Akwa Mboho
Ebuana man Ebeŋe-idem enɔ Edifiak-ndi Christ
Akwa Mbono eke Ɔfiɔŋ Inaŋ 2025
11:23

Ebuana man Ebeŋe-idem enɔ Edifiak-ndi Christ

Etop otode Elder Steven D. Shumway

Eke Seventy

Ikot ye mme usuŋ efen nnyin inamde utom Abasi ebeŋe nnyin idem ke saŋa-saŋa usuŋ ndisobo ye Andinyaŋa.

Esisit ibat ɔfiɔŋ emi ebede, ami ŋkada ke efe ke ini Elder Neil L. Anderson okodukde edi. Ibihike ekekot mi nte obufa General Authority. Nte eketiede nte otuk enye abaŋa ekikere unana-ifiɔk mi, enye ama asak onyuŋ ɔdɔhɔ, “Ko, etie nte odu owo emi minyeneke ifiɔk emi midiɔŋɔke se enye anamde.

Ami mma ŋkere, “Atta prophet ye okut-nkukut mmɔdo.”

Elder Andersen ndien ama ɔdɔhɔ, “Kufina, Elder Shumway. Eye ɔfɔn—ke isua ition mme itiokiet.”

Akanam mbufo emekere ntak edɔhɔde nnyin inam mkpɔ etiede nte okpon akan nnyin ke obio ubɔŋ Abasi? Ye ediwak mfina uwem, ndi mbufo emebup ntak nnyin iyomde ikot ke ufɔk-Abasi? Ntre, manyene.

Ndien mma mbɔ ibɔrɔ ke akpatre ɔyɔhɔ mbono isua oko ke ini President Russell M. Nelson ɔkɔdɔhɔde, “Idahaemi edi ini ɔnɔ mbufo ye ami ndibeŋe idem nnɔ Edifiak-ndi Ɔbɔŋ ye Andinyaŋa nnyin, Jesus Christ.” Ini President Nelson ɔkɔdɔhɔde ntre, spirit ama ekpep mi ette ke nnyin ima inam utom Abasi, nnyin ibeŋe-idem ye mbon efen inɔ edifiak ndi Christ. Enwɔŋɔ Ɔbɔŋ anam ikot, unɔ uwam, ndikpono ke temple, nditiene ntuk, ye mme usuŋ efen nnyin inamde utom Abasi ebeŋe nnyin idem ke saŋa-saŋa usuŋ ndisobo ye Andinyaŋa.

Abasi enem esit ke ini Inamde Utom Esie

Ke uyai ini emi,” nte ubɔŋ Abasi atarade, temple enyuŋ eyɔhɔ isɔŋ, enehede eyom ukpɔŋ emi enyenede udɔŋ ndinam utom Abasi. Ndinwam ke nwaidem edi ata ntak eke owombet Christ. Edi unam utom isisɔpke inɔ inem. Emi edi ntak mmade mbufo nti mme anam ediomi mbet, esinede mme ndima missionary nnyin, emi ekpɔŋde udɔŋ mbufo ye mfina man ekpono Abasi ke ndinam mkpɔ nnɔ nditɔ Esie. Abasi “anem esit ke ndikpono [mbufo oro ekponode Enye] ke ndinen-ido.” Enye ɔŋwɔŋɔ, “Utib [fo] eyekpon ndien nsinsi edidi ubɔŋ [fo].” Nnyin imaidɔhɔ ih inɔ ntuak-ibuot, nnyin imɔdɔhɔ ih inɔ Jesus Christ. Ndien koro nnyin imɔdɔhɔ ih inɔ Christ,nnyin idɔhɔ ih inɔ atta uyuhɔ uwem emi ekemede ndidu.

