Cavitys of life

This last week our English class was all about going to the dentist office. To help demonstrate what the words cavity and filling were, we used this poor tooth. As you can see he is very sad! We realized as we taught that this tooth is a lot like us! when we have sins; We hurt, we are sad, we feel a need to change. We can't do it on our own however we need a "dentist" to help us. Unlike a dentist, who can only fill the holes, Jesus Christ and his Atonement can make them completely disappear! 

Think to yourself What can you do to start to get rid of your spiritual "cavities"? And what do you need to do to allow the atonement to make your sins "white as snow"?

在刚过去的一个星期中，我们的英文班主题都跟看牙医有关系。为了向班上同学示范单词“蛀牙”和“补牙”是什么，我们画了这一颗很伤心的牙齿。你看得出，他很不开心！我们发觉到，这一颗伤心的牙齿跟我们有很大的关系！我们犯错的时候，我们也会一样伤心，心里会很疼，而且我们会想要改善自我。

然而我们无法单独改变，我们需要一位“牙医”来帮我们。真正的牙医只能补牙，可是耶稣基督能够把我们的创伤彻底治好！

思考一下，你能做什么来补你的灵性的蛀牙？你还需要做什么来让赎罪把我们的罪“变成雪白”？（见赛1：18）

Quick look at the year gone by.

每年时光来又去。是时候重新开始，把去年的尘埃从肩膀抖下来并开展一个新的开始。如果你记不得过去一年的快乐和你所完成的一切，那一年还有什么意义？在面对未来之前，请回头展望过去一年唐人街支会所做的一切，其改变并在过去所发生的好玩的事！

                       

Well, another year as come and gone again. Its time to start anew, get the dust from last year off our shoulders and get a good clean start on the new year ahead. What is a year if you don't remember all of the fun you've had, and all that you were able to accomplish! Before we get to caught up in the future, lets take a look at the past and see what this ward has done, how much it has changed, and the fun that it has had this past year.

一月Jan:                                        二月Feb:                                        三月Mar: 

McConkie family moved          Chinese New Year Festival             Relief Society Anniversary
Huang Kai called as Bishop      Brothers Lin Wei and Lin                慈助会周年记念
                                                Ben Qing was baptized                 齐晓东弟兄受洗
                                          
麦主教搬离唐人街                        中国农历新年                         

黄凯弟兄被召唤成新的主教        林威和林本清弟兄受洗                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

四月April:                                         五月May:                                              六月Jun: 
General Conference                        Cloisters trip                                      Brothers Li Qiu Hua,
                                                                                                             Gao Jian was baptized
Stake conference                  Jorgensen/ Smock Families moved         李秋华，高剑斌弟兄受洗
Brother Gao Xue Jie                     
was baptized                                   参观大都会博物馆-分馆
总会成员大会                             赵家庭和史家庭搬离唐人街
高学杰弟兄受洗                          潘美钗和谢婷姐妹，杨浩和
                                                     周润樵弟兄受洗

 七月July:                                八月Aug:                                               九月Sep：
                                       1 Family Sealed in the Temple                Farm Trip
                                       1 Baptism                                              3 Baptisms
                                      一个家庭接受圣殿印证                    支会秋游
                                        陈为鼎弟兄受洗                王萍，张佩芝姐妹和邱城明弟兄受洗

 十月Oct:                                      十一月Nov:                           十二月Dec:General Conference                              Come and See Sunday              Christmas Wreath making
Mid Autumn Festival               Thanksgiving dinner                Elder Perkins visited Chinatown ward
Stake Conference                     Ward Conference                    Primary program
2 Baptism                                1 Baptism                                 1 Baptism
支联会成员大会                    支会开放日                         花环制作活动
 中秋节庆祝活动                   感恩节聚餐               总会七十员潘望博长老探访唐人街
陈燕姐妹和黄程祥弟兄受洗     黎凯彤姐妹受洗             初级会表演
                                                                                             江伟钦姐妹受洗

黄主教

毕长老姐妹返乡 senior missionaries returned home.

Farm Trip 秋游

总会成员大会General Conference

黄主教 在我们感恩节的短剧表演

Thanks Giving 感恩节

家人家庭晚会 Family Home Evening Activity

Wreath making 花环制作活动

Elder Perkins 潘望博长老探访

The most wonderful time/ 一个美妙的时刻

一个美妙的时刻--做力所能及的事.

The most wonderful time: when we are doing all that we can.

