Bɔk mme Oruŋ, ndien mme Ŋkɔk Eyekɔri

Etop otode Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Eke Eboho mme Apostle Duopeba

Mme ŋkɔk ikɔ-ntiense fo eyeda ɔsɔŋɔ oto akwa mbuɔtidem fo ke Ete Heaven ye ke Edima Eyen Esie.

Akani Chapel Kiet ke Zwickau

Isua 2024 edi isua ŋkpɔ editi ɔnɔ mi. Enye anam isua 75 tɔŋɔ nte ami ŋkeduɔk-mmɔŋ enyuŋ esɔŋɔ mi nte owo Ufɔk Abasi Jesus Christ Mme Ndisana Owo ke Ukperedem Usen ke Zwickau, Germany.

Ami edidi owo Ufɔk Abasi Jesus Christ edi ɔsɔŋurua ŋkpɔ ɔnɔ mi. Ke edibat mi nsin kotu mbon ediomi Abasi, ye mbufo, nditɔeka mi irenowo ye iban, edi kiet kotu mkpon ŋkan ukpono ke uwem mi.

Ini eke ami ŋkereke mbaŋa isaŋ owo mbet mi, ekikere mi esiwak ndifiak ŋka akani ufɔk kiet ke Zwickau, eke ami nnyenede nti editi-ŋkpɔ eke edika mme esop udia-ɔbɔŋ eke Ufɔk Abasi Jesus Christ nte eyenɔŋwɔŋ. Do ke mkpasip ikɔ-ntiense mi ekebɔ akpa eribɔk esie.

Chapel emi ama enyene akani organ emi efikde ofim esin man ebre. Kpukpru Sunday eyenɔ eyen eren kiet ubiɔŋ ndinuk mkpaha mfuri-ikaŋ ŋka enyɔŋ ye isɔŋ ndinam organ oro ebre. Ami ke ubakini mma sinyene akpan ifet ndiŋwam ke akpan ubiɔŋ emi.

Kin otuowo ekwɔde mme edima ikwɔ nnyin, ami nyefik ke ofuri ukeme mi man ofim edikure ke organ oro. Otode ke mkpɔ-itie eke andifuri-ikaŋ, ami mma nehede ŋkut usuk ndedibi akrasi window, kiet owutde Andinyaŋa Jesus Christ ye efen owutde Joseph Smith ke Edisana Ikɔt-eto.

Ami mmesuk nti nsasana ekikere emi ŋkenyenede nte nsede ediyama window oro kini ŋkopde mme ikɔ-ntiense eke Nditɔ Abasi ye nte ekwɔde ikwɔ Zion.

Ke edisana ebiet oro, Spirit Abasi edi ntiense ɔnɔ ekikere ye esit mi ke oro ekedi akpanikɔ: Jesus Christ edi Andinyaŋa ererimbot. Emi edi Ufɔk Abasi Esie. ɔŋProphet Joseph Smith ama okut Abasi Ete ye Jesus Christ onyuŋ omop uyo Mmɔ.

Ke ntɔŋɔ isua emi, kini ŋkade utom mi ke Europe, ami mma nnyene eti-ifet ndifaik ŋka Zwickau. Ke mbɔm, edima akani chapel oro ikiduhe aba. Ema ewuri enye enim ke ediwak isua ke edem ndinɔ ebiet man ebɔp akamba ufɔk.

Nso Idi Nsinsi, Ndien Se Nso Midige?

Ami nnyime ke edi ŋkpɔ mbɔm ndidiɔŋɔ ke edima ufɔk eke ini uyen mi edi se eteti idahaemi. Oro ekedi edisana ufɔk ɔnɔ mi. Edi oro ekedi ufɔk.

Ke usuŋ efen, ntinse spirit eke ami ŋkenyenede nto Edisana Spirit ke mme anyan-ini isua oro ibehe ifep. Ke akpanikɔ, oro ɔsɔsɔŋɔ ɔkɔri. Mme ŋkpɔ eke ami ŋkekpede ke uyen mi kabaŋa akpan ukpep eke ikɔ Abasi Jesus Christ edi-di ɔsɔŋɔ usuŋ-ukot mi ke ofuri uwem mi. Ebuana ediomi eke ami ŋkenamde ye Ete Heaven mi ye Edima Eyen Esie ama odu ye ami ebighe ke ewuride chapel Zwickau oro ndien ndedibi akrasi window ama osop.

