●Weed Orchards 果園之旅

Weed Orchards 果園之旅

 

●慶祝慈助會成立171週年 Celebration of the 171st Anniversary of Relief Society

慶祝慈助會成立171週年 Celebration of the 171st Anniversary of Relief Society（3/17/2013）

 

 

●蛇年春節聯歡會 Chinese New Year Celebration for the Year of the Snake

●蛇年春節聯歡會   Chinese New Year Celebration for the Year of the Snake

●2011 新年慶祝活動 Chinese New Year Activity 2011

2011 新年慶祝活動   Chinese New Year Activity 2011

 

齊曉東弟兄 Brother Xiao Dong Qi

我現在是耶穌基督後期聖徒教會的成員。我是在2014年3月23日受洗的，在3月30日的時候傳教士雷姐妹有告訴我「唐人街故事」這個博客網，並希望我可以寫自己的歸信故事與大家分享。那時候我知道我應該寫一篇博客與大家分享，可是我不知道應該怎麼寫。這事情就這樣深深的埋在我的心裡。在2014年4月6日的時候，傳教士穆長老和畢長老重新跟我提起寫博客的事，當時我告訴傳教士弟兄：「歸信是一種心裡的相信，我不知道應該怎麼告訴大家我是多麼的相信。所以我不知道應該怎樣寫這篇博客。」傳教士弟兄告訴我：「如果你不知道應該怎麼做的時候，你可以求問神。」今天，2014年4月12日。我在寫這篇博客的時候，我做了一個祈禱，我祈求天父賜我力量、智慧和信心完成一篇博客。

我來自中國的福建省福州市，我是2011年6月18日移民到美國的。當時我不知道親愛的天父、救主耶穌基督和聖靈的存在；不知道我們的教會「耶穌基督後期聖徒教會」的存在。我只知道來到美國我必須放下中國的所有東西重新生活。我必須靠我自己一個人。在美國的生活是順利的。

我在2013年的11月份遇見我們的傳教士姐妹。隨後在傳教士姐妹的幫助下，我沉浸在耶穌基督的福音裡不能自拔，我知道天父愛我們，衪讓衪唯一的愛子到人間為世人贖罪，並為世人做榜樣。我不再是一個人面對這個世界，在洗禮前我曾經看到一個句子：「一個人最大的幸福就是堅持相信有人愛你。」我知道這是天父讓我看見的，當我看到這句話的時候，我的心裡充滿了安寧、喜悅的感覺，我相信天父愛我，每天上班的時候我都會祈禱，祈求天父賜我力量、智慧與信心完成一天的工作並平安的到家。當我每天平安到家時，我心存感恩，我知道天父愛我們。這裡我想分享一句話：「借着微小而簡單的事能成就偉大的事。」(阿爾瑪書37:6)

一個人若要活得精彩，必須培養能力，使自己有勇氣面對煩憂，以喜樂的心面對失望，以謙遜的態度迎向勝利。

我們是神的兒女，衪活着，我們乃是照着神的形象造的，我們若真心抱持這樣的信念，必定能體驗到一股深刻而嶄新的力量和能力。「耶和華不像人看人；人是看外貌；耶和華是看內心。」(撒母耳記16:7)

歸信不是簡單的說一說，想一想的事。歸信是必須要做到身心合一的事。我們必須服從神的話語。持守誡命。規則和法律能確保我們獲得人身安全。同樣地，主提供了準則和誡命以確保我們得到靈性安全，使我們能在這危險萬分的塵世旅途上走得穩健，最終得以回到天父身邊。「凡遵守衪誡命的，就獲得真理和光，直到他在真理中得榮耀，並且知道萬事。」(教義和聖約93:28) ​所以，切勿屈服於撒旦的誘惑，反而要堅守真理。不斷在感官刺激和邪惡中尋歡作樂並不能解決靈魂中未獲滿足的渴求。邪惡絕不能帶來美德。憎恨絕不會使愛增長。懦弱絕不會產生勇氣。懷疑絕不會激發信心。所以我歸信。我願意持守到底。

我謙卑地祈求我們能蒙受祝福，得享應許。此上所述奉耶穌基督的名，阿們。

I am a member of the Church of Jesus a christ of Latter-day Saints. I was baptized on March 23rd, 2014. On March 30th, 2014, one of the missionaries, Sister Astle, told me about "The Chinatown Story" blog. and hoped that I could share with everyone my own conversion story. At the time I knew I should write a blog post to share with everyone, but I didn't know how I should write it. On April 6th, 2014, Elder Murray and a Elder Blonquist reminded me again about writing the blog post. I told them, "Conversion is something that comes from your heart, I don't know how to share with everyone exactly how I feel. So I don't know how to write this blog post." The missionaries replied,"If you don't know how you should write it, then you should ask God for help." Today is April 12th, 2014. As I am writing this blog post, I said a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to give me power, wisdom, and faith to finish my story.

I am from Fujian, Fuzhou in China. On June 18th, 2011, I came to America. At the time I didn't know that our loving Heavenly Father, our Savior Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost existed; furthermore I didn't know that our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints existed. I only knew that coming to America I needed to leave everything from China and start a new life. I had to rely on myself. My life in America has been really good.

