Perfect... Imperfection...Seeking A Balance...

A Refreshing Mixue Stop

2025-10-28T22:43:00.000+08:00

After a busy day, Annabelle and I stopped by Mixue for some refreshing lemonade. Sometimes, it’s the simple moments together that make the day feel a little lighter. Just a little treat, a few smiles, and precious mother-daughter time.

Combined Youth Conference (MY & SG): Look Unto Christ✨ 17–20 Oct 2025 | Camp Lu Ying, Bukit Tinggi, Malaysia

2025-10-22T09:15:00.000+08:00

From 17 to 20 October 2025, Annabelle joined the Combined Youth Conference with the Kuala Lumpur District and Singapore Stake at Camp Lu Ying, Bukit Tinggi. With 51 youth and leaders from the Kuala Lumpur District and 24 youth and leaders from the Singapore Stake, it was a special opportunity for young people from neighbouring countries to gather, build friendships, and strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ.

The theme for the conference was “Look Unto Christ”, taken from Doctrine and Covenants 6:36:

“Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”

This beautiful invitation reminded the youth to turn to Jesus Christ in their everyday lives, especially when facing uncertainty, challenges, or fear.

Friday, 17 October — Coming Together as One

After travelling from different locations, the youth gathered for dinner, orientation, and activities before checking in to the hotel. It was the beginning of four days of learning, sharing, and growing together.

Meeting youth from another country gave them an opportunity to step outside their familiar circle, get to know one another, and discover that although they may come from different places, they share the same faith and desire to follow Jesus Christ.

Saturday, 18 October — Learning Through Teamwork and Service

The youth travelled to Camp Lu Ying and began the day with a staff briefing and devotional before taking part in an obstacle course designed by the camp.

The afternoon included free time for checking in, reflection, study, and rest, followed by dinner, dancing, and a campfire.

Through the obstacle course and group activities, the youth had opportunities to practise teamwork, communication, perseverance, and mutual support.

These experiences could remind them that challenges are easier to face when they encourage one another rather than trying to do everything alone.

The evening campfire and dance activities also provided time to relax, connect, and build friendships across the Kuala Lumpur District and Singapore Stake.

Sunday, 19 October — Worship, Reflection and Spiritual Growth

Sunday began with scripture study and prelude music, followed by a special Sunday service with sacrament meeting and Sunday School.

This was an important part of the conference, giving the youth time to worship together, remember Jesus Christ, study His teachings, and reflect on their personal testimonies.

The afternoon included group activities and personal reflection time. Later, the youth gathered for a devotional and a Munch and Mingle activity before preparing for the final night at camp.

I love that the programme made space not only for activities and fellowship, but also for quiet reflection and spiritual learning.

Faith grows as we take time to listen, study the scriptures, pray, and consider how we can become more like the Saviour.

Monday, 20 October — Carrying the Lessons Home

The final morning began with scripture study, a Zumba cardio activity, breakfast, and packing up the campsite.

The programme continued with a guided devotional and scripture study, followed by sharing time before the groups departed for home.

The conference ended, but the lessons and friendships could continue long after the youth returned to their daily routines.

The guided devotional and sharing time offered an opportunity to reflect on what they had experienced and learned. The invitation to “Look Unto Christ” was not meant only for the four days at camp.

It is a principle they can carry into school, family relationships, friendships, Church service, and the challenges of growing up.

Looking Unto Christ in Everyday Life ❤️

I am grateful Annabelle had the opportunity to participate in this conference. Beyond the fun, outdoor activities, and new friendships, I hope she came away with a stronger desire to seek Jesus Christ in every thought and to trust Him when life feels uncertain.

The conference purpose was to build faith in Jesus Christ, strengthen testimonies, develop talents, make new friends, and have fun with youth who share similar beliefs and standards.

As a mother, these are the things I hope will stay with Annabelle: the courage to face challenges, the willingness to support others, the joy of belonging to a community of faith, and the confidence to turn to the Saviour for guidance.

May she always remember the message of Doctrine and Covenants 6:36: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” Wherever life takes her, may she continue to look unto Christ, trust His love, and walk forward with faith.

On a New Level? ✨️

2025-10-21T20:58:00.000+08:00

This week has been a little tough... yet rewarding. Both at the same time

I've recently learned how the gospel of Jesus Christ is more than just living a better life. It's changing our very nature as well as developing and strengthening our relationship with our Savior in a very real real way!

"We do not preach and teach in order to ‘bring people into the Church’ or to increase the membership of the Church. We do not preach and teach just to persuade people to live better lives. … We invite all to come unto Christ by repentance and baptism and confirmation in order to open the doors of the celestial kingdom to the sons and daughters of God. No one else can do this” - Elder Dallin H Oaks

I am grateful for this reassurance and realization of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ that takes effect into the life of our friends.

The Lord is a Lord of Miracle

Recently, Elder Simmons received his reassignment to head to the Arcadia California mission, speaking canto too! So that's pretty sick. So as of right now my comp Elder She is staying with me and he is the new driver now. Let's just say, with his current amount of experience in driving... We heavily rely on the Lord's grace. ✨

Nonetheless, we have started making plans, reports and assessments to see how we can improve our ability to travel through the mission car. It's been amazing, maybe it may sound like a funny part about our week. But it really is a blessing that we have not gotten ourselves into an accident and that everything is safe and sound!

Moments before our trip from Ogden up to Logan 52 miles (83.6 Km) miss Elder Godoy

Yu Jun

Another thing I learned from this week is how the Spirit truly brings conversion into the lives of our friends. Yu Jun is an amazing person. Through English connect classes we had the opportunity to talk to him even more about the gospel, moreover helping him understand the personal and tangible relationship that he could have with his Savior and Father in Heaven was something that sparked his eyes!

As we taught him through the direction given by the mission, I knew that the spirit was present in that lesson. Helping him ponder and reflect through inspired questions helped him learn for himself the love that His Savior has for him, the love that we have to share this message of glad tithing and the blessings even to its fullness that not only we but our father in heaven wants him to have!

I can testify that the spirit is not only real but very tangible! I know that the Lord loves each one of us and wants to help us come back into His presence again.

Hiking on the Wind cave tunnel!

Its a pretty view! ❤️

A Day of Fun, Friendship & Sports – Logan Sports Day 20 Oct 2025

2025-10-20T19:58:00.000+08:00

A little break from the usual missionary routine! Elder Yu enjoyed a Sports Day in Logan, Utah, together with fellow missionaries.

It was lovely to see him spending time with other missionaries, enjoying the activities, sharing laughter, and making memories along the way. Dressed casually in his Dragon Ball Z T-shirt, he certainly looked relaxed and ready for a fun day!

Beyond the games and activities, days like these offer missionaries an opportunity to build friendships, encourage one another, and enjoy some well-deserved time together. Serving a mission is about teaching and sharing the gospel, but it is also about the meaningful friendships and experiences along the journey.

I am happy to see Elder Yu smiling and enjoying himself. These little moments may seem simple, but they become precious memories of his time serving in Logan.

Work hard, play hard, and keep smiling, Elder Yu! ❤️

ZC Logan ~ Learning, Fellowship & Growing Together 14 Oct 2025

2025-10-15T19:25:00.000+08:00

Another special moment in Elder Yu’s missionary journey — attending Zone Conference in Logan, Utah.

It was wonderful to see him gathering with fellow missionaries, exchanging smiles, catching up with friends, and enjoying the companionship of those who are serving alongside him.

From the casual conversations and shared meals to the group photographs, these moments remind me that missionary service is not only about teaching the gospel but also about learning, growing, and supporting one another.

Zone Conference is also a time for missionaries to receive instruction, learn from their leaders, share experiences, and strengthen their commitment to serve the Lord.

I imagine how much encouragement and inspiration they receive from being together, listening, learning, and reflecting on their purpose as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Looking at these photos, I am happy to see Elder Yu surrounded by so many missionaries from different backgrounds, all united by the same purpose — to serve the Lord and share His gospel.

Being away from home for two years is a journey of its own. There will be challenges, lessons, friendships, and moments of personal growth.

I hope he continues to treasure these experiences and the people who become part of his missionary journey.

Keep learning, keep growing, Elder Yu. We are cheering you on from home! ❤️

If You Know, You Know ✨️

2025-10-14T21:16:00.000+08:00

This week has been really intriguing, nonetheless a ton of fun! To be honest, I don't have a ton of time right now,;however I'll get straight to the point.

We have had another opportunity to watch General Conference live this week. Specifically, the Saturday Afternoon session of General Conference. It was a ton of fun!

District Council

Out of many district councils that I've had, this week's district council is definitely in my hall of memory too. Because, I got to learn something really special.Testimony is powerful. When your friends are in times of uncertainty, your testimony is strong. Even if they don't know what is true, when you share your testimony, they can know of a surety that you are confident and steadfast in the knowledge that you have.

