Enyime Enɔ Abasi eke Erikabare-esit

Otode Elder Jorge M. Alvarado

Eke Seventy

Yak nnyin ikubet ŋkpɔ edisɔsɔŋ mbemiso iwɔŋɔre itiene Abasi. Yak nnyin ikutie tutu edisim utit uwem nnyin man inehede ikabare esit.

Ami ntiŋ ikɔ ntiense mbaŋa edima Ete eke Heaven. Ke akwa mbono ɔfiɔŋ inaŋ 2019, esisit ini ke ema ekenyime mi ke obufa ubiɔŋ mi nte General Authority Seventy, ŋkaikwɔ ekekwɔ ikwɔ eke “Ami Nda ke Ofuri Mkpa-idem” emi okodukde esit ye ukpɔŋ mi.

Akpa mi idem ke enye ekeme ndisuhɔre nto ke edisana ebekpo esie

Ndinyaŋa ukpɔŋ emi ɔsɔŋde-ibuot onyuŋ okohore idem nte okim,

Ke enye ekeme ndiyak akwa ima esie nnɔ oruk owo nte ami,

Ɔyɔhɔ-ekem ndinyene, man afak, onyuŋ ɔnɔ-unen.

Nte ami ŋkopde mme ikɔ oro, ami ŋkodu ke ofuri eyighe. Ami ŋkere ke esioho unana-edikem ye ndudue mi, Abasi ama ɔdiɔŋ mi ke ndifiɔk ke “ukeme esie ami nyenam kpukpru ŋkpɔ.”

Ata ekikere unana-ukeme, mmem-idem, mme unana-edidot edi ŋkpɔ emi ediwak nnyin ke ubakini isinyenede. Ami nsuk ŋwaŋwana ye emi; ami mmekop oro ke usen ekekotde mi. Ami mmekop oro ke ediwak ini, ndien ami nsuk ŋkokop oro ata idahaemi ntiŋde ikɔ nnɔ mbufo. Nte ededi, ami mmekpep nte ke ami ndighe ikpɔŋ ke ekikere emi. Ke akpanikɔ, odu mme mbuk ke ŋwed Abasi abaŋa mbon ebietde nte ema enyene ukem ekikere oro. Nte uwutŋkpɔ, nnyin imiti Nephi nte eti ye ɔsɔŋ-idem isuŋutom Abasi. Usukini, kpa nte enye ekenyenede ekikere unana-edidot, mmemidem, ye ke ikemke.

Enye ete: “Ke misehe akwa mfɔn-ido Abasi, ke ndiwut mi akwa ye utibe utom esie, esit mi ofiori ete: O owo nditahade eke ami ndide! Iŋ, esit mi ɔfuhɔ ke ntak obukidem mi; ukpɔŋ mi ɔfuhɔ ke ntak mme ukwaŋ-ŋkpɔ mi.”

Prophet Joseph Smith esiwak nditiŋ nte ekerede “edisua-nnɔ,” eke uyen esie, “ke mmemidem ye unana mfɔn-mma [esie].” Edi ekikere unana-edikem ye eseme eke Joseph ekedi ubak ŋkpɔ emi akanamde enye ekere, okot, ekpep, onyuŋ ɔbɔŋ-akam. Nte afo editide, enye oduk aka ndibɔŋ-akam ke ikɔt-eto emi ekperede ufɔkiduŋ esie ndikut akpanikɔ, emem, ye mfen-nnɔ. Enye okop nte Abasi ɔdɔhɔde ete, “Joseph, eyen mi, emefen mme idiɔkŋkpɔ fo. Daha nyɔŋ, saŋa ke ewuhɔ mi, nyuŋ nim ibet mi. Sese, ami ndi Ɔbɔŋ ke Ubɔŋ. Ami ke ekewot mi enɔ ererimbot man kpukpru mbon emi enimde ke enyiŋ mi ekpenyene nsinsi uwem.”