By a member:

    圣诞节前几天我曾在Facebook上发了一个状态（status）“说起圣诞节，大家最先想到的是哪首歌曲。”，虽然最终没有人回复我，但是我自己还是有一个答案，我的答案是“生日快乐歌”。因为那是救主耶稣基督的生日。

  我记得在我生日前几天，我那些可爱的同事们，一见到我就会说一句，甚至几句“happy birthday”，而我就一直说“thank you。”真是尴尬。

  到了圣诞节，那天下午四点多，我的一个同事John来上班，看到了我，又开始唱了起来，当时我也是无语了，心想都过了一个多月了，怎么还在说，而我仍旧礼貌性的回复“thank you”(谢谢)，当他唱到第二句时候，突然停下来告诉我，“Hey，not for you。”(不是对你)，然后他又继续唱，当他唱到第三句时候，“happy birthday to Jesus ”(祝基督生日快乐)，当时我愣住了，可没过多久，我依然说了一句“thank you。”(谢谢) 

我知道，当我说谢谢的时候，我的内心很平静，很温暖，很高兴。晚上回去以后，我仍在回想当时发生的那一幕，说真的，我越想越高兴。因为，我觉得，我能够为耶稣基督做一些自己力所能及的事，哪怕是为耶稣基督向相信他，祝福他，依靠他的人道一声谢谢，我都会觉得很高兴。

  我们店里有一个女服务员，叫Amber，我觉得她是我的另一个榜样。每次忙的时候，当她回到厨房，她的嘴巴就会一直说不停，她一直说“I got crazy，I need help，help me，thank Jesus， hallelujah” (哎呀我需要帮助,帮我啊,谢谢基督,哈利路亚) 然后她又走出厨房，回到大厅工作。然后不管多忙，她都会很好的完成她的工作。我知道，她真的是耶稣基督忠实的信赖者，追随者，而耶稣基督也赐给了她祝福，赐给了她能够完成工作的能力。虽然，她不是我们教会的成员，但她也和我们一样，是天父的孩子，天父不会放弃每一个子女。

  Amber用最简单的方式，这甚至不能算作一个祷告，只是一种简单的诉求。而就是这种简单的方式深深的感染我，也赐予我更大的力量，让我觉得更加快乐。

  其实，有很多时候，我们都可以为我们的耶稣基督服务，哪怕只是一些我们力所能及的事情，哪怕是给别人一个问候，而当我们这样做的时候，我们自己也会得到快乐。这是一个美妙的时刻。

  我相信，只要我们信赖基督，追随基督，为基督做一些我们力所能及的事情，那样我们都会变得快乐，都会不断的完善自我，都会变得像耶稣般的人。因为，我们的耶稣基督，我们的天父会赐给我们各种我们需要的能力，让我们的能力越来越强。

  我以上所写，是奉主耶稣基督的名，阿门。

A few days before Christmas I posted a status on Facebook that asked "what is your favorite Christmas song?" No one ever answered, but I found an answer of my own. My answer to the question is the song "Happy birthday". you might wonder why happy birthday? The answer is because Christmas is the day we celebrate, our Savior, Jesus Christ's birth!

This all came about just before my own birthday a few months previous to Christmas. I live with a couple of my friends and each time my friends would see me before saying anything else they would tell me, or sing, "happy birthday!" Then I would awkwardly reply "thank you."

Months later as it was getting close to Christmas time, one of my friends that worked with me came in to start his shift. As he came in he started singing happy birthday. It had been months sense my birthday, but after the first verse I thanked him awkwardly as normal. He paused for a second and said "hey, it's not for you." Then contunued to sing. When he got to the 3rd verse I understood why he was singing happy birthday, he said, "happy birthday to Jesus....", when he was done all I could say was "thank you".

When I said those two simple words I had this amazing feeling, I felt a warm, peaceful, happy feeling come over me. Later that night when I returned home I thought about the song my friend had song. I though about it for a few seconds and decided he was right. The more I thought about that the more the happiness filled me. I know that if I do little things that will strengthen my faith in Christ such as, remembering what he has done for us, bless his name, or thank him for his matchless love, I will always feel very happy.

There is another story I would like to share:

In our store we have a women that works with us, her name is Amber, she is another amazing example to me! Each time it starts to get busy she will come into the kitchen really quickly and will say "I need help! help me! thank Jesus! Hallelujah!" (Or something similar) then she will return to her post. From then on no matter how busy it got, no matter what the task is, she will work through it until she gets it done. I know she is a loyal follower of Jesus Christ, because of her faith and the trust she puts in Him. Because of her strong faith in Christ she is blessed with extra strength to do what needs to be done. Obviously she is not a member of our church, but she is just like us, a child of God! Heavenly Father loves her just as she loves all of us.

