Akwa Mboho
Emem eke Christ Ababiat Usua
Akwa Mbono Ɔfiɔŋ October 2021

Emem eke Christ Ababiat Usua

Otode Elder Dale G. Renlund

Eke Eboho mme Apostle Duopeba

Ini emi ima Christ oyohode uwem nnyin, nnyin iyese eneni ye nsuhɔde-idem, ime, ye mfonido.

Ndima ndito-eka mi iren ye iban, kini okposong edidomo nsinge-idem, utom emi esit anamde esikpon. Mme esit emi ekemede ndinam-utom usanga isang ekeme ndinwa-nwana man ekeme ndifehe ndok-obot. Ke usung ntem, okposong edidomo oro ekeme ndiwut ndedibe udongo emi mikpiworoke iwut idem. Ekeme ndikok mme mfina ekededi emi ekutde mbemiso mmo etongo ata mfina ke ofuri-usen uwem.

Idiok-udongo COVID-19 ama enehede edi okposong idomo ke eofuri ererimbot. Udomo oro ama owut nsio-nsio iboro. Ema enam mme nti ye osongo mkpi-nsin. 1 Nta mbia-ibok mbakara, andikpeb, ono-ukpeme, ye mbon efen enehede ewa idem—enyug eka iso enam ntre. Ediwak owo ewut ntat-ubok ye mfonido—enyung eka iso enam ntre. Edi, ata se mifonke ama owut idem. Mbon unana nsongidem ema ebɔ ndutuhɔ—enyung eka iso edu ntre. Mbon emi enamde utom man eyo mme ata ndutuhore emi akpana ebo osongo-uko ye ekom.

Idiok-udongo nko edi okposong idomo ke nkpo-Abasi ono ufok Abasi eke Andinyanga ye mbon ufok Abasi oro. Mme iboro nko edi nsio-nsio. Edidiong esim uwem nnyin oto ke ndinwam ke “edikong ye edisana usung,” 2 eke Di, Tiene Mi ewetde, eda ekpeb iko Abasi ke-ufokidung, emi ufok Abasi enwamde. Ediwak owo enɔ unwam esit-mbɔm ye ndongesit ke mme mkposong ini emi enyung eka iso enɔ ntre. 3

Edi, ke ubak ndaha, okposong idomo eke spirit ediwut mme udong adade ekesim eneni ye ubahare. Emi owut ete ke nnyin imenyene utom ndinam man ikpuho esit nnyin inyung ikabare idiana-kiet nte ata mbet Andinyanga. Emi idige obufa ubiong, edi edi akpan ubiong. 4

Ini emi Andinyanga akakade ekese mbon Nephi, Enye ekekpeb ete, “Eneni okudu kotu mbufo. … Owo eke enyenede spirit eneni idige eke mi, enye edi eke andidiok, emi edide ete eneni, ndien enye eyedemere esit mme owo ndinini ke idiok esit ye kiet eken. 5 Ini emi nnyin ininide ye kiet eken ke idiok esit, Satan asasak ndien Abasi enyong atua eyet. 6

Satan esisak ndien Abasi esitua ke nkpo nte ntak iba. Akpa, eneni esisuhore edidiana ntiense nnyin nno ererimbot kabanga Jesus Chrsit, ye erifak emi edide oto ke “ntim-nam, … mbom, ye mfon Esie.” 7 Andinyanga ɔdɔhɔ ete, “Mmɔnɔ mbufo obufa ibet nte, Mbufo ema kiet eken. … “Mbufo ema ema kiet eken, kpukpru owo eyeda oro efiok ete mbufo edi mbet Mi.” 8 Iko oro nko edi akpaniko—kpukpru owo ediongo ete ke nnyin idihe mbet Esie kini nnyin miwutke ima ino owo efen. Utom ukpere-edem usen Esie eyesuhore kini eneni mme usua 9 odude kotu mbet Esie. 10 Udiana, eneni edi unana osongo ke nkpo Abasi ono nnyin nte mme owo kiet-kiet. Nnyin imenana emem, idara, ye nduok-odudu, ndien ukeme nnyin ndikop odudu Spirit osuhore.

Jesus Christ anam anwanga ete ke ukpebnkpo Esie ikedihe “ndinam owo ayat ye esit, ye kiet eken; edi [ke ukpebnkpo] Esie [edi] enyene ndiduok orukmido oro.” 11 Edieke ami nsisopde nditoho utok mme ndino nsio-nsio iboro ke ndikabare nyat-esit mme idiok-ubiere, ami “mmeduo” ke okposong udomo nkpo Abasi. Iduo udomo emi iworoke ke ami mmenana idorenyin. Edi, oro owut ete ke ana ami mkpuhɔ. Ndien oro ofon ke ndidiongo.

