Akwa Mboho
Ndida Enyiŋ Jesus Christ
Akwa Mbono Ɔfiɔŋ Duop 2025
13:22

Ndida Enyiŋ Jesus Christ

Otode Elder Dale G. Renlund

Eke Eboho mme Apostle Duopeba

Nte nnyin ikutde inyuŋ itide Jesus Christ awak ke uwem nnyin, ntre ke nnyin iyom nditie nte Enye awak.

Ke isua 2018, ke University Utah, ema esiak saŋa-saŋa ifim-ukpono enɔ nta-ifiɔk, ekekotde “Dr. Russell M. Nelson ye Dantzel W. Nelson Presidential Chair ke Cardiothoracic Surgery.”—cardio, ɔwɔrɔde “esit,” ndien thoracic, ɔwɔrɔde ikpana “esit.” Enye okokpono akpan utom President Nelson nte abiaibɔk usiak-esit ye unwam enye ɔkɔbɔde oto nwan esie, Dantzel, emi ama akakpa. Ekekpe ifim oro eto okuk enamde ada ebihi oruk ini iso. Owo esimekde ndinɔ odot-ukpono ifim emi esibɔ nwed-editi, unwam okuk-ɔffiɔŋ, ye okuk nduŋɔde.

Dr. Selzman ye President Nelson

Akpa abia-ibɔk usiak-idem ekemekde ada akama ifim oro ekedi Dr. Craig H. Selzman, eti abia-ibɔk usiak-esit emi midihe owo Ufɔk-Abasi nnyin. Ke usɔrɔ ndinɔ ifim-ukpono emi ebine Dr. Selzman, ediwak akpan isenowo ema edu, emi ekesinede President Nelson ye nwan esie, Sister Wendy W. Nelson. Ke esop oro, President Nelson ama etiŋ ikɔ ke nsuhɔre-idem abaŋa ntɔŋɔ utom usiak-idem esie.

Ke ini oro Dr. Selzman abuana se ɔwɔrɔde ɔnɔ enye ke ndimek enye ndori ke ifim nta-ifiɔk emi Enye ama ɔdɔhɔ ette usen inaŋ ebede, ama akabiat anyan ini ke ubet unam-utom, enye ama okut ke owo-udɔŋɔ esie oyom efiak emen ekesiak. Enye ama okop mmemidem ye nsukesit, koro ɔdiɔŋɔde ke imɔ iyebiat okoneyo kiet ke ufɔk-ibɔk.

Dr. Selzman ye Sister ye President Nelson

Mbubreyo emi, Dr. Selzman ama enyene ɔkpuhɔde-uwem nneme ye idemesie. Idahaemi, enye ama ekere: “Ke Friday, eyemek mi edori ke ifim-ukpono nta-ifiɔk ekotde edian Dr. Nelson. Enye edi owo ediɔŋɔde ke ekeme ndimum esit esie nkama kpukpru ini, ama kpukpru owo, inyuŋ iyatke esit. Idahaemi eyomde ndiyiri enyiŋ mi ye ekesie mi, ana nwana nditie nte enye.” Dr. Selzman ama ededi eti asiak owo idem. Edi enye okoyom ndinehede mfɔn mma.

Ke edem, mbon utom esie ekpediɔŋɔ ebaŋa mmem-idem ye edikpu esie koro enye esiyak owut ke ido ye uyo ikɔ esie. Edi ke ubet usiak -idem okoneyo oro, Dr. Selzman ama odomo ukeme ndinɔ unwam nnyuŋ nwut ima nnɔ udim-utom esie Enye ama ekere ke ukpuhɔde odu onyuŋ eyime ndikaiso nwana nditie nte Dr. Nelson

