Mfri Emi Ɔsuhɔde

Etop otode Elder Matthew L. Carpenter

Eke Seventy

Ndiyak Edisana Spirit adian mme ediomi edi akpan edieke nnyin iyomde ndinyene mme edidiɔŋ emi eŋwɔŋɔde ke nsi nsi.

Nte akparawa ami mmama mme ndek mfri. Tutu mfin emi, ekikere ndidom enyene mmɔŋ, ndandat mfri ye edinem ufik esie anam etap asiaha mi ke inua. Ke ini esɔŋde ema etaŋ mme mfri emi, mmɔ ena usen iba mme inaŋ mbemiso mmɔ ebiara. Ami meti ye inemesit nte nsaŋade ye eka mi ye nditɔ eka mi ke otuŋ-ikaŋ nnyin nte nnyin ibonode mme mfri emi ikitaŋde inɔ ini winter ke ndisin mmɔ ke ekpeme nkibi. Edieke itimde mme mfri emi inim, edinem mfri emi ekeme ndina ke ediwak isua, idighe usen iba mme inaŋ. Mme mfri emi, edieke etimde ediɔŋ enyuŋ etem, ekan enim mfri emi tutu enye asiaha.

Christ ama eteme nnyin ete “eka enyuŋ ewum mfri, … man mfri mbufo ɔsuhɔ.” Edi Enye ikitiŋke ibaŋa mme mfri emi. Enye eketiŋ abaŋa mme edidiɔŋ Abasi enyenede ɔnɔ nditɔ Esie. Edieke nnyin inamde inyuŋ inimde mme ediomi ye Abasi, mme edidiɔŋ emi esaŋade ye mme ediomi nnyin ekeme ndibe mkpɔŋ uwem emi ndien edian enɔ nnyin, mme etim enim, ke nsi nsi, idi mfri emi ɔsuhɔde ke nsi nsi.

Edisana Spirit, ke edisana utom Esie nte Edisana Spirit Eŋwɔŋɔ, eyedian edinam kiet kiet ɔnɔ mbon emi enimde mme ediomi mmɔ man enye enyene ufɔn ke uwem emi ama ebe. Ndiyak Edisana Spirit adian mme ediomi edi akpan edieke nnyin iyomde ndinyene mme edidiɔŋ emi eŋwɔŋɔde ke nsi nsi, nkabare ndi mfri Ɔsuhɔde.

Emi edi akpan edieke nnyin iyomde edimenere. Nte President Russell M. Nelson ekpepde,yak nnyin “itɔŋɔ ye utit ke esit. … Ke akpanikɔ, nnyin kiet kiet, ‘utit’ emi nnyin ikpimade ndinyene edi ndidu ke nsi nsi ye mbon ufɔk emana nnyin ke idaha edimenere emi nnyin ididude ke iso Abasi, Ete nnyin ke Heaven, ye Eyen Esie Jesus Christ.” President Nelson ɔdɔhɔ ŋko ete: “Ndɔ celestial edi akpan ke mbeŋeidem abaŋade nsi nsi uwem. Emi oyom ete owo ɔdɔ nnen nnen owo, ke nnen nnen itie, ke nnen nnen unen, ndien onyuŋ enim edisana ediomi oro ke akpanikɔ. Ndien, owo ekeme ndinyene iwuk mbaŋa edimenere ke obio ubɔŋ celestial eke Abasi.”

Nso idi mme edidiɔŋ edimenere? Mmɔ edi ndidu ke iso Abasi ke nsi nsi nte ebe ye ŋwan, enyene “mme ebekpo, mme obio ubɔŋ, mme anyanya ubɔŋ, ye mme odudu, … ye nkaiso ubon ke nsi nsi ye nsi nsi,” nyuŋ mbɔ kpukpru se Abasi Ete enyenede.

Jehovah ama ayarare oto Joseph Smith:

“Ke ubɔŋ celestial mme heaven ita mme ikpehe edu;

“Ndien man enyene enye emi okonde akan, ana nte owo oduk idaha itie oku emi [emi ɔwɔrɔde obufa ye nsi nsi ediomi ndɔ];

Ndien edieke enye midukke, enye ikemeke ndinyene enye.