Which is why I am so glad for the scripture

Moroni 7:41

41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

As we build our testimony on the Savior, it is sure and steadfast. When the attacks of the adversary come, because of our foundation on Him we can withstand all the attacks of the adversary.

Testimony

From the most recent General Conference, I was able to learn something divine. In Elder Brown's talk he mentioned...

Your Testimony is eternal. Testimonies aren't given for a temporary purpose however it is a witness for us to know that our Father in Heaven does love us! And they are sacred and precious forever!

A July to Remember – Ogden Pioneer Day Parade 24 Jul 2025 ❤️

2025-07-24T23:16:00.000+08:00

July indeed was a joyous month in Utah! After celebrating America's Independence Day earlier in the month, Elder Yu had another wonderful opportunity to experience a special Utah tradition — the Ogden Pioneer Day Parade!

It was lovely to see the missionaries from the Utah Ogden Mission come together and participate in the celebration. Dressed in their white shirts and ties, they proudly represented the Church, carrying flags from different countries and walking together as one big missionary family.

One of the highlights was seeing the mission's parade float with the beautiful message, “Sharing Our Savior's Love.” What a meaningful message to share with the community! Beyond the festivities and celebrations, it was a reminder of why these young missionaries are there — to share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone they meet.

And of course, there were plenty of smiles, friendships, and fun moments with fellow missionaries! These little moments of companionship and laughter are surely part of what makes missionary life so memorable.

As a mother watching these moments from miles away, I feel grateful that Elder Yu gets to experience things he may never have imagined before his mission. Celebrating American traditions, meeting people from different backgrounds, building friendships, and serving the Lord in a beautiful part of the world.

What a special July it has been! ❤️

ZC Ogden 23 Jul 2025

2025-07-23T23:50:00.000+08:00

A meaningful day of learning, spiritual guidance, and fellowship with fellow missionaries.

Grateful to see Elder Yu growing in faith and serving the Lord alongside so many wonderful missionaries.

May they continue to trust in the Lord, stand firm in their testimonies, and boldly share the gospel of Jesus Christ. May their hearts remain faithful to Him, and may they never lose sight of the sacred purpose of their calling. ❤️

Particles of Joy in the Journey

2025-07-22T15:20:00.000+08:00

This Week has definitely been something else...

Tough as it may still be, it was a ton of fun doing the Lord's work. There were a certain part of the day where it felt super boring as well as a contemplation towards my purpose in serving a mission. You know it and I know that a mission is gonna be hard, yet we just have to endure to the end, enduring with Joy and Cheerfulness, a Glad of heart and a love for God throughout the journey. I'm thankful for this opportunity to learn and experience these feelings. And not let it drag me down but lift me up!

Throughout the week, I am grateful for the blessings of unexpected service. Service that pops out of nowhere, from an out of the blue moon situation to observing, reasoning and exercising faith to serve with a pure heart and a sincere desire to help others come closer to Jesus Christ.

I found that joy can truly pop into our lives even when it’s devastating, tiring, heart-aching,l lonely, fatigued, and afflicting. But no matter where we're at, He will always bless us in our times of need.

Joy can come even after a hard uppercut, shout of mean words, unexpected sorrowful news, and even unfortunate events from the world. We can overcome the world through Christ and His divine power in our lives.

Things that had happened during the week...

Got some Hot Pot and it is AMAZING!

Visited another Temple! ✨️

Went for a Spanish Exchange!

Still am Translating towards which verse that painting is mentioning

Teaching Correct Principles that They May Govern Themselves

2025-07-15T12:14:00.000+08:00

Well for this week, it's been a lot of ups and downs as usual. But ultimately, we're on an upwards climb with work and our spirituality! Alongside that, there's been a few new things along the way!

Transfers recently happened and we got instructions to attain a new compa in our companionship. Its Elder Harmon! So the troop carrier (Mission Van) dropped Elder Harmon down here and as we got Elder Harmon back, we also got our Trio companionship back too! ‍‍

Chinese Work

Its been interesting on how the work has been going recently, we were able to meet with a few new people and even got to strengthen the friends we already have! Even ones that mentioned they were completely closed off. The Spirit of the Lord truly is there and can guide us to find happiness for our friends in this life and in the next.

Not only that but we were able to head to the Syracuse temple and see what it's like. And its a beautiful temple along the journey down to Layton. We had fun as well as a beautiful sensation of peace and comfort, even at the front of, The House of The Lord✨️

His power really does exist, and I can never and will never ever want to forget that magnificent, divine and eternal truth given to us.

A small portion of the beauty it holds... didn't went in alright, so don't worry ✨️

C.P.R - not just any Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, but a Spiritual kind

As you may know CPR stands for Church, Prayer and Reading the scriptures. Or P.R.O also works too, as in Pray, Read the scriptures and Obey God's commandments ✨️

This week, I got to learn from an amazing Sister in my branch about how doing these 3 simple actions, with real intent and sincerity can bless us in our lives! Even more than that, she was able to give her testimony and explain the reality of the power the Book of Mormon gives into our lives✨️ It's amazing and awesome to see the blessings of the gospel changing our lives.

She also said something that stood out to me too

偶尔你的脑袋和你的心没有机会来连接在一起,你心所感受到的，又是你的脑没想到或又是没机会了解到。

That line took me out, while I'm still slowly figuring out. But at times our minds and hearts aren't able to connect everything. But when our heart and mind connects small simple yet eternal truths in our lives, I've come to find peace, guidance and assurance in my life. It takes time, and it is true. That is so inspiring and touching to me and in my life! ✨️

Spiritual Thoughts

Towards the end of ma email, I wanted to share my experiences of having the Gardener planting the gospel seeds in my heart through several of his faithful servants (My dad, mom, trainer, teachers, senior members of the church, missionaries and friends) I've come to find everything they've said from as long as a lecture to as short as a one liner was able to teach me the correct principles of gospel truths.

With those correct gospel truths, I've come to find myself constantly having an eye single to the glory of God, seeing things are they really and truly are. No matter what happens from good times to circumstances that I dislike, I've come to find that focussing on the gospel and on the Savior Jesus Christ helps me learn that things aren't as terrible as I thought it would be. Something that seems big at that moment is pretty micro compared to an eternal journey and something small as small as a word or reaction. The living reality of the gospel changing our view and perspective of life is real. I've come to find that God does love each and everyone of us. And the Gift of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is one of His divine gifts given to us to see the Master''s desire and His work of Art for each and everyone of us.

I'm grateful for the gospel that has been planted in my heart and in my life. That truly with the correct principles of the gospel given to us, we can use our own agency to choose what we want to do with it. We can show ultimately that we do love Him. Because with this knowledge, we are not only following Him the shepard blindly, but we choose to follow Him in every footstep. That shows Him our sincere desire, and that is one of the most beautiful ways we can show Him that We do love Him.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

A view up on the mountains

P-Day game, toughest thing ever played on earth.

It’s America's Independence Day... SICK

2025-07-08T11:50:00.000+08:00

Well its another fun week, and slowly getting back in my email writing skills hahaha something that I am trying to apply and experience for the rest of my life is, focussing on Jesus Christ all the way. Not half-way neither just through certain phases or in hardships only... but all the way, through this journey. It's been an amazing experience.

Parade

We got the opportunity to head up to Huntsville and march in their parade! It was soo much fun as we got to gather together and have a ton of fun! It's interesting as a thought came into my mind about July 4th, who would have thought.. I got the opportunity to celebrate a real American independence day! I would never have guessed in my 19 years of living (I understand its not a whole lot) that I got to be here! It was just another tender mercy I'm glad to realise that I'm here, in America or Merica and develop friendships, family, character and a stronger faith in my Savior and Father in Heaven! I'm grateful...

Truly its a wonderful land to be in.

Pretty Cool

Chinese Work

Its been popping off recently! We got more opportunities to meet with friends taught in the past, helped an awesome friend, Jun Qi 俊祺 to work towards baptism! And that we can finally head down to Layton again once a week! So there's a tonn of improvement as well as excitement in the work, I hope that the branch knows that we love them. Not because they are important for the work only, but that they are a family to us! I'm sure they'll know, eventually

Spiritual Message

This week, I've found the Joy of placing my nets away. Its been the hardest thing to do even being out on the mission fir close to a year and how I long to be an angel, to just declare the words with power and authority, to actually live and share the gospel with love and sincerity. To all those around the world that they too can know of this glad tithing, this good news. That Jesus Christ the Son of God has helped us overcome the things of the world.

From separation to unhealed wounds to scars that are negatively impeccable and even sorrowful guilts in our very core of our soul...

