen wɔ ward na ward mbabun abaguafo nhyiamu mu.
Bishop no wɔ asodzi tsitsir dɛ ɔsom dɛ oguanhwɛfo dze ma ebusuasantsen a wɔreba no ɔama hɔn kwankyerɛ dze aba Jesus Christ nkyɛn a, young single adultfo kã ho.17 President Russell M. Nelson etsĩ mu akã bishop na n’apamfo hɔn asodzi soronko no. Ɔakyerɛkyerɛ dɛ hɔn “asɛdze tsitsir a odzi kan nye dɛ wɔbɔhwɛ [hɔn] ward mu young men na young womenfo no do”18 Bishop na n’apamfo no ma awofo no abamba ma wɔdze ahwɛ hɔn mba na ward mu mbabun no do na wɔatsetse hɔn. Bishop no na ward Young Women president no bɔmu fa apam. Wɔbɔ mbɔdzen dɛ wɔbɔboa mbabun no ma wɔdze gyinapɛn no a ɔwɔ For the Strength of Youth, no abɔ bra, wɔafata dɛ wɔbɛgye ayɛdze, na woedzi na woesie ahyɛmu horow.
Bia ibebisa dɛ “Dɛn ntsi na bishop no wɔakyerɛ hɔn dɛ wɔnye mbabun no nhwer mber ara yie no?” Ewuradze ahyehyɛ N’Asɔr ama ɔayɛ botae etsitsir ohia papaapa. Dɛm ntsi, N’Asɔr ne hyehyɛɛ mu no bishop no wɔ dzibew a ɔwɔ asodzi ebien. Ɔwɔ nyamesom ho asodzi wɔ ward no nyina, naaso ɔwɔ nyamesom ho asodzi pɔkyee ma asɔfo quorum no.19
Young men a wɔyɛ asɔfo na young women a wɔwɔ mfe kor noara no wɔ hɔn abrabɔ mpontu mu gyinabew a ohia papaapa. Mber tsiabaa mu no, wɔbɔ adwenpɔw a ɔwɔ nsunsuando kɛse wɔ hɔn abrabɔ nyina mu. Ɔno na ɔkyerɛ dɛ wɔbɛfata dɛ wɔkɔ temple, wɔbɔsom wɔ asɛmpakã,20 wɔbɔ mbɔdzen dɛ wɔbɔwar wɔ temple mu, na wɔayɛ ahoboa ma hɔn abrabɔ mu edwumayɛ. Wɔabɔ adwenpɔw yi ewiei no, onya sunsum na nyɛe mu nsunsuando kesi ma hɔn abrabɔ n’ewiei. Bishopfo, yɛserɛ hom nhu dɛ mber kumaa a hom nye sɔfo aberantsɛba, young woman, anaa young adult hwer no botum aboa hɔn ma wɔatse tum a ɔwɔ hɔ ma hɔn a ɔnam Jesus Christ No Werdambɔ no do. Obotum ama enyido-adzehu a obenya nhyɛdo nwanwa wɔ hɔn abrabɔ nyina mu.
Fasusu kor a odzi mu a meehu a ɔfa bishop a ɔboae ma ne mbabun no nyaa enyido-adzehu yi bi no nye Bishop Moa Mahe. Ɔno na wɔfrɛɛ no dɛ bishop a odzi kan wɔ San Francisco Tongan Ward mu.21 Nna ofi Vava‘u, Tonga. Nna no ward no bɛn San Francisco, California wimuhɛn gyinabea, bea a ɔyɛ edwuma no.22
Nna ward no wɔ mbabun pii, hɔn mu dodowara fi ebusua ebusua a wofifi aman binom mu aba United States. Bishop Mahe annkyerɛkyerɛ hɔn asɛm na fasusu do mbrɛ wobesi bɛyɛ Jesus Christ esũafo nko, mbom ɔmaa hɔn enyido-adzehu wɔ dza wobotum abɛyɛ dze boaa hɔn, na ɔboaa hɔn ma wɔyɛɛ ahoboa ma temple, asɛmpakã, adzesũa, na edwumayɛ. Ɔsom bɛyɛ mfe awɔtwe, na n’adaasõ na n’apɛdze ma mbabun no bɛyɛɛ hɔ.