“Enye ekeme ndiduk enyeken, edi oro edi utit obio ubɔŋ esie; enye ikemeke ndikɔri.”

Nnyin ikpep mi ite ke owo ekeme ndidu ke obio ubɔŋ celestial, mme odu ke iso Abasi, edi idɔhɔ ndɔ. Edi man emenere ke idaha emi okponde akan ke obio ubɔŋ celestial, ana nte owo oduk ndɔ ke nnen nnen unen ndien onyuŋ anam akpanikɔ ɔnɔ mme ediomi emi enamde ke ndɔ. Nte nnyin inamde akpanikɔ ye mme ediomi emi, Edisana Spirit Uŋwɔŋɔ ekeme ndidian ediomi ndɔ nnyin. Mme utɔ udadian edidiɔŋ oro ekabare edi mfri emi ɔsuhɔde.

Nso ke eyom man enim ke akpanikɔ obufa ye nsi nsi ediomi ndɔ?

President Russell M. Nelson ekpep ete ke utɔ ebuana iba edu ke ini nnyin idukde nsi nsi ediomi ndɔ emi: ebuana nkaŋ-nkaŋ ke ufɔt ebe ye ŋwan, ye ebuaba otode ke enyɔŋ aka isɔŋ ye Abasi. Man enyene mme edidiɔŋ edimenere emi ediande enɔ nnyin ndien ɔsuhɔ ke uwem emi ama ebe, ana nte inam akpanikɔ inɔ ebuana ŋkaŋ-ŋkaŋ ye ebuana otode enyɔŋ aka isɔŋ mbiba ke ediomi.

Man akan anam akpanikɔ ye ebuana ŋkaŋ-ŋkaŋ ke ndɔ fo, Abasi eteme nnyin ete “ma ŋwan [mme ebe] [fo] ye ofuri esit [fo], ndien … diana ye enye [mme enye] idighe ye owo efen.” Mbufo emi edɔde ndɔ, ndidiana ye enye idighe ye owo efen ɔwɔrɔ mbufo ndinɔ kiet eken item ke ima, mbufo ema enyuŋ ekere ebaŋa kiet eken, mbufo enyene ini enɔ owo ndɔ mbufo ekan mbubehe efen, ndien mbufo ekot Abasi ete anwam mbufo ndikan mmem idem mbufo. Ɔwɔrɔ ŋko ete ke ebuana esit mme ebuana ekededi emi midighe eke ndɔ iduhe, ye ufan mme ufan-nduŋɔre, ndien idiɔk ndise iduhe, emi adade idiɔk-itɔŋ edi.

Man enim ebuana ke ediomi, owo kiet kiet ana nte enyene udɔŋ ndidu ke ndɔ oro. President Dallin Oaks ekpep ete: “Nnyin ŋko imifiɔk ite ke Enye [Abasi] idikpakke owo ndomo kiet isin ke ebuana edidian ke ini enye mimaha. Mme edidiɔŋ eke ebuana edidian edu enɔ kpukpru mbon emi enimde mme ediomi mmɔ edi idihe ke ndikpak ebuana edidian ye owo efen emi midotke ye emi mimaha

Nso idi ebuana emi otode enyɔŋ aka isɔŋ emi President Nelson eketiŋde abaŋa? Ebuana emi otode enyɔŋ aka isɔŋ edi enye emi nnyin inamde ye Abasi.

Man inim ebuana emi otode enyɔŋ aka isɔŋ, ana nte nnyin inam akpanikɔ ye mme ediomi temple emi nnyin inamde kabaŋa mme mbet nkopitem, uwa, gospel, mfara ke idem, ye nyak-nnɔ. Nnyin ŋko idiomi ye Abasi ndinyene nsi nsi adansaŋa nnyin ye ndidi eti ebe mme ŋwan ye ete ye eka. Nte nnyin inimde ebuana emi otode enyɔŋ aka isɔŋ, nnyin idot mme edidiɔŋ ndidi kiet ke ufɔk emana Abasi nto ke ediomi Abraham, ye mme edidiɔŋ uforo, gospel, ye itie oku.19Mme edidiɔŋ emi ŋko edi mfri emi ɔsuhɔde. Ke akpanikɔ mme edidiɔŋ emi ekeme ndidi mfri emi ɔsuhɔde.