Amber uses a simple method called prayer to combat the trails she faces. It's not perfect and is missing some of the steps but it works for her for now. The sincerity and simplicity of her prayer has always left a deep impression on me. Her example has also given me more strength and happiness.

There are many chances to serve Jesus Christ, as long as we are not afraid to put all of our effort in to it. No amount of effort to the lord is wasted. Even as small as a greeting, or smiling at someone, whenever you do things to serve the lord and your fellow beings you yourself will be blessed and in that moment you will feel the love of God for you and them. That is an amazing moment!

I believe that if we do all we can to believe in Jesus Christ, follow his teachings, and do his work, we will be more continually happy, become more perfect like our savior, and in essence become more like him overall. Because of Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Father can give us the extra help we need to improve ourselves every day. 

These things I say in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

New Years Resolutions. / 新年的愿望.

新年的愿望.
New Years Resolutions.

2015年到了！ 崭新的机会和经验都会因新的一年随之而来。我们一定不能忘记过去的教训，而且需要从过去的经验中学习、成长。很多人通常都会借着新的一年的到来，实行新年立志。我们设立目标，希望在年底前达成并希望看见一些举足轻重的改变。减去几磅肥肉、读完一本好书、精通一项技能等等，都是常见的一些新年目标-
目的都是使我们进步。

邬希铎会长在2012年10月份总会大会的演讲《遗憾与决心》里邀请我们立下一些有意义的新年目标。他邀请我们去多花点时间陪陪身边所爱的人、发挥更多的潜能、并让我们自己享受更多的快乐。此外更重要的是，邬希铎会长加上他诚挚的见证：「只要在今日效法救主，就能避免明日的许多深刻遗憾。」

他继续说：「救主可以擦去我们遗憾的泪水，移开罪的重担。移的赎罪让我们得以忘记过去，手洁心清地展望未来，并决心要做的更好，尤其要变得更好。」

如果我们接受并了解新年立志的目的是为了我们自身的改善与进步，让我们听从邬希铎会长的邀请并透过专注于基督的新年目标，向这一年扬帆进发。

2015 is here! With the new year comes new opportunities and new experiences. We must not forget the lessons and times of the past, but instead build upon the growth from the year previous. It is a common tradition at the start of every new year for people to make New Years resolutions. We set goals for us to achieve by the end of the year, hoping to see a significant change. Lose a couple of pounds, finish a good book, master a new hobby are all things that people set as their resolutions. It's all for the purpose of improving ourselves.

In President Uchtdorf's talk "Of Regrets and of Resolutions", from the October 2012 General Conference, he invites us to make meaningful resolutions for the new year. He invites us to resolve to spend more time with our loved ones, reach more towards our potential, and let ourselves enjoy more happiness. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, President Uchtdorf adds his heartfelt testimony "that many of the deepest regrets of tomorrow can be prevented by following the Savior today." He continues, "The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and remove the burden of our sins. His Atonement allows us to leave the past behind and move forward with clean hands, a pure heart, and a determination to do better and especially to become better."

       If we have accepted that the purpose of New Years Resolutions are for our own improvement and progression, then let us all take on President Uchtdorf's invitation to set our sails toward a happier and brighter year, by focusing our resolutions around Christ.

叶文锋 ye wen feng

        叶文锋弟兄:

        什么是信仰？也许这是很多80-90年代后都觉得我们处于21世纪的人，怎么还会相信这些神话。其实信仰不是迷信，而是对心灵净化、提高个人素质、品德道德教育，约束自我、完善自我。圣经不但是神的话语，同时也是对我们的一种警示，什么是对的和什么是错的。

    人的一生都在做选择，什么可以做什么不可以做，什么可以吃什么不可以吃，往往做出选择后就开始后悔了，所以我们需要为自己犯的错去买单。

    2012年是我人生中一个转变也是一次让我重新对生活充满信心的时机。2008年，我来到美国开始了新的生活，一个人生地不熟地方，一个不同语言的国度，过着机器人一样的生活，唯一的信念就是努力干活，改善生活。不知道未来的路是什么要怎么走，对未来没有任何的信心。

    自从一个朋友的出现改变一切，那就是带我去教会，当时我就觉得干活累死了哪有时间去教会不如好好的在家睡觉，而且去了不知道干什么。在朋友一次又一次的游说下，踏入人生第一次进入的教会（耶稣基督后期圣徒教会），给我什么感觉，朋友兄弟，一种说不出来的感觉，就是喜欢，后来我明白了就是家庭的感觉，来教会后我学会很多东西，也寻回了自信。对自己有信心一切都会变得简单。以上所说奉耶稣基督之名阿门。

Brother Ye Wen Feng:

        What is a faith? Many born in the 80's, 90's think that people from the 21st century don't need these religious myths. In all reality, faith isn't about myths or legends, it's about purifying your heart, improving your nature, learning morals and integrity, restraining yourself, and perfecting yourself. The Bible isn't just the word of God, it is also a voice of warning, telling us what is and isn't right.