Jesus ete, “Enyɔŋ ye isɔŋ eyebe efep, edi ikɔ Mi idibehe ifep.”

“Koro ikpɔ obot eyesihere, ŋkpri eyenyuŋ enyek; edi ima mi idisihekede ikpɔŋ fi, ediomi eme mi idinyuŋ inyekke, Jehovah ɔdɔhɔ ntre.”

Kiet kotu ata akpan ŋkpɔ emi nnyin ikpepde ke uwem emi edi ukpuhɔde ke ufɔt se idi nsinsi ye se midige nsinsi. Inikiet emi ifiɔkde oro, kpukpru ŋkpɔ ɔkpuhɔ—ebuana nnyin, mbumek emi nnyin inamde, usuŋ nte nnyin idade mbonowo.

Ndidiɔŋɔ se idi nsinsi ye se midige edi akpan-ŋkpɔ ke edikɔri ikɔ-ntiense ke Jesus Christ ye Ufɔk Abasi Esie.

Ekunam Ndudue Eda Ŋkɔk ete ke edi Oruŋ

Mfiak-men-ndi ikɔ Abasi Jesus Christ, nte Prophet Joseph Smith ekpepde, “enyi[me] kpukpru owo, ye ofuri se idi akpanikɔ.” Edi oro iwɔrɔke ke ofuri akpanikɔ enyene ukem-ukem ufɔn. Ubak akpanikɔ edi ɔwɔŋ, akpan-ŋkpɔ, emi odude ke ntɔŋɔ mbuɔtidem nnyin. Mbon efen edi ndadiana mme ŋkɔk enyenede ufɔn, kini ebuanade mmɔ ye akpan ukpep kpɔt.

Prophet Joseph ŋko ete, “Ata akpan ukpeb ke edu-ukpono nnyin edi ikɔ ntiense eke mme Apostle ye Prophet, abaŋade Jesus Christ, ete ke Enye ama akpa, ebuk enye, ndien afiak eset ke ɔyɔhɔ usen ita, onyuŋ ɔdɔk aka heaven; ndien kpukpru mme ŋkpɔ eken abaŋade edu-ukpono nnyin edi nda-ndiana akpanikɔ.”

Ke ikɔ efen Jesus Christ ye uwa usio-isop Esie edi oruŋ ikɔ-ntiense nnyin. Kpukpru ŋkpɔ efen edi ŋkɔk.

Emi idige nditiŋ ete ke ŋkɔk idige akpan-ŋkpɔ. Eto oyom ŋkɔk. Edi nte Andinyaŋa eketiŋde ɔnɔ mbet Esie ete, “Ŋkɔk mikemeke ndiŋwum mfri ke idemesie, ibɔhɔke enye oduŋ ke vine.” Ebuana ye Andinyaŋa miduhe, ebuana ye edibɔk ekutde ke oruŋ miduhe, ŋkɔk eyeme onyuŋ akpa.

Kini ebehede edibɔk ikɔ-ntiense nnyin ke Jesus Christ, ami ŋkere mme nnyin ke ubakini ininam ndudue ida ŋkɔk nte oruŋ. Emi edi ndudue Jesus okokutde oto mme Pharisee eke eyo Esie. Mmɔ eketiŋ enyin enɔ ata ŋkpri ŋkpɔ eke mbet anamde mmɔ ekpɔŋ se Andinyaŋa okotde “ikpɔ ŋkpɔ ibet”—akpan ukpep nte “ikpe, ye mbɔm, ye mbuɔtidem.”