Dr. Selzman esinede RMN pin

Isua ition ke iso, President Nelson ama ayak nwed utom esie ɔnɔ University Utah ke mfɔn. Ikpɔ-owo etode University oro ema ekekɔm President Nelson. Ke ini edinam emi, Dr. Selzman ama afiak etiŋ ikɔ. Etiŋde abaŋa ikɔ adade ɔnɔ enyiŋ President Nelson, RMN, enye ama ɔdɔhɔ, “Odu edu-uwem ‘RMN’ emi atarade akara Ikpehe Usiak-idem Cardiothoracic ke Utah University.”

ke ini edikpu, Dr. Selzman ama ɔdɔhɔ ete: “Ami nnam se nnyin ikpepde mbon ikpepde enam idahaemi—itiŋ-enyin, fre baŋa, nnam etim ɔfɔn nte ekemede. Edu-uwem odu ye nnyin kpukpru usen. Nnyin inɔ kpukpru nkani ye mbufa owo edude ke ikpehe lapel pin Ke isɔŋ pin oro odu mme leta ewetde ‘RMN.’ Edu-uwem RMN edi ntɔŋɔ ke ukpep-ŋkpɔ nnyin: ikpep kpukpru owo.” Dr. Selzman ama ɔdiɔŋ akani edu-uwem ye udɔŋ esie koro ema eyiri enyiŋ esie ye enyiŋ President Nelson.

Mme udim edinam emi abuanade Dr. Selzman anam mi mbup idem mi, “Ami mkpuhɔ didie tɔŋɔ nkeyiri enyiŋ mi ye enyiŋ Jesus Christ. Ndi ami mmada nnyene edu-uwem mbiet-Christ ke akpatre? Ndi ami moyom ke akpanikɔ nditie nte Enye?”

Ke ifiɔk Dr. Selzman, nnyin imekeme ndikut ŋkpri ŋkaha nkpɔ ition emi ebietde ndutim emi anamde nnyin ida idori ke idem nnyin enyiŋ Jesus Christ. Okposuk edi ndutim oro ɔtɔŋɔde ye uduɔk-mmɔŋ, enye ikureke tutu nnyin itim isana, ifɔn-ima inyuŋ itim itie nte Enye.

Akpa ŋkpɔ edi se edade ediɔŋɔ nnyin. Edimek Dr. Selzman nsin ke ifim-ukpono nta-ifiɔk Nelson ama eyiri enyiŋ esie ye President Nelson, mbemiso Abia-ibɔk Selzman editɔŋɔ ndidian idem ye President Nelson. Ke in nnyin idade idori ke idem nnyin enyiŋ Jesus Christ, nnyin imiyiri enyin nnyin ye Ekesie. Nnyin imidian idem ye Enye. Ke idatesit, edidiɔŋɔ nnyin nte Christian. Nnyin imɔdiɔŋɔ Andinyaŋa inyuŋ idaha-ida ye uko eda ebat nnyin nte Ekesie.

Adade ekpere idiɔŋɔ edi mbiet-ŋkpɔ efen—Editi. Ke ini Dr. Selman ama asaŋa oduk ubet-utom esie, enyin esie eyesaŋa ekekut ŋkwa-itɔŋ ukpono enye ɔkɔbɔde ke ini ekemekde enye esin ke ifim-ukpono nta-ifiɔk Nelson. Nkwa-itɔŋ ukpono emi eyeti enye edu-uwem RMN ke usen. Eke nnyin, ndidia udia-ɔbɔŋ kpukpru urua anwam nnyin nditi Jesus Christ ofuri urua oro. Nte nyin idiade udia-ɔbɔŋ, nnyin inam ntre ke editi ekɔm-urua Enye ekekpede ada afak nnyin. Nnyin inam ediomi obufa ke nditi Enye, iti ima Esie, inyuŋ inemesit ke mfɔn Esie. Nnyin imɔdiɔŋɔ kpukpru ini ite ke oto ke mfɔn Esie kpɔt ke edinyaŋa nnyin esio ke mkpa obuk-idem ye eke spirit ye nnyin inamde ofuri ŋkpɔ emi ikemede.

