Ete, Nnyin Iyema Edikut Jesus

Otode Elder Robert M. Daines

Eke Seventy

Nnyin iyom edikut Jesus ke se owo Enye edide man inyuŋ ikop ima Esie.

Iso Nnan

Usen kiet kini nsehe-ikɔŋ 1945, akparawa kiet ama edemede-idap ke ufɔkibɔk mbon-ekɔŋ. Enye ama enyene mfɔniso edidu uwem—ema etop enye ke ekperede utɔŋ, edi mme docta ema esiak enye idem, ndien idahaemi enye ekeme edisaŋa nyuŋ ntiŋ-ikɔ ɔfɔ.

Ke ndiɔk-iso, mkpasi-ikaŋ ama abiat ubak mfre esie emi ekemede edidiɔŋɔ mme iso owo. Idahaemi enye esise ŋwan esie inyuŋ itihe; enye ikikemeke ndifiɔk eka esie. Kpa ata iso odude ke ukut-iso ekedi esen ɔnɔ enye—enye ikemeke editiŋ mme oro edi eke erenowo mme eke ŋwan.¹

Enye ama akabare edi iso-nnan—ndaha emi afianade ata ediwak owo.²

Mme owo emi enehede enyene iso-nnan edomo edidiɔŋɔ mbon efen eto mme mbet editi-ke-ibuot—mbet man ɔdiɔŋɔ eyen-anwan ke usuŋ mbuwet iso esie mme eke ufan oto ke nnwaŋa mkpat-isaŋ esie.

Edikɔri Mkpon

Se udiana mbuk mi, ekperede ufɔkiduŋ: Nte ekpri akparawa, ami mmesiwak edikut eka mi nte ɔnɔ ibet. Enye edibiere ini eke ami nkemede edibre-mbre ye ini eke ami nneynede ediduk idap ndien, ndiɔk-nkan, ini eke ndiwupde mme mbiet ke anwa-esien.

Enye ama enehede ama mi. Edi ediwak ini esinɔ mi buut, ami nkokut enye kpɔt nte “Owo Emi Anade Nte Akpaŋ-utɔŋ-ɔnɔ.”

Ke mme isua kiso kpɔt ke ami nkedikut enye nte ata owo. Ami mmokop buut koro akananam ami nkenehede nkut nwaidem esie mme edikere ntak ke ediwak isua nte enye ekesisinede ukem nkani isɔŋ-ɔfɔn iba oro (kini ami nnyenede obufa ɔfɔŋ ufɔkŋwed) mme ntak, ke utit usen oro, enye enehede okop mmemidem ndien oyom yak ami mbak nduk idap.

Nnyin Imikeme Edidi Iso-Nnan

Ekeme ndidi afo omokut ete ke mbuk iba emi edi ata mbuk kiet—ke ata ediwak isua, ami nkedi, nte ekotde, iso-nnan. Ami nkekwe eka mi nte ata owo. Ami nkokut mbet esie edi nkekwe ima esie ke esit mbet esie.

Ami ntiŋ mbuk iba emi man nam ekikere kiet: ami mmekere ke afo ɔmɔfiɔk owo kiet (ekeme edidi afo edi owo kiet) emi enyenede oruk spirit eke iso nnan.

Afo emekeme edinwana man okut Abasi nte edima Ete. Afo emekeme edise enyɔŋ nyuŋ nkut idige iso eke ima ye mbɔm, edi edi iso edikim mbet emi anade afo odutinde oyom usuŋ fo. Ekeme edidi afo emenim ke Abasi akara ke mme heaven Esie, etiŋ-ikɔ oto mme prophet Esie, ndien ama eyeneka fo anwan, edi afo edidibe ekere mme Enye ama fi.³ Ndusuk afo omotuk esaŋ ukwak oro ke ubɔk fo edi ukopke ima eke Andinyaŋa fo kaŋa emi adade ekesim do.⁴

Ami mmekere ke afo ɔmɔfiɔk mme owo eketiede ntem koro ke anyan ini, ami nkedi oruk owo ntem—ami nkedi iso-nnan ke ŋkpɔ Abasi.