Nkekpep ŋkpɔ emi ke ini nkanamde utom nnyuŋ mkpepde mbaŋa chemical engineering ke ufɔk-nwed. Ema ekot mi ete ndi anam nditum edinam ke ward mbon emi midɔhɔ ndɔ kaŋa. Emi ekedi mkpɔ ndik ɔnɔ mi. Edi, ami mma nyime, ndien ke akpa ekedi ufen-ufen. Edi ke edinam kiet ediye nka-iferi kiet okokopde inem abaŋa usuŋ emi nkɔnɔde ice cream. Enye ama afiak edi utim ikata ye ekikere ke ami nyekut imɔ. Ima itɔŋɔ ima, enye onyuŋ ebup mi ndɔ urua iba kpɔt ke iso. Ekeme ndidi ikinehekede isɔp, onyuŋ edi ami nkebup, edi akpanikɔ edi mma nkop ndik ndikere ke mkpekwe Heidi edieke mkpesinde ikot oro.

Ebuana Nnyin edi Mbeŋe-idem ɔnɔ Edifiak-ndi Christ

Nnyin inam utom Abasi idihe ke ntak Abasi oyomde nnyin edi ke ntak emi nnyin iyomde Abasi ye akamba mme edidiɔŋ Esie. Enye ɔŋwɔŋɔ, “edi, sese, Ami nyediɔŋ kpukpru mbon oro enamde utom ke inwaŋ vine mi ye akamba edidiɔŋ.” Yak ami mbuana ukpep ŋkpɔ ita emi ekpepde adaŋa nte ebuana nnyin ke utom Abasi ɔdiɔŋde nnyin onyuŋ anwamde nnyin ibeŋeidem man isobo ye Andinyaŋa.

Akpa, nte nnyin ibuanade, nnyin imekɔri ibine “udomo ekebotde [nnyin]”

Nnyin ikpep usuŋ-edinam emi ke mbuk Obot. Usen utom kiet ama ebe, Abasi ama okut nkɔri enamde ke ndidɔhɔ “oro ɔfɔn.” Enye ikɔdɔhɔke ke utom okure mme ɔfɔn ama. Edi se enye eketiŋde ekedi ŋkɔri ama odu, ndien ke enyin Abasi, oro ama ɔfɔn!

Ikot ibiereke mme isɔŋɔke ufɔn mme edinenido owo. Edi, nte nnyin inamde utom ye Abasi ke usuŋ emi Enye oyomde, nnyin iyekɔri ikesim udomo obot nnyin.

Abasi adara abaŋa nkɔri nnyin, ndien ana nnyin itiene idara ntre, okposuk edi nte nnyin inyenede utom ndinam. Ndusuk ini, nnyin imekeme ndinana ukeme mme ŋkpɔ-utom ndida nnam utom ke ikot nnyin. Ke ntre, nnyin imikeme ndinam utom inyuŋ ikpeme mme ikɔ ntiense nnyin ke otode ke mme enyene ufɔn usuŋ nte akam ye ndikpep nwed Abasi. Edima Ete Heaven nnyin ibiomke nnyin ikpe ke ini inyimede edi ikemeke ndinam.

Udiana, unam utom emenede ufɔk nnyin ye ufɔk Abasi enim nte ndisana ebiet emi nnyin ikemeke edikpep nte idude uwem ediomi.

Nte uwutŋkpɔ, ediomi nnyin nditi Christ kpukpru ini edi mkpɔ ebehede owo kiet-kiet, edi nnyin ikpeme ediomi emi nte nnyin inwamde mbon efen. Ikoot ɔyɔhɔ nnyin ye ukeme “ndibiom … mbiomo kiet eken, ke ntre enam ibet Abasi.” Ke ini iwade idem koro imama Abasi inyuŋ iyom ndikpeme ediomi nnyin, nwaidem emi etiede ibiɔŋ-utom ye ntak-urua eyedi ke idara ye edikpuhɔre ndaha.

