Nsasana Ŋwed Abasi—Ŋtɔŋɔ Mbuɔtidem

Etop otode Elder Quentin L. Cook

Eke Eboho mme Apostle Duopeba

Nnyin ikemeke edisuhɔre ufɔn nsasana ŋwed Abasi mbiba ke edikabare-esit ye ke edisɔŋɔ nnyene mbuɔtidem ke ikɔ Abasi.

Ŋwan mi, Mary, ye ami ke mmi-mmi-emi ima ikut T-shirt kiet ye ndise eke ŋwed ye etop ewetde ke iso ɔfɔŋ oro ete, “Mme Ŋwed: Eti Mkpɔ-utom Ekamade-ke-Ubɔk.”

Ami ndikere mbaŋa inem etop emi ye nte ufɔn ofuri oruk mkpɔ-utom emi ekamade-ke-ubɔk akabare edi. Ke ŋkade iso ŋkere, ami ndifiɔk ke mkpɔ-utom ekededi mme eke enamde ye ikike-ifiɔk ŋkpɔ-ofim idinyeneke ufɔn mme idiɔŋɔ nte ndausuŋ spirit emi otode edisana eriyarare.

Mme ekamade-ke-ubɔk mme eke-ofim, Edisana Bible ye Ŋwed Mormon: Testament Jesus Christ Efen ɔnɔ ndausuŋ spirit ye ukpepŋkpɔ otode Jesus Christ, Andinyaŋa ererimbot. Nnyin imima mme ŋwed emi otode ke ediŋwaŋa utom mmɔ ke edinim ndausuŋ Abasi nnɔ mme prophet eke-eset ye mme owo ye ndausuŋ emi mmɔ enɔde ke uwem idem nnyin.

Adianade ye mme ukpepŋkpɔ eke mme odu-uwem prophet, nsasana ŋwed Abasi ɔnɔ nnyin ndausuŋ ukpepŋkpɔ ke ererimbot mfin emi. Ŋwed Abasi emi enehede enyene odudu kini mmɔ enɔde item, ntuni, ndɔŋesit, ye isɔŋesit esɔk mbonowo ye ufɔkemana emi eyomde ndausuŋ eto Abasi.

Ŋwed Abasi, edianade ye ifiɔk spirit otode Edisana Spirit, akaiso ndidi akpan ntɔŋɔ emi anamde edikabare-esit eke mbon emi enyenede mbuŋɔ esit ye edinuaha spirit ye udɔŋ editiene Jesus Christ. Ŋwed Abasi aŋwam ndibɔp ɔsɔŋɔ emi ekemede ediŋwana ye ofuri-ini ukeme andidiɔk ke edibiat mbuɔtidem.

Mbufa mbon ufɔk Abasi enyene ufɔn enyuŋ edi ata-uwem eke Ufɔk Abasi ke ofuri mbuk-uwem. Uwutŋkpɔ kiet edi ŋwɔrɔ-nda ɔnɔ mi. Kini ami ŋkedide ekpri bishop, nti ɔkwɔrɔ-ikɔ nditɔ-eka iban iba ekekpep ŋkpɔ enɔ ufɔkemana William Edward Mussman. Ete mmɔ, ɔsɔŋidem ekpe-mbet, ekedi akwa ekpe-ikpe ɔnɔ akambe ufɔk-utom kiet. Esinifik ŋwan esie, Janet, akaŋwam ufɔkemana ndidu mbiet uwem Christ ɔfɔn.

Ema ekpep ŋwɔrɔ-nda eyeneren ye eyen-aŋwan mmɔ, mbiba edide ke early 20s mmɔ ŋkpɔ. Kpukpru owo inaŋ eme ebɔ ukpepŋkpɔ enyuŋ esidi ufɔk Abasi. Mme ɔkwɔrɔ-ikɔ nditɔ-eka iban iba ekeyire ebaŋa edikot Ŋwed Mormon nyuŋ mbɔŋ-akam nyom ikɔ-ntiense kabaŋa nsasana ŋwed Abasi oro. Ke mfɔniso, ufɔkemana oro eda-akam ekot ofuri Ŋwed Mormon ke esisit ini.

Mme stake missionaries, mmɔ mbiba ekedide ŋkani Relief Society presidents, esisaŋa ye mmɔ eka esop udia-ɔbɔŋ.