Ata udɔŋ Joseph ndikabare esit nyuŋ nyom erinyaŋa eke ukpɔŋ esie ama aŋwam enye nditiene Jesus Christ nyuŋ mbɔ erifen ke idiɔkŋkpɔ esie. Nkaiso utom emi ekebere usuŋ ɔnɔ ŋkaiso Edifiak-men ikɔ Abasi Jesus Christ ndi.

Utibe ifiɔk-ukpep eke Prophet Joseph Smith emi anam-aŋwaŋa nte ekikere mmem-idem ye unana-edikem ekeme ndiŋwam nnyin ifiɔk ndaha iduɔ nnyin. Emi eyeŋwam nnyin ndifiɔk iberedem nnyin ke Jesus Christ onyuŋ edemere ke esit nnyin ata udɔŋ ndiwɔŋɔre ntiene Andinyaŋa nyuŋ ŋkabare-esit ke idiɔkŋkpɔ nnyin.

Mme ufan mi, erikabare esit edi idara! Inem ŋkabare esit edi kiet ke ubak utom ofuri usen otode ke, ewuhɔ ke ewuhɔ, item ke item,” ke Abasi ekpep nnyin ndidu uwem emi ɔkɔŋɔde ke ukpepŋkpɔ Esie. Nte Joseph ye Nephi, nnyin imikeme “ndiseme nnɔ [Abasi] nyom mfɔn; koro enye enyene odudu ndinyaŋa.” Enye ekeme edi-nam udɔŋ ndinen-ido mme ndidu ekededi onyuŋ ɔkɔk unan ekededi ke uwem nnyin.

Ke Ŋwed Mormon: Udiana Testament Jesus Christ Efen, afo ye ami imikeme edikut anana-ibat mbuk eke mbonowo emi ekpepde nte edidide itiene Christ oto ke ata erikabare-esit.

Ami nyema edibuana uwutŋkpɔ kiet eke ata mbɔm Abasi oto ke ifiɔk-ukpep kiet emi eketibede ke edima isuɔ obio mi eke Puerto Rico.

Oro ekedi ke isɔŋ-obio mi eke Ponce ke eti eyeneka ŋwan kiet ke Ufɔk Abasi, Célia Cruz Ayala, ekebiere ke imɔ iyeda Ŋwed Mormon kiet ikinɔ ufan kiet. Enye ete, imɔ idiwaŋ ŋwed oro inyuŋ ika ndinɔ enɔ emi, emi ɔsɔŋde-urua ɔnɔ enye akan mme diamond ye rubies. Nte enye akade, inɔ asaŋa ekpere enye, omum ekpat esie, onyuŋ efehe osop ye akpan enɔ emi esinede ke esit ekpat oro.

Ini emi enye etide mbuk oro ke ufɔk Abasi, ufan esie ete, “Anie owo ɔfiɔk? Ekeme ndidi emi ekedi ufaŋ fo ndibuana ikɔ Abasi!

Ɔfɔn, esisit usen ifaŋ eken, ndi afo ɔmɔfiɔk se ikitibe? Célia, ama ɔbɔ leta kiet. Ami mmekama leta oro, emi Célia akabuanade ye ami, ke ubɔk mi mfin emi. Leta oro ete:

“Mrs. Cruz:

“Fen-nnɔ mi, fen-nnɔ mi. Afo udufiɔkke adaŋa eseme eke ami nnyenede ke ediŋwana ye afo. Edi ke ntak oro, uwem mi edikpuhɔ ndien eyeka-iso ndikpuhɔ.

“Ŋwed oro [Ŋwed Mormon] ama aŋwam mi ke uwem mi. Ndap eke owo Abasi oro ama enyek mi idem. … Ami nyefiak nda [dollar] ition fo ndi, koro ami ŋkemeke edibiat mmɔ. Ami nyom afo ɔdiɔŋɔ ke ebiet nte afo emenyene uyama ke idem fo. Uŋwana oro ebiet nte enye eketre mi [ke ndibiat fi idem, ntre] ami mfehe mbe.

