Working for the Dead Is No Joke

Can the dead be saved spiritually? This is debatable or others may regard this as ridiculous for it is impossible. It is nonsensical for it has no bases. Well, I don't have to argue for I have known it from the revelation which the Church has received. Baptism for the dead is the way which our dead forebears may be saved spiritually and it is done inside the Holy Temple.

Manila Philippines Temple

For your information, one of the three purposes of the Church which I am a member for 38 years now is redeeming the dead. With this work, we are urged to work with our dead ancestors. I have started with my parents, then with my grandparents. I was able to have a baptism by proxy for my own parents inside the temple in Manila, Philippines.

Our Church has a Family Search program to search the dead from billions of sources all over the world. When I wrote this in 2016, there were 10 million records were saved in three days, that is 72 hours. That is a great achievement of the Church as far as genealogy is concerned.

Why Should My Family Be Sealed in the Temple?

Manila Philippines Temple

Why Church is organized? In every religious denomination has its own purpose as to why it is organized or as to why it is built. In short, not all churches have one purpose. It may be based on the need of the religious group. Our Church. The Church of  Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as far as I know since the time I joined and baptized has 3-fold purpose.

One is to proclaim the Gospel to all people in the world through missionary work. Second is to perfect the saints (members) through various classes every Sunday. And third is to redeem the dead, that is, baptism by proxy in the Temple of the Lord.

How to Make Marriage Last Forever

(This is a repost of my article posted in Literacy Base site entitled "Making Marriage Last Forever" written on November 27, 2016.)

When we first exchanged our “I Dos” 44 years ago (1972), we kept in mind that our marriage would last till death. The officiating city judge told us that our vow was binding “till death do we part”. That’s it. We were 21 years old at that time and we were still studying in college.

The first year, the second year until the 7th year of our married life was full of challenges in various extent. We had even a time that we’d been separated for several months and later we were able to reconcile and started all over again. It was the greatest trial we ever had in our marital relationship.

At the 8th year of our marriage, everything had changed. We had found the secret of making our marriage stays as inspiring and loving all the time even as of this posting time. We had found the truth that marriage is ordained of God, that everyone of us has the spiritual responsibility for our children by letting them grow up according to the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

How the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Prophecy Touch Our Lives

The Spirit of God

As we sang "The Spirit of God" (Hymn No. 2) as our opening hymn in our First  and Testimony Sunday, a spiritual momentous experience has reminded me. It was sometime in September 24, 1984 when I heard this hymn during the dedication of Manila Philippines Temple. I couldn't explain the intense feeling I had had while listening to the hymn sung by the Church choir.

Elder Gordon B. Hinckley of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the temple and we in the congregation seemed to be overwhelmed by the spiritual happiness that such solemn and holy dedicatory prayer was said.

My family who was housed at the Russel Meetinghouse somewhere in Baclaran had to sacrifice the early morning preparation in going to the temple so as not to be late during the said momentous historical in the annals of the Church in the Philippines. My wife and my six kids had to travel around  16 kilometers by catching the bus early in the morning. Our fellow members had to mind their own family too. We seemed to be in the rush hour period for we're supposed to be in the temple an hour before the dedication rites proper start.

The Day My Family Visits The Temple

I remember it was sometime in the month of September 1986 when the whole member of my family visited the Manila Philippines Temple somewhere in Greenmeadows Subdivision, Quezon City.

Manila Philippines Temple

I brought along with me my six children, Dondon, Dona, Gingging, An An, Gigi and Toto Jun, our youngest son. It was the first time that my family went to Manila especially in going to the Temple of the Lord to do some temple ordinances.

In my case, I had already gone there sometime in 1975 when I underwent a two-training at the Central Bank of the Philippines in the Savings and Loans Department of the said agency and I was temporarily residing at the residential house of the owner of the bank where I am about to work with. I had no idea that the present Temple would be built in that area.

I remember I had to take three rides in going to the Central Bank. While in the case of my family in going to the Temple, they had to take two rides from Baclaran to St. Corinthians Gardens (White Plains Avenue now).

The Greatest Gift I Give to my Parents

Christmas is just around the corner. I already hear Christmas songs over the radio especially early in the morning. Everyone at home is so excited for they're expecting a party, exchange gifts or gift-giving may be held.

Kids are so happy in this month of December. They're expecting to receiving gifts from their parents, from their godparents.

To borrow a line from the song popularized by the late world-known singer, Michael Jackson, which says "people making lists/ buying special gifts", the people all over the world are beginning to do this.

Thus, they're making a long lists of things to buy for their Christmas presents to be given to their loved ones, relatives, friends, and business associates and clients.

Rebecca: Enchantress of My Life

No other woman who had greatly influenced my whole life and everything I do, except this woman, Rebecca.

In my teenage years, in my studies in high school and in college, in my work, in my Church activities, and most especially in my family well-being, this woman is indispensable.

Rebecca had enchanted me when I first met her in late 1968 somewhere in an open study hall of La Carlota City High School.

Rebecca captured my heart beyond expectation that every time I slept at night I couldn't take enough sleep. I kept on waking up hastening the time for a day break, for another day to see her again in school.

I Know This Church Is True

Thirty-three years ago today, I was immersed to the water of baptism in 3.5 feet water tub of MC lumber yard at 3 in the afternoon.