Nte ufɔkemana oro ekperede edina baptism, mmɔ edibɔ ediwak ŋwed emi etiŋde ndiɔi-ikɔ ebaŋa Ufɔk Abasi. Emi eketibe mbemiso intanet ededi, edi mme ŋwed oroama ɔyɔhɔ akamba ekebe ɔkpɔsɔŋ babru.

Mme ɔkwɔrɔ-ikɔ emi ekekot mi nte obufa bishop ndide isua 34 ndiŋwam mbɔrɔ mbume emi ekebupde. Kini nnyin ibohode ke asan ufɔk mmɔ, akamba ekeme mkpri ŋwed etiŋde ndiɔi ikɔ ebaŋa Ufɔk Abasi akana ke ufɔt ufɔk oro. Ami mma mbemiso nda akam ntiene ubiɔŋutom emi. Kini akam ntɔŋɔ, Spirit editeme mi ete, “Enye ebemiso ɔdiɔŋɔ ke edi akpanikɔ.” Emi ekedi akpan-ŋkpɔ! Nditɔ-eka iban emi enim ke mbon ufɔkemana eken ema enyene ikɔ-ntiense. Mmɔ ikifiɔkke kabaŋa eke ete.

Ke ndo-ndo oro ami ndidɔhɔ enye ke Spirit asian mi ete ke enye ama ebemiso enyene ikɔ-ntiense. “Nte oro edi akpanikɔ?” Enye edinehede ese mi ndien ɔdɔhɔ ke Spirit ama ɔsɔŋɔ akpanikɔ kabaŋa Ŋwed Mormon ye Ufɔk Abasi ɔnɔ Enye.

Ekem ami mbup mme eyefɔn nnyin ndifaik nse mkpri-ŋwed oro, mme mmɔ ema ebemiso enyene ɔsɔŋɔ spirit.

Ete edibɔrɔ ke oro inyeneke ufɔn. Ofuri mbon ufɔkemana edinyime ye ibɔrɔ esie.

Enye ɔdɔhɔ ke iminyene akpan mbume kiet: Ke ntak kiet mmimɔ ibɔde ediwak ŋwed enenide Ufɔk Abasi edi ke mmimɔ ikidi mbon ufɔk Abasi efen. Ke edidian, enye ama anam akamba eŋwɔŋɔ ndiŋwam mbɔp obufa chapel nnɔ ufɔk Abasi oro. Enye edisian mi ke mme ɔkwɔrɔ-ikɔ oro ekekpep enye ebaŋa ufɔn mbak-duop, emi enye enemde-esit enyime, edi enye edikere mme idifɔnke ŋko ke edikpono eŋwɔŋɔ emi enye akanamde ke akpa. Ami nsɔŋɔ nnɔ enye ke ndi-nam eŋwɔŋɔ oro enen onyuŋ edi ŋkpɔ ukpono.

Mme Mussman ye eyeneren, ŋwan-eyen, ye eyen-aŋwan mmɔ.

Ofuri ufɔkemana oro ema ena uduɔkmmɔŋ. Ke isua kiet eken ema edian mmɔ kiet nte ufɔkemana ke Oakland California Temple. Ami mma nnyene ufaŋ ndidu do. Eyeneren oro ama okure ufɔkŋwed unam-mbet, ebe Udomo Edinam-mbet eke California, ndien ke usɔp edika mission okure ke Japan. Ami mmese ke ediwak isua nte mme okut-unen emana esɔŋɔke eda ke ikɔ Abasi. Ami mma nnyene ufaŋ nditie-ibuot ke edidian kiet kotu eyeyen-aŋwan mmɔ.