“Ami nyom fiɔfiɔk ke afo eyefiak okut mi, edi kini edinamde, afo udutige mi, koro ami nyedi eyeneka fo eren. … Mi, ke ebiet eke ami nduŋde, ami nnyene ediyom Abasi nyuŋ nka Ufɔk Abasi emi odukde.

“Etop emi afo ekewetde ke ŋwed oro ama anam mi ntua eyet. Tɔŋɔ ke okoneyo Wednesday oro ami ŋkemeke editre edikot ŋwed oro. Ami mmebɔŋ akam nyuŋ mbup Abasi nte efen-ɔnɔ mi [ndien] ami ndɔhɔ fi nte efen-ɔnɔ mi. … Ami ŋkekere ke ɔbɔbɔp enɔ fo ekedi ŋkpɔ eke ami mkpekemede ndinyam. [Edi], oro akanam mi nyom man mfiak [mkpuhɔ] uwem mi. … Fen-nnɔ mi, fen-nnɔ mi, ami mmekpe fi ubɔk.

“Ufan fo emi miduhe.”

Nditɔ-eka irenowo ye iban, uŋwana Andinyaŋa ekeme edisim kpukpru nnyin, isehe nte ndaha nnyin edide. President Jeffrey R. Holland ete ke, “Idige mmem-mmem inɔ fi ediduɔ mbe anana-adaŋa uŋwaŋa uyama Erisio isop Christ.”

Nte eke andibɔ enɔ eke Celia emi mikinyeneke enye, Ŋwed Mormon, eyeneka erenowo emi edika iso etie-ntiense abaŋa mbɔm Abasi. Okposuk nte oro adade ini ɔnɔ eyeneka eren emi ndifen-nnɔ idemesie, enye ama okut idara ke erikabare esit. Nso utibe-ŋkpɔ idi emi! Eti eyeneka ŋwan kiet, Ŋwed Mormon kiet, ata ŋkabare-esit, ye odudu Andinyaŋa ada ekesim edikop idara eke ɔyɔhɔ edidiɔŋ ikɔ Abasi ye nsasana ediomi ke ufɔk Jehovah. Mbon ufɔkemana eken editiene enyuŋ enyime nsasana ubiɔŋ-utom ke iŋwaŋ-utom Abasi, esinede ofuri ini utom ukwɔrɔ-ikɔ Abasi.

Nte nnyin idide itiene Jesus Christ, usuŋ ata ŋkabare esit nnyin ke akpatre eyeda nnyin ekesim edisana temple Andinyaŋa.

Edi nnen-nnen udɔŋ emi edinamde man odomo ndisana—man idot ndibɔ ɔyɔhɔ edidiɔŋ emi Ete eke Heaven ye Eyen Esie enɔde otode ke nsasana ediomi temple! Ndinam-utom ke ufɔk Jehovah nyuŋ ndomo edinim nsasana ediomi emi nnyin inamde do eyekɔri mbiba udɔŋ ye ukeme nnyin ndinyene edikpuhɔ esit, ukeme, ekikere, ye ukpɔŋ emi edinamde nnyin iwak ndikabare ntie nte Andinyaŋa nnyin. President Russell M. Nelson ɔnɔ ikɔ-ntiense ete: Ke iduhe ŋkpɔ eke ediberede mme heaven awak [akan ndituak-ibuot ke temple]. Iduhe!”

Ndima ufan mi, nte mbufo ekere ke ukemke? Nte mbufo ekere ke udotke? Ndi mbufo ekere idem fo ke udiana-ndaha? Ndusuk mbufo emekeme edifina idem enyuŋ ebup ete: Nte ami mmenam ekem? Ndi ini enehede abiara ɔnɔ mi? Nsidi ntak eke ami nsikpude ke ini ami namde ofuri eti ido mi?