Edinam inyaŋake nnyin koro mmɔ idihe ŋwed use enyiŋ heaven. Idihe ntre, nnyin ima ikpeme mme ediomi eyirede ye mme edinam emi, nnyin iyekabare idi utɔ owo emi oyomde ndidu ke iso Abasi. Ifiɔk akan eyihe ke ndinam utom mme mme edimek ke unamke. Mbeŋeidem nnyin ida isobo ye esus Christ eyesɔp ke ini itrede ndibup se Abasi edinyimede inyuŋ itɔŋɔ ndibup se Abasi akpamade.

Ɔyɔhɔ ita, ndibuana ke utom Abasi anam nnyin ibɔ enɔ ukeme otode Abasi ndien enye okop mkponkan ima Esie.

Nnyin ibɔhɔ utip okuk ke utom inamde. Edi, ŋwed Abasi ekpep ete ke eke nnyin “utom [nnyin inyene] ndibɔ ukeme otode Abasi, man [nnyin] ikeme ndikop nsɔŋɔ ke Spirit, [inyene] ifiɔk Abasi, [inyuŋ] ikpep ye odudu ye unen otode Abasi.” Oro edi atta eti mbubehe!

Ke ntak ukeme otode Abasi, eke nnyin ukeme mme unana-ukeme idihe akpan ndaha ndinɔ mme ndibɔ ikot. Abasi iyomke mfɔn-mma utom mme atta nwɔrɔ-nda enɔ man edibuana ke utom Esie. Ekpedide ntre, Queen Esther ikpikemeke ndinyaŋa idut esie, Peter ikpekemeke ndida akpa-ntɔŋɔ Ufɔk-Abasi usuŋ, nko Joseph Smith ikpinyuŋ idihe prophet eke Mfiak-mmen-ndi.

Nte nnyin idade mbuɔtidem inam mkpɔ okponde akan ukeme nnyin, eyesio mmem-idem nnyin ewut. Enye emi idihe mkpɔ ɔnɔde inemesit, edi ɔfɔn “ndidiɔŋɔ ette ke edi ke mfɔn [Abasi], … ke nnyin inyene odudu ndinam mme mkpɔ emi.”

Nnyin iyeduɔ ediwak ini adaŋante nnyin inamde utom Abasi. Edi ke ukeme nnyin, Jesus Christ omum nnyin. Enye suŋsuŋ edibede nnyin nsit-nsit ida idinyene ifiɔk erinyaŋa oto ke edikpu nnyin ye ndik ye ekikere nte ke nnyin idikemeke ndikem. Nnyin ima iyak ekpri, edi andikpon-nkan ukeme nnyin inɔ Abasi, Abasi eyetat enye. Nnyin ima inam uwa inɔ Jesus Christ, Enye eyediɔŋ nnyin. Emi edi odudu edikabade-nnam emi otode mfon Abasi. Nte inamde utom, nnyin ke ikɔri ke mfɔn tutu ebeŋe nnyin idem “Ete ada edibede nnyin, man ikida ke iso [Jesus Christ].”

Nwam Mbon-Efen Ebɔ enyuŋ Edara ke Enɔ Ikot

Ami ndiɔŋɔke kpukpru se Andinyaŋa edibupde mi ke ini ndidade ke iso Esie, edi ekeme nddi mbume kiet edidi “Anie ke afo akada edi?” Ikot edi ndisana enɔ emi otode edima Ete ke Heaven ada emen mbon efen ye nnyin esɔk Jesus Christ. Ntre Mmɔdɔhɔ mme adausuŋ ye kpukpru nnyin ikokoi iyom mbon emi minyeneke ikoot. Enɔ udɔŋ enyuŋ enwam mmɔ edibuana ke utom Abasi enwam mmɔ ebeŋe idem ebaŋa edifiak ndi Christ.