He loves each one of us and the message of the Restoration, Plan of Salvation, Doctrine of Jesus Christ and Commandments and Covenants that binds us to our God. Each message should and must and is centered in your Savior, the Redeemer of the World and His Gift of the Atonement that he freely gave. I know this to be true and that He loves you ❤️

In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Dinner After the parade it was GASSSS ⛽️

Just like Captian America, in Avengers Endgame! Respectfully ‍♂️

Our District! ❤️, transfer is on the horizon, and I won't be staying here in the South Ogden district anymore.

A Little Taste of “Merica” Huntsville Independence Day Parade 4 July 2025

2025-07-04T21:31:00.000+08:00

Who would have thought that a boy growing up in Malaysia would one day find himself celebrating America's Independence Day in a small town called Huntsville, Utah?

On 4 July 2025, Elder Yu and his fellow missionaries had the opportunity to participate in the Huntsville Independence Day Parade. From the photographs, it looked like such a fun and memorable experience — marching together, waving American flags, enjoying the festive atmosphere and sharing smiles with the community.

I couldn't help smiling when I read his email. He wrote, “Who would have thought... I got the opportunity to celebrate a real American Independence Day!” He even joked about being in America, or as he put it, “Merica!” Hahaha!

I love seeing him embrace these unexpected experiences with such enthusiasm. Beyond the parade itself, he was grateful for the opportunity to make new friendships, build character and strengthen his faith while serving in a country so far from home.

The photos of Elder Yu with his missionary companions are especially precious. Their cheerful faces, matching white shirts and ties, and American flags make such a lovely memory of this special day. It is heart-warming to see him surrounded by friends who share the same purpose and journey.

As a mother, I am thankful for these little experiences that become part of his mission story. He may have travelled halfway around the world to serve, but along the way, he is also discovering new places, experiencing different cultures and making friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime.

What a special way to spend Independence Day — a little parade, lots of laughter, wonderful companions and memories to treasure.

Happy Independence Day, America! And thank you, Elder Yu, for sharing a little piece of your “Merica” adventure with us! ❤️

Look Unto Christ: Annabelle’s KL District Youth Conference 2025 28–31 March 2025 | The NEST, MAEPS, Serdang, Malaysia

2025-03-31T21:36:00.000+08:00

At the end of March 2025, Annabelle joined nearly 50 youth from across West Malaysia for the Kuala Lumpur District Youth Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Held over three days at The NEST, an outdoor training centre and campsite at MAEPS, Serdang, the conference brought young people together for friendship, fun, spiritual learning, and personal growth.

The theme, “Look Unto Christ,” was inspired by Doctrine and Covenants 6:36: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” Throughout the conference, the youth were encouraged to turn to Jesus Christ for guidance, strength, and wisdom in their daily lives.

Friday, 28 March – Arriving and Building Friendships

The youth travelled from different locations to The NEST and settled into camp before gathering for dinner, orientation, and evening activities. It was a wonderful opportunity for Annabelle to reconnect with familiar friends and make new ones from other areas. Sharing the campsite experience helped everyone begin building friendships and unity.

Saturday, 29 March – Adventure, Teamwork and Spiritual Learning

Saturday began with breakfast and camp preparation before the youth took part in outdoor challenges.

Water-confidence activities and kayaking on the lake encouraged them to step outside their comfort zones, while team competitions, including a balloon-popping challenge, brought plenty of excitement and laughter.

In the evening, the youth enjoyed dinner followed by music and dancing. A senior volunteer couple even demonstrated the Swing and Jitterbug dances, although the younger generation had their own ideas about what made a great dance party!

Beyond the fun, these activities helped the youth practise teamwork, courage, communication, and supporting one another.

Sunday, 30 March – Worship, Workshops and Testimonies

Sunday began with a worship service, including partaking of the Sacrament. Young youth leaders Danic and Cherrie taught about the conference theme, “Look Unto Christ,” followed by messages from President Brian Chan and President Dale Wells of the Kuala Lumpur District Presidency.

In the afternoon, the youth attended workshops on emotional resilience, avoiding temptation, keeping the body sacred, and making wise decisions. One particularly thought-provoking session, led by senior volunteers Elder Mark and Sister Linda Barrand, explored how the frontal brain helps us pause, think carefully, and make better choices instead of acting impulsively.

The youth were invited to reflect on what they had learned and express their thoughts through key words, drawings, and personal responses. These discussions helped them recognise that following Christ is not only about what we believe, but also about the choices we make when facing challenges and temptations.

The evening ended with an opportunity for the youth to bear their personal testimonies of Jesus Christ. Each participant also received an illuminated Christus to display at home—a meaningful reminder to keep the Saviour at the centre of their lives.

Monday, 31 March – Asking God for Wisdom

On the final morning, Annabelle had a special opportunity to lead a discussion on James 1:5, which teaches that if we lack wisdom, we can ask God, who gives generously.

The youth reflected on how they could seek Heavenly Father's guidance when making decisions. They then created their own “quotes of wisdom,” wrote them down, and placed them in a box. The quotes were drawn at random and shared with the group, allowing everyone to learn from one another's thoughts and experiences.

I am especially happy that Annabelle had the opportunity to lead this discussion. It was a chance for her not only to participate, but also to contribute, share ideas, and help other youth reflect on seeking wisdom from God.

After a final sharing session, the youth packed up and departed for home, taking with them new friendships, meaningful memories, and lessons to apply in their everyday lives.

Lessons to Carry Home

This conference was much more than a few days of camping and activities. It gave Annabelle and the other youth opportunities to develop leadership skills, build friendships, strengthen their testimonies, and learn how to make thoughtful choices.

I hope Annabelle will remember that she does not have to face life's challenges alone. When she feels uncertain, tempted, or overwhelmed, she can look to Jesus Christ, seek wisdom through prayer, and trust Heavenly Father to guide her.

I am grateful Annabelle could be part of this experience and contribute by leading the discussion on James 1:5. My hope is that the friendships she formed, the lessons she learned, and the spirit she felt will continue to influence her choices long after the conference has ended.

“Look unto Christ” is more than a conference theme. It is a reminder for Annabelle—and for all of us—to turn to the Saviour for wisdom, courage, and direction, one decision at a time. ❤️

Low Key What If I Stopped Counting

2025-03-25T20:56:00.000+08:00

Well this week has been a ringer for me it's been a tough one, but I am able to see a lot of the good from that ugly. I liked it a lot! And I can see my growth in my mental state as well as my spiritual capacity! It's soo FUNNN

I liked that photo it's soo fun! Well Imma just squeeze like 2 or 3 weeks in a row right here. ✅️

Also I have to confess, my English has deteriorate ever since coming to America it's been interesting learning the American English , but hey who's judging ‍️

Few New Terms

Throwing a Fit (tantrum), cold turkey (stop), type beat (vibe or feels or looks like something) and I think that's all. My English teacher is going to kill me fr

This week has been a ton of fun and at the same time a ton of challenges too! But I can see thinking positively and celestially is definitely a challenging yet possible insight to seeing teh world! I love it soo much and it brings so much joy in my mission life. Sure breakdowns left and right, this but a scratch. Having exhausting body to continue the work, His but a flesh wound.

However, I'm not neglecting it's hard. Yet I have found happiness in those sorrowful time. Through Jesus Christ and that was an interesting experience!

I got the opportunity to train Edler Harmon, he has been an interesting son. Being placed in a trainer world it's interesting. And him In a whole other different background compared to mine. That's interesting too ... but it kind of reminded me of a general conference talk, and it's amazing to see how there are always something more that connects us together instead of dividing us. And I am really grateful for all these experiences.

Well since I have been prepping for this email for 4 weeks straight, I am gonna send this off first and slowly make an epic comeback to chase y'all up to date too ! And I think I am doing fine, just need some adjustments but I love this mission so much! Well I'll be back in a few hours chow chow.

Gotta admit it's a baller tie!

183 Years of Relief Society: Cooking, Friendship & Sisterhood 22 Mar 2025

2025-03-22T21:28:00.000+08:00

On Saturday afternoon, the sisters gathered to celebrate the 183rd anniversary of the Relief Society, which was officially organised on March 17, 1842. It was a special occasion to remember the organisation’s long history of faith, service, love and sisterhood.

To mark this year's celebration, we enjoyed a hands-on Japanese cooking class taught by Sister Mami Yanase and her friends. Instead of having a conventional birthday gathering, we had the opportunity to learn something new while spending time together.

Everyone put on their gloves and got busy preparing different kinds of Japanese-inspired treats. We learned to make sushi and beautifully shaped rice creations, including rice balls, inari sushi and other decorative bites using ingredients such as rice, seaweed, cucumber and crab sticks. It was lovely to see everyone's creativity as we carefully shaped and decorated our little creations. Some looked almost too cute to eat!

The room was filled with conversation, laughter and the joy of learning together. Sisters of different ages and backgrounds worked side by side, sharing ideas and helping one another. It was not just about learning how to prepare Japanese food, but also about enjoying one another's company and creating happy memories.