Editi ɔwɔrɔ ette nnyin itiene item enɔde eto prophet Eto Nwed Mormon, Alma. Nnyin “iyeyak kpukpru edinam [nnyin] inɔ Abasi, ebiet ekededi [nnyin ikade, nnyin] iyak enye edi ke Abasi; … [nnyin] iyak kpukpru ekikere enɔ Abasi; …[nnyin inyuŋ] iyak ima [esit nnyin] inim ke ubɔk Abasi ke nsinsi.” Ekpededi ke ini nnyin inamde mme ɔŋkpɔ efen, nnyin isuk ise Enye, kpasuk nte nnyin itide enyiŋ nnyin, ibeheke ŋkpɔ efen isede.

Nkpɔ ɔkɔride ɔwɔrɔ ke nditi se Andinyaŋa anamde ɔnɔ nnyin edi anam ita—ndikpebe. Dr. SelZman ama ɔtɔŋɔ ndikpwbe President Nelson ye edu-uwem RMN. Ami mmenim ke edu-uwem President Nelson edi ŋkpɔ owutde anyan ini uwem ndikpebe Jesus Christ. Eke nnyin edi, udomo nte nnyin isaŋade ikpere Abasi, udomo oro ke nnyin idiyom ndibiet Enye. Nte mbet Esie, ikpuhɔde idi eti ke ini nnyin isede Enye, ikan ke ini nnyin isede idem nnyin ŋɔ Nnyin iyom nditie nte Enye man ediɔŋ nnyin ye mme nti ido Esie. Ana ibɔŋ akam man iyɔhɔ ye ima, ata ima Christ.

Nte President Nelson ekekpepde ke April: “Nte ata-ima ama akabarede edi ubak ido nnyin, nnyin iyeduɔk udɔŋ ndisuhɔde mbon efen. Nnyin iyitre ndibiere ikpe nnɔ mbon efen. Nnyin iyinyene ima inɔ mme owo ke nsio-nsio ndaha ke uwem.7 Ndinyene ima nnɔ kpukpru owo… edi akpan ɔnɔ ŋkɔri nnyin. Ima edi ntɔŋɔ eti edu-uwem emi ɔfɔnde.” Asaŋade ye ima, nnyin imoyom, ndiibɔk, ndida nnam, inyuŋ itat” mme eno spirit efen Andinyaŋa ɔnɔde, emi esinede edinen-ido, uwem-akpanikɔ, ime, nsuhɔre-idem, ye itiŋ-enyin.

Ndikpebe Jesus Christ ada nnyin ekesim anam inaŋ mbiet—ndinyime ye uduak Esie Nnyin idiana ye Enye ke utom Esie. Nte asiak-idem, Dr. Nelson ekediɔŋɔ nte ekpep-ŋwed, ɔkɔk-udɔŋɔ, ye anam-nduɔŋɔre. Lapel pin ekekamade ke ikpehe ufɔk-utom Dr. Selzman eyire etiŋ mme utom emi, ke ndiwut mme ikɔ emi Kpep, kɔkye Yom-kut. Ye nnyin, ubak ndida ndori ke idem nnyin enyiŋ Jesus Christ abuana ndinam ke unyime, ndinam kenkoi nnam, ye ndinam ke idaresit nnyin iyak se iyomde akasaŋa ye Ekesie. Nnyin idiana Enye ke utom Esie ke ini nnyin “imade, ibuanade,inyuŋ ikotde edi.” Nnyin idiana enye ke utom Esie ke ini nnyin imade mbon efen, akpan-akpan mbon ŋkpɔ-nnam ye mbon emi enɔde unan, ebiatde mme enuakde ke mfina uwem.