John ikisinke idem ke Ufɔk Abasi ke ini bishop esie ekekesede enye onyuŋ ɔdɔhɔ enye ke Abasi enyene utom ɔnɔ enye ndinam. Enye ama ɔdɔhɔ John etre ndinwɔŋ cigarette. Okposuk edi nte John ama esidomo ediwak ini nditre, idahaemi enye ama okop nte ndedibe odudu anwamde enye.

Udua ita ke iso, stake president ama ekese John. Ema ekot enye akanam utom ke bishopric. Ama akpa John idem. Enye ama ɔdɔhɔ stake president ke ibihike imɔ ikikpɔŋ ediŋwɔŋ ciga. Edieke emi ɔwɔrɔde ke imɔ iyekpɔŋ uwem ndika mbre ball ke usen Ederi, nte ededi, etie nte enye oro okpon akaha ndibup. Eti ibɔrɔ emi stake president ɔkɔnɔde ekedi mmem-mmem: “John, idihe ami ndɔhɔ fi; edi Abasi.”

Ndien John ama ɔbɔrɔ, “Nte ededi, edieke edide ntre, nyenam.”

John ama ɔdɔhɔ mi ete ke mme uwa ndinam utom emi ekedi itie ediwɔŋɔde spirit ɔnɔ imɔ ye kabaŋa ekpuk esie.

Ami mmekere mme imisinyene idue enyin, itre ndikot owo emi, ke ndise obuk-idem nnyin, etie nte ikpidihe enye mme idotke. Mme imekeme ndibehe idem nnyin ye edu editim nnam ikan ibet ŋkɔri, isin ndikut nte Andinyaŋa adiande ukeme ke idem mbon emi mikpidihe ye mbon edide esen ke ndinɔ mmɔ ufaŋ ndinam utom.

Elder David A. Bednar ekpeb ufɔn ewuhɔ ke nwed ikɔ-Abasi “eyak ofuri [anwan ye] eren ekpep [eke-mmɔ] utom, enyuŋ enam.” Ndi nnyin imenam emi? Ke in mme adausuŋ ye unyene nditɔ eyakde mbon efen ekpep enyuŋ enam enɔ idem mmɔ, mmɔ eyesehe enyuŋ eforo. Ke ini mmem mmem usuŋ ekemede ndidi ndinɔ mme enyene mbuɔtidem mbon ufɔk Abasi udiana ikoot, ke ata eti usuŋ edi ndikot mbon emi midotke ete enwam ndien eyak mmɔ ekpep enyuŋ ekɔri.

Edieke Christ okpodude mi ke idem esie, Enye ekpekese mbon udɔŋɔ, ekpekekpep Sunday School, ekpeketie ye ekpri eyen aŋwan emi esit ɔbuŋɔde, onyuŋ ɔdiɔŋ mkpri nditɔ. He ekeme ndinam utom Esie. Edi Enye ekpeme ibet emi ayakde nnyin inam inyuŋ ikpep, oro anam Enye ɔdɔŋ nnyin ke itie Esie.

Ebuana ke utom Abasi asaŋa ye “unen, ukeme ye ibiɔŋ-utom ndida nnɔ Ɔbɔŋ [Jesus Christ].” Ke ini nnyin ini inamde utom ndidibede Christ ndien idihe idem nnyin, utom nnyin akabare edi idara. Mbon efen ema ekpe ubet-ukpep-mkpɔ nnyin, esop, nsaŋa-nse unɔ-unwam, mme edinam editi Christ nkan nte mmɔ etide nnyin, utom emi ɔnɔ odudu.

Ke edinehede nyom ndida-nnɔ Andinyaŋa, nnyin ikabare itie nte Enye. Oro edi ata-eti mbeŋeidem nnɔ nsasana ini kini nnyin owo kiet-kiet iditɔŋɔke-edɔŋ inyuŋ ifiori ke Jesus edi Christ, eke ami ndide-ntiense ke Enye edi,ndien ke President Russell M. Nelson edi “uyo Esie ɔnɔ ofuri ererimbot” ndiŋwam nnyin “ibeŋeidem … inɔ se ididide.” Ke edisana enyiŋ Jesus Christ, amen.