Edieke afo oyomde ndibɔk eto, afo udusimike mmɔŋ ke ŋkɔk. Afo eyeduɔk mmɔŋ ke oruŋ. Ukem-ukem oro, edieke afo oyomde ŋkɔk ikɔ-ntiense fo ɔkɔri onyuŋ oŋwum mfri, bɔk oruŋ oro. Edieke afo enyenede eyighe abaŋa akpan ukpepŋkpɔ kiet mme ido mme mbuk ŋkpɔ Ufɔk Abasi, eyom edinam-aŋwaŋa ye mbuɔtidem fo ke Jesus Christ. Eyom edifiɔk nwaidem Esie, ima Esie, uduak Esie ke ibuot mbufo. Etiene Enye ke nsuhɔre-idem. Mme ŋkɔk ikɔ-ntiense fo eyeda ɔsɔŋɔ oto akwa mbuɔtidem fo ke Ete Heaven ye ke Edima Eyen Esie.

Nte uwutŋkpɔ, edieke afo oyomde ɔsɔŋɔ ikɔ-ntiense eke Ŋwed Mormon, tiŋ-enyin ntiense esie kabaŋa Jesus Christ. Se nte Ŋwed Mormon edide ntinse abaŋa Enye, se ŋwed oro ekpepde abaŋa Enye, ye nte ŋwed oro okotde onyuŋ ɔdɔŋde fi ete etiene Enye.

Edieke afo oyomde eti ifiɔk-ukpep ke mme esop Ufɔk Abasi mme ke temple, domo edise Andinyaŋa ke mme nsasana edinam emi nnyin ibɔde do. Ekut Jehovah ke edisana ufɔk Esie.

Ekpedi ke afo omokop ekaha mme mmemidem oto ke ikoot Ufɔk Abasi fo, domo edifiak nam utom-uŋwam fo ye Jesus Christ. Nnam oro edi ndiwut ima emi afo enyenede ɔnɔ Enye.

Bɔk mme oruŋ, ndien mme ŋkɔk eyekɔri. Ndien ke edikem ini, mmɔ eyeŋwum mfri.

Edikɔɔŋ nyuŋ Mbɔp Ndori ke Enye

Ɔsɔŋɔ mbuɔtidem ke Jesus Christ isitibeke iwiwa. Iŋ-iŋ, ke ererimbot uwem isɔŋ emi, edi akpap ye mbara-ekpe eyighe esikɔri nte amama. Ɔsɔŋɔ, enyene-mfri eto mbuɔtidem oyom ata utom nsinifik. Ndien ubak akpan ukeme oro edi ndikut ete ke nnyin iminehede iwuhɔ ke Christ.

Nte uwutŋkpɔ: Ke akpa ini, yak nnyin idu ikere ikɔ Abasi Andinyaŋa ye Ufɔk Abasi koro nnyin imikop inem ito ufan mbon ufɔk Abasi mme ke ɔfɔnido bishop mme ke nsasana ebiet chapel oro. Mme ndaha enehede edi akpan-ŋkpɔ ɔnɔ ŋkɔri Ufɔk Abasi.

Nte ededi, edieke oruŋ ikɔ-ntiense nnyin imikɔrike ituŋɔ ikan oro, nso iditibe ke nnyin ima iwɔrɔ ika ward emi esisobode ke eke miyehe ntre, ye mbon ufɔk Abasi emi minehede inam ufan, ndien bishop etiŋ se iyatde nnyin esit?

Uwutŋkpɔ efen: Nte oro ibietke ɔfɔn ndinyene idorenyin ete edieke nnyin inimde ibet ndien ididiana ke temple, nnyin iyebɔ edidiɔŋ ye akamba, inem ufɔkemana ye nti, okopitem nditɔ, kpukpru emi esinde idem ke Ufɔk Abasi, eka mission, ekwɔ-ikwɔ ke ŋka ikwɔ eke ward, enyuŋ enyime ndiŋwam nnam ebiet ufɔk Abasi asana ke ofuri usenubɔk Saturday?

Ami menehede nim ke kpukpru nnyin iyekut emi ke uwem nnyin. Edi ɔwɔrɔ nso edieke oro mitibeke? Ndi nnyin iyeyire ye Andinyaŋa isehe ndaha ekededi—inim Enye ye ini Esie ke akpanikɔ?