Ke Andinyanga ama okokure edika America,mme owo ema ediana kiet; “eneni ikoduhe ke ofuri isong.” 12 Nte mbufo ekere ke mbon owo ekediana kiet otode ke mmo kpukpru ekedi ukem-ukem, mme otode ke mmo ikenyeneke nsio-nsio ekiere? Ami nnimke oro. Edi koro, eneni ye usua ama osop otode ke mmo ema enim ndaha-mbet eke Andinyanga mmo opon akan kpukpru nkpo. Ukpuhode mmo ama osuhore ke edida-ndomo ono ima Andinyanga emi mmo ekebuanade,ndien mmo ekediana-kiet nte “mme andinyene obio-ubong Abasi.” 13 Iboro ekedi ke “iduhe mbio emi ekenemde esit ekan … emi ubok Abasi akanamde.” 14

Edidiana-kiet oyom ukeme. 15 Oro otongo kini nnyin inyenede ima Abasi ke esit nnyin 16 ndien nnyin iting-enyin ise nsinsi akanga nnyin. 17 Nnyin idana-kiet oto ke mkpri idiongo nnyin nte ndito Abasi 18 ye nsinifik nnyin nno mme akpaniko eke mfiak-mmen-ndi io Abasi. Ndien, ima nnyin nnɔ Abasi ye ndaha mbet nnyin nnɔ Jesus Chrsit anam inyene ata esit-mbɔm inɔ mbon efen. Nnyin imema ndaha mme uduot, ekikere, ye eno eke mbon efen. 19 Edieke nyin mikemeke ndinim ndaha-mbet nnyin nno Jesus Christ okpon akan mme udong ye ekikere idem nnyin, nnyin inyene ndifiak ndungo mme akpa-akpan nkpo nnyin ndien ikpuho.

Nnyin imikeme ndidoho ete, “Nte ededi nnyin imikeme ndinyene edidiana-kiet—edieke kpot afo edinyimede ye ami!” Eti usung edibup edi ndibup ete, “Nso ke ami nkeme ndinam man mkpeme edidiana-kiet. Didie ke ami nkeme ediboro man anwam owo emi ndisanga mkpere Christ/ Nso ke ami ndinam man nsuhore eneni nyung mbop Ufok Abasi emi ido esit-mbom ye edikpeme obio odude?

Ini emi ima Christ oyohode uwem nnyin, 20 nnyin iyese eneni ye mkpang-utong, ime, ye mfonido. 21 Nnyin iyekere esisit kabanga mme nkpo idem nnyin inyung ikere awak ibanga mbohidung nnyin. Nnyin “iyom ndinam-ofon inyung idiana-kiet.” 22 Nnyin iyirike ke “eyihe eneni,” ibiere-ikpe ino mbon emi nnyin inenide-nkpo, mme ndidomo nam man mmo enam-ndudue. 23 Edi, nnyin ikere ke mbon emi nnyin minyimeke-ino ke enam eti se mmo ekemede ye uwem ifiok-ukpeb emi mmo enyenede.

Nnwan mi akanam ikpe-mbet ke ebede isua Edip. Nte ekpe-ikpe, enye esiwak ndinam utom ye mbon efen emi esinehede eyire efanga mme ekikere mbon efen. Edi enye ama ekpeb ndifanga edi isongke-enyin inyung iyatke-esit. Enye ekeme ndidoho owo-ikpe eken ete, “Ami mmekeme ndikut ke nnyin idinyimeke ke nkpo enye emi. Ami mmema fi. Ami mmekpono ekikere fo. Ami mmenim ke afo eyeno mi ukem edinyime oro. Ediwak ini emi esiyak ekpri ukpono ye edinam-ufan odu kesioho ukpuhore emi adade-itie.

Kpa nkani mbon usua ekeme ndikabare ndiana-kiet ke ndaha mmo nte mbet Andinyanga. 24 Ke 2006, ami mma nka edidiong eke Helsinki Finland Temple man mkpono ete ye mme ete-ete ye eka-eka mi, emi ekedide akpa mbon ufok Abasi ke Finland. Mbon Finland, ke esit edide ete mi, ema eyom temple ke Finland ke ediwak isua. Ke ini oro, temple district ekesine Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, ye Russia.

