Hear Him Area Presidency Devotional Series Elder Taniela B. Wakolo Transcript

Brothers and sisters, I rejoice with you in the gospel or the Doctrine of Christ. We thank you for what you do but mostly we thank you for who you are.

A few weeks ago, we as an Area Presidency released a video message expressing our love and concern for all of you, as we continue to face one of the most challenging health crises of our time. Though lives have been disrupted, employment affected, and economies are floundering, we should remain positive by counting our blessings and trusting in the words of our prophet that “this, too, shall pass.”

As we look forward to the return of our new normal day-to-day activities, we are grateful for the simple joys afforded by the opportunity to spend more time with our families. As I mentioned in the broadcast, Sister Wakolo and I felt the Spirit as we studied the Book of Mormon, shared the sacrament at home, used the Come, Follow Me manual everyday, and bore our testimonies to our children and to each other.

Feeling the Spirit increased our conviction to make returning to the temple our priority as soon as restrictions are lifted. As we turned our hearts to the temple, we received the inspiration to work on the salvation of our Fijian ancestors by submitting their names to the temple and performing saving ordinances for them. In fact some of the work of our 200 ancestors were done in the Manila and Cebu Temples. Those experiences helped us to strive to live temple worthy lives.

We extend the same challenge to you as we echo the words of President Russel M. Nelson:

“ Brothers and sisters, during times of our distress when temples are closed, you can still draw upon the power of your temple covenants and endowment as you honor your covenants. Please use this time when temples are closed to continue to live a temple- worthy life or to become temple worthy.

“Because Jesus Christ is at the center of everything we do in the temple, as you think more about the temple you will be thinking more about Him. Study and pray to learn more about the power and knowledge with which you have been endowed—or with which you will yet be endowed.” Close quote

Helaman 5: 9 “there is no other means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.”

Hear Him Area Presidency Devotional Series Elder Taniela B. Wakolo 1 of 4 Temple closure due to the COVID-19 lockdown delayed the wedding of Ryan Mesina of Tarlac and Hannah Cayado of Pangasinan, but instead of getting stressed, they are using the extra time to prepare themselves for the marriage by remaining worthy and living righteously — holding sacrament and family prayers, studying the scriptures and keeping the commandments. Aside from the additional spiritual preparation, Mark Domingo of Kami-ling District and Joyce Montemayor of Cavite Stake are evaluating their finances due to this crisis. They are grateful for the prompting to cut down on the lavish expenses for their wedding which allowed them to save more for emergencies.

Likewise, the Verr-tosso Family of Lopez Philippines Stake were scheduled to be sealed as a family at the Manila Temple in April. They didn’t ask the Lord WHY the sealing was postponed, they asked HOW they can better prepare? They now have individual scripture reading in the morning and family scripture study in the evening. They also conduct family home evenings, attend Sunday Devotionals, and minister to others whenever they can.

Making Christ the center of everything we do at home is the natural result of abiding by the home-centered gospel learning approach encouraged by the Church. Elder David A. Bednar applies the same mindset to family history:

Quote “Family history centers now are in our homes. Supplemental support for our family history research work also is available in our meetinghouses.

“Vital temple preparation classes occur in our homes; important but secondary temple preparation classes also may be conducted periodically in our meetinghouses.” Close quote

Let us discuss a list of in-home family history work that can help you prepare for the temple:

First: Complete your first four generations • The count starts from you being the first generation, Saimo, Saiyo, then your parents as second, your grandparents as the third, and your great-grandparents are the fourth generation. • The best way to start your search for new information is to reach out to your family members. Start by asking your parents, aunts and uncles, and your grandparents for information. That is what 12-year old Austere Lorai-yna of San Gabriel Stake did: he asked his father to help him with his personal copy of the My Family Booklet. • Or you may do what Chloe Cabotaje, a young woman from Rosales Stake, did: she entered her four generation pedigree chart onto the Family Tree app. • You can add information about other family members—spouses, children, and parents—in the same way. • The goal is to reach a deceased ancestor.