        Life is full of decisions you have to make, what you're going to do, what you're going to eat, but oftentimes after you make decisions you start to regret what you did, so we need to pay the price for the mistakes we make.

        The year 2012 brought change to my life, it was also the year that made me have a new faith-filled perspective on life. Coming to America in 2008 started a new life for me. In such an unfamiliar place, with such a different language, living life like a robot, my only conviction was to work more diligently to improve my life. I didn't know what my path in front of me was, or even how to walk it, I had no faith for my future,

        Then, a friend appeared and changed everything. He brought me to church. At the time I thought that since working made me so tired there was no way going to church was going to make me happier than going home and sleeping, let alone the fact that I had no time for church, and then, when I went I had no idea what was going on. But, nevertheless, because of my friend's continual persuasion did I join a church for the first time (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). The feeling that joining the church gave me is one that I couldn't describe, I just felt happy. Later, I came to understand that church was just a big family, and that feeling I had was love. I learned a lot through going to church, and I found self-confidence. When you have faith in yourself everything will become much more simple. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

圣诞节/ Christmas

 

 在圣诞节里，我们对基督的出生有很多很多的联想：一个婴孩安睡在一个简陋的马槽里。但我们并不只是庆祝一群脏脏的牧羊人拿着小绵羊团团围着小耶稣出生在马厩而已。祂的出生并不是我们挚爱的基督一生中登峰造极的首要事件- 而是34年以后。祂在以后所作的单一行为永远改变了世界：赎罪。当我们在前生与神同住时，一个计划被提议出来。一个容许我们抵达地球，获得身体和经验，并带我们回去天父身边的计划。我们需要一块关键的拼图才能容许我们打道回府：一位救主。一位愿意带走我们的一切悲伤、愧疚、痛苦，并为我们打开大门的救主。为我们赎罪。

众所周知，我们都听过赎罪的故事。耶稣基督带走我们的罪，偿付犯罪的惩罚和代价，为世界上所有活过、活着和以后会活的灵魂感受痛楚，为我们而死，最终复活。可是，为什么？因为祂爱我们。祂所作的一切，都是为了我们。祂想亲眼看见我们回到天父和祂的身边。「與祂合而為一，回到祂的面前，祂呼喚我們的名字，展開笑容親切地迎接我們回家，張開雙臂問候我們，讓我們投入祂無盡大愛的懷抱中。」

“我們最大的希望：贖罪. 2001年，十月份總會大會中的一个演讲.”

所以你大概可以想象当耶稣快要诞生时天堂喜气洋洋的盛况。我们的救主！我们的哥哥快要来到地球，打开大门并给我们可以回到天父身边的希望。我可以想象那里的兴高采烈。像一个六岁小孩在往迪士尼乐园的途中，乘以一千次的刺激。

然后耶稣诞生。噢！我们该当高歌，我们赞颂祂名，我们不能自己！祂来了！在祂母亲温柔的手臂里，祂安静地躺卧着。我们的救赎主。这是我们庆祝圣诞节的原因，因为我们庆祝基督。

在这圣诞节里，请记得耶稣基督，那份赐予我们的礼物。一份无与伦比的礼物！探索这份礼物，接受这份礼物，和分享这份礼物。然后，记得要喝点热巧克力，多吃点手杖糖，还有用驯鹿角装扮家里的小狗，然后再吃馅饼吃到肚皮要撑开！嗨！圣诞节来了！每年最开心的节日！

We think a lot about Christ's birth during Christmas: a small baby laid in a humble manger. But we don't celebrate Christ just for being born in a stable surrounded by dirty men holding lambs. His birth wasn't the crowning event of our dear Christ's life - that came 34 years later. He performed an act so marvelous that it would change the world forever: the Atonement. 

When we all lived with God before this life, a plan was presented. A plan that would allow us to go to earth, gain experience and a body, and take us back to our Heavenly Father. We just needed one key piece to make it back: a savior. Someone who would take everything - our grief, our guilt, our pain - and open the door. Atone for us.

