December 2024

Sunday 1st - Erana received her Patriarchal Blessing this afternoon from Patriarch Yorgason. His house was so big and beautiful. He had a life size nativity on his front lawn. They had a huge Christmas tree with giant ornaments. Dad, Leila and I went with Erana to listen to her Patriarchal blessing. When he gave it, it was very long. Jay says he dozed off a couple of times, Leila too. It was a beautiful blessing. 

We had family dinner and then at 8pm Pres. McKinnon showed up and then Bishop and Mechelle, Scott and Heather. Before Leila got set apart those that wanted to bear their testimony or give Leila some advice did. Bishop, Mina, Tyrell, Tane, Scott, Mechelle and Heather spoke. I was extremely nervous and whatever I planned to say didn't really come out in order, I was emotional and cried. Jay was fine he was very analytical. Leila said something last. Pres. McKinnon gave her a beautiful blessing, my regret was not taping it cause I left my phone upstairs. We had a beautiful afternoon and evening filled with the spirit. 

Monday 2nd - After work took Leila to get some final things, we bumped into Shaun, well actually Leila was in the car waiting for me. I was in Dollar Tree and Shaun parked right in front of her. He gave her some money for her mission. Girls and I went to the Morleys Christmas Party. Shauna goes over and beyond in decorating her home for Christmas. It's amazing that she likes to put up all those Christmas decorations, very beautiful and makes it feel the Spirit of Christmas. We had snacks, Leila said goodbye to Dorothy and Joe. Hardings, Masinas, Vance & Alice came while we were there. 

Tuesday 3rd - Last full day we have with Leila, actually I still had work and baby still had school. But Dad and Jaxon were home with Leila. The wedlings slept over. Tane went to work the next morning.

Wednesday 4th - We all went to 'Tous Le Jours' for breakfast, my shout. Came home and did final packing and getting ready. Tyrell and Alisa said their farewells to Leila before we left. We met Ahria Skipps at the chapel nearest the MTC. We took photos and then we drove Leila into the MTC and we were guided to go into the underground parking. Lots of Missionaries were in there cheering. We all got out with Leila and gave her our final hugs and her escort took a photo of us and then escorted her away.  When I came home I took a nap and when I woke up I was feeling a little sad and missing Leila already! Jay said he shed a few tears. 

Saturday 7th - I premade a breakfast casserole for our Ward Breakfast Christmas Party and woke up early to put in the oven. But then realized our Oven was broken since Thanksgiving day. We had come home from Tania's and an alarm was going off from our oven and said it needed to be serviced. So I called Shauna Morley and asked her if she could bake it and bring it. I got a variety of casseroles but only one was tasty, I have to remember to get the potato or eggs based ones. They had yummy cinnamon rolls and bacon too. We were late and didn't get a lot of meats. We wrote to all the missionaries from our ward except Leila. And Yay - we had a Santa this year it was Brother Zierse, beggars can't be choosers lol We went and took photos with him. 

The family Christmas party was on the 22nd. We had a white elephant gift exchange again. We had a Christmas eve dinner for just our family. We had shrimp, sushi, vege and cracker tray and ribs. The kids did their gift exchange. Mum, Erana and I played Rummikub after which we hadn't done in ages. Mum and I stayed up late to get the gifts ready. Then Christmas day we opened gifts. Mum got Alisa a sewing machine and Tane a guitar. I got mum some new kitchen knives that are sharp. She was using blunt ones. Mina got us a Costco membership. It was a fun day. Leila had called from the MTC and watched us open presents. We sent her a box of stuff for her Christmas gift. Scot and fam came over for a combined Christmas dinner in the evening. Candi and Jaxon left to NZ on the 29th. We had New Years celebrations in the basement without them. Tyrell and Alisa came over and Mina and Tane did too. We had food and games. We played Jackbox. Mina and Tane left after and it was the 4 of us for the countdown, me, Erana, Tyrell and Alisa. Mum video chatted us for a bit.

November 2024

Saturday 2nd - Girls and I went to Shaylee's Baby Shower, in Lehi. We went with Heather, and met Mina there. Aunty Charmaine, Dolly and Luana were there too. I hung out with them. We had yummy soups and salad, fruit and cookies. I loved the Clam chowder soup it was thick and creamy. Love being with everyone especially the Aunties. 

Wednesday 6th - Girls and I dressed up as Clowns for our Ward Primary Carnival. The youth were in charge and the girls and I did the 'Musical Chairs'. I had Leila paint a huge sign on a white rectangle table cloth. And we put streamers and balloons everywhere.  We were the only ones dressed up but no worries, no shame - it's for fun! The first Musical Chairs game, some kids were crying and