Of course, no birthday celebration would be complete without a cake! We gathered around a beautiful fruit-topped birthday cake decorated with the words "RS Birthday" and celebrated this special milestone together. There were also plenty of refreshments and Japanese treats for everyone to enjoy.

It was a lovely afternoon filled with delicious food, new skills, laughter and warm fellowship. A meaningful birthday celebration indeed! ❤️

My own little Japanese food creations! It was fun learning to shape and decorate the sushi. They may not be perfect, but making them was part of the fun!

Ogden Zone Conference ~ Learning and Growing Together 20 Mar 2025

2025-03-20T20:08:00.000+08:00

A special gathering of missionaries at the Ogden Zone Conference!

Elder Yu joined fellow missionaries for a day of learning, spiritual instruction, and fellowship. It was wonderful to see so many young missionaries gathered together, dressed in their Sunday best, sharing smiles and enjoying each other's company.

Beyond the group photos and cheerful moments with friends, the conference was an opportunity to pause from their daily missionary work, receive guidance, strengthen their testimonies, and refocus on their purpose of serving the Lord.

I love seeing Elder Yu surrounded by fellow missionaries who share the same commitment to serve Jesus Christ. These friendships and spiritual experiences are meaningful parts of his missionary journey.

May the messages and lessons from the conference continue to inspire him as he shares the gospel and serves with faith and dedication.

One more precious memory from his mission in the Ogden area. ❤️

29th Week - I Finally Understood the Joy in the Lord's Work

2025-03-04T21:06:00.000+08:00

Okay I am going to start off with our friend Maya, she is soo dope and awesome in so many ways! ✨️✨️ and she got baptised this week!

I'm not gonna lie but her baptism opened my eyes in understanding the power of Baptism and how compared to your wedding (the Civil part not sealing part) its nothing. Baptism is my first covenant with My Father in Heaven and it's the same for you and your Father in Heaven. And I am in awe✨️✨️✨️ at this point she's like a sister and so is Jaycelyn too it's hilarious to be with them and seeing the many joy and adventures they've had and will have soon is soo exciting!

Even eating and Jimmy John's and reflecting back at the journey I've experienced, that was crazy in soo many ways. And the many things I've accomplished and learned is soo vastly deep and wide. In the way I have in words, in the thinking I need to do, in my trust in the Lord and etc. It's definitely been a journey and now here I am still going and doing all I cab to be a consecrated missionary. I loved it soo much! And I cannot describe to you the volume of pure joy and peace I had when Maya got baptised! It was an experience I want to have in my life, a life that I want to live in this life and in the life to come. Helping another soul to taste of that fruit which is precious and most desirable above all else, Sing that redeeming love and dance to the music of the Savior's glad tithing. I am soo happy and embraced in love because of my friends feeling embraced and love too. AHHHHH I WISH YOU COULD FEEL HOW I FELT FR! It was definitely an experience I'll never forget.

Baptism

Well during the week I was studying about Baptism too and the beauty that it brings ✨️ I've learned a lot about the power of Baptism and the manh blessings the Lord wants to bless us with! It's been awesome and I'm so glad I studied and understood more about it. To see that it truly is the first covenant we made with God and to press onwards and forward. Carry on carry on carry on! Because of that covenants we made, we are the youth of the Noble Birthright. It's amazing to see the love our Savior has for us, the love Heavenly Father has for us all is beyond comprehension not gonna lie. And I love it, so much to understand and we have enough time. Not in this life but also with eternity to come✨️

Temples

Okay coming back recently we were able to teach our friends and that's was something fr but more importantly, we got to go the the temple and that was an amazing experience fr. I am grateful for the temples in the world today! I've come to realise the beauty of temple and the comfort it beings into our lives ✨️

And something I found out was the blessing of the temple, how it helps us to focus our lives on Jesus Christ. As I went through the endowment as well as the Celestial room. I found something intriguing in searching the scriptures when I had time. And I found charity and the way we can teach our friends.

❤️ In 2 Timothy 2:21-26

21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

22. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

23. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

As we teach, let us do so with charity, it was really a lesson I needed. To remember that I must be patient and loving to my friends. No matter what the situation, excuse and etc. Always do it with charity, not for me but for our friends. As I pondered I realised how messed up their lifes actually are. And I felt so sorry and humbled in understanding my friends even more. I wished I was there to help them constantly but I know I cannot do that.

But something I found was intriguing is that, we are not here to fix their problems with the gospel. But we're here to help and support our friends in their needs and especially, invite the Savior into their lives to mend their afflictions.

The tools were never meant to fix a flawed statue by itself. But because of the Master's touch with His tools to the statue, only then is can things be made perfect. Just like us missionaries, we're never meant to donit alone. However with our Savior's Atonement and our Father's divine plan, we can invite the Savior even more into our friends life. That as we help them invite the Holy Ghost into their life, they can know that He is there, the Savior can be manifested through the power of the Holy Ghost ✨️. Isn't it amazing I find it comforting in my life fr.

And more than that, I found being pure and worthy can bring so much blessings into our lives. So why don't we drop our weapons of rebellion whatever it may be, and come next to our Savior again. I found that spiritual capacity increases, love and understanding increases as well as peace in our lives increases. I am grateful for that lesson.

Me and Elder Dubreuil at the temple

RM from the same mission, ELDERR STALLINGGS! And his trainer Elder Winder. 3 generations Chinese missionaries in the same car!

A Reflection of the Year 2024

2024-12-31T00:11:00.002+08:00

December 31, 2024

A Reflection of the Year 2024

Dear Elder Yu,

This is a brand new experience for you to celebrate New Year in a different country. I do not why I feel you are a little bit stressed out and down during the last Monday video call. I hope you are not.

For these past few days, I kept on reading this unknown author’s article about what he/she has been through for the past year of 2024. I don’t know if it’s because of the algorithm or because the text is so pertinent. I feel it is so resonant to me and my current situation:

I do not hate you, 2024, but you were a difficult year, full of challenges, changes, and learning. You showed me that life can change in the blink of an eye, and taught me to trust myself more. But above all, you made me understand that my health, whether physical, emotional, or mental, is what really matters. You showed me that not every question needs an immediate answer, and not every ending is a loss. You taught me that stillness is not stagnation. Sometimes, it is just like life making space for something new.

So no, I don't hate you. But I won't forgive you either, at least not yet. You dragged me through truths I did not want to face, through loss I was not ready to feel. You left me with wounds that have not closed, with breaks that have not settled into anything I can understand. I do not see light pouring in, not yet. But maybe that is the lesson. You did not come to fix me or redeem me. You came to strip away the illusion that life is anything but unpredictable, relentless, and brutally honest.

You did not rebuild me. You left me with the choice to do it myself. So thank you, 2024. You were not easy, but you were necessary.

我不恨你，2024年，但你是艱難的一年，充滿了挑戰、變化和學習。

你讓我明白生活可以瞬間改變，教會我更加信任自己。

但最重要的是，你讓我明白到不論是身體、情緒還是心理健康，都是最重要的。

你讓我知道不是所有的問題都需要立即的答案，並不是所有的結束都是損失。

你教會我寧靜並不代表停滯。有時，它只是生命在為新的事物騰出空間。

所以不，我不恨你。

但我也不原諒你，至少現在還不行。

你把我拖入了我不想面對的真相，讓我感受到我還沒準備好的失落。

你讓我留下了尚未癒合的傷口，和尚無法理解的破碎。

我還沒有看到光明湧入，尚未。

但或許那就是教訓。

你不是為了治癒我或拯救我而來。

你來是為了剝去對生活任何幻想的假象，

生活是多麼不可預測、無情且殘酷的事實。

你沒有重建我。你留給我選擇，讓我自己來重建。

所以謝謝你，2024年。

你並不容易，但你是必要的。

Honestly, I couldn’t agree more with this and I am not denying Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were always there when I was knocked off by the challenges. I can feel Their presence. There are lessons to learn and to grow. Just that, the speed I learning is not as fast as what my husband wanted to be.

I am grateful for 2024 too, because I saw both my children grow stronger in the gospel and start to live in it; because I know they know God loves them and they learn how to rely on the Savior; because I know things happened for a reason which the Lord will unfold and reveal to me when the time is right; because I know that we are in His good hand. I say this in the name of my beloved Savior, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love,

Mommy

2024 FSY Asia Conference: "I Am a Disciple of Jesus Christ" 16-20 Dec 2024

2024-12-30T21:23:00.000+08:00

As I read about Annabelle’s experience at the 2024 FSY Asia Conference in Bangkok, I found myself thinking about my own children and their journey through life. As a mother, I want my children to be happy, make good friends, and find their place in the world. But more than anything, I hope they will develop their own faith in Jesus Christ and learn to turn to Him when they face challenges. I know I cannot always be beside them or protect them from every difficult experience, but I hope the things I teach them will stay in their hearts as they grow.