Ke usen ediidiong oro, ami mma mkpeb mbanga nkpo mkpaidem kiet. Ema esio akpa usen eke ofuri owo enim eno mbon ufok Abasi emi etode Russia ndinam mme edinam temple. Osong nditing anwanga danga mkpaidem nkpo emi ekedi. Russia ye Finland ema enwana-ekong ke ebede ediwak isua ikie. Ete mi ikenimke inyung imaha Russia kpot edi ofuri mbon Russia. Enye ama enehede owut oruk ekikere, ndien mme ekikere esie ekedi usua eke mbon Finland kabanga Russia. Enye ama omum-ke-ibuot mme uto emi owutde unwana-ekong eke 19th-century ke ufot mbon Finland ye mbon Russia. Ifiok-ukpeb esie ke Ekong Ererimbot oyoho Iba kini Finland ye Russia ekefiakde edi usua, ikenamke nkpo ndomokiet ndikpuho ekikere esie.

Isua kiet mbemiso edidiong eke Helsinki Finland Temple, temple committee oro, emi ekesinede mbon ufok Abasi etode Finland, ema esobo man enam mme uduak eno usen edidiong oro. Kini esop oro, owo kiet ono ekikere ete ke ikot Abasi eke Russia eyenam-isang ke ediwak usuen man ediduk usen edidiong oro ndien ke mmo eyeyom ndibo mme edidiong temple mmo mbemiso efiak enyong ufok. Adausung ke committee, Brother Sven Eklund, eting ete yak mbon Filand ebet esisit, ke mbon Russia ekpedi mme akpa mbon ufok Abasi ndinam mme edinam temple ke temple. Kpukpru mbon committe ema enyime. Nti mbon ufok Abasieke Finland ema etre ndibɔ mme edidiong temple mmɔ man ufang ekem mbon ufɔk Abasi eke Russia.

Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Area President emi ama okodu ke esop temple committee oro, ekem ewet ete, “Akananam ami nkopke inemesit mbanga mbon Finland nkan ke nte ami nnyenede ke ini emi. Ema etre ndioi mbuk-eset eke mbon Finland ekenyenede ye mbon usiak-utin mbɔhidung mmɔ … ye inem ke mmɔ edinyene [temple kiet] emi ebɔpde ke isong mmɔ. Ndiyak mbon Russia ebemiso eduk [ekedi] iko ima ye nwaidem.” 25

Kini ami ntingkde mfonido nwut ete mi, esit esie ama emem ndeien enye ama atua, ata nkpo emi ata owo Finland misinamke. Tongo kini oro kesim ini emi enye akpade ke ufang isua ita, enye iketingke idiok iko efen ibanga Russia. Ndikut nto uwutnkpo mbon Finland esie, ete mi ama emek ndinim ndaha mbet eke Jesus Christ esie akan ofuri mme ekikere efen. Mbon Finland ikedige usuhore owo, mbon Russia ikedige usuhore owo, mbiba ema eyak ido, mbuk-eset, mme ifiok-ukpeb mmo eduok man etre usua. Mmo ikenaha nte esuasua. Edi, mmo ema emek ndinam ndaha mbet mmo eke Jesus Christ edi akpan ubiere mmo. 26

Edieke mmo ekekande enam oro, ntre nnyin imikeme. Nnyin imikeme ndida inyene, ido, ye ifiok-ukpeb nnyin idi Ufok Abasi Jesus Christ. Samuel ikekopke ndik ke inyene esie nte owo Laman, 27 mme Mormon edikop ndik nto eke esie nte owo Nephi. 28 Edi mmo kiet-kiet ewut ndahambet eke Andinyanga nte akpa nkpo.

Edieke nnyin midige kiet, nnyin idige eke Esie. 29 Ikoot mi edi ndisongo ke ndiwut ima eke Abasi nnyin ye ndaha-mbet eke Andinyanga okpon akan kpukpru mme ekikere efen. 30 Yak nnyin ikama ufonediomi ke ndaha-mbet nnyin—ediomi ndidi kiet.

Yak nnyin itiene uwutnkpo eke ikot Abasi ke ofuri ererimbot emi ekutde unen ke ndikabare ndi mbet Christ. Nnyin imikeme ndibere ye Jesus Christ, emi “edide emem nnyin, emi … owuride ibibene emi abaharede nnyin, ke ama akabiat usua oto ke [uwa usio-isop] esie.” 31 Ntiense nnyin kabanga Jesus Christ nno ererimbot eyekpon, ndein nnyin iyeka-iso inyene osongo ke nkpo spirit. 32 Ami nno iko ntiense ke nte nnyin “isinde eneni” ndien ikabare “ibuana ye Jehovah ke ima inyung idiana-kiet ye Enye ke mbuotidem,” emem Esie eyedi eke nnyin. 33 Ke enying Jesus Chrst, amen.