Ntre nnyin inehede ida idori ke idem nnyin enyiŋ Jesus Christ oto idiɔŋɔ, editi, edikpebe, ye ndiyime-nnɔ. Ndinam ŋkpɔ inaŋ ada nnyin ekesim anam ition mbiet—unwam. Nnyin imɔbɔ odudu Abasiye eridiɔŋ ke uwem nnyin. Ifim-ukpono nta-ifiɔk Nelson ɔnɔ Abia-Ibɔk Selzman okuk ke nditi ye iberedem emi enye adade ɔkpuhɔ edu-edinam ke ikpehe esie. Enye ada “edidiɔŋ odudu” emi ada anwam mbon efen. Ke ukem usuŋ emi, nnyin ima ida idori ke idem nnyin enyiŋ Jesus Christ, Ete nnyin ke Heaven ɔdiɔŋ nnyin ye odudu Esie ada anwam nnyin inam utom nnyin ke isɔŋ

Nte nnyin inamde mme ediomi efen ye Abasi, nnyin imada ɔyɔhɔ-ɔyɔhɔ enyiŋ Jesus Christ idori ke idem nnyin. Ke nka-iso, Abasi ɔdiɔŋ nnyin ye ediwak odudu Esie Nte President Nelson ama ekpep: “owo kiet-kiet emi anamde ediomi ke obube uduɔk-mmɔŋ ye ke temple—ndien enim mmɔ—eyedian ukeme enɔ enye ada ɔbɔ odudu Jesus Christ. … Utip ke ndinam ediomi ye Abasi edi odudu eke heaven—odudu emi anamde nnyin inehede ikan iyɔ mme idomo, mfina, ye mme ubiak ɔfɔn.”

Nnyin iyekeme ndikop awak nto spirit, ɔŋɔ Nnyin iminyene akwauko awak ke ndinwana se itiede nte idiɔk ŋkpɔ-ntibe. Iyekop nsɔŋɔ awak ke uduak nnyin nditiene Jesus Christ. Iyesɔp iwak ndikabade esit ifiak itene Enye ke ini iduede. Iyenam etim ɔfɔn ke ndibuana gospel Esie ke odudu Esie ye unen. Iyenwam ubuene ke ini mmibiereke ikpe inɔ mmɔ. iyemum mfon-mma nnyin ikama. Nnyin inyene akamba emem, ndien nnyin idara ke koro imikeme ndidara kpukpru ini. Ubɔŋ Esie eyedoro nnyin ke idem, mme angel Esie enyung ekpeme nnyin.

Andinyaŋa okot nnyin, “Edi ebine Ete ke enyiŋ mi, ndien ke ekemini ebɔ uyɔhɔ Esie.” Ami mbeŋe mbufo nte enam emi. Edi etiene Ete Heaven nnyin. Eda edori ke idem mbufo enyiŋ Jesus Christ. Ediɔŋɔ Enye. Eti Enye Kpukpru Ini Eyom nditie nte Enye. Ediana Enye ke utom Esie. Ebɔ odudu Esie ye edidiɔŋ ke uwem mbufo. Emiŋ enyiŋ Esie ke esit mbufo, ke unyime ye nkoi-nnam. Emi ɔnɔ mbufo “idaha” ke iso Abasi onyuŋ anam mbufo edot mkpe-ubɔk Andinyaŋa anamde ke ibuot mbufo. Mbufo eyedi mme odot-ukpono adiakpa ke obio ubɔŋ Ete nnyin ke Heaven, adiakpa ye Akpa-Eyen Esie, edima Andinyaŋa ye Andifak.

Enye odu uwem. Ami mmɔdiɔŋɔ kpukpru Enye ama mbufo. Enye ɔkɔnɔ uwem Esie ke ntak Mbufo. Enye ekpe ye mbufo ette edi etiene Ete eto Imɔ Ke enyiŋ Jesus Christ, amen.

Mkpri ŋwed

  1. The fund is referred to as an endowment.

  2. One noteworthy achievement is President Nelson’s work developing the first heart-lung bypass machine used for open-heart surgery.

  3. President Nelson reported that in his surgical internship, a surgeon in the operating room lost his temper and threw a scalpel that landed in President Nelson’s forearm President Nelson said: “This experience left a lasting impression on me. In that very hour, I promised myself that whatever happened in my operating room, I would never lose control of my emotions. I also vowed that day never to throw anything in anger—whether it be scalpels or words” (“Peacemakers Needed,” Liahona, May 2023, 98).