Ukpuhɔre emi etibede ke eyo nnyin emi enehede edi utibede. Ɔfiɔŋ June emi ebede, Coach Andy Reid, etie-ibuot edikpep mbre-ikpat eke Kansas City Chiefs, ye ami, diana ye mbon efen idade-inɔ ufɔk Abasi nnyin ye edu-ukpono efen, ikitiŋ-ikɔ ke edinam ediwak ufɔk Abasi ke Riverside Church ke Obio New York. Coach Reid etiŋ-abaŋa udiana ifet-iba ye edibɔrɔ mme ikoot ye nti-ifet, edi edide se ikɔ Abasi Jesus Christ edide ofuir-ofuri abaŋa. Edem usenubɔk oro, diana ye iban nnyin, Tammy Reid ye Mary, nnyin ima iduk esop udia-ɔbɔŋ ke Manhattan Second Ward. Oro ekedi inem mbono. Ediwak mbufa mbon ufɔk Abasi ema eduk do. Mbufa owo ition emi enade baptism, irenowo inaŋ ye akparawa eren kiet, ekedu kotu mbon Itie-oku Aaron emi ekedemeke udia-ɔbɔŋ oro. Ami mmenm esit nditiŋ ke ukem ediduk mbufa mbon ufɔk Abasi oro ke etibe ke ofuri Ufɔk Abasi.

Nnyin iminem esit ke ŋkɔri emi ikutde ke mbon emi enyimde nsasana ikoot, ekpuhɔde uwem mmɔ, enyuŋ enyimede eti-ifet ke nditiene Jesus Christ. Mmɔ eduk usuŋ ediomi ke mbuɔtidem, ŋkabare-esit, uduɔkmmɔŋ, ye ndori-ubɔk nte ekpepde ke Edisana Bible ye ke Ŋwed Mormon.

Nnyin ikemeke edisuhɔre ufɔn nsasana ŋwed Abasi mbiba ke edikabare-esit ye ke edisɔŋɔ nnyene mbuɔtidem ke ikɔ Abasi. Mme prophet eyo-eset ewutde ke Ŋwed Mormon eme ediɔŋɔ ebaŋa utom Jesus Christ enyuŋ ikɔ Abasi Esie. Ŋwed Mormon aŋwam ndida nnyin mkpere Abasi nte ibɔde-ukpep, ifiɔk, inyuŋ ida ukpep esie inam ŋkpɔ. Prophet Joseph Smith ekpep ke “Erenowo [ye ŋwan] eyekpere Abasi ke edisaŋa ke mme ewuhɔ, emi odude ke [ŋwed oro] akan ke ŋwed efen ekededi.”

Ndidiɔŋɔ ke Ŋwed Mormon edi ikɔ Abasi, nnyin inyene edikot, ikere-ke-esit, inyuŋ ibɔŋ-akam ibaŋa enye ndien ekem inam-utom nte asaŋade ye ewuhɔ esie. Prophet Moroni ɔŋwɔŋɔ ke Abasi eyerarare akpanikɔ abaŋade ŋwed oro ɔnɔ nnyin nte nnyin ibɔŋde-akam ke esit akpanikɔ, ye ata udɔŋ, ye mbuɔtidem ke Christ. Edikot Ŋwed Mormon edi akpan-ŋkpɔ ɔnɔ edibighe ŋkabare-esit.

Nte nnyin ikerede-ibaŋa ebuana ke ufɔt Bible ye Ŋwed Mormon nte mkpɔ-utom emi ekamade-ke-ubɔk, owo ekeme edibup mbume kiet. Nso ufɔn ye ebuana ke afo ekere ke ŋwed iba edinyene ediek Abasi etiŋde ke mmɔ eyediana ɔtɔkiet enyuŋ “ekabare edi kiet ke ubɔk mbufo”? Oro edi se Abasi eketiŋde kabaŋa “eto Judah,” edi Bible, ye “eto Joseph,” eke Ŋwed Mormon.

Ke ediwak ndaha ukpono, Ŋwed Mormon ɔnɔ akpan ukpepŋkpɔ emi ɔsɔŋɔde onyuŋ ɔbɔpde odori ke Bible. Ukpepŋkpɔ abaŋade Erisio-isop Jesus Christ edi iŋwaŋ-iŋwaŋ uwutŋkpɔ.

Bible ɔn nnen-nnen mbuk abaŋade utom uwem isɔŋ Jesus Christ esinede mkpa ye Eriset Esie. Ŋwed Mormon enehede anam-aŋwaŋa kabaŋa Erisio-isop Jesus Christ, ŋkpɔ emi mme prophet ekenamde aŋwaŋa mbemiso mkpa Esie.

Ŋtɔŋɔ-ŋwed Alma ibuot 42 ediwut ufɔn ukpepŋkpɔ eke Erisi-isop Jesus Christ.