Ami nkekere ke uwem mi akabaŋa editiene ibet nyuŋ ndomo nkesim mme ndaha emi ekerede. Ami mma ndiɔŋɔ ke Abasi enehede ama fi edi nkikopke ima oro ke idem mi. Ami nketim nkere awak mbaŋa edika heaven nkan edidu ye Ete Heaven mi.

Edieke afo, nte ami, ikemeke edimik-mkpɔk-inua ke ubak-ini kpɔt edi itre edikwɔ ikwɔ ima ufak,”⁵ nso ke nnyin ikeme ndinam?

Ibɔrɔ oro, nte President Russell M. Nelson etide nnyin abaŋa, edi Jesus ke kpukpru ini.⁶ Ndien oro ata eti mbuk.

Ete, Nnyin Iyema Edikut Jesus

Odu ibio-ibio ufaŋ-ŋwed ke John eke ami mmade. Oro etiŋ abaŋa eboho mbon owo emi ekebinede mbet kiet ye ata akpan ebeŋe kiet. Mmɔ ete, “Ete,” “nnyin iye [ma] edikut Jesus.”⁷

Emi edi se kpukpru nnyin iyomde—nnyin iyom edikut Jesus ke se owo Enye edide man inyuŋ ikop ima Esie. Emi ekpedi ntak ɔnɔ ediwak nnyin kabaŋa se nnyin inamde ke Ufɔk Abasi—ndien ke akpanikɔ ke ofuri esop udia-ɔbɔŋ. Edieke akananam afo emekere ewe oruk ukpepŋkpɔ ndikpep, ewe oruk esop ke ekpeduak edinim, ye mme ekpefre abaŋa mme deacon ndien ekebre dodgeball, afo emekeme edida ufaŋ-ŋwed emi nte ndausuŋ fo: ndi emi eyenwam mme owo ekut enyuŋ ema Jesus Christ? Midige ntre, emekeme edidomo ŋkpɔ efen nse.

Kini ami mfiɔkde nte ke ami nkwe ŋkpɔ Abasi aba, ke ami nkokut ibet edi idige iso mbɔm eke Ete, ami ndidiɔŋɔ ke oro ikidige ndudue eke Ufɔk Abasi. Ikidige ndudue eke Abasi, ndien oro ikiwɔrɔke ke ofuri ŋkpɔ ama osop, edi ŋkpɔ eke ofuri nnyin inyenede ndikpep. Kpa ye mme ebeiso ntiense eke Eriset ekesiwakde edisobo iso-ye-iso ye Jesus emi ekesetde edi ikɔfiɔkke Enye; tɔŋɔde ke Udi Inwaŋ kesim mben-inyaŋ Galilee, mme akpa mbet Esie “ema ekut Jesus nte adade inyuŋ ifiɔkke ete ke edi Jesus.”⁸ Mmɔ ekenyene ndikpep man ediɔŋɔ Enye, ndien ntre ye nnyin.⁹

Ata-ima

Kini ami ndifiɔkde ke ami nkwe ŋkpɔ spirit aba, ami mma ntɔŋɔ editiene item Moroni man mbɔŋ-akam “ke ofuri odudu esit” man mkpɔyɔhɔ ye ima emi ekeŋwɔŋɔde enɔ mbet Esie—ima nnyenede nnɔ Enye ye ima Enye enyenede ɔnɔ mi—ndien man “nkut enye ke nte enye edide … nyuŋ nnyene idorenyin emi.”¹⁰ Ami mbeŋe ke ediwak isua man nkeme editiene ebe-iso akwa mbet ndima Abasi nyuŋ nkop “ebe-iso akwa akpanikɔ … ke Abasi ama nnyin ke ofuri esit, ukeme, ekikere, ye odudu Esie .”¹¹

Mme Gospels

Ami nko mokot nyuŋ mfiak nkot mme Gospels inaŋ oro—idahaemi nkotke man nsio ibet edi man nkut se owo eke Enye edide ye se Enye amade. Ndien, ke edikem ini, udiɔŋ ima ɔkɔfiɔrɔde oto Enye ama edifuk mi.

