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News|Dateline Philippines AREA PRESIDENCY MESSAGE His Only Begotten Son s we celebrate this Christmas season parent. The Savior knew the plan; He knew we correctly focus our thoughts on He had agreed to come; but now that the Athe birth of the Savior Jesus Christ moment had arrived, the Savior checks one and His infi nite Atonement that heals our last time with His Father, whom He trusts souls and enables us to accomplish our explicitly, to be sure this is the only way. divine purpose. The Savior’s gift to us is Certainly the Father’s heart was breaking remarkable and beyond as the Son made this fi nal plea. comprehension. The Father’s silence leads the My thoughts have turned Savior to say, “Nevertheless not this Christmas however, to my will, but thine, be done.” an equally signifi cant gift (Luke 22:42) Abinadi teaches us that was given by the Father the signifi cance of this moment Elder Brent H. Nielson as He willingly sacrifi ced when he describes the Savior’s Philippines Area His Only Begott en Son. submission with the words, “the Presidency John teaches us that this gift will of the Son being swallowed of sacrifi cing His Son was up in the will of the Father.” motivated by the love the (Mosiah 15:7) My thoughts Father has for us. “For God Because of His love for us the have turned so loved the world that he Father stood by and watched gave his only begott en Son, His Son bleed from every pore this Christmas that whosoever believeth in in the Garden of Gethsemane; however, to him should not perish, but (see D&C 19:18) be scourged; an equally have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) (see Matt hew 27:26) have a crown of thorns signifi cant Ponder for a moment the deep and put into his head: (see Matt hew 27:29; be gift that was incomprehensible love that the Father has spit upon; (see Matt hew 27:30) and be for you that would cause Him to allow His crucifi ed on the cross. (see Matt hew 27:35) given by the Son to take upon Himself your sins and The Father and the Son could have stopped Father as infi rmities through the Atonement and it at any time, but out of love for us, they He willingly then suff er the terrible Crucifi xion. allowed it to go forward, knowing that in sacrifi ced His The Savior Himself even asked the Father order for mercy to satisfy justice, in order Only Begott en if there was any other way, when He said, for our sins and infi rmities to be covered, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this this needed to be a great and last sacrifi ce. Son. cup pass from me.” (Matt hew 26:39) This (Alma 34:14-16) Imagine for a moment the tender exchange between the Father and indescribable relief of the Father when His the Son tugs at the heartstrings of every Only Begott en Son fi nally utt ers the words, DECEMBER 2012 N1 “It is fi nished,” “and bows His head and This Christmas season, my thoughts dies.” (John 19:30) will be on three gifts. The fi rst is the gift My wife Marcia and I have six children. of the Son in giving His life that we may Our love for them grows with every live again, and performing the Atonement passing day. We could not imagine before that we may be forgiven. The second is the we had children that we could love them incredible gift of the Father as He gave His as much as we do. When our children are Son to pay an infi nite price for sins He did suff ering it is almost more than we can not commit and bear the burden of sorrows bear as parents to stand by and watch. He did not cause. (see I Corinthians 7:23) As we left our four sons at the MTC The third gift is the one I must give in to begin their missions, knowing how return as I follow Their divine example. diffi cult this new assignment would be May our thoughts this Christmas season for them, we could barely contain our be turned to Them and may we follow emotions. We wanted above all else for Them as we focus on what They gave, and them to serve, but we knew they would therefore, turn our thoughts to what we be gone from us for two years and that will give for Christmas this year. they would struggle with new languages, new living conditions and the challenge of conversion. As our two daughters went through the We become like experience of childbirth and the pain and They are when we incumbent changes to their bodies and “What will you give understand that emotions, as parents we could hardly bear to watch. We knew in the eternal scheme for Christmas?” it is not about us. of things it was the only way, but when it is We become like your daughter, you somehow want it to be They are when we diff erent. give of ourselves It is interesting that the pioneers who to others. If we sacrifi ced so much to establish the Church expressed that they “became acquainted can understand with [God] in [their] extremities.” (Our the great gift of Heritage, page 78) When we can get a the Father and the glimpse of suff ering; when we experience great gift of the heartache; when we feel sorrow for Son, we will know pain we may have caused; we begin to understand the priceless gift the Father that, “because gave when He off ered up His Only [we] have been Begott en Son. given much, [we] What does the Father ask of us in return too must give.” for this wonderful gift? King Benjamin (“Because I Have answers that question when he says, “And behold, all that he requires of you Been Given Much,” is to keep his commandments.” (Mosiah Hymns, no. 219) 2:22) When asked what manner of men we ought to be, the Savior responded, “Verily I say unto you, even as I am.” (3 Nephi 27:27) We become like They are when we understand that it is not about us. We become like They are when we give of ourselves to others. If we can understand the great gift of the Father and the great gift of the Son, we will know that, “because [we] have been given much, [we] too must give.” (“Because I Have Been Given Much,” Hymns, no. 219) N2 Liahona LOCAL NEWS General Authorities Visit the Philippines Elders David A. Bednar and Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Tad R. Callister of the Presidency of the Seventy, and Bishop Dean M. Davies of the Presiding Bishopric together with their wives visited the Philippines from 24 August to 02 September 2012. The Brethren visited diff erent parts of the Philippines and conducted priesthood leadership training, young single adult devotionals and missionary meetings. A special devotional for temple workers was also conducted. Elder Cook also visited with two Philippine senators, Vicente R. Sott o III and Gregorio Honasan. LAGUNA The Saints living in the province of Laguna and its neighboring areas were delighted when Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Bednar visited and conducted trainings and meetings. Elder and Sister Bednar, accompanied by Elder Michael John U. Teh, Philippines Area President, and Sister Teh, presided over a special young single adult meeting on the 24th of August at the San Pablo Stake Center. The meeting was not the usual devotional most Filipinos are accustomed to. The young single adults from many stakes and districts were given the opportunity to ask questions. The questions were as varied as the members in att endance. Some were doctrinal and some were of a more personal nature. opportunity to ask it, I still received Teh, Elder Miguel R. Valdez an area Elder Bednar explained the an answer from the Holy Ghost.” seventy, and President George E. purpose of the meeting and why Kelly Ann Balane found lessons Peterson of the San Pablo Mission. he wanted them to ask questions. which she can also apply in her After the conference, Bishop He taught through this patt ern, studies. “In academics, just like in Rhodell Agustin of Santa Rosa we learn that we can get answers real life, we learn things step by 2nd Ward, Cabuyao Stake, said, “I from the Holy Ghost for individual step, precept upon precept,” she feel motivated, rejuvenated and concerns in our lives. We need to said. spiritually uplifted.” be agents who act and not objects “I understood more clearly “The Spirit was amazing and was who are acted upon. He said: “You that I need to improve spiritually truly felt,” President Roland Garcia don’t have to be with a General every day,” Ian Reyes, a returned of the Santa Cruz Philippines Stake Authority or in a gathering like this missionary from Lipa Stake said. added. “The counsels really pierced to experience what just happened.” On the morning of Saturday, our hearts even if some of us cannot Many young members of the August 25, Elder Bednar presided understand English very well.” Church were touched by Elder over a Priesthood Leadership Bednar’s simple yet powerful Conference for stake, mission, Elder Bednar and his companions lesson.