McConkie's Letter.

As president of the Chinatown branch, and later bishop, Bishop McConkie has come to love this ward. Sadly, after time the winds of change took him and his family in another direction. Recently as the Anniversary of the Chinatown branch becoming a ward he took some time to write down his testimony and love for all of those he served. 

作为唐人街分会会长且以后的支会主教，麦集宇主教的确深爱唐人街支会，可悲的是，天下无不散之宴席。趁着唐人街支会成立两周年的这段日子，麦主教在此为他所服务过的唐人街成员分享他的见证以及他对他们的爱。

親愛的唐人街支會成員們:

難以相信分會成為支會至今己滿兩年了，自從我和我的家庭搬離紐約市、黃凱弟兄被召喚成為支會的主教，到現在也都快一年了。我想藉著這封書信，告訴大家，我有多麼地想念你們、愛你們！

非常榮幸能在您們當中服務了美好的四年，從您們的榜樣和付出，我學到了許多關於謙卑和信心的道理。今年，我的家庭有了許多的變化 -- 新的家、新的一州、以及新的工作機會。在這個變化無常的世界裡，知道我們可以將自己碇錨於 耶穌基督的福音上，總會令人感到欣慰。

無論身在世上的任何角落，我常驚奇地感受到，耶穌基督後期聖徒教會對我而言，就好像是個家一樣。在這個無可避免會起伏不定的今生裡，摩爾門經中的經文提醒了我，要將我們在塵世中的考驗，碇錨於對基督的信心導航上。

「所以，​凡​相信 ​神​的，​就​可以​有​確定​的​​希望，​希望​到​一個​更好​的​世界，​是​的，​就​是​在​ 神​右邊​的​地方；​這​希望​從​信心​而​來，​成為​人類​靈魂​的​​碇​錨，​使​他們​堅定​而​穩固，​一直​多​做​​好事，​並​引導​他們​​榮耀​ 神。」（以帖書 12:4 )

神的福音和祂對我們的愛是持久且堅定不移的。我知道對許多的你們而言，生活有多艱難 -- 漫長的工作時數，獨自在異國打拼，再加上親人又都不在身邊。然而，只要您願意，神就是您的家人，會永遠在您的身邊。

佳節己近，我知道你們許多都是成長於不注重聖誕節傳統的中國， 在美國和其他以基督教為主的國家，十二月份是一個非常特別的時刻，因為我們可以藉著這個機會，思考 神子之誕生、衪的生命、衪的使命、以及祂如何為我們犧牲而死 。我希望在此十二月份， 也許您可以找到為他人著想和為他人服務的方法，甚至是能找到時間為支會裡的成員服務 -- 為生病和有需要的人祈禱、與那些需要關愛和支持的人做朋友、以及為他人付出時間和精力。簡單來說，您可以每天仿效世界的救主, 去做祂會做的，那就是 -- 愛 神和愛人如己。

我要你們都知道，我有多麼感激那段能在您們當中服務的時間，那將永遠是我生命中的珍寶之一。我們都己承諾 神 -- 我們將忠信並且會持守到底，我們有責任和義務去遵守與神所立的聖約。預祝大家佳節愉快、健康，請記得，你們常在我的禱告中。

聖誕快樂！

麥宇集  敬上

Dear Members of the Chinatown Ward,

I can’t believe it has been two years since we all became a ward, and it has been almost a year since I moved out of New York City and Bishop Huang was called to be Bishop. I wanted to write a letter to you all and tell you all how very much I miss and love you.

It was such a privilege to serve among you for 4 wonderful years. I learned a lot about humility and faith from your examples and commitment. This year has brought a lot of change for my family – a new home, new state, new employment opportunities. It is always reassuring to know that in the face of constant change and even uncertainty in the world, that we can anchor ourselves with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have often been amazed that no matter where I am in the world, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints feels like a home to me. Still, with life comes the inevitable ups and downs of mortality. I am reminded of scripture in the Book of Mormon that speaks of navigating our mortal trials by anchoring our faith in Christ - “Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.”    (Ether 12:4)

His gospel and the love that our Savior has for us is constant and unwavering. I know how very difficult many of your lives are – work is long, you are living in a foreign land, and family may be very far away. God is your family and he will always be near you if you allow Him. 

We are entering the Christmas season. I know that for many of you, you did not grow up with and traditions or focus on Christmas in your native China. In America and other Christian dominated countries, the month of December is a very special time because we have the opportunity to reflect upon the birth of the Son of God, and his life, mission and death on behalf of every one of us. I hope that in December, perhaps you can find a way to think about others and serve them – maybe even find time to serve the members of your ward. You can serve them by praying for the sick, the needy, or by befriending those that need love and support, or by spending time and energy on behalf of others. In short, you can do the things the Savior of the world did on a daily basis – you can love God and love man.   

I want you all to know how very grateful I will always be for the time that I spent among you. It will always be one of the treasures of my life. We have all made promises to God that we will be faithful and endure to the end. It is the obligation of all of us to make sure we honor that covenant and promise. I hope you have a healthy and happy holiday season, and remember that you are often in my prayers.  

Merry Christmas,
Matthew McConkie