In November of 2013, I met the sister missionaries. Under the guidance of the sister missionaries, I immersed myself in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have come to know that Heavenly Father loves us, He let his only beloved son come to the earth to atone for the sins of all mankind and set for us an example to follow. I was no longer facing this world alone. Before baptism I saw a saying that said, "A person's greatest joy comes from always knowing that someone loves you." I know that Heavenly Father loves me. Everyday when I go to work I say a prayer asking Heavenly Father to give me strength, wisdom, faith to finish each day of work, and to return home safely. When I do return home safely, my heart is filled with gratitude because I know that Heavenly Father loves us. I want to share a scripture, "...by small and simple things are great things brought to pass ..."(Alma 37:6). If a person wants to live an exciting life, they need to develop the ability to have courage to face problems, face disappointments with a joyful heart, and humility as they succeed in life.

I am a son of God, He lives. We are created in His image. If we really understand this principle, we will be able to experience a refreshing feeling of power and ability. "For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

Conversion isn't something simple that you can just talk or think about. Conversion is something that requires both your body and mind. We need to obey the words of God. Keep the commandments. Rules and laws can assure that we will be safe. Likewise, The Lord also provides standards and commandments that assure that we can receive spiritual safety so that we can go through our dangerous journey here on earth so that ultimately we can return back to the presence of our Heavenly Father. "He that keepeth [God’s] commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things." (Doctrine and Covenants 93:28) So, don't succumb to the temptations of Satan, but stick to the the truth. Continually pleasing yourself with evil things and things that merely entertain will not satisfy your spiritual needs. Evil cannot bring about virtue; Hate will not allow love to grow; Doubt will not inspire courage. I am converted and I am willing to endure to the end. I humbly hope that we will enjoy the blessings and promises that we receive. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

林本清弟兄 Brother Ben Qing Lin

我在兩年多前第一次接觸教會。黃長老和包長老來我家，雖然開始時我有猶豫，但是最後讓他們再次來分享福音。一開始即使我是半信半疑，心情也因為視力的問題而經常煩躁，由於長老們多次的拜訪，漸漸我開始期待他們的來訪。 

傳教士的教導使我有所改變。每次我心情欠佳，都會做祈禱。的確，我的情緒會平靜下來。本來以為是在自言自語，卻從傳教士得知我是在跟天上的父說話。 

黃長老之後跟莫長老繼續來跟我分享，我內心非常渴望接受洗禮。然而，我的妻子並不贊同。 透過更多人的探望，包括劉新弟兄，我更了解福音。傳教士接著邀請我到教會，那已是過了半年之後的事情。教會真是一個很溫馨的家庭，弟兄姊妹們都跟我打招呼，非常熱情。 

當時我一直在想，我有那堅信的決心嗎？記得黃長老曾說過：「福音是慢慢學會的。」雖然我的眼睛看不到，但是我能聽。我能聽懂經文的內容。我開始經常到教會了解、了解。 這兩、三年來，雖然挑戰仍然有很多，但我很滿足，祈禱使我強大起來。

穆長老跟畢長老告訴我，我必須接受洗禮，讓聖靈能加倍的留在我身上，保護我。我在洗禮的問題上糾結了一段長時間，最後決定接受洗禮，使天父能更喜悅我這個兒子。

I ran across the church for the first time two years ago when Elder Huang and Elder Barton came over to my house. I was hesitant at first, but in the end I decided to let them come over again and share the gospel. Even though in the beginning I didn’t fully believe, and was often irritated because of my vision problem, as the elders kept coming, I started to look forward to their visits. 

The things that the missionaries taught changed me. Every time I’m in a bad mood I will say a prayer, and then I will feel a lot more peaceful. At first praying felt like I was just speaking to myself, but the missionaries helped me to know that I was talking with my father in heaven. 

Later on, Elder Huang and Elder Mok continued to come over to share things with me. I really wanted to get baptized, but my wife was opposed to it. 

I kept learning about the gospel from the people who continued to visit me, including Brother Liu Xin. The missionaries then invited me to go to church. It has been over six months since that time. Church is like a warm family. All of the brothers and sisters would say hi to me. It was really exciting. 

I always wondered whether or not I had enough determination to keep the faith. I remember Elder Huang once said, “Learning the gospel comes gradually.” Even though my eyes are unable to see, I am still able to hear. I can listen to and learn from the scriptures. I started go to church often to understand more and more. Over the past two or three years there have been many challenges, but I am happy. Prayer has strengthened me.  

Elder Murray and Blonquist told me that I need to get baptized to have the Holy Ghost with me more, which will protect me. I waited on the question of whether to get baptized or not for a long time, but in the end I decided to do it so that Heavenly Father would be able to be happier in this son of His.

●畢長老和畢姊妹的歡送會 Elder and Sister Blair's Farewell Party

畢長老和畢姊妹的歡送會  Elder and Sister Blair's Farewell Party

畢長老和畢姊妹在唐人街支會盡心地服務了一年半的時間，大部份的成員都認識他們。
為了答謝他們的付出，唐人街支會舉辦了一個歡送會。大家在這次活動都非常愉快。

Elder and Sister Blair dedicated a year and a half to serve in the Chinatown Ward. Most of the members knew them. To show appreciation for their hard work, we held a farewell service. We enjoyed the activity very much.