Young men no a wɔwɔ Aaron Asɔfodzi quorum horow no mu bɛyɛ ɔha nkyɛmu 90 soom asɛmpakã. Mberantsɛ na nkataasia 15 na wɔbɛyɛɛ hɔn ebusua ebusua mu mbakan a wɔakɔ esũapɔn.23 Ɔnye sɔn no mu nsɔwdo skuul (a wɔnnyɛ hɛn gyedzi) ɔhwɛdofo no hyiae, na wɔbɛyɛɛ anyɛnkoyɛ na wɔbɔɔ mu yɛ nhyehyɛɛ a wɔdze bɔboa aberantsɛba anaa akatasiaba biara ma oenya no botae a ɔsombo na oedzi nsɛnhia do. Ɔhwɛdofo no kãa dɛ Bishop Mahe boaa no ma wɔnye hɔn a wofifi amanaman mu a woridzi aper a wofi gyedzi ahorow mu no dzii dwuma. Nna mbasirmba no nyim dɛ bishop no dɔ hɔn.
Awerɛhow mu ara Bishop Mahe twaa mu kɔree ber a ɔrosom dɛ bishop no. Mo werɛ nnkefir da ne nkenyan funsie a ɔkãa akoma no. Dɔm kɛse na wɔbae. Adwontokuw no nna mbasirmba bɔbor 35 wɔkã ho, a wɔasom asɛmpakã ewie anaa wɔwɔ esũapɔn mu, a nna wɔyɛ mbabun ber a ɔrosom dɛ bishop no. Hɔn a wɔkasaa mu ɔbaako kyerɛɛ enyisɔ atsenkã kɛse a mbarɛntsɛ na young adultfo a wɔwɔ no ward no wɔ ma no. Ɔkamfoo Bishop Mahe n’enyido-adzehu a ɔdze maa hɔn a wɔama wɔayɛ ahoboa ama abrabɔ na tsenenee som. Mbom dza ohia tsitsir no, Bishop Mahe aboa hɔn ma wɔatow hɔn gyedzi wɔ Ewuradze Jesus Christ mu dɛ hɔn abrabɔ ne fapem.
Afei, bishopfo, bea biara a hom som no, wɔ hom kokoamu mpɛnsapɛnsamu na nkitahodzi nkaa no, hom botum ama dɛm enyido-adzehu na hom atow gyedzi wɔ Jesus Christ mu. Hom botum atsen nsato a ɔyɛ ndam mu dze asesã suban, ayɛ hɔn ahoboa ma abrabɔ, na hom ekenyan hɔn ma wɔanantsew ahyɛmudzi anamɔn kwan no do.
Dza ɔkã ho no, hom botum aboa mbabun binom a wɔnye hɔn awofo wɔ wentwiwentwi wɔ dza ho nnhia biara ho no.24 Ber a mbasirmba nye hɔn awofo wɔ wentwiwentwi kɛse no, onyia ɔhwɛ hɔn quorum do na Asɔr mu tumdzi hyɛ ne nsa nye onyia kor noara a hɔn awofo kɛgye temple recommend wɔ no hɔ. Iyi ma bishop no da gyinabew soronko dɛ ɔma mbasirmba na hɔn awofo no apam sɛ wentwiwentwi dze mpapaamu aba a. Bishopfo botum aboa beenu no nyina ma wɔahwɛ ndzɛmba wɔ onnyiewiei nhumu do na woesiesie nsɛmansɛma a ho nnhia kɛse no. Yɛkamfo dɛ mma wɔmma bishopfo no ebusua ebusua a wɔrosom hɔn ama woetum dze hɔn mber na ahom etsim mbabun na hɔn ebusua ebusua no som do wɔ gyinabew yinom mu.25
Minyim bishop kor bi a otumii siesie wentwiwentwi yerɛyerɛw bi a ɔda babanyin na n’awofo ntamu a, ɔdze koryɛ baa fie na ɔboaa hɔn asɛmpa no ho enyimpi si. Bishop no boaa awofo no ma wɔtsee ase dɛ wɔrobɔ mbɔdzen abɛyɛ Jesus Christ osuanyi no ho hia koraa kyɛn mber na mbrɛ katsee a wɔdze yɛɛ fie edwuma.