Bro. Tolentino and me in 2001

Elder Arturo A. Tolentino baptized me and Elder Daniel Crosley bestowed upon me the gift of the Holy Ghost and confirmed me member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Before I came down to the water of baptism, a missionary, a zone leader interviewed me the basic truths and principles and ordinances of the gospel which the full-time missionaries had taught for almost three weeks.

Extra-Ordinary Conversion

My conversion was no ordinary one for it started sometime in 1976 and it took me 4 years to be baptized and accounted as a confirmed member of the Mormon Church. I waited such long years after the Samoans missionaries who taught me the basic discussion of the gospel, unintentionally destroyed the extension part of our makeshift nipa hut for his heavy weight. I waited for the day they promised to return for a follow up gospel discussion, but unfortunately they didn't come back.

In 1980, another pair of full-time missionaries, Elder Crossley, an America missionary with his junior companion, Elder Tolentino happened to pass by my parent's house which where we transferred after that destruction of our nipa hut. At last the required lessons were completed and I was scheduled to be baptize. A day before my baptism, Elder Crossley was transferred and Elder Wagner took his place. Elder Tolentino and the new Elder paid a visit in our house to verify my baptism. Elder Tolentino asked me who is going to baptize me and also to confirm. I preferred a Filipino to baptize me, so I chose Elder Tolentino and Elder Wagner to confirm me as member of the Church. And during that time Brother Joaquin Villarias was my fellow-shipper.

Since then, I was active in the Church. Brother Villarias and I were always together in going to the Church. We're even tagged as the inseparable duo. I received various Church callings after I was conferred the Aaronic Priesthood and ordained to the office of the Priest, and after a year I was conferred to the higher priesthood like the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordained to the office of an Elder and finally to the office of the High Priest as I was set apart as the first counselor of the Bishopric of La Carlota first ward to the late Bishop Joaquin Villarias whom I had a testimony that he was really the anointed one of God.

Family Conversion

Manila Philippines Temple

My membership was strengthened and even edified when I baptized my own family and even my wife. My wife later became member of the Church two months later after my baptism. She was convinced of my faithful conversion to the Church for I had forsaken all of my personal vices and became a straight-forward head of the family. By my example, she decided perfectly, without any reservation to accept the challenge to be a member of the LDS Church and I baptized and confirmed her as member of the Church.

In 1986, my family and I were sealed for time and eternity in the Temple of God in Manila. And we were able to perform temple ordinances later in November 2012 at Cebu Philippines Temple.

I am not ashamed to share my testimony about the truthfulness of the Church, the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ from primitive time to the present dispensation.

Crucial Decision

I remember that before I was baptized I told my parents about my decision to leave our present religion which is Iglesia Independiente de Catolico [Independent Catholic Church], popularly known as the Aglipayan Church founded by Monsignor Gregorio Aglipay. I was an Aglipayan since birth and until my conversion to Mormonism. I told my mother about this and also my father. My mother strengthened me by saying, "Daw sa wala man ako nakit-an nga malain ang Mormons. Sige magpabunyag ka." [I had not found anything wrong with the Mormon Church. Go ahead for your baptism.]

Spiritual Accomplishment

The greatest spiritual achievement I may consider as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  are as follows when the whole members of my family went to the Temple, received our spiritual endowment, sealed together as a family for time and eternity; and saw together with my wife the living prophet of the Church, President Thomas S. Monson, in person who went to the cultural presentation of the youth in Cebu Coliseum on June 12, 2010. And on the following day of June 13, President Monson dedicated the Cebu Philippines Temple.

The testimony I nurture and keep it in my heart that the Church is true, that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God, and that Joseph Smith is instrumental in restoring the Church of Jesus Christ and the spiritual truth about the priesthood authority and the Book of Mormon as another testament of Jesus Christ. It is my freewill or nobody has forced me to join with this Church. I know that through the living prophet - God will still reveal more truths to save all mankind. No one will be compelled to believe on this except his unwavering faith.

Therefore it is my testimony that this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day is the true Church in the face of the earth and the Book of Mormon contains the words of God and we have the living prophet by the name of President Thomas S. Monson who receives revelations from God to guide us in these latter days... in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

No Penny, When I Get Married

Manila Philippines Temple

I remember 40 years ago today when I was married with my high school sweetheart even a single centavo in my pocket I didn't have. I was 21 years old then, and still studying in college taking course in commerce. I was still dependent from my parents for I was the youngest.

With such teenage marriage, I never realized how could I able to support my own family soon when I've one. What I was thinking that I've loved my sweetheart. We were meant for each other. "I Need You In My Life" , our theme song, was appropriate for our undying love story.

Standing for Truth for 32 Years

Elder Tolentino and me reuniting after 30 years

Thirty-two years ago today, I was baptized by Elder Arturo A. Tolentino, a full-time missionary from Quezon City as a convert and confirmed by Elder Daniel Crossley, a full-time missionary from Salt Lake, Utah as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In this long years of membership, I was able to tackle and hurdle various trials and challenges in my life as I nurture and nourish my membership in the Church by staying faithful and active in my various callings I received.

In this first Sunday of April which is our fast and testimony Sunday, I was rehearsing and talking to my mind of what the achievements I had had before I shared my testimony.

Memorable things flashed back in my mind from the time of my conversion which took me 6 years till the time that my family members, my wife and I were sealed in Manila Philippines Temple, Quezon City.