Forgiveness is the Key

      This post goes out to anyone who is having a hard time with a relationship with someone who is very close to them. That can be the hardest thing! There are people around us daily that mean so much to us, and yet oftentimes they will treat us unfairly. I think we experience this first and foremost in our own family; it is also not uncommon in the mission field. One of the keys to happiness in the home, on a mission, or in any aspect of life is to become knit one in love and purpose. But how do you do that when a person isn't being agreeable??
        This has been on my mind so much lately. Because I don't want to be frustrated or angry! I want to be happy and at peace! I think Christ was trying to teach us how in one great and final lesson in the last moments of his precious mortal ministry. According to Luke's account of the crucifixion, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) At a time when Christ had undergone a completely illegal trial, unjustified scourging and crucifixion, what was in His heart? We never undergo that degree of injustice, but when we are treated unfairly, what is in our hearts? Compassion and understanding? Or intolerance and condemnation?
     This past week we sat down to talk with someone who inspires me a lot. She has had a hard time with people saying untrue things about her recently. We really wanted to help her overcome that concern, because that kind of thing can really upset you. We shared with her President James E Faust's very last talk in 2007. What was his great and last message as a true apostle of The Lord? The healing power of forgiveness. He told a story of how a 32 year old man slaughtered 5 Amish children and then took his own life. Instead of allowing the cruelty to inspire hate within the community, they responded with love. After raising funds to help the families of the hurt children, money was also offered to the family of the man who had committed this crime. When we shared this story, immediately she responded with an inspired tone. She said this kind of thing is impossible in China. In China, if such a crime is committed, hostility will be held against that family for generations and everything will be done in their power to get even. She realized that she doesn't care about getting even! She cares about becoming like Jesus Christ, and she feels sorry for people who are sinning against her and hurting their own progression.
       In summary, this week I've gained a testimony of something I've heard the prophet President Monson say. "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." I know it's hard to love people sometimes. But I also know that you can pray and ask God for help, and He will give you the added measure of love you could not provide on your own. It must be more difficult for Him to love me sometimes, but I never stop feeling like He does.

Blossoming in DC!

Even though it was still snowing less than 1 week ago, I think I can safely say that warm weather is finally here! There are truly dramatic changes in the seasons here in the DC metro area. A lot of people told me how the area literally blossoms during this time of year, but I had no idea how many cherry trees were here! We turned down a street in downtown Rockville and it was just lined with them. Elder Gerber-Kai and I just went WHOA at the same time. Immediately I realized that all those blossoms, just a few days ago were trapped inside the trees. Even though we witness such a huge change in appearance, it isn't that the tree caught a bunch of blossoms to show on it's branches. The tree had those beautiful flowers budding inside the whole time! We also contain wonderful things just budding within our own selves. We unleash that potential by developing greater ability to love and serve others. By choosing to take some time out of our lives to help an old man move his furniture, talk with your friend who just needs some attention, or getting on your knees when you think you're just too tired to do so. (All of which I've experienced this past week.) Just as the tree had the resources and identity of a blossoming beauty from the time it was a seed, we also always have that identity that we are children of God. How can we even know that is the truth? I have come to know through the manifestations of my own spirit. In The bible we learn how that works exactly. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit,
that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:16)" The only way I can describe that feeling is by comparing it to how the cherry trees blossom. When I pray to Heavenly Father, I get this feeling that swells inside me that makes me smile with joy. I feel like someone is listening to me, and then I feel my thoughts just bursting forth with light and inspiration. Just like the buds just spring open with
flowers. We learn in the Book of Mormon that we have to go through this process because we came to this earth to walk by faith rather than by sight. If we skip the whole blossoming process, we don't get to see the beautiful transformation of the tree. Don't miss your opportunity to blossom in this life! Search for God and then nourish your faith. There are so many Chinese people that we teach that are
willing to listen but not willing to put the experiment to the test. They are not willing to try out faith because they are afraid they might be transformed. One of my friends from home serving in Arizona referred me to one of his long term Chinese investigators on Facebook. He says he cannot feel the existence of God. When we invited him to pray, we discovered he only knew how to pray in English. I don't think the process I was talking about works very well if you're praying in a language you don't really know. Try and reach out to someone this week and help them feel that they are a child of God! Maybe even someone in your own family, my sister Hannah was the first one to sincerely testify to me of the truth of a Heavenly Father that cares about me, I've never forgotten it.