Ke ini nnyin ikerede ite ke kpukpru mbon emi edukde obufa ye nsi nsi ediomi eka iso ke akpanikɔ enyuŋ enyene mme didiɔŋ emi ediande enɔ mmɔ ke nsi nsi, usuk ini ifiɔk emi okpon akan nnyin. Ke ofuri ini utom mi ami mokut mme owo emi enamde enyuŋ enimde mme ediomi ke ini ebe mme ŋwan inimke. Ŋko mbon efen edu emi midɔhɔ ndɔ, emi minyeneke ufaŋ ndidɔ ndɔ ke uwem emi. Ŋko odu mbon efen emi minamke akpanikɔ ke mme ediomi ndɔ mmɔ. Nso itibe inɔ mme owo ke mme idaha kiet kiet ntem?

1. Edieke afo anamde akpanikɔ ye mme ediomi emi akanamde ke ini akanamde endowment, afo eyebɔ mme edidiɔŋ emi ekeŋwɔŋɔde enɔ fi ke endowment okposuk edi ke owo ndɔ fo ebiat mme ediomi esie mme ɔwɔrɔ ke ndɔ oro. Edieke ekediande ndien ediaŋare, ndien edieke owo mibiatke edidian fo, mme edidiɔŋ edidian oro osuk akaiso odu ye afo edieke anamde akpanikɔ.

   Usuk ini, ke ntak abiaŋa ye ata ubiak, owo akpanikɔ ke ndɔ ekeme ndiyom ndibiat edidian mmɔ ye owo ndɔ mmɔ emi minamke akpanikɔ man eka usuŋ ɔniɔŋ eti eti ekpɔŋ mmɔ, mi ke ererimbot ye ke nsi nsi. Edieke afinade fi ete ke eyebɔp fi edian ye akani owo ndɔ emi minamke akpanikɔ, ti, owo idibɔpke fi! Abasi idiyomke ete owo ndomo kiet odu ke ebuana ediande ke nsi nsi ke midighe udɔŋ esie. Ete ke Heaven eyokut ete ke nnyin iyibɔ kpukpru edidiɔŋ emi mme udɔŋ ye edimek nnyin ayakde.

   Edi, edieke esuk eyomde ete ebiat edidian, ekpono edimek. Ekem nditiene mme usuŋ emi enimde. Edi inaha nte enam emi ke mfefere mfefere! Akpa Presidency akama mme ukpɔhɔre ndidian ke isɔŋ ye ke heaven. Ke ini emi Akpa Presidency enɔde unyime ete ebiat edidian, mme edidiɔŋ emi esaŋade ye edidian oro inyeneke odudu aba; ebiat mmɔ ke ebuana ŋkaŋ-ŋkaŋ ye ebuana emi otode enyɔŋ aka isɔŋ mbiba. Edi akpan ndifiɔk ete ke ndibɔ mme edidiɔŋ eke edimenere, ana nte nnyin iwut ite ke nnyin imiduak ndiduk nyuŋ nnim ke akpanikɔ obufa ye nsi nsi ediomi emi, ke uwem emi mme ke uwem efen.

2. Mbon emi midɔhɔ ndɔ ke Ufɔk Abasi, mbɔk eti ete ke “usuŋ ye ini Jehovah, owo idimumke edidiɔŋ nti ikɔt Esie ndomo kiet ikama. Jehovah eyebiere ikpe onyuŋ ɔnɔ mme owo kiet kiet utip nte asaŋade ye mme udɔŋ esit ye ido.”