Hear Him Area Presidency Devotional Series Elder Taniela B. Wakolo 2 of 4

Second: Participate in Indexing • Indexing helps records become “searchable” on FamilySearch.org • It is a great service activity that everyone can do from the home or from anywhere that there is access to a computer and an internet connection. The Cortez family of Santa Cruz Laguna Philippines Stake like many of you, does indexing as a family activity and they set 1,500 records during the quarantine. • Did you know that over 2 million Philippine records have been indexed by members during the quarantine period? This translates to more than 10 million names. • Over 9,000 Filipino members have been participating in indexing projects so far this year. • Stakes and wards should encourage members to continue doing indexing even after the quarantine, just like Fairview Ward which got 14-year old Jasper Dix Dekiniya and 11-year old Abish Movilla to participate in the ward’s “Quarantine Indexing Challenge.”

Third: Preserve memories on FamilySearch.org • The extended time at home can be a great opportunity to start scanning old documents and photos and uploading them to FamilySearch.org. • Using the Family Tree app is a quick way to upload these memories • The app can be used to preserve even audio recordings—interview each other now!

Fourth: Prepare your ancestors’ names for temple ordinance • “Before you perform ordinances for a deceased person born within the last 110 years, obtain permission from the closest living relative. The closest living relatives are, in this order: a spouse, then children, then parents, then siblings. • You submit names to the temple by doing either of the following: - Printing ordinance cards at home - Sharing names to the temple system

Doing Family History work at home is not only an effective way to prepare for the temple while waiting for the sacred doors to open or fully open, but it will also strengthen and protect us. Elder Dale G. Renlund promised:

“I promise you protection for you and your family as you take this challenge to find as many names to take to the temple as ordinances you perform in the temple . . . .protection from the temptation and ills of this world, you’ll also find personal power, power to change, power to repent, power to learn, power to be sanctified, and power to turn the hearts of your family together and heal that which needs healing.” Close quote

Hear Him Area Presidency Devotional Series Elder Taniela B. Wakolo 3 of 4 In keeping with the home-centered and Church-supported approach to both gospel learning and family history, Stakes and Wards can help members prepare to go to the temple by doing the following: • Encourage family history work in the home. This will allow Stakes, Wards and families to continue to take their family names to the Temple. • Make sure that the ward support system is in place - trained Temple & Family History Consultants - functioning Ward Temple & Family History Leader - Ward Temple & Family History Plan being discussed at every ward council meeting • Encourage and Invite individuals, whose temple recommend have or about to be expired, for an interview. A Stake President excitedly informed us that he and his counselors have been doing a lot of virtual Temple Recommend interviews, both for renewals and for those entering the temple for the first time. • Set a goal to have more temple workers per stake – this will allow stakes to go to the Temple with their temple workers. • Incorporate temple and family history work in the youth’s goals under the Children and Youth initiative. The best way to form temple-going habits among Latter-day Saints is to start while they are young.

In case you have not yet received your endowment or sealing as a family, this quarantine is the best time to prepare!

Here is a list of things you can do to qualify yourself for a Temple Recommend. • Live worthy to enter the temple NOW, Gaiyon, Karon. This means living the Law of Chastity, the Word of Wisdom, Obey the Law of Tithing and Offering and the rest of the standards needed to enter the Lord’s house. • Study scriptures and talks by the prophets and apostles that are relevant to the temple. • Talk to friends who have been to the temple and ask them what the temple means to them. Their testimonies will strengthen yours fortify your resolve to worship in the temple. • Work with your family and help make your home “a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of God” (D&C 109:8).

What we gain from the temple will depend to a large degree on what we take to the temple in the way of humility and reverence and a desire to learn. I know that if you will use the time during this quarantine to prepare for the temple, our return to the temple when this crisis ends will be infinitely sweeter.

I give you this promise in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Hear Him Area Presidency Devotional Series Elder Taniela B. Wakolo 4 of 4