  4. The donation included more than 7,000 operative reports, along with research papers and other professional writings that were compiled during President Russell M. Nelson’s extraordinary medical career.

  5. Several people addressed President Russell M. Nelson, including the president of the University of Utah, President Taylor R. Randall, who referred to President Nelson as the University of Utah’s most distinguished alumnus.

  6. The word ethos describes “the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution” (Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, “ethos”).

  7. In 2018, my wife, Ruth, and I were able to attend the ceremony in which Dr. Selzman was appointed to the Nelson professorship. In 2023, I was able to attend the formal event when President Nelson donated his professional papers to the University of Utah.

  8. Se Moroni 7:48

  9. The Hebrew word translated as “take” in the phrase “take on the name of Christ” means to “lift up” or “carry,” as one would a banner that identifies oneself with an individual or group (see James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible [1984], Hebrew dictionary section, page 80, number 5375).

  10. See 2 Nephi 10:24; Moroni 10:32–33; Doctrine and Covenants 76:69.

  11. Alma 37:36.

  12. Dr. Selzman has been quoted as saying: “Whenever you start talking about health care with [President Nelson], he gets a little twinkle in his eye. … It’s just amazing to see how energized he [gets] talking about all that stuff” (in Sydney Walker, “As President Nelson Turns 100, His Family and Associates Reflect on His Life and Legacy,” Church News, Sept. 7, 2024, thechurchnews.com). I have personally seen that “health care twinkle” in President Russell M. Nelson’s eyes, but it is nothing compared to the sparkle he got when he spoke of Jesus Christ.

  13. Se Moroni 7:47–48.

  14. Russell M. Nelson, “Confidence in the Presence of God,” Liahona, May 2025, 128.

  15. See 1 Corinthians 12:31; Doctrine and Covenants 46:8.

  16. Russell M. Nelson, “Sisters’ Participation in the Gathering of Israel,” Liahona, Nov. 2018, 69.

  17. See Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2023), 123–38.

  18. See Moses 1:39. The Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme begins: “I am a beloved son of God, and He has a work for me to do” (Gospel Library). The Young Women Theme states: “As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I strive to become like Him. I seek and act upon personal revelation and minister to others in His holy name” (Gospel Library).

  19. See Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart,” Liahona, May 2019, 16–18; Gary E. Stevenson, “Love, Share, Invite,” Liahona, May 2022, 84–87.

  20. Early in His mortal ministry, the Savior explained His purpose to us by quoting from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, [and] to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18).

  21. Even our prayers to our Heavenly Father will change. As stated in the Bible Dictionary entry “Prayer”: “Christians are taught to pray in Christ’s name. We pray in Christ’s name when our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ—when His words abide in us. We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ’s name at all; they in no way represent His mind but spring out of the selfishness of man’s heart.”

  22. See Doctrine and Covenants 109:26.

  23. Russell M. Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 96; emphasis added.

  24. Se Doctrine ye Covenants 50:21–22. The phrase “when thy people transgress, any of them” uses the word “when,” not “if.” This suggests that the Savior realizes that we will all transgress, make mistakes, and sin. But the plan is that we “speedily repent” to be “restored to the blessings” we have been promised.

  25. See John 16:33; Mosiah 4:11; 18:26; Alma 36:2, 28–29; Ether 7:27; Moroni 9:25.

  26. See Doctrine and Covenants 109:22.

  27. Doctrine and Covenants 93:19.

  28. Mormon described what happened to his people when Christ was not involved in their lives. His people “were once a delightsome people, and they had Christ for their shepherd; yea, they were led even by God the Father But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her; and even as she is, so are they” (Mormon 5:17–18). With the Savior in our lives, we are blessed with power, stability, and direction.

  29. Doctrine and Covenants 109:24.

  30. Se Doctrine ye Covenants 45:3–5.

  31. Se Romans 8:17.