The Zhao Family

大家好！

I hope you are all doing well! There was some heavy rain and red rain warnings this week which gave us a lot of time to complete office tasks. However, because of so we had solid time later in the week to go prostylting in the further parts of our area.

This week I want to recount a special lesson I had on Thursday, which actually began last Sunday. That day we had gone to the baptism of 黃兄弟 with our friend Tiger, who was able to witness the ordinance for the first time. Afterwards, several members, especially Debby, our Institute teacher, bore amazing testimonies of the Gospel, in particular about family. Since Tiger had been very busy in the past, we had met with him infrequently and did not know much about why he came. However, that Sunday as he talked to members, we learned that he was temporarily living away from his family to complete his education but he was planning on moving them here soon, a family of five children. Tiger, realizing the family centered core of this Gospel, for the first time in the three months agreed to meet on a weekly basis.

Thursday was the actual day we met, and we prepared a lesson on the Restoration because of his curiosity in the pamphlet we had shared with him. This lesson with our fellowshipper 劉兄弟 went nothing but amazing, with Tiger understanding the need for a restoration and sharing his own thoughts of how the term 'restoration' also meant to cleanse and bring back to an original state. At last, because of the previous Sunday, we also planned to extend him a baptismal date that same lesson, so near the end we asked if he would be willing to accept a baptismal goal. In a confident answer, Tiger said "[No... As this church needs to support families, it only is natural that I need my family here first, so we can become baptized together.]"

I told Tiger then that there was no better answer that he could've given. What I realize is how much it is a special privilege to help others realize the importance of understanding our divine inheritance.

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.. thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

During the rest of the week we had more opportunities to teach, which included helping our progressing friend Simon visit the temple for the first time. Although he couldn't go in, he described the place feeling like like "another dimension." He is almost fully taught, and through faith in reading the Book of Mormon, he will find his own witness. As Ether teaches, "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God" (Ether 12:4).

Office tasks this week included a couple more apartment viewings as the deadline is getting closer since one of our apartments near Wan Chai will be ending it's lease. We have been grinding through agents on WhatsApp to try to find a suitable place for six missionaries to live, which is not easy considering the living constrictions and high expenses in one of the richest cities in the world. In addition we had the chance to meet the missionaries who just came into the mission a little more as they took their introductory trip to the first baptismal site in Hong Kong.

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At last, throughout this week I had a lot of time to reflect on what this past year has included. There have been some of the best memories in my life but I don't have the time to write them all. And I know this email is getting long so many of you probably won't get here, but I wanted to share this poem that I read this week that summarizes a lot of the reasons which I believe in what I do, and the special truth of who we are.

MY FATHER IN HEAVEN,
BY MISS ELIZA R. SNOW

O my Father, thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place;
When shall I regain thy presence,
And again behold thy face?
In thy holy habitation
Did my spirit once reside?
In my first primeval childhood
Was I nurtur’d near thy side?

For a wise and glorious purpose
Thou hast plac’d me here on earth,
And withheld the recolleection
Of my former friends and birth:
Yet oft times a secret something
Whispered you’re a stranger here;
And I felt that I had wandered
From a more exalted sphere.

I had learn’d to call thee father
Through thy spirit from on high;
But until the key of knowledge
Was restor’d, I knew not why.
In the heav’ns are parents single?
No, the thought makes reason stare;
Truth is reason—truth eternal
Tells me I’ve a mother there.

When I leave this frail existence—
When I lay this mortal by,
Father, mother, may I meet you
In your royal court on high?
Then, at length, when I’ve completed
All you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation
Let me come and dwell with you.

1.14 Eliza R. Snow, “My Father in Heaven,” October 1845

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"Know... brethren beloved, your election of God.

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake"

"Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet."

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

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(1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, D&C 76:61, Colossians 3:15)

Love,
Elder Zhao