The Resurrection - Because of Him

     This Easter week I want to make a special dedication to Jesus Christ and His resurrection. I don't mean to dwell on my past, but it has become part of who I am, and why I have faith in Christ. This is the story of the Resurrection of Elder Lim.
    Journal Entry April 2013: "It pains me not to be a missionary. How deep my sorrow is... I feel so fractured, like I've lost everything. I want so bad to feel whole. Realizing the extent of the damage you have done is so painful. There is such little comfort for an anguished soul. Yet I remember that He was comfortless, He suffered an infinitely greater amount. He had to suffer for these things, and that depresses my heart. I cannot muster but a hope of redemption, it requires so much TRUST in Him."
     Journal Entry September 2013: "I am so ready to serve! To put my whole heart back into missionary work. I have tread the most difficult journey of my life, and I can't help but praise my God, and acknowledge what a blessing every small part of my life has been, because I have chosen to follow Jesus Christ to the fullest extent. We can choose to make all hard and unfair things a blessing if we choose to let Him change us. I have seen the power and greatness of the evidence of the reality of the living Savior. I have felt the power of the atonement, I know it is real! The most bitter regret has transformed into the sweetest joy, the greatest victory."
     The contrast in my feelings and impressions between these two moments in time are a testimony and reminder to me, that Christ truly saved me. I was in a deep dark hole that I had dug myself into, and He lifted me out! He brushed me off, and sent me back out. What can I do but desire the same blessings for every person on the face of this Earth?! I was sitting in church yesterday, and it dawned on me. Christ is living right this Easter week. He has become almighty, all powerful, exalted, and perfected. That gives me so much hope that such a being, who knows me personally, exists and is in charge. There is no need to fear as the children of Israel did when they first came to the promised land. Even though the world is falling apart, morals are crashing down, and souls rebelling against God, there is hope! He will have the ultimate victory, and so will we if we stand with Him in these latter days.

問題 和真理

     This week I had a question about the significance of knowing that the Book of Mormon is true. It seems like I am always inviting people to find the answer to this question, with very few of them successfully receiving an answer to it. If I am going to spend my time and effort to help them accomplish this quest for truth, there better be a good reason for it! I have always heard stories of people that watch the church's general conference with a question they want answered, and claim that without fail they receive an answer to that question if they humbly seek and listen for an answer. I have never put that to the test myself, but I thought this last weekend was a good chance to try. We all have questions. They come out of an innate desire for the truth. We want to know the way that things truly are and why they are that way. Some questions are easy to answer. Will the sun rise tomorrow morning? If I plant a seed will a plant grow? Of course! The truth is that the sun has risen every day of earth's existence and that plants grow from seeds. Other questions are so much more difficult to answer. What is the reason for my existence? Will I get to see the people I love after I die? Or even, why does it matter that I believe that some man that lived over 2000 years ago can help me to find the answer to these questions? I have questions too. That is why I listen to and study the words of prophets and apostles, men inspired to know the realities and truths of life.
     I listened to all 10 hours with a special attention, and it wasn't happening! Not until the very last talk did I find the answer that I was searching for. Elder Christofferson spoke about how the most important doctrine is that Christ was born, he died, and rose again on the third day. Every other truth is an appendage to that truth. I am not trying to help people to know that the Book of Mormon is just a good read. Or even that the stories are actual events In Human history. I am trying to help people know the reality of a living savior. With the manifestation that this book is true, comes the knowledge and testimony that Jesus Christ lives, and that his living restored gospel is true. That reality makes all the difference in this life and in the next life. In your pursuit to answer life's tough questions, turn to the source of truth. When you are lost, listen to the men with the vantage point. I know god answers prayers, because he cares about us personally. When I found my answer, I felt this powerful love that I can't describe, like he planned what was to be said just for me. The supreme being of the universe wants to help you learn! Seek out the truth.