One thing that touched me was Annabelle’s honesty about feeling nervous when meeting people she did not know. I can imagine how uncomfortable it must have been for her at first. Sometimes, we look at young people and assume they will naturally make friends and enjoy being with others, but they also have their own fears and worries. As a mother, I sometimes wish I could make everything easier for my children. I want them to feel accepted and confident, and I do not want them to feel lonely. But Annabelle’s experience reminds me that sometimes we need to let our children face these situations and discover their own strength.

What I liked most was that Annabelle and her friend Cherrie wanted to help other first-time participants feel more comfortable. They remembered how shy they had been before, so they wanted to make the experience easier for others. This made me think about how our own experiences, even the uncomfortable ones, can help us understand other people better. I felt happy to see that Annabelle was not only thinking about herself but was also looking for ways to help others. As a mother, I hope my children will develop this kind of heart—to notice people who may feel left out and to be willing to reach out to them.

As I continued reading, I thought about the question Annabelle was asked during FSY: “Why be a disciple of Christ?” It made me ask myself the same question. I know that following Jesus Christ is more than attending church, reading scriptures, or participating in Church activities. It is also about how I treat people, how I respond when I am hurt, and whether I am willing to keep trusting the Lord when life does not turn out the way I hoped.

I want my children to learn these things, but I also know I need to keep learning them myself. It is not always easy to be patient, to choose kind words, or to respond with love when I am tired or worried. Sometimes, I know what I should do, but putting it into practice is another matter. Annabelle’s experience reminded me that discipleship is a daily choice. We do not become more like Christ overnight. We learn little by little as we keep trying to follow Him.

Another part that made me reflect was Annabelle’s lesson about the covenant path and the need to keep going even when things become difficult. Her experience reminded me that faith is not built only during the moments when we feel the Spirit strongly. It also grows through ordinary days when we still choose to pray, study the scriptures, and do what is right even when we do not feel particularly strong.

There have been times in my own life when I have needed to rely on Heavenly Father and remind myself to keep moving forward. I am learning that I do not need to have everything figured out before I can trust Him. Sometimes, I only need enough faith to take the next step. As a mother, I hope my children will learn this too. I cannot promise them that life will always be easy, but I hope they will know where to turn when it is not.

I also liked learning how Annabelle experienced a sense of belonging among the young people at FSY. They came from different places, but they shared their faith and encouraged one another. Her company was called Zion, which reminded me of Moses 7:18 and the idea of being of one heart and one mind. It made me think about my own family. We may not always see things the same way, and each of us has our own struggles, but I hope we can continue learning to listen, forgive, support one another, and turn to Christ together.

As a mother, I sometimes wonder whether I am doing enough to guide my children spiritually. I want to teach them the gospel and help them make good choices, but I know I cannot make those choices for them. They need to develop their own testimonies and learn through their own experiences. I can share what I believe, pray for them, and try to be a good example, but I also need to give them room to grow. This is not always easy because, as a mother, I naturally worry about the people I love.

Annabelle’s experience reminds me that Heavenly Father is also part of my children’s journey. He knows them personally and understands their needs better than I do. I need to remember that I am not the only one watching over them. I can do my best as a mother while learning to trust Him with the things I cannot control.

As I reflect on Annabelle’s experience, I realise that I am still growing as a disciple of Jesus Christ, too. I may be a mother, but I am also a daughter of Heavenly Father who needs His guidance, comfort, and love. I still have things to learn about patience, faith, and how to respond to difficult situations with a Christlike heart. Perhaps one of the most important things I can do for my children is to keep working on myself and let them see that I am still trying to follow the Saviour.

I am grateful for Annabelle’s experience because it has helped me look beyond the activities and friendships of FSY and think about what it really means to become a disciple of Christ. It is not just about what we experience during a special event. It is about what we carry with us after we return home and how those experiences influence the way we live.

As a mother, I hope my children will always remember that they are loved by Heavenly Father and that they can turn to Jesus Christ whenever they need help. I hope they will find good friends, have the courage to reach out to others, and continue to grow in faith even when life becomes challenging.

And for myself, I hope I can keep learning to trust the Lord with my children and with my own life. I do not know everything that lies ahead, but I believe I can keep moving forward with Him. Sometimes, that may be all the Lord asks of me for now—to keep loving, keep praying, keep trying, and take the next step with faith.

A Casual Lunch at Jordan Hong Kong Restaurant 26 Dec 2024

2024-12-29T11:42:00.000+08:00

Had lunch at Jordan Hong Kong Restaurant at IOI Mall Puchong and enjoyed a little taste of Hong Kong-style comfort food.

We had a few different dishes on the table. The egg omelette topped with luncheon meat looked simple but appetising, while the noodle soup came with tofu, fish cake, and other ingredients in a warm broth. There was also a rice dish served with sliced meat, vegetables, a soft-boiled egg, and crispy diced toppings.

I always enjoy having different dishes to look at and taste when dining together. The combination of noodles, rice, eggs, and meat made for a comforting, casual lunch. Nothing too fancy—just familiar food enjoyed in a relaxed setting.

Sometimes, a simple meal at the shopping mall is a nice way to take a break from the usual routine. Good food, a little conversation, and a change of scenery are enough to make an ordinary day feel enjoyable.

Another little food memory to add to my collection!

Scripture Central Come, Follow Me: Book of Mormon – Ether 1

2024-12-28T17:17:00.000+08:00

December 28, 2024

Scripture Central Come, Follow Me: Book of Mormon – Ether 1

Dear Elder Yu,

Ether 1 - Ether’s genealogy

In chapter one, Moroni begins telling us that he's going to tell us about the ancient inhabitants, he says, of this northern country, which is where the main Jaredite geopolitical center was. So, he's somewhere up north as he's writing this story, and he's abridging the 24 Jaredite plates. And, he describes how he got those. He sees an account of the creation of Adam. He sees all of the things that have happened from Adam down to that great tower, he says. And then, from the tower down until they were destroyed.

And then, he gives you a long list of 30 generations, 30 individual names. And, they're listed in order, starting in verse 6 with Ether and ending in verse 32 with Orihah, who was the son of Jared, number 29 and 30 in that list. What you have is 30 names starting with Ether, listed in order down to Jared.

So, some of you are thinking, "Well, this is boring. It's just a list. It's a long list of names." This isn't just a list. You're seeing the fingerprints of God through the history of time. You're seeing the importance of family. You're seeing God's plan moving forward, generation by generation. You're seeing intergenerational connections that span, in this case, well over a thousand-year period.

So, you have the Tower of Babel, just to put us in the context of the timeline for the Old Testament. You have Adam and Eve, and then you have Enoch, and then you have Noah, the major dispensation heads, and then we have Abraham, and then Moses, and eventually you'll get Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith. So, the timeline is the Tower of Babel comes in Noah's dispensation. So, we're going way back in time before Abraham, way before Moses. And, this is where we get the departure to the new world of this group, the Jaredites.

In contrast to Lehi and his group that left the Old World with Ishmael and Zoram, they left in 600 BC in the dispensation of Moses. So, there's a huge difference in space and time when these two major migrations occurred coming into the Americas. So, we have these 30 30 different people carrying forth to one degree or another this legacy of the Jaredites.

Three Needs for Revelation

Three things happen here in the beginning part of the story. Three needs for revelation. So, one of the principles for you and me, as we're striving to have our prayers go further than the ceiling in our room or in our chapel, wherever we are.

Principle No. 1: Don't wait for revelation to descend upon you or to hit you blindside. There will be times when that happens, but don't expect that that's the main form of revelation or where, as Elder Bednar says, we're simply making ourselves objects waiting to be acted upon.

There's a beautiful reminder to us that connects here that the Lord gave to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Jackson County, Missouri, clear back in 1831. He says this in section 58: 26 – 29,

26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

This principle is easy to understand if you translate it into normal life, either in a home setting or in a work setting. Do you want the employee who sits on a chair and waits for the supervisor or the manager to tell them what to do, when to do it, how to do it, where to do it, and why to do it?

And, only then they get up and go do it. And, the moment they're finished with that task, they come and sit back down and wait for the next job. Or do you want an employee who you can teach the principle of what you're trying to accomplish, and then that employee is going to be self-motivated and think, "What could I do to help move the purpose of this company forward or to accomplish the mission of this organization or of this war or this family, whatever it may be?"

He clarifies in verse 27,

27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

So, it's very important to note that if we do sit and wait, the Lord is still capable of giving us revelation, and he probably will.

But, we multiply our opportunities to receive revelation when we anxiously engage in living the gospel, in doing the things that we think the Lord would have us do, and as we seek to follow his example, as we learn of him and do the things that we have seen him do.

28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

29 But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.

It's back to President Nielson's invitation. "I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation ..."

We're going to have to do the spiritual work. So, what is that?