We know the story of the atonement. Jesus Christ took our sins, paid the punishment for them, felt the pains of every soul who lived, lives, and would ever live, died for us, and finally resurrected. But why? Because He loves us. Everything He did, He did for us. He wants to see us return to Him and Heavenly Father, "to become one with Him, to be in His divine presence, to be called individually by name as He warmly welcomes us home with a radiant smile, beckoning us with open arms to be enfolded in His boundless love." 

So you can probably imagine the excitement in heaven when Jesus was about to be born. Our Savior! Our older brother was about to go to Earth, open that door and give us hope that we could return to Heavenly Father and rest. I imagine there was quite the buzz. Like a six year on the drive to Disneyland, times 1,000. 

Then Jesus Christ was born. And oh how we sang, we praised His name, we couldn't hold it back! This was it! There He lay, in His loving mother's arms. Our Redeemer. This is why we celebrate Christmas, because we celebrate Christ. 

This Christmas remember the Gift that was given, Jesus Christ. The greatest gift ever! Discover the Gift, Embrace the Gift, and Share the Gift. Then drink some hot chocolate, crunch some candy canes, put reindeer horns on your dog, then eat pie until it comes out of your ears. Hey! It's Christmas! The happiest holiday of all! 

圣诞节快乐!

Merry Christmas!

Power of music 音乐的力量.

音乐的力量.
The Power of Music.

      想象一下:正前方圣堂里众多的初级会的小朋友，迫不及待地坐在椅子上。兴奋和害怕的感觉串流着他们小小的身躯。圣餐已经传给会众的每一位了。主教也刚刚结束支会的宣布了。现在，每一位小朋友的眼睛都注视着主持人。大气里充满了悦耳的音乐。尽管音乐是由外行的小朋友来领唱，但都全然不重要。”我是神的孩子，祂差我来此地”

      孩子们用悦耳和简单的曲子来表达他们纯正无邪的见证。
音乐是由音浪相扣而成。音乐能营造安详和兴奋的氛围、营造动力甚至于恐惧。音乐里充满伟大的力量。歌词和曲调能创造感情，并能改变人心。毫无疑问地，天父希望我们透过音乐来参与崇拜。“因為，​我​的​靈魂​喜愛​發自​​內心​的​​歌唱；​是​的，​義人​的​歌唱​就​是​對​我​的​祈禱，​必​有​祝福​加​在​他們​頭上​作為​答覆。”
（教义和圣乐25:12）

     音乐，如果我们选择好好利用它，能够改变我们的心。我们越是聆听启发的音乐，我们就能建立更好的渴望去做更好的人；考验会变的容易；未被解答的问题会被转化成为坚强的确信。当我们用心聆听圣诗的歌词时，我们就会建立更强的见证并能更接近天父。我们就能辨别圣灵在我们生活中举足轻重的作用。当我们聆听圣灵的指引，我们能开始改变我们的本质，并能把我们的心转向神。在此圣诞佳节，让我们把心转向救主耶稣基督。当我们聆听能够提醒我们亲人和朋友的圣诞歌曲时，请记住我们慈爱的天父，和祂与我们之间神圣无比的关系。

     Imagine: looking towards the front of a chapel and seeing many little children, anxiously waiting in their chairs. Excitement and fear rush through their bodies. The sacrament has already been passed to each member of the congregation. The Bishop has just concluded the wards announcements. Now every child has their eyes on the conductor. Music fills the air. The quality of the music is amateur at best, and yet it doesn't matter. The little children sing with all their hearts. "I am a child of God, and He has sent me here." The purest of testimonies are shared through sweet and simple song.

As the sound waves interlock they create music. Music can create atmospheres of serenity, excitement, motivation, and even fear. There is great power in music. The combining of words and melodies create emotions that can change a persons heart. There is no coincidence that our Heavenly Father invites us to worship through song. "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads" (Doctrine andCovenants 25:12).

Music, if we choose to let it, can change our hearts. The more we listen to inspiring music, the stronger our desire will be to become better people. Difficult trials become easier. Unanswered questions turn to strong convictions. When we listen to the words in hymns, we develop stronger convictions and come closer to our Heavenly Father. We are then able to recognize the spirit in our lives more abundantly. When we listen to the Spirit we begin to change our very nature, and our heart turns toward God.

During this Christmas season, let us turn our hearts to the Savior. As we listen to the Christmas songs that remind us of family and friends, remember the heavenly relationship we have with our Heavenly Father.