Mkpri nwed

  1. See “The First Presidency Urges Latter-day Saints to Wear Face Masks When Needed and Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19,” Newsroom, Aug. 12, 2021, newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org; “Vaccines Explained,” World Health Organization, who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines/explainers; “Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sept. 27, 2021, cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/safety-of-vaccines.html; “COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness and Safety,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cdc.gov/mmwr/covid19_vaccine_safety.html.

  2. Russell M. Nelson, “Sisters’ Participation in the Gathering of Israel,” Liahona,, Nov. 2018, 69–70.

  3. Se Doctrine ye Covenants 81:5.

  4. Many apostles and prophets have addressed unity and contention over the years. See, for example, Marvin J. Ashton, “No Time for Contention,” Ensign, May 1978, 7–9; Marion G. Romney, “Unity,” Ensign, May 1983, 17–18; Russell M. Nelson, “The Canker of Contention,” Ensign, May 1989, 68–71; Russell M. Nelson, “Children of the Covenant,” Ensign, May 1995, 32–35; Henry B. Eyring, “That We May Be One,” Ensign, May 1998, 66–68; D. Todd Christofferson, “Come to Zion,” Liahona, Nov. 2008, 37–40; Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Ministry of Reconciliation,” Liahona, Nov. 2018, 77–79; Quentin L. Cook, “Hearts Knit in Righteousness and Unity,” Liahona, Nov. 2020, 18–22; Gary E. Stevenson, “Hearts Knit Together,” Liahona, May 2021, 19–23.

  5. 3 Nephi 11:28–29.

  6. Se Moses 7:26, 28, 33. This does not suggest that the Savior’s atoning sacrifice is ongoing or that He is continuing to suffer; Jesus Christ has completed the Atonement. However, His infinite and perfect empathy and compassion that He claimed as a result of completing His atoning sacrifice allow Him to feel disappointment and sadness.

  7. 2 Nephi 2:8.

  8. John 13:34–35.

  9. Enmity is the state or feeling of being actively opposed to someone or something; it connotes hostility, antagonism, animosity, rancor, and deep-seated dislike or ill will. The Greek word translated as “enmity” is also translated as “hatred.” It is the opposite of agape, which is translated as “love.” See James Strong, The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (2010), Greek dictionary section, number 2189.

  10. Se John 17:21, 23.

  11. 3 Nephi 11:30.

  12. 4 Nephi 1:18.

  13. 4 Nephi 1:17

  14. 4 Nephi 1:16.

  15. President Russell M. Nelson has said, “The Lord loves effort” (in Joy D. Jones, “An Especially Noble Calling,” Liahona, May 2020, 16).

  16. Se 4 Nephi 1:15. There are those who have achieved this kind of unity. Ke eyeo Enoch, “Jehovah okot ikot esie Zion, koro mmo ekenyene esit ye ekikere kiet, enyung edung ke edinen-ido, ndien ubuene ndomokiet ikoduhe kotu mmo” (Moses 7:18).

  17. Se Mosiah 18:21.

  18. Se Acts 17:29; Psalm 82:6.

  19. Se 1 Corinthians 12:12–27.

  20. Se Moroni 7:47–48.

  21. Se Doctrine and Covenants 107:30–31.

  22. Dallin H. Oaks, “Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution,” Liahona, May 2021, 107.

  23. Se Nwed Mbon Rome 14:1–3, 13, 21.

  24. The Savior criticized His “disciples, in days of old, [who] sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened. Wherefore,” Jesus admonished His latter-day disciples, “I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another.” (Doctrine and Covenants 64:8–9).

  25. Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander, personal communication.

  26. In a typical Finnish fashion, when Brother Eklund discussed this decision, he said it was simply logical. Instead of praising the Finns’ magnanimity, he expressed appreciation for the Russians. The Finns were grateful for the significant contribution of the Russians to the work being done in the Helsinki Finland Temple. (Sven Eklund, personal communication.)

  27. Se Helaman13:2, 5.

  28. Se 3 Nephi 5:13, 20.

  29. Se Doctrine ye Covenants 38:27.

  30. Se Luke 14:25–33.

  31. Nwed Mbon Ephesus 2:14–15.

  32. Se Nwed Mbon Ephesus 2:19.

  33. Se Russell M. Nelson, “The Canker of Contention,” Ensign, May 1989, 71.