“Uwem-isɔŋ edi ini mbeŋeidem ndinam mowo akabare esit onyuŋ anam-ŋkpɔ ɔnɔ Abasi—Iduɔ akada mkpa ikpɔkidem ye mkpa spirit ɔnɔ ofuri ubonowo— Erifak edi oro edikabare-esit—Abasi ke Idemesie osio-isop ke idiɔkŋkpɔ ererimbot—Mbɔm edi ɔnɔ mbon emi ekabarede-esit—Kpukpru mbon eken edu ke idak utibe-ikpe Abasi—Mbɔm edi ke ntak Erisio-isop—Eyenyaŋa mme andinehede ntua-mkpɔfiɔk kpɔt.”

President Russell M. Nelson ete: “Ami ŋwɔŋɔ ke nte afo adade akam okot Ŋwed Mormon kpukpru usen, afo eyenam nti ubiere—ke kpukpru usen.” Enye ŋko ɔŋwɔŋɔ ete edieke “afo esinde idem fo ke Ŋwed Mormon, ke ofuri usen afo emekeme edikan ibak eyo emi.”

Nte ami ŋkesiakde, ami mmekop inem ye ifiɔk eke akpa mkpɔ-utom emi ekamade-ke-ubɔk—edi ŋwed. Nte ededi, ami mmeti akpan ufɔn eke intanet ke ererimbot mfin emi. Obufa mkpɔ-utom ekamade ke ubɔk ekeme edinɔ etop emi ediyɔhɔde akamba library kiet. Nnyin iminem esit ndidu ke utɔ ini nte enyemi. Ami menehede nnɔ-ekɔm ke oro ayak nsasana ŋwed ye ŋkpɔ-utom Ufɔk Abasi edidu ke ŋkpɔ-ofim. Intanet edi akwa ŋkpɔ-utom ke edikot ikɔ Abasi. Mfin emi, ediwak owo ebuana ŋwed Abasi ye mme ufan ke ekamade ŋkpɔ-ofim. Nte app eke Ŋwed Mormon, nte uwutŋkpɔ, edi utibe usuŋ ke edida Ŋwed Mormon ŋwut mme ufan ndien ekeme edibuana ke nnen-nnen ye eti usuŋ ke ebiet ekededi emi afo odude.

Kini intanet ɔnɔde ediwak edidiɔŋ, ke ndiɔkiso, ukem nte mme ewewet mkpri-ŋwed enenide Ufɔk Abasi eke ai nketiŋde ke ntɔŋɔ, eda intanet ŋko enam eyighe enyuŋ ebiat mbuɔtidem ke nsɔŋurua ukpepŋkpɔ ikɔ Abasi. Oro ekeme edidi ubak eke ibak eke eyo emi eke President Nelson eketiŋde.

Andidiɔk ye mbon emi eŋwamde enye, ke efiɔkde mme ifiɔk-ke, edi-nam ke intanet mbiet ɔyɔhɔ ekeme emi ŋkpɔ ewetde ndida mbiat Ufɔk Abasi eke ami ŋketiŋde ke ntɔŋɔ, eyomde ndisio mbufo mkpɔŋ akpanikɔ eke Abasi.

Mme ŋkpɔ emi etiŋde man esin eyighe ke mme isua ekebede esiwak edidi ukem-ukem. Emi edi ata akpanikɔ kini afo adade eyo nnyin odomo ye mme 1960s kini ami ŋkedude ndaha isua Edip mi.

Ŋwed Abasi ekpep nnyin ndida ikike nyuŋ nnyene ifiɔk ke kpukpru ŋkpɔ. Ekeme edikama intanet nam-ŋkpɔ ke eti usuŋ mme ke idiɔk usuŋ.

Mbon emi ebighide ke ufɔk Abasi ye mbon emi ekpepde ikɔ Abasi obufa mbiba enyene nditiŋ-enyin kabaŋa se mmɔ esede. Ekubuana ke ndedehe, nsu-nsu, mme ndiɔi ŋkpɔ-ndise. Edieke afo anamde, mbufiɔk oro ekeme edida fi aka usuŋ emi osobode mbuɔtidem onyuŋ abiatde nsinsi ŋkɔri fo. Ekeme edi-nam ŋkpɔ edori fi ke eti mme ke idiɔk. Eyom edinen-ido enyuŋ esin ekim ŋkpɔ eke intanet ye mbumede ndiɔi mbuk ŋkpɔ-ntibe. Eyɔhɔ uwem mbufo ye nti, edinen ekikere; enyene idara; ekop inem edi esin ndisime-ido. Ukpuhɔre odu. Ikɔ mbuɔtidem ɔyɔhɔ duopeta edi eti ndausuŋ. Akande ofuri ŋkpɔ, ewak edikot Ŋwed Mormon, emi edidade Spirit nsin ke uwem mbufo onyuŋ aŋwam fi ndifiɔk akpanikɔ ye nsu.