3. Edieke munamke akpanikɔ ye mme ediomi temple, ndi idorenyin odu? Iŋ! Gospel Jesus Christ edi gospel idorenyin. Idorenyin oro oto Jesus Christ ke ata erikabare esit ye ndikop item ntiene mme ukpep-ŋkpɔ Jesus Christ. Ami mokut nte mme owo enamde mme ata akamba ndudue, ebiat mme edisana ediomi. Ke ini ke ini, ami mokut, nte efende enɔ, mbon emi ekabare esit ke akpanikɔ, ndien efiak enyɔŋ eka usuŋ ediomi. Edieke afo ebiatde mme ediomi temple fo, ami mbeŋe yak ɔnyɔŋ etiene Jesus Christ, kɔk ibuot ye bishop fo, kabare esit, nyuŋ tat esit fo nnɔ akamba odudu edikɔk emi odude ke ntak Mkpa Usio-isop Jesus Christ.

Nditɔ eka iren ye iban, edima Ete nnyin ke Heaven ɔnɔ nnyin mme ediomi man nnyin ikan inyene kpukpru se Enye enyenede ke enim ɔnɔ nnyin. Mme edisana edidiɔŋ emi emi etode Abasi enem ekan mfri ererimbot ndomo kiet. Ekeme ndinim mmɔ nnɔ nnyin ke nsi nsi nte nnyin inamde akpanikɔ ye mme ediomi temple nnyin.

Ami metie ntiense nte ke Abasi ama afiak emen unen ndidian ke ererimbot ye ke heaven. JUnen oro odu ke Ufɔk Abasi Jesus Christ Mme Ndisana-owo ke Ukperedem Usen. Edi Akpa Presidency ye Eboho mme Apostle Duopeba ekama ndien enam ke ndausuŋ President Russell M. Nelson. Ke ntak Mkpa Usio-isop Jesus Christ, mbon emi edukde ke obufa ye nsi nsi ediomi ndɔ enyuŋ enimde ediomi ekeme ndikabare mfɔn-mma ndien ke akpatre ebɔ ɔyɔhɔ ubɔŋ Ete, isehe mme idaha emi ekponde ekan mmɔ

Ekeme ndidian mme edidiɔŋ emi emi ekeŋwɔŋɔde kabaŋa mme ediomi nnyin enɔ nnyin oto ke Edisana Spirit Eŋwɔŋɔ ndien ekabare edi mfri emi ɔsuhɔde ke nsi nsi ye nsi nsi. Ami nting iko ntiense emi ke enying Jesus Christ, amen.

Mkpri nwed

1. John 15:16.

2. Se Dale G. Renlund, “Accessing God’s Power through Covenants,” Liahona, May 2023, 35–38; Doctrine and Covenants 132:7.

3. Edian edinam ke ini enamde enye edi nnen nnen ke heaven ye ke isɔŋ koro edi owo emi enyenede unen anam ndien edi Edisana Spirit ɔsɔŋɔ enye.

   “Nnyin ikere ibaŋa unen ndidian ke asaŋa ye mme edinam temple ikpɔŋ, edi unen oro edi akpan man enam edinam ndomo kiet enyene unen onyuŋ enyene odudu ebe mkpa. Odudu edidian-kiet ɔnɔ nnen-nnen unyime ke baptism fo, nte uwutŋkpɔ, man otodo ediɔŋɔ oro mi ye ke heaven. Ultimately, all priesthood ordinances are performed under the keys of the President of the Church, and as President Joseph Fielding Smith explained, ‘He [the President of the Church] has given us authority, he has put the sealing power in our priesthood, because he holds those keys’ [quoted by Harold B. Lee, in Conference Report, Oct. 1944, 75]” (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Sealing Power,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 20).

   “An act which is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise is one which is ratified by the Holy Ghost; it is one which is approved by the Lord. … No one can lie to the Holy Ghost and get by undetected. … These principles also apply to every other ordinance and performance in the Church. Thus if both parties [in a marriage] are ‘just and true’ [Doctrine and Covenants 76:53], if they are worthy, a ratifying seal is placed on their temple marriage; if they are unworthy, they are not justified by the Spirit and the ratification of the Holy Ghost is withheld. Subsequent worthiness will put the seal in force, and unrighteousness will break any seal” (Bruce R. McConkie, “Holy Spirit of Promise,” in Preparing for an Eternal Marriage Student Manual [2003], 136).