It starts with keeping the Commandments so that we're capable of prospering in that revelatory process. But, we also seek and work towards getting more of those answers by going to the Lord with specifics.

The Language of Ours with God – Vertical Communication

One of my favorite things that President Thomas S. Monson taught when he was the prophet was that we rarely succeed when we speak in general. But, when we speak in specifics, we rarely experience failure.

The idea is that if we go to God in our prayers and say, "Heavenly Father, I'm thankful for all my blessings, and please bless me with what I need." That's general. And, we're probably going to get more of a general answer.

But according to President Monson, if we can be a little more specific, if we can counsel with the Lord in all of our doings, to quote earlier prophets in the Book of Mormon, then we're more likely to get those specific answers and specific responses.

In this case, watch what happens. With the very first request in verse 34, Jared says to his brother,

34 And the brother of Jared being a large and mighty man, and a man highly favored of the Lord, Jared, his brother, said unto him: Cry unto the Lord, that he will not confound us that we may not understand our words.

So, at the Tower of Babel, where the languages were confounded, Jared is saying, "Go and ask the Lord if He will allow us to still maintain our language, our ability to communicate."

35 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did cry unto the Lord, and the Lord had compassion upon Jared; therefore he did not confound the language of Jared; and Jared and his brother were not confounded.

Isn't that an amazing principle for revelation? Our ability to talk to God and recognize God speaking to us – translates into, I want to be heard and understood, and I want to understand those around me as well. So, we have horizontal communication and vertical communication education.

The Language of Our Friends – Horizontal Communication

In this case, Jared asks his brother to go vertically to the Lord to preserve these horizontal connections of language. And, the Lord had compassion upon Jared. "... therefore he did not confound the language of Jared;" Then, you get the second one, verse 36.

36 Then Jared said unto his brother: Cry again unto the Lord, and it may be that he will turn away his anger from them who are our friends, that he confound not their language.

He says, go, "Cry again unto the Lord, ... that he will turn away his anger from them who are our friends, that he confound not their language." It began with our language, and now it has become the language of our friends and those in our circle of influence around us.

We begin at the core and principle of revelation, begin, get our soul in the right place, and cleanse the inner vessel before we start trying to fix other people's problems is a beautiful principle of revelation here.

We focus not selfishly on our problems, but actually with an eye to becoming a better instrument in the hands of the Lord. "More fit for the kingdom, More used would I be, More blessed and holy— More, Savior, like thee."

That's the intent of asking for blessings for us. Then, we turn outward and ask for those around us to receive some of those blessings.

Place of Refuge

That leads to question number 3 in verse 38. He says,

38 And it came to pass that Jared spake again unto his brother, saying: Go and inquire of the Lord whether he will drive us out of the land, and if he will drive us out of the land, cry unto him whither we shall go. And who knoweth but the Lord will carry us forth into a land which is choice above all the earth? And if it so be, let us be faithful unto the Lord, that we may receive it for our inheritance.

Notice this add-on, because that's a pretty general question. "And who knoweth but the Lord will carry us forth into a land which is choice above all the earth? And if it so be, let us be faithful unto the Lord that we may receive it for our inheritance." So, a place of safety, a refuge.

It's hard to receive revelation when you're surrounded by too much noise, too much commotion, too much chaos, too much misunderstanding. It's a little harder to have those open channels of communication.

And, so, it's this beautiful principle of, is there a place, a choice place, a place of safety, of refuge for us where we can go to live our life, and raise our families and build our culture.

And, the Lord, it says in verse 40,

40 And it came to pass that the Lord did hear the brother of Jared, and had compassion upon him, and said unto him:

41 Go to and gather together thy flocks, both male and female, of every kind; and also of the seed of the earth of every kind; and thy families; and also Jared thy brother and his family; and also thy friends and their families, and the friends of Jared and their families.

There's this long-term plan being put in place. We're not just going on a camping trip. This is a permanent change God going to make with these people. And, He tells them to gather the families. And verse 42,

42 And when thou hast done this thou shalt go at the head of them down into the valley which is northward. And there will I meet thee, and I will go before thee into a land which is choice above all the lands of the earth.

This is more than revelation.

This is a covenant connection. This is a relationship that is being built, a connection with the Lord, and He gives them step one. And, it's a gathering set of instructions. Gather people, gather flocks, gather food and provisions, gather everything you're going to need, and then begin the journey and take the first leg of the journey up to the valley northward, and I'll meet you there and go before your face.

So, God didn't tell them, "Here you are at point A, and I'm going to now give you every step, point B, C, D, and on and on and on." God didn't do that. He said, "Here you are at point A, and I will give you point B. Gather all these people and things and go northward, and I'll meet you there, and I'll continue to guide you," which leaves all of this future travel, all of these future events in the realm of the unknown.

Pulling Out Principles from Our Study

So, we're building our faith in Christ to take those first steps of a journey. So now, watch the contrast that I started with. You can bring questions, situations, and concerns into the scriptures, find principles and look for ways to approach them. Or you read the scriptures and see what they teach and then pull principles out.

So, let's give some examples of what that might look like, here. You could say, you've got people who are in an environment or in a setting or in a state of being where chaos is raining, where things seem to be getting worse, and they want more peace in their lives.

So, they're seeking direction from the Lord, and the Lord gives them inspiration of how to get out of that and move towards a promised land. All of a sudden, this starts to feel and sound an awful lot like the plan of salvation.

It starts to sound like more than just a story of a group of people clear back in the ancient world thousands of years ago on the other side of the planet who are on a physical journey. And, it starts to sound like, wow, this is our story.

And, the tower, the Tower of Babel part, could symbolize we could be a symbol of, rather, this Earth and mortality and the struggles of mortality and our efforts to come under Christ and follow His path, His covenant path, as He leads us to the ultimate promised land, which is exaltation and eternal life as a joint heir with Christ in heaven. And, that's a big-picture application that can come out of the story or off of the page.

And then, there are a whole bunch of little microcosm pictures that could come off. When you embark to serve a mission, whether you're an 18 or 19-year-old young man or young woman, or whether you're an older couple embarking on that mission, all of a sudden, Ether Chapter 1 becomes very applicable, very relevant as you say, "Wow, I'm embarking on this mission and God gives instruction of what to do in phase one, how to prepare for that mission and go to the MTC." But, we don't know all of the adventures that await. But, we move forward in faith, faith in Christ, that He will guide us.

It could apply to marriage, going into an engagement, and we're all excited and it's a thrill, and we have no idea what's going to come down the road. But, we move forward because we trust. We trust in Christ, and we trust in those around us to move forward together on the covenant path. So, these stories can come to life off of the page, and they can be motivating factors for us to give us more hope to not be governed by fear and to not be governed by what we don't know in the future. But, rather, make our decisions based on what we do know. And, the Lord gave them instructions, and I love this phrase,

42 And when thou hast done this thou shalt go at the head of them down into the valley which is northward. And there will I meet thee, and I will go before thee into a land which is choice above all the lands of the earth.

"... [And] there will I meet thee..." And, [there] might be a mission filled, it might be marriage, it might be parenthood, it might It might be a career, it might be an educational opportunity. It might be day one in a calling, a new calling that you've received in the church. It can be all these things.

But suddenly, when we take these kinds of approaches, the scriptures are never boring. They are never black words on a white page that are meaningless. They become a handbook for revelation, a handbook for hearing the voice of God.

We've had general authorities tell If you want to talk to God, you pray. And, if you want God to talk to you, read your scriptures. And, I would add, Listen to the living prophets. It's this beautiful principle that we don't try to make up some new way to connect with heaven. It's pretty simple. Pray specifically and then go into scriptures as we ponder and record our thoughts, specifically looking for those answers.

We're far more likely to receive them than if we just generically sit back on the lawn chair on the side of the path and wait for the Lord to come and get us up and tell us what to do and when to do it and how to do it. So, verse 43, he gives another promise,

43 And there will I bless thee and thy seed, and raise up unto me of thy seed, and of the seed of thy brother, and they who shall go with thee, a great nation. And there shall be none greater than the nation which I will raise up unto me of thy seed, upon all the face of the earth. And thus I will do unto thee because this long time ye have cried unto me.

I'm going to raise up a great nation because of your footsteps of faith. I'm going to bless millions in the process. It's a beautiful reminder to us to not think just of ourselves and our own situation, but to pause and step back and take a broader view of life. Think celestial, if you will, and think of the effect your decisions of faith to move forward today will have on generations yet unborn.

Share and Love,
Mommy

A Little Christmas Moment with Elder Yu ❤️ 25 Dec 2024

2024-12-27T00:25:00.000+08:00

Christmas 2024 felt a little different with Elder Yu away serving his mission. During the Christmas holiday, we had a video call with him, and it was such a happy moment to see his familiar smiling face on the screen again. Even though we could not celebrate Christmas together in person, being able to see him and share a little time together meant a lot to me.