Jesus akasian ke ntɔŋɔ ke Imɔ ikidi “man idikɔk mbon mbuŋɔ-esit, ikwɔrɔ uwɔrɔ-ufin inɔ mbuotekɔŋ, ye erikut usuŋ nnɔ mme nnan.”¹²

Emi ikidige ibat ŋkpɔ eke edinamde mme eti PR, ekedi ndaha ima Esie.

Ekubɔre mme Gospel nte emama, eyekut ke ofuri ikpa-ŋwed nte Enye esinde unwam mbon emi ebɔde ukut—eke ebuana, spirit, ye eke ikpɔkidem. Enye edinyaŋa mbon emi ebatde nte ndedehe ye eke misanake¹³ onyuŋ ɔnɔ mbon emi biɔŋ ɔdɔŋde udia.¹⁴

Ewe edi edima mbuk fo kabaŋa Jesus? Ami nkere ke oro owut Eyen Abasi nte anwamde mme owo ke ndiɔk ndaha—owo akpa-mfia,¹⁵ mbon Samaria emi ekesuade,¹⁶ mbon ebiomde-ikpe ye anam idiɔkŋkpɔ,¹⁷ mme andisua obio.¹⁸ Oruk mfɔn oro enyene nnyɔ.

Domo ediwet ofuri ini emi Enye otorode mme ɔkɔkde mme adiade-udia ye esenowo nim, ndien mmɔŋ-ŋwed eyekure mbemiso afo okure ye Nwed Luke.

Nte ami nkutde emi, esit mi adara ke ima edifiɔk, ndien ami ntɔŋɔ edikop ete ke Enye ekeme edima mi. Nte President Nelson ekpepde ete, “Nte afo ekpepde awak abaŋa Andinyaŋa, eyemem ke edibuɔt-idem ke mbɔm Esie, anana-adaŋa ima Esie.”¹⁹ Ndien nte afo eyebuɔt-idem awak onyuŋ ama Ete Heaven fo.

Nte Elder Jeffrey R. Holland ekekpep nnyin ke Jesus ekedi man ediwut “nnyin oruk owo ye se Abasi Nsinsi Ete nnyin ebeitde, nte Enye enehede enyene-udɔŋ ɔnɔ nditɔ Esie ke ofuri emana ye idut.”²⁰

Paul ete ke Abasi edi “Ete ofuri mbɔm, ye Abasi ofuri ndɔŋesit.”²¹

Edieke afo okutde Enye isio-isio, mbɔk ka iso domo edikut Enye.

Ediomi ye Unyime Abasi

Mme prophet ekot nnyin ete iyom iso Esie.²² Ami nda emi nte ŋkpɔ-editi ke nnyin ikpono Ete nnyin, idige ke usuŋ-edinam, ndien ke nnyin ikureke tutu nnyin ikut Jesus nte iso eke ima Ete;²³ ndien nnyin itiene Enye, idige editiene ibet Esie kpɔt.²⁴

Ini emi mme prophet ye apostle etiŋde ebaŋa ediomi, mmɔ ibietke mme andikpep eduatde uyo-ɔwɔrɔ eto (adaŋa-ndaha) mmɔ, edɔhɔde nnyin ete “inam ɔfɔn!” Mmɔ eyom nnyin ikut ke ediomi nnyin edi abaŋa mme ebuana²⁵ ndien ke ekeme edi-di ukɔk nnɔ edinana ŋkpɔ-spirit.²⁶ Mmɔ idige ibet ke edibɔ ima Esie; Enye ama ebemiso enehede ama mbufo eti-eti. Mfina nnyin edi ndifiɔk nyuŋ ndian uwem ke ima oro.²⁷

Nnyin imidomo edikut nto ediomi nnyin, nte ke ise ke window, ikisim iso mbɔm Ete emi ikutde ke edem.

Ediomi edi adaha ima Abasi.