Item mi nnɔde mbon emi ekewɔrɔde ekpɔŋ usuŋ ediomi ke usuŋ ekededi edi ndifiak ŋka nsasana ŋwed Abasi, ndausuŋ eke mme prophet, edi-nam ikɔ Abasi ke ufɔkiduŋ, ye ke ikwɔ mbuɔtidem. Kpukpru ukpɔŋ edi ɔsɔŋurua enɔ Abasi. Nnyin imiyom fi! Abasi oyom fi, ndien afo emeyom Enye! Kpukpru ini eyedara edidi fo. Kini ediwak isua utom mi ke Ufɔk Abasi, ami mmema nti owo emi ekefiakde edi usuŋ ediomi ndien ekem ediŋwam-utom enyuŋ ediɔŋ kpukpru owo emi mmɔ emade mme mbon emi mmɔ ekemehede.

Nsasana ŋwed Abasi ye mme odu-uwem prophet edi akwa usuŋ emi edima Ete Heaven anamde uduak inemesit Esie odu ɔnɔ kpukpru nditɔ Esie.

Ami ntiŋ ata ntiense mi eke nsana-ma Jesus Christ ye akpanikɔ eke Erisio-isop Esie, ke enyiŋ Jesus Christ, amen.

Mkpri ŋwed

1. Se 2 Timothy 3:16.

2. See Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2023), 28; see also 2 Nephi 2:7; 3 Nephi 12:19; Doctrine and Covenants 20:37; Ezra Taft Benson, “A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct. 1989, 2–5.

3. Sisters Beverly Bridge and Cheryl Morgan were the sister missionaries.

4. The son, William E. Mussman III, had graduated from Stanford and was attending law school at the University of California, in San Francisco. His sister, Ann C. Mussman, was attending Stanford University.

5. Sisters Eleanor Mehr and Louise Johnson were the stake missionaries.

6. The New York Latter-day Saint Professional Association (NYLDSPA) honored Reverend A. R. Bernard and Coach Andrew “Andy” W. Reid at the historic interdenominational Riverside Church in Manhattan. Church leaders from our faith and many other faiths were also present, including prior honoree Rabbi Joseph Potasnik.

7. See Tad Walch, “How Andy Reid’s Beliefs in Jesus Christ and a Second Chance for Michael Vick Guide the Kansas City Chiefs,” Deseret News, July 3, 2024, deseret.com.

8. Over 198,000 new converts have been baptized between January 1, 2024, through August 30, 2024 (information provided by the Missionary Department).

9. Preach My Gospel chapter 5 describes why the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion.

10. Introduction to the Book of Mormon.

11. The Prophet Joseph Smith testified that a man would get nearer to God by abiding by the precepts taught in the Book of Mormon than by any other book (see the introduction to the Book of Mormon).

12. Se Moroni 10:4.

13. See Ezekiel 37:15–17; see also 2 Nephi 3:12.

14. The word Atonement, referring to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, is mentioned only once in the New Testament (see Romans 5:11). In the Book of Mormon, the word Atonement is referenced 24 times. 2 Nephi 2:10 describes “the happiness” which is affixed through the Atonement (see also index to the Book of Mormon, “Jesus Christ, Atonement through”).

15. Russell M. Nelson, “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?,” Liahona, Nov. 2017, 62–63.

16. Just think how blessed we are every week as we study from Come, Follow Me online.

17. Some of the issues are simply untrue. Some take historical facts out of context. Some are advocating for social issues that are inconsistent with both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Some are on issues that the Lord has not yet provided revelation.

18. Doomscrolling is the act of habitually and obsessively searching for negative or depressing news on social media or news feeds (see Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, “doomscroll”).

19. The Church has experienced significant growth and increased attendance in recent years. The percent leaving the Church is less than in the past, but we need every member.