Ama woenya mber nye mbabun no ahwer ara yie, bea biara wɔwɔ, a skuul nhyiamu anaa dwumadzi kã ho no, wɔama bishopricfo apam dɛ wɔnfa nhyiamu horow na mber a wɔnye mpanyinfo fa apam no nhyɛ binom nsa. Bishopfo botum ama apam wɔ mprɛmprɛ nsɛnhia a mu yɛ dzin, naaso yɛkamfo dɛ wɔmfa apam mmae a wɔakɔ ho akyɛr, dza ɔnnyɛ mprɛmprɛ nsɛnhia a ɔmmfa emudziyɛ atsɛmbu ho no mma elderfo quorum na Relief Society kuw mba—ɔtaa dɛ presidencyfo anaa enuanom na nkyerɛbaa a wɔrosom. Sunsum no bɛma baanodzifo no kwankyerɛ26 ma woeyiyi asɔrmba a wɔfata a wobotum ama apam no. Hɔn a wonya apam mmae dwuma no wɔwɔ kwan dɛ wonya nyikyerɛ. Nokwar, otwar dɛ wɔyɛ biribiara kokoamu ara yie.
Baanodzifo a wɔdwen adze ho yie no bɔ afɔr daa ma ebusuasantsen a wɔreba no. Ha nye bea a bishop na n’apamfo wɔ dɛ wɔhwer hɔn Asɔr som ne fã kɛse wɔ.
Afei mepɛ dɛ mekã nsɛm kakra ara kyerɛ mbabun no ankasa na nkyii akyerɛ bishopfo no.
Hom mbasirmba a hom som bo no mu dodowara nnyi enyido-adzehu pefee wɔ hom nyimpa ban na dza hom botum abɛyɛ. Naaso hom wɔ hom abrabɔ mu adwenpɔw a ohia kɛsenara hom bɔbɔ no no nkwantanan. Yɛserɛ hom nye hom awofo na hom bishop beenu no mfa apam wɔ nsanmuyi a ɔda hom enyim no. Hom mma kwan ma bishop no nyɛ hom nyɛnko na ɔpamfo.
Yenyim dɛ hom wɔ nkõdzen na nsɔhwɛ a ofifi mbea pii reba hom do. Hɛn nyina yehia dɛ yenu hɛnho daa daa dɛ mbrɛ President Nelson akyerɛkyerɛɛ no. Yɛserɛ, hom nye hom bishop nkasa mfa asɛm biara a ɔdodow ɔtsɛmbuafo botum aboa wo wɔ ho a ɔbɛma hom abrabɔ nye Ewuradze n’ahoboaboa ma “edwuma kɛse” no a Ɔwɔ ma hom wɔ berano a odzi ewiei no asaa.27 Dɛ mbrɛ President ato nsa afrɛ hom no, yɛserɛ hom mfata homho dɛ hom bɛkã Ewuradze ne mbabun nsordaafokuw ho!28
Afei, bishopfo a hom som bo, asɛm kor ara ma hom, wɔ Asɔr no ne baanodzi na asɔrmba no ananmu. Yɛkyerɛ hɛn enyisɔ a ɔdɔ bun mu ma hom. Nsesã horow a wɔsera hom ma hom ayɛ no ndaasa mfe yinom mu no, bishopfo adɔfo, yɛserɛ hom nhu mbrɛ yesi dɔ na hɛn enyi sɔ hom. Hom ntoboa ma ahenman yi ɔbor dza wobotum akyerɛ. Asɔr no wɔ bishopfo na nkorbata mu Presidentfo 30,900 a wɔrosom wɔ wiadze nyina mu.29 Yedzi hom mu kor biara nyi.
Nkasafua binom na ɔfrɛ krɔnkrɔn horow a wɔkyerɛ sunsum mu adze tsitsir soronko. Bishop ɔfrɛ no da sor koraa wɔ dɛm nkasafua no mu. Dɛ ibɔsom Ewuradze wɔ dzibew yi mu no yɛ nwanwa wɔ akwan pii mu. Mbrɛ wosi frɛ, wɔma no tsipia, na woyi bishop si hɔ no yɛ sũahu a werɛ mmfir da. Emi no, ɔkã dza osisi kumabaa a ho tsew ara yie a ogya atsenkã a no mu dɔ. Ɔnye dza osisi a ɔsombo ara yie dɛ awar na egyayɛ tsenaa a wonnkotum dze kasafua kakrabaa akã ho asɛm.30
Bishopfo, yɛma hom tsipia! Bishopfo, yɛdɔ hom! Hom yɛ Ewuradze No nguankuw do nguanhwɛfo ampaara. Agyenkwa no remmpa hom wɔ ɔfrɛ krɔnkrɔn yinom mu. Megye iyi ho dase wɔ Owusoɛr dapɛn ewiei wɔ Jesus Christ ne dzin mu, amen.