Ana nnyin ibup idem nnyin ite: Nte ikɔ-ntiense mi ɔkɔŋɔ ke se ami nyom etibe ke uwem mi? Nte ikɔ-ntiense mi ɔkɔŋɔ ke edinam mme ido eke mbon efen? Mme nte oro enehede ɔkɔŋɔ ke Jesus Christ, “ke oruŋ enyuŋ ekɔri edaha eda ke enye,” isehe ukpuhɔde eke ndaha uwem?

Mme Ido-eset, Edu, ye Mbuɔtidem

Ŋwed Mormon etiŋ abaŋa mbonowo emi “ekenehede enim mme ewuhɔ Abasi.” Edi ekem owo-eyighe kiet ekotde Korihor oduk edi, anam-nsahi ye gospel Andinyaŋa, okot oro “ndisime” ye“ nditeŋ ido-eset eke mme ete mmɔ.” Korihor ama “abiat ediwak esit mbonowo, anamde mmɔ ndibuak inua ke esit ibak mmɔ.” Edi enye ikikemeke edibiaŋa mbon efen, koro eke mmɔ, ikɔ Abasi Jesus Christ ama okpon akan ido eset.

Mbuɔtidem enyene ɔsɔŋɔ kini enye enyenede ata oruŋ ke ifiɔk idem owo, ke ubiere idem nnyin nnɔ Jesus Christ, ibeheke se mme ido eset nnyin edide mme se mbon efen ekepetiŋde mme enamde.

Eyedomo enyuŋ ikɔ ntiense nnyin ese. Mbuɔtidem idihe mbuɔtidem ke midomoke enye ise. Mbuɔtidem isɔŋke odudu ke minyeneke mfaŋa. Ntem kunana idorenyin edieke afo enyenede idomo mbuɔtidem mme mbume eke owo mibɔrɔke.

Inaha nte nnyin ikere edifiɔk ofuri ŋkpɔ mbemisio nnyin inam ŋkp. Oro idihe mbuɔtidem. Nte Alma ekpepde ete, “Mbuɔtidem idihe ndinyene ɔyɔhɔ ifiɔk mbaŋa ofuri ŋkpɔ.” Edieke nnyin ibetde ndinam ŋkpɔ tutu edibɔrɔ ofuri mbume nnyin, nnyin imisuhɔre nti ŋkpɔ emi nnyin ikpanamde ikure, ndien nnyin imisuhɔre odudu mbuɔtidem nnyin.

Mbuɔtidem ɔfɔn koro enye eyire kpa kini edidiɔŋ midige ke nte ekeyomde. Nnyin ikemeke edikut ini-iso, nnyin ifiɔk-ke ofuri ibɔrɔ, edi nnyin imikeme edibere edem ke Jesus Christ ke nte nnyin ikade iso ye ke enyɔŋ koro Enye edi Andinyaŋa ye Andifak nnyin.

Mbuɔtidem ɔyɔyɔ idomo ye unana idorenyin eke uwem koro enye enehede ɔwuhɔ ke Christ ye ukpepŋkpɔ Esie. Jesus Christ, ye Ete Heaven nnyin emi ɔkɔnɔde Enye edi, eda ɔtɔkiet enam enyene-iwuk, mfɔn-mma iberedem ŋkpɔ eke mbuɔtidem nnyin.

Ikɔ-ntiense idihe ŋkpɔ kiet emi afo ɔbɔpde inikiet ndien enye ada ke nsinsi. Enye okpon akan eto emi afo ɔbɔkde ke ofuri ini. Editɔ ikɔ Abasi ke esit fo kpɔt edi ntɔŋɔ. Inikiet emi ikɔ-ntiense fo ɔtɔŋɔde ndikɔri, ekem ata utom ɔtɔŋɔ! Ini edi oro eke afo “itiŋ enyin inɔ enye udia, man enye ekpenyene oruŋ, man enye ɔkɔri, onyuŋ oŋwum mfri.” Oro oyom “ɔkpɔsɔŋ edisin ifik” ye “ime ye ikɔ oro.” Edi Abasi eŋwɔŋɔ edi akpanikɔ ke: “Mbufo eyebɔ ŋkpɔ eyen utom mbuɔtidem, ye nsinifik, ye ime, ye anyan ukut mbufo, ke ndibet eto oŋwum mfri ɔnɔ mbufo.”