Udiɔŋ Ima Abasi

Ke akpatre, nnyin imikeme edikpep edikut Enye ke edinam-ŋkpɔ nnɔ Enye. “Koro owo ɔfiɔk didie ete ufɔk emi akananam enye inamke ŋkpɔ inɔ?”²⁹

Esisit mme isua emi ekebede, ami mma nnyene ikood eke ami nkekereke ke ndotke edinyene. Ami nsibak ndemere-idap, ye nnyekidem—edi ye udim-ikɔ ke ekikere eke ami mikopke akpa: ete man anwam ke utom Ufɔk Abasi edi ndida ke udiɔŋ ima emi Abasi enyenede ɔnɔ nditɔ Esie. Ufɔk Abasi emi edi itie utom ɔyɔhɔde ye mme owo ekamade ŋkpɔ-utom eyomde edinwam nsiak usuŋ man udiɔŋ ima Abasi ekesim nditɔ Esie.

Se owo afo ekpededi, se ikibede ke edem fo, ufaŋ odu ɔnɔ fi ke Ufɔk Abasi emi.²⁹

Men ŋkpɔ-utom ye udɔk-utom yuŋ buana ke udim oro. Nwam edimen ima Esie nsɔk nditɔ Esie ndien ubak ima oro eyeduɔhɔ ke idem fo.³⁰

Yak nnyin iyom edima iso Esie, ediomo ima Esie, ndien ekem idian ubɔk ye nditɔ Esie, ndien ɔtɔkiet nnyin iyekwɔ “Andifak Israel”:

Fiak-men-di, edima Andinyaŋa mi,

Unwana iso Fo;

Ediyak inem-ukpɔŋ ndɔŋesit ɔnɔ;

Ndien yak inem ediduŋ oro

Eke edisana ebiet Fo

Ada idorenyin ɔsɔk mbiaara esit mi.³¹

Yak nnyin iyom edima iso Esie ndien ekem idi ŋkpɔ-utom mbɔm Esie inɔ nditɔ Esie.³² Ke enyiŋ Jesus Christ, amen.

Mkpri nwed

1. See Hadyn D. Ellis and Melanie Florence, “Bodamer’s (1947) Paper on Prosopagnosia,” Cognitive Neuropsychology, vol. 7, no. 2 (1990), 84–91; Joshua Davis, “Face Blind,” Wired, Nov. 1, 2006, wired.com.

2. See Dennis Nealon, “How Common Is Face Blindness?,” Harvard Medical School, Feb. 24, 2023, hms.harvard.edu; Oliver Sacks, “Face-Blind,” New Yorker, Aug. 23, 2010, newyorker.com.

3. “Some Church members accept as true the doctrine, principles, and testimonies proclaimed repeatedly from this pulpit in the Conference Center and in local congregations around the world—and yet may struggle to believe these eternal truths apply specifically in their lives and to their circumstances” (David A. Bednar, “Abide in Me, and I in You; Therefore Walk with Me,” Liahona, May 2023, 125).

4. See 1 Nephi 8:19; 15:23. “It is hard to keep the Lord’s commandments without faith and trust in Him” (Henry B. Eyring, “The Faith to Ask and Then to Act,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 75).

5. Alma 5:26.

6. See Russell M. Nelson, “The Answer Is Always Jesus Christ,” Liahona, May 2023, 127–28.

7. John 12:21.

8. John 20:14. They saw but did not know Him on the road to Emmaus (see Luke 24:16), in a locked room (see Luke 24:37), on the shores of Galilee (see John 21:4), and at the Garden Tomb (see John 20:14).

9. If we seek Him with all our heart and keep going with faith, He will be found.

   “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil. …

   “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11, 13.

   “The day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him.

   “Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:49–50).

   “Every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:1).

10. Moroni 7:48. Paul also connects charity with our ability to see clearly. At the conclusion of his great sermon on charity, he writes that though “now we see through a glass, darkly,” we will later see “face to face: … then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

11. Jeffrey R. Holland, “Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You,” Liahona, May 2016, 127. “The greater definition of ‘the pure love of Christ’ … is not what we as Christians try but largely fail to demonstrate toward others but rather what Christ totally succeeded in demonstrating toward us. True charity has been known only once. It is shown perfectly and purely in Christ’s unfailing, ultimate, and atoning love for us” (Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 336).