Nditɔ-eka irenowo ye iban, ke akpanikɔ nnyin iyenam ndudue ke uwem nnyin ke usuŋ uwem emi. Edi mbɔk ti ete, nte Elder Gerrit W. Gong ekekpepde ke, “Erisio-isop eke Andinyaŋa nnyin edi anana-adaŋa ye nsinsi. Nnyin owo kiet-kiet iyesop-usuŋ inyuŋ inam ndudue. Nnyin imikeme, ke ekpri ini, edikpɔŋ usuŋ nnyin. Abasi andima ɔsɔŋɔ nnyin idem [ete] isehe ebiet emi nnyin iduhe mme se nnyin ikinamde, ke iduhe ndaha eke nnyin midifiakke itiene Enye. Enye ke-ebeŋe ebet ndidara nnyin.”

Nte edima ŋwan mi, Cari Lu, ama ekpep mi ŋko, kpukpru nnyin iyom ndikabare-esit, ndifiak-nam, ye ndinuim ini oro ke “ntɔŋɔ ŋkanika” ke ofuri usen kiet-kiet

Mme ubiɔŋɔre eyedi. Edi yak nnyin ikubet ŋkpɔ edisɔsɔŋ mbemiso iwɔŋɔre itiene Abasi. Yak nnyin ikutie tutu edisim utit uwem nnyin man inehede ikabare esit. Edi, yak nnyin idahaemi, isehe ewe ubak-ŋkpɔ ke usuŋ ediomi eke nnyin idude, iwuk-enyin ke odudu erifak Jesus Christ ye ke udɔŋ emi Ete Heaven enyenede ɔnɔ nnyin ke ndifiak ntiene Enye.

Ufɔk Jehovah, ndisana ŋwed Abasi Esie, ndisana prophet ye apostle esie eŋwam nnyin ndikpere edisana eke idem nnyin oto ke ukpepŋkpɔ Christ.

Ndien Nephi ete: “Ndien idahaemi, sese, ndima nditɔ-ete mi, emi edi usuŋ; ndien usuŋ ndomokiet efen iduhe mme enyiŋ emi enɔde ke idak ikpa-enyɔŋ emi erinyaŋade erenowo [ye iban] ke obio ubɔŋ Abasi. Ndien idahaemi, sese, emi edi ukpepŋkpɔ Christ, ye ŋkukure ye ukpepŋkpɔ akpanikɔ eke Ete, ye Eyen, ye Edisana Spirit.”

Usuŋ nnyin eke “ke-ini-kiet” ye Abasi ekeme ediyɔhɔ ye afanikɔŋ. Edi afo ye ami imikeme edituak-nda, idu ke ndobo, ise Andinyaŋa, ndien iyom ndikut nyuŋ nam-ŋkpɔ ke se Enye ekpeyomde nnyin ndikpuhɔ. Edieke nnyin inamde oro ye ɔyɔhɔ udɔŋ, nnyin iyedi ntiense eke erikɔk Esie. Ndien kere nte nditɔ nnyin edibɔde edidiɔŋ nte nnyin inyimede enɔ Abasi eke erikabare-esit!

Akwa Andibot, ekekpep ete mi, eyebot onyuŋ anam nnyin ifɔn, emi ekemede edisɔsɔŋ. Ke ntre, Akwa Andikɔk eyeyet nnyin ŋko. Ami mmokut nyuŋ nka-iso edikut odudu erikɔk oro. Ami nnɔ ikɔ-ntiense ke oro edi oto edibuɔt idem ke Jesus Christ ye erikabare esit ke ofuri usen.

Oh, edi inem-ŋkpɔ ke enye ke ekpeme mi.

Ekesim ndikpa nnɔ mi!