Ndima nditɔ-eka mi irenowo ye iban, ndima ufan mi, odu ubak idem mi eke ananade akani chapel Zwickau ye ndidebi akrasi window oro. Edi ke ebede mme isua 75 emi, Jesus Christ ama ada mi usuŋ aka isaŋ ke uwem emi enyenede inem akan se ami mkpekekere. Enye ama ɔdɔŋ mi esit ke ukut mi, aŋwam mi ndifiɔk mmemidem mi, ɔkɔk unan spirit mi, onyuŋ ɔbɔk mi ke edikɔri mbuɔtidem mi.

Edi ata akam mi ye edidiɔŋ mi yak nnyin ke ofuri ini ibɔɔk mme oruŋ mbuɔtidem nnyin ke Andinyaŋa, ke ukpepŋkpɔ Esie, ye ke Ufɔk Abasi Esie. Kabaŋa emi ke ami ntiŋ ikɔ ntiense ke edisana enyiŋ Andinyaŋa nnyin, Andifak nnyin, Andikpep nnyin—ke enyiŋ Jesus Christ, amen.

Mkpri ŋwed

1. The year 2024 also marks 30 years since my call as a General Authority and 25 years since our family had to move from Germany to the United States as a result of that calling. And almost exactly 20 years ago—on October 2, 2004—I was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and a special witness “of the name of Christ in all the world” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:23).

2. In some ways, my feelings about that building are like what Alma’s people felt about the Waters of Mormon—it was a beautiful place to them because “there [they] came to the knowledge of their Redeemer” (Mosiah 18:30).

3. Matthew 24:35; see also Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:35.

4. Isaiah 54:10; see also 3 Nephi 22:10.

5. President Thomas S. Monson taught this same truth with these words: “I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by” (“Finding Joy in the Journey,” Liahona, Nov. 2008, 85). Similarly, when President Russell M. Nelson recently encouraged us to “think celestial,” he said, “Mortality is a master class in learning to choose the things of greatest eternal import” (“Think Celestial!,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 118).

6. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 264; see also Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young (1997), 16–18.

7. Teachings: Joseph Smith, 49.

8. John 15:4.

9. Matthew 23:23, New Revised Standard Version.

10. Is it interesting to note archaeological similarities between ancient American cultures and Book of Mormon peoples? It can be. Is it helpful to learn from the accounts of scribes and others about the details of how Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon? It is for some. But none of this constitutes a lasting testimony that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. For that, you need to find the Savior in the Book of Mormon, to hear His voice speaking to you. Once this happens, it won’t matter to you where the ancient city of Zarahemla was actually located or what the Urim and Thummim looked like. Those are branches that can be pruned off your tree if needed, but the tree will remain.

11. See Doctrine and Covenants 84:19–20.

12. See Joy D. Jones, “For Him,” Liahona, Nov. 2018, 50–52.

13. See Genesis 3:18.

14. President Nelson has invited all of us “to take charge of [our] own testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Work for it. Nurture it so that it will grow” (“Overcome the World and Find Rest,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 97).

15. Colossians 2:7.

16. Alma 30:3.

17. Se Alma 30:12–16, 31.

18. Alma 30:18.

19. Interestingly, Korihor’s arguments were entirely unpersuasive among the recently converted Lamanites, the people of Ammon (see Alma 30:19–20), who were following Christ not because of the tradition of their fathers.

    By contrast, the Book of Mormon also tells of a generation of young people who separated themselves from the Lord’s Church because “they did not believe the tradition of their fathers” (see Mosiah 26:1–4). It’s good for families to establish righteous traditions. But it’s just as important for families to clearly understand the why behind those traditions. Why do we pray every morning and night? Why do we have family scripture study? Why do we hold weekly home evening, family activities and service projects, and so on? If our children understand how these traditions draw us closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, they’ll be more likely to continue them—and improve on them—in their own families.

20. Alma 32:21. Faith is powerful not because of what it knows but because of what it does.

21. Se Hebrews 10:23.

22. Alma 32:37, 41–43.