Mkpri ŋwed

  1. Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” Liahona, Nov. 2024, 121.

  2. See Doctrine and Covenants 4:2–4.

  3. Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” 121.

  4. Doctrine and Covenants 76:5–6.

  5. See John 10:10.

  6. Doctrine and Covenants 21:9.

  7. Doctrine and Covenants 88:19.

  8. See Genesis 1.

  9. In the Savior’s parable of the talents, the Master gives responsibility over “a few things” to each servant. The Master was more focused on each servant’s progress toward becoming masters “over many things” and less concerned with the return of His goods. The one servant who was afraid and unwilling to labor was left condemned and without progression. (See Matthew 25:14–28.)

  10. Se Luke 1:37. Elder David A. Bednar teaches that “righteous work is a necessity for spiritual progress” (“Things as They Really Are 2.0” [worldwide devotional for young adults, Nov. 3, 2024], Gospel Library).

  11. See Doctrine and Covenants 10:4.

  12. See Mosiah 4:24.

  13. See Russell M. Nelson, “What We Are Learning and Will Never Forget,” Liahona, May 2021, 79: “God wants us to work together and help each other. That is why He sends us to earth in families and organizes us into wards and stakes. That is why He asks us to serve and minister to each other. … We can accomplish so much more together than we can alone. God’s plan of happiness would be frustrated if His children remained isolated one from another.”

  14. Galatians 6:2; see also Mosiah 18:8–9.

  15. President Henry B. Eyring taught: “To be called to serve is a call to come to love the Master we serve. It is a call to have our natures changed” (“As a Child,” Liahona, May 2006, 17).

  16. See Henry B. Eyring, “Should a Latter-day Saint Sell a Product When Its Use Violates the Word of Wisdom?,” Ensign, Apr. 1977, 30.

  17. Mosiah 18:26; see also Mosiah 27:5.

  18. See 2 Nephi 3:13, 24.

  19. Jacob 4:7.

  20. See Isaiah 40:29–31; 2 Corinthians 12:9.

  21. See Matthew 14:15–21. Even though a meager five loaves of bread and two fishes were offered to feed the massive multitude of people, the Savior gratefully took that offering and magnified it to even more than what was needed. One of the great lessons of this miracle is that what the Savior offers us is always more than enough!

  22. The Latin root of the word sacrifice is sacer, meaning sacred or holy, and facere, meaning to make. As we sacrifice for God, He makes us holy (see Helaman 3:35; Doctrine and Covenants 132:50).

  23. 3 Nephi 27:14.

  24. See Doctrine and Covenants 15:6; 16:6; 18:10–16.

  25. See Moroni 7:2; General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4.1, Gospel Library.

  26. See “Let Us All Press On,” Hymns, no. 243.

  27. Personal experience and correspondence, Jan. 4, 2025; name has been changed.

  28. See Matthew 10:5–8; Luke 10:1–9; General Handbook, 4.2.6.

  29. Doctrine and Covenants 107:99; emphasis added; from a conversation with Elder David A. Bednar, Dec. 2024.

  30. See Joseph Smith—History 1:20. Our youth are not just future leaders in the Church They can lead in substantive ways now. I saw this truth serving with 744 of the most remarkable disciples of Jesus Christ in the Illinois Chicago Mission from 2019–2022. During COVID, these young but powerful disciples of Christ led God’s work forward to unseen heights in remarkable and innovative ways.

  31. See 2 Nephi 27:20–21.

  32. Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2023), 3.

  33. In Jacob 1:17, 19, Jacob’s errand was the Lord’s errand. He did not magnify his office unto himself but unto the Lord so that he could teach God’s word and thus “be found spotless at the last day.”

  34. See 3 Nephi 27:27.

  35. Doctrine and Covenants 1:11–12.