One of the things I was looking forward to was knowing whether he had received the Christmas presents we mailed to him. We had sent him two books, Hidden Potential by Adam Grant and a book by Gerald N. Lund. When he showed us the books during our video call, I was so happy! There he was, holding up both books and smiling at the camera. I could not help smiling too. It was wonderful to know that our little Christmas parcel had reached him safely.

I think this photo captures the moment so well. Elder Yu looked excited to show us his presents, and I was happy to see that he had received them. Choosing and mailing the books was our way of letting him know that we were thinking of him during Christmas. Although they were simple gifts, they carried our love and encouragement for him as he continued his missionary service.

Christmas is usually a time when I think about family gatherings, sharing meals, and enjoying the company of the people I love. With Elder Yu away, we could not have everyone together in the usual way. I did miss having him at home, but the video call gave us a chance to share a little part of the holiday with him. Sometimes, seeing his face and knowing that he is doing well is enough to make my day.

As I looked at him holding the books, I also thought about how much he must be experiencing and learning during his mission. He is away from the familiar routines of home, taking on new responsibilities and serving people in a different setting. I hope the books will give him something interesting to read and perhaps some useful thoughts to reflect on during his mission. I also hope he knows that we are proud of him and that we continue to remember him in our prayers.

Being a mother means that even when our children grow older and begin their own journeys, we still think about them and wonder how they are doing. I may not know all the details of his everyday life, but I am grateful for the opportunities we have to connect and hear from him. I am learning to treasure these moments without wishing too much for things to be different.

This Christmas video call may have been a small event in the middle of the holiday season, but it became a memory worth keeping. The picture of Elder Yu smiling and holding his two books reminds me that family love can be expressed in simple ways—a parcel sent with care, a few minutes on a video call, and the happiness of seeing someone we love receive something we prepared for them.

As I look back on Christmas 2024, I feel grateful for Elder Yu and for the opportunity he has to serve the Lord. I am thankful that we could share this moment, even through a screen, and that I could see his smile as he showed us his presents.

Two books, one video call, and a son's happy smile—these are the little Christmas moments I want to remember. ❤️

Christmas Week in the Mission! ✨️

2024-12-26T20:13:00.000+08:00

Well for this Christmas week it has been AWESOME! We were able to work a lot more harder and sincere. Going with my all to bring others to come unto Christ!

Best Christmas tree we ever have, well half and half. Nonetheless the funniest tree we ever had!

Zone Conference

Well this Zone Conference was just amazing! And I loved it, we learned that gossip should never be a normal way for us to communicate with one another. But that if there is anything positive, uplifting and encouraging we can speak about a person's front or back. Let us do that! It's really beautiful to be able to learn that the Lord loves us. He has never ever talked bad about you has He? If so why do that to our friends, to others who are divinely connected back to our Father in Heaven as we are. To His children.

Surely that is never the way that the Savior wants His Disciples to be. Even though it's tempting, it is not a normal habit we should have. It is NEVER OKAY! I learned that He has never exposed us of our weakness, neither judge. But He has tried to succor us, guide us and strengthen our weakness. I am grateful for His love.

He loves you no matter what, and I too am doing my best. To have integrity and live the way He wants me too and it's like insanely hard but possible!

Promised Blessings

Something I learned is that we have the authority and power Sisters or Elders, dua-dua pun Ada that authority given by His prophet to share the gospel to all His children.

To help then make an informed decision in their lives and to help invite them to Come Unto Christ through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End. Which something I learned and am applying is that, you can promise people blessings, from the scriptures or personal experiences. We an promise them in His name, that if they do the invitation we extend to them in a kind and clear language. They can see teh blessings.

How awesome is that, it's like in Spider man (Tobey Maguire) when Doc Octo said

"The Power of the sun, at the palm of my hand"

Ain't that crazy like it's soo DIVINE! We can all do that, because we all have that keys to help others in Coming unto Him. I loved it soo much✨️ now I know I'm just yapping but it's a really sacred experience. And I was able to find out Church, Prayer and Reading scriptures have soo much blessings that the Lord can bless us with! It's really amazing!

Obedience

Well ever since Elder Dubreuil has been my companion we have been working really heard, and it's been inspiring! And I want to keep improving for real! I loves it! We worked like from 1pm to 8:45pm it turned to something like 12pm to 9:00pm and beyond. Honestly I am exhausted, I am tired and fatigued it's so hard. But at the end, I have seen the blessings of pushing myself and moving out of my comfort zone. I h a very seen the growth in all aspects and lessons I can attain. It's amazing! And something I was reminded from working all the way is by President Gordon B Hinckley he said:

"Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people. … Stand higher, lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ”

And from that I am eternally grateful for all that I am able to do, with all my effort!

Lastly if you ever wonder why the work is hard, just remember. It has never been easy for our Savior to give us the gift of salvation of returning back to our Father. So why should it be easy for us? Even though the Savior suffered so much more than what we can comprehend, we can face hardship because He is there to help us.

You got this, because Jesus has got you✨️. Don't worry and move onward with His work! ❤️

Agents for Ourselves

Our KI number this week has been insane, we set a 5 knowing we can achieve them and gradually one lesson cancel at a time. Until we were left with 0/5 on Friday. And that's was just depressing all the way. Yet we continued, we strive to seek for lessons and find ways how we can teach our friends, daily contacting them too. Which at the end on Sunday our Teaching KI is 2/5 epic come back from.

From that experience something that was constantly in my mind was, it's not over yet, so how can we achieve it as best as we can. There is a bunch of factors that are out of our control, yet I learned that there is always something that we can do. We are agents for ourselves, not to be acted upon. And often the things we can do are so simple and overlooked, yet it brought hope an peace from their fruits that arise from it! I am grateful for that knowledge. And I am grateful for it!!

To know that we can always do something, even when circumstances or adversary is daunting He loves us and always hears our prayers. And I know that to be true. So just keep striving and fins ways to overcome your challenges!

Preach My Gospel

That is the best book I've ever read FR, that book teaches you so many things when it comes to missionary work and it's like another scriptures except it's not. But it's so helpful and guides me to learn so much more than what I already know. I am grateful for it!

Spiritual Thoughts

Well for this week it's Christmas! And it was the most awesome thing I've ever seen. Christ the Child was a divine film. But more than that I remembered I had the desire to find our what does the Savior's birth meant to me. But something I found was, it's okay to not know anything. Trust in Him and His prompting and act on it. He loves you and will never abandon you. In 1 Nephi 11 it's my favorite scripture as it talks about the meaning of the birth of Jesus Christ. Yet it was also interesting how Nephi was seeking for the Lord's help and heed upon the council and vision that the angel had visited him. And I loved it.

1 Nephi 11:20-23

20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.

21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?

22 And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.

23 And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul

I know that Jesus is the Christ, He is my Savior and my Lord. He loves me and so does He love you too. And I say all these in the sacred name of Jesus Christ Amen.

My new Son Larry

Bob Marley Christmas Tree

Mahjong

Me and Elder Ramos!

Icelandic Ancestors & Welding Link

2024-12-25T18:59:00.000+08:00

December 25, 2024

Icelandic Ancestors & Welding Link

Dear Elder Yu,

Icelandic Ancestors

This is the final inspirational thought from my Social Science Statistics instructor shared with us this semester. It is about his ancestors' stories. Like many multi-generation Mormons with roots based in Utah, his ancestry is not exciting. He has some good pioneer stories sprinkled in there, but the countries of origin of his ancestors are quite typical. A few branches go back to England, Scotland, Wales, and one great-grandmother from Norway. But he does have one side of his family that is rather unique. His Great-Great Grandfather and Grandmother immigrated from Iceland.

Now there are relatively few Icelandic-Americans out there. The reason is, that during the time that people were leaving the European nations in droves to come to America, very few Icelanders ever felt the need. Except for one group. A handful of them found Mormonism in the late 1800’s and moved to Utah. Thorstein Peterson was one of them. He was not even from ‘mainland’ Iceland. He was actually from a tiny island off the coast of Iceland called Vestmann Island. And this is actually where most of the converts were from.

When the Icelanders arrived in Utah, they were almost all sent to Spanish Fork to settle, and they maintained a nice little community. Today there is a monument to the Iceland pioneers in that town, and that is where my instructor stopped with his family on a trip through Utah a few years ago.

Now this might seem like a nice little story on the importance of Family History and the learning of ancestry. However, my instructor prefers to look at the present and future. While he was talking with his children about the sacrifices that these people made and the blessings that he has today as a result, he was struck with a thought.

Each of you can imagine your hometown. Now imagine what it could look like 100 years in the future. Now picture a family on vacation and stopping in your hometown. Perhaps they are traveling in an amazing hovercraft powered by water or maybe garbage. But this is a family that is full of solid citizens. Temple covenants bind this family. They are not perfect but are trying and they are built around love for each other. As they stop off in your futuristic hometown, the parents point out that one of their ancestors lived here. And because of the choices made by this ancestor, they can enjoy the blessings and covenants that they have.