12. Luke 4:18, New King James Version.

13. See Matthew 8:3; 9:25.

14. See Matthew 14:13–21.

15. Se Matthew 28:1–3.

16. See John 4:7–10; He praised the Samaritan (see Luke 10:25–37).

17. See Matthew 21:31; Luke 7:27–50; 15:1–10; John 8:2–12.

18. See Matthew 8:5–13.

19. Russell M. Nelson, “Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains,” Liahona, May 2021, 103.

20. Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Grandeur of God,” Liahona, Nov. 2003, 70. “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9).

21. 2 Corinthians 1:3.

22. See Psalm 27:8; Doctrine and Covenants 88:68.

23. See 2 Corinthians 4:6; Pope Francis, “Misericordiae Vultus: Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy,” Apostolic Letters, vatican.va.

24. This is an important theme. It’s not just the work of salvation and exaltation but His work of salvation and exaltation (see General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1.2, Gospel Library). I don’t just go to a temple but to the house of the Lord; it’s not the Mormon Church but the Church of Jesus Christ (see Russell M. Nelson, “The Correct Name of the Church,” Liahona, Nov. 2018, 87–89). Our leaders point us to Him and even remind us that there “is no amorphous entity called ‘the Atonement’ upon which we may call for succor, healing, forgiveness, or power. Jesus Christ is the source” (Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Liahona, May 2017, 40).

25. “The covenant path is all about our relationship with God”; it is the “path of love— … compassionate caring for and reaching out to each other” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Everlasting Covenant,” Liahona, Oct. 2022, 11).

    See David A. Bednar, “The Blessed and Happy State” (address given at the seminar for new mission leaders, June 24, 2022); Scott Taylor, “Elder Bednar Shares 7 Lessons on ‘the Blessed and Happy State’ of Obedience,” Church News, June 27, 2022, thechurchnews.com.

    “Entering into sacred covenants and worthily receiving priesthood ordinances yoke us with and bind us to the Lord Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. This simply means that we trust in the Savior as our Advocate and Mediator and rely on His merits, mercy, and grace during the journey of life. …

    “Living and loving covenant commitments creates a connection with the Lord that is deeply personal and spiritually powerful. … Jesus then becomes much more than the central character in scripture stories; His example and teachings influence our every desire, thought, and action” (David A. Bednar, “But We Heeded Them Not,” Liahona, May 2022, 15).

    See also D. Todd Christofferson, “Our Relationship with God,” Liahona, May 2022, 78–80.

26. “And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;

    “For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:21–22).

27. Patricia Holland, “A Future Filled with Hope” (worldwide devotional for young adults, Jan. 8, 2023), Gospel Library:

    “You don’t have to run around chasing after [the hope that He will help you]; you don’t and you can’t manufacture it. Like so much in the realm of grace, you won’t acquire it by leaning on your own strength or on that of another person. There are no secret formulas or any magical mantras involved. …

    “In fact, the part we play is important but actually very small; God has the larger portion of the task. Our part is to come unto Him in lowliness and simplicity, then we should worry not and fear not.”

28. Mosiah 5:13; see also John 17:3.

29. President Nelson has repeatedly called on us to “expand our circle of love to embrace the whole human family” (“Blessed Are the Peacemakers,” Liahona, Nov. 2002, 41). In May 2022 he told young adults that “labels can lead to judging and animosity. Any abuse or prejudice toward another because of nationality, race, sexual orientation, gender, educational degrees, culture, or other significant identifiers is offensive to our Maker” (“Choices for Eternity” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022], Gospel Library). And importantly, he said: “I grieve that our Black brothers and sisters the world over are enduring the pains of racism and prejudice. Today I call upon our members everywhere to lead out in abandoning attitudes and actions of prejudice. I plead with you to promote respect for all of God’s children” (“Let God Prevail,” Liahona, Nov. 2020, 94).

    “Prejudice is not consistent with the revealed word of God. Favor or disfavor with God depends on devotion to Him and His commandments, not on the color of a person’s skin or other attributes.

    “… This includes prejudice based on race, ethnicity, nationality, tribe, gender, age, disability, socioeconomic status, religious belief or nonbelief, and sexual orientation” (General Handbook, 38.6.14, Gospel Library).

30. See 1 Nephi 11:25.

31. “Redeemer of Israel,” Hymns, no. 6.

32. See Romans 9:23.