Go Where the Spirit Is,

June 12, 2010, Saturday

The Cebu Cultural Presentation for the Dedication of the Cebu Temple (second temple in the Philippines) on June 13, 2010

The starting time was 5:00 p.m. and we were at the Angeles Stake Center (Angeles Chapel) early to view the live broadcast from Cebu.

Dallin went ahead of us. Jo, Jois, Princess, Bambi went ahead, too. Dad came after me. Bim and his family and Bong and his family came. I was happy we were together at Church today although I would have been happier if we were complete.

It was so surprising that our beloved prophet, Pres. Thomas S. Monson, was there! He was with two of my favorite speakers: his counselor Elder Henry B. Eyring, and apostle Elder Dallin H. Oaks. Elder Burton of the Presiding Bishopric was also there.

It was a great opportunity to see the prophet, here in the Philippines (though through live broadcast only) and feel the power of the Spirit. I like to go where the Spirit is, bring my family where the Spirit is. (I am happy to see my children doing the same as that is my desire.)

Feeling the Spirit renews our strength to overcome weaknesses and temptations. It brings us peace in our mind and heart – such great gifts that we need in order to be happy and confident in life.

Faith, Prayer, Family Scripture Study

If there are challenges that it seems we are powerless to solve, we are not. We still have the powers of faith and prayer . Let us have faith in the Lord, put our burdens unto Him and ask for His help and have great faith that He will grant us the desires of hearts, if not, be willing to follow His will for He knows what is best for us. Faith includes being patient and grateful and doing what is right. If we do, God will help us and grant us the desires of our hearts if they are honest and pure and in accordance to His will.

One way of doing right is reading the scriptures daily. It will inspire us, give us knowledge, strengthen us, and remind us to do and teach us how to do righteously. If we study it prayerfully and humbly, we will be in tune with the Spirit and we will desire and be determined to do right and be like our Savior, and virtue will garnish our thoughts unceasingly. We will improve our performances, our outlook, our attitude, our perspective, our understanding, our personality, even the desires of our hearts, and our dealings with our family members and our fellowmen.

As we improve our performances and do the right, we will increase in understanding and love. We will be more mature in our dealings and our decisions. Our perspective will broaden more. We will stand on higher grounds. We will continue to gain confidence and inner strength. We will be blessed. Our family will be blessed. Our faith will increase.

An evidence of improving performance is doing Family Prayer and Family Scripture Study (and Family Home Evening and Family Counsel). As we pray study the scriptures together as a family, with prayer and humility, the Lord will pour blessings to our family. We will be in tune with the Spirit, gain more knowledge and feel inspired to do the right things to make our family more united in love and respect and understanding of one another. We will see and appreciate each family member’s goodness and potential. We will feel that we love our family and we will have the opportunity to express and show our love for one another and our appreciation for each family member’s goodness and potential. These will make us feel good and loved and confident and happy with one another and feel what a joy it is to have one another as a family. We will improve our dealings with one another and as we do so, our homes will be fortified and happiness will prevail in our homes.:)

Values, Excellence and Marvelous Things

I was inspired to teach the commission of CES teachers and leaders during Faculty Meeting in February 2011.

As part of the lesson, the following message from the CES Handbook for Teachers and Leaders was read and it had a profound effect on me especially what Elder Henry B. Eyring said:

“...When a person comes to believe in and care about a principle to the point it changes or directs his or her behavior, that principle becomes a value. Henry B. Eyring, as Commissioner of the Church Educational System, said, “Values… come… from the inner workings of the Spirit as we live gospel principles…As we get our values from the gospel of Jesus Christ rooted into our work, we are going to see excellence, and we’re going to see some marvelous things” (address to the area directors, Mar. 1980)”