A Welding Link

My instructor’s sharing reminds me of Elder David A. Bednar’s talk years ago, “A Welding Link” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/worldwide-devotional-for-young-adults/2017/09/a-welding-link?lang=eng which I would like to share with you. He discussed with the young adults the importance of being a “welding link” in their past and future posterity and active participation in the Church. The first time I listened and watched his devotional, I could feel the Spirit so strong that echoing in my mind that I needed to be the strong link, and the urge to do the family history work. The thing that I unanticipated was that I would be facing what I am facing now – my divorce. It needs both hands to clap. I think to be fair, your daddy is not the only one who is wrong in creating this in our marriage now.

As I restudy the talk, I feel an urge for you to learn from this simple and powerful devotional that might influence you and Annabelle in your good marriage, your own family, and every aspect of your lives:

“The very fact that I had not experienced righteous family patterns in my boyhood home created in me a strong desire to work diligently with Susan to make sure such patterns were always a part of the home we created together. As we counseled one another and pleaded for help in our prayers, we were inspired and blessed to help our children learn the principles of the Savior’s restored gospel. We certainly were not perfect parents, but we received the spiritual gifts we needed and found “help … beyond [our] own.”

“You and I are not trapped in our past experiences. We are not wholly and totally victims of our present circumstances or captives of our environment. The Holy Ghost will teach us all things that we should do, including patterns of family righteousness in which we have not previously participated. It begins with you! And with the Lord’s help, you can do it.”

“Some of you have had your hearts broken by family members or respected leaders who have not honored sacred marriage covenants. You may ask yourself, “If my parents or other couples I have known were sealed in the temple and their marriages did not succeed, what hope can I have that my marriage will last forever?”

“To you who have experienced the heartache of a divorce in your family or felt the agony of violated trust, please remember it begins again with you! One link in the chain of your generations may have been broken, but the other righteous links and what remains of the chain are nonetheless eternally important. You can add strength to your chain and perhaps even help to restore the broken links. That work will be accomplished one by one.”

“We are sons and daughters of God. According to the Father’s eternal plan of happiness, we are endowed with the gift of moral agency and are agents with the capacity to act. We are not merely objects to be acted upon. We are agents unto ourselves and should be anxiously engaged in bringing to pass much righteousness.”

“A fulfilling and happy marriage is not found; rather, it is created by a covenant-keeping man and woman. I fear some of you may be engaging in an endless search for something that does not exist. There is no perfect potential spouse who can safeguard you from emotional pain and spiritual anguish. But in the strength of the Lord, a faithful man and woman acting as agents can create the fulfilling marriage and the eternal family they hope and yearn to have.”

“Selflessly serving in a marriage relationship requires patience and persistence in a world that relentlessly encourages self-centeredness and selfishness. But it begins with you as you act and press forward with faith in the Savior, continually seek for heavenly help, and righteously exercise your moral agency. You can do it with the Lord’s help.”

The Promise and Blessings

“Becoming a welding link begins with you by doing the simple things Brother and Sister Call did to honor sacred covenants and teach their children to live and love the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“Becoming a welding link begins with you by having the courage and faith in the Savior to turn right, just like Brother Antwi.”

“Becoming a welding link begins with you by trusting the Holy Ghost to teach you all things and illuminate your pathway, even when you do not know precisely beforehand where you should go and what you should do.”

“Becoming a welding link begins with you by diligently and valiantly chasing darkness from among you¹² and standing strong against the seductive evils of the latter days.”

“I invoke upon you an apostolic blessing, even that by the power of the Holy Ghost you may understand more fully the importance of your place in the chain of the generations. I know you will be blessed and strengthened as you strive to become a strong welding link. And I promise that with the help of the Lord you can do it!”

“Eternal family links are only welded together through priesthood authority and personal righteousness. Whatever bad things may have occurred in your family, I testify and promise that the Lord Jesus Christ is the source of the healing, renewing, and restoring that you need.”

“Weeping may have endured during the night of your adversity, but joy can come in the morning of your new life made possible by our Redeemer and Savior.”

Just remember that our choices will impact not only our own lives but the lives of many others.

Love,
Mommy

December 10, 2023. A reference to D&C 128:18. “It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children, upon some subject or other—and behold what is that subject? It is the baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also; for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time.” The blue circle represents a baptismal font; the small triangles represent the oxen; and the white circles in the background represent our deceased ancestors. Made with Figma and Affinity Photo.

#baptism #doctrine-and-covenants #family #family-history #genealogy

Licensing and usage

This piece is licensed under the Creative Commons. You’re also welcome to use it in church-related use cases (classes, newsletters, activities, flyers, etc.) with no attribution needed.

From Annabelle to Elder Yu: Day 2 of FSY Asia Conference

2024-12-24T22:57:00.000+08:00

Well starting during this week was the question "Why be a disciple of Christ?", and we had to contemplate our answers to it during the whole FSY. What better way than having morning devotionals and gospel studies with the company?

Feast upon the Words of Christ

I learnt that the Lord will assist us through what He called us to do. 2 Nephi 32:3 is a great example of application to Nephi's life and actions when he feasted on the words of Christ. When we feast upon the words of Christ, we can know what we should do. I feel that helps us through callings we have during our mortal journey. Church callings or personal ones, we are bound to face hardships. I know that as we turn towards Him, He will help. Have you ever heard the phrase:

" If you want to talk to or ask God, pray to Him. If you want God to talk to you, read the scriptures."

Plus, it's His word, and as I echo what your trainer said to you: "God doesn't bet all that He has to a single missionary." Nor to a striving covenant path follower, He sent people we loved to strengthen each other. And as long as we have faith in Him and be meek and humble, we can be given the power to do "whatsoever thing is expedient in [Him]" ( Moroni 7:33). That because He had called us to do His work, doesn't mean He leaves it all to us. It's His work and it is our pleasure to serve Him. So we can have faith in our fun.

Words Matter

The next was a devotional with the session-directing couple, the Maitlands. He's Scottish!!! But I learnt that Words Matter! Not only to those we love and minister, the people we aren't so sure with, but also to us, ourselves! To treat ourselves and our neighbours kindly. Also! About the power of the words of Christ. No matter what time, mood or struggles you feel, the scriptures answer most of them because the verses are Living, Powerful and the Truth! They are quick and simple, but they still give power to us, if we but heed them.

Then Classes!

First, was a couple by the Bell naps? Sister Cheryl and Elder Boyd. They taught us about the importance of our names by playing an icebreaker. We did so by taking one shoe and placing it on the table. People came up and chose a random shoe and asked whose it was, asking their name and its meaning. Then we learnt about taking upon the name of Christ and His different titles as we are baptised. We make and keep our covenants to remember Him and what He has done for us. However, as we're taking upon His name, does that mean we should just stop there? Nay! We must take action. So if we want to be a friend to others, we can't just sit and wait. This was beautifully illustrated by a song using actions and an American hat with three corners. Then slowly, the keywords would slowly disappear, but we still motioned the words. Even without the words, you could still tell what it meant. Then, we ended the class with a list of things we can do to be His disciples and take upon His name more effectively.

Second was "Boringness" or "Choose Your Adventure". Brother Dustin. He started it off by saying that he had moved a lot during his childhood and that he was saddened at the fact he didn't feel at home. But he had the experience and comfort of the Holy Ghost that: No matter where you go, where you are right now and how far you are, you can always feel at home with the power of the Holy Ghost. Which leads to us relying on the Holy Ghost more often and our Spiritual Strength through our trials. Then, we can more fully rely and be more converted unto Him, GIVING THE APPLICATION OF:

"Because I know..., I will..."

We did this activity by writing our answer in the blank and crumpling the paper, throwing it to another person. This is what I got:

I like what this person wrote, it displaces my dread with joy because I know walking on the covenant path is hard, but it's not impossible. Which brings me to my topic:

Sometimes the Lord pushes us past our limits- more than what we had been practising for. Brother Dustin recounted his story of attempting a triathlon. He had thought it was a one-round race with 3 different activities. However! As it turns out, it was a 3-lap race with those 3 different activities. Of course, he was tired after everything but he recounted that sometimes we can be pushed above our limits - even tiring our physical capacity- but that's where we use our spiritual strength. To me, spirituality sounds like the motivation in your head that, hey you can do it because the Lord is with you. We still have to put in effort and consistent work to make a STEADY AND TRANQUIL DEDICATION OF A LIFETIME. Whether that be physical goals or our testimonies. Because we often have a powerful miracle but always let it be short-lived.

That's 2 classes, there are still 2 more but this is starting to get wordy and long. So I'll update you later. Because after the 2 classes, it was lunch! Hope you find peace today and have fun.

Sincerely,
Annabelle