Ami nnɔ ikɔ-ntiense mbaŋa ima Abasi ye anana-adaŋa odudu eke Erisio-isop Eyen Esie. Nnyin imikeme edinehede ŋkop oro nte nnyin itimde inyuŋ ikabare ke ofuri esit.

Mme ufan mi, ami ndi ntiense eke enyene-ubɔŋ Erifiak-men-ndi ikɔ Abai otode ke Prophet Joseph Smith ye edisana ndausuŋ idahaemi eke Andinyaŋa otode ke prophet ye inua-ikɔ Esie, President Russell M. Nelson. Ami mmediɔŋɔ ke Jesus Christ odu uwem ndien ke Enye edi Akwa Andikɔk eke ukpɔŋ nnyin. Ami mmediɔŋɔ ndien ami nnɔ ikɔ-ntiense ke mme ŋkpɔ emi edi akpnikɔ, ke edisana enyiŋ Jesus Christ, amen.

Mkpri ŋwed

1. “I Stand All Amazed,” Hymns, no. 193.

2. Alma 26:12.

3. 2 Nephi 4:17; see also verses 18–19.

4. Joseph Smith—History 1:29.

5. Joseph Smith, “History, circa Summer 1832,” 3, josephsmithpapers.org; spelling and punctuation standardized.

6. See Mosiah 4:11–12.

7. President Russell M. Nelson taught: “When we choose to repent, we choose to change! Nnyin imenyime Andinyanga ɔkpuhɔ nnyin esin ke ata-nti uduot eke idem nnyin. Nnyin imek ndikɔri ke spirit nyuŋ mbɔ idara—idara erifak nto Enye. Ini emi nnyin imekde erikabare-esit, nnyin imek ndikabare mbiet Jesus Christ! (“We Can Do Better and Be Better,” Liahona, May 2019, 67).

8. 2 Nephi 28:30.

9. Alma 34:18.

10. “My brothers and sisters, how precious is the Book of Mormon to you? If you were offered diamonds or rubies or the Book of Mormon, which would you choose? Honestly, which is of greater worth to you?” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?,” Liahona, Nov. 2017, 61).

11. In F. Burton Howard, “Missionary Moments: ‘My Life Has Changed,’” Church News, Jan. 6, 1996, thechurchnews.com; see also Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, vol. 4, Sounded in Every Ear, 1955–2020 (2024), 472–74, 477–79.

12. Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Laborers in the Vineyard,” Liahona, May 2012, 33.

13. May we stop for one second and think about our posterity? Because of our myopic view, we cannot see it now, but our willingness to turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart—to change, repent, and embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ—can influence generations! Imagine the additional blessings that may blossom from one soul’s humility, meekness, and faith in Jesus Christ under even the most inconvenient of circumstances!

14. These details were recounted by Sister Célia Cruz in a personal conversation with Elder Jorge M. Alvarado on September 10, 2024.

15. Russell M. Nelson, “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys,” Liahona, May 2024, 122.

16. When we find ourselves asking questions like these, it is important to remember the words of the Apostle Paul:

    “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …

    “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

    “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

    “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35, 37–39).

17. Gerrit W. Gong, “Our Campfire of Faith,” Liahona, Nov. 2018, 41.

18. Nephi is a good example of this. He exclaimed:

    “Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. …

    “O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?” (2 Nephi 4:28, 31).

19. President Dallin H. Oaks taught: “When a person has gone through the [repentance] process … , the Savior does more than cleanse that person from sin. He also gives him or her new strength. That strengthening is essential for us to realize the purpose of the cleansing, which is to return to our Heavenly Father. To be admitted to His presence, we must be more than clean. We must also be changed from a morally weak person who has sinned into a strong person with the spiritual stature to dwell in the presence of God” (“The Atonement and Faith,” Ensign, Apr. 2010, 33–34).

20. 2 Nephi 31:21.

21. We honor our family and Heavenly Father by embracing repentance and striving to live a good life.

22. Ikwo,, no. 193.