   “The Holy Spirit of Promise is the Holy Ghost who places the stamp of approval upon every ordinance: baptism, confirmation, ordination, marriage. The promise is that the blessings will be received through faithfulness. Edieke owo abiatde ediomi, mme edi eke uduɔk-mmɔŋ, edimek, ndɔ mme ŋkpɔ efen, Spirit emen unen osio, ndien owo idibɔhɔ mme edidiɔŋ oro. Edian kpukpru edinam, ye eŋwɔŋɔ utip emi ɔkɔŋɔde ke mbuɔtidem. The Holy Spirit withdraws the stamp of approval where covenants are broken” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie [1955], 1:45).

4. Russell M. Nelson, Heart of the Matter: What 100 Years of Living Have Taught Me (2023), 15. All covenants must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise if they are to have force after the resurrection of the dead (see Doctrine and Covenants 132:7).

5. Russell M. Nelson, “Celestial Marriage,” Liahona, Nov. 2008, 94.

6. Doctrine ye Covenants 132:19.

7. Se Doctrine and Covenants 84:38.

8. Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4.

9. Se Doctrine and Covenants 132:19–20. “That highest destination—exaltation in the celestial kingdom—is the focus of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Kingdoms of Glory,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 26).

10. “Just as marriages and families share a unique lateral bond [which] creates a special love, so does the new relationship formed when we bind ourselves by covenant vertically to … God” when we enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage (Russell M. Nelson, Heart of the Matter41–42).

11. Doctrine and Covenants 42:22; see also General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 38.6.16. In discussing marriage here, I am referring to marriage according to God’s law, which defines marriage as the legal and lawful union between a man and a woman (see “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Gospel Library).

12. See “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Gospel Library.

13. Se Doctrine and Covenants 42:22–24.

14. Dallin H. Oaks, “Kingdoms of Glory,” 29; emphasis added.

15. Se Doctrine and Covenants 86:8–11; 113:8; Abraham 2:9–11.

16. Se General Handbook, 38.4.1.

    Ke ini nkodude ke mission ke Switzerland, adansaŋa mi ye ami ima ibuana gospel ye ediye aŋwan ye ebe isua 60. Nte nnyin ikpepde ŋwan ye ebe emi ibaŋa gospel Jesus Christ emi ekefiakde emen edi, ŋwan emi ama enyene udɔŋ abaŋa se nnyin ikikpepde. Ke udua ifaŋ, enye ama enyene ikɔ ntiense akpanikɔ ete ke ema efiak emen Ufɔk Abasi Jesus Christ edi ye nnen nnen unen emi otode Abasi ndien ete ke Jesus Christ ada Ufɔk Abasi Esie usuŋ oto ke mme odu uwem prophet ye mme apostle. Nnyin ima ikere ndikpep ŋwan ye ebe emi mbaŋa ata akpanikɔ kiet abaŋade edifiak mmen-ndi, ufaŋ ndinyene nsi nsi ndɔ. Ke unana idorenyin, edi, nte nnyin ikpepde ŋwan ye ebe emi ibaŋa nsi nsi ndɔ, mma Swiss emi ɔdɔhɔ ete ke enye inyeneke udɔŋ ndidu ye ebe esie ke nsi nsi. Nte enye okutde, heaven idighe nidu ye ebe esie emi enye odude keit ke isua 36. Eme eduɔk eyen aŋwan emi mmɔŋ, edi ebe ikiduɔkke. Mmɔ ikidianke ke temple.

    Nte ediwak owo ekutde, ke mkpaidem, heaven ididighe heaven edieke owo miduhe ye owo emi mmɔ edɔde. Ndidu ye owo emi amade ke nsi nsi ke akpanikɔ etie nte heaven. As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland shared about his dear, beloved wife, Pat, heaven would not be heaven without her (see “Scott Taylor: For Elder Holland, Heaven without His Wife and Children ‘Wouldn’t Be Heaven for Me,’” Church News, July 22, 2023, thechurchnews.com).

17. See Dallin H. Oaks, “Kingdoms of Glory,” 26.

18. Russell M. Nelson, “Celestial Marriage,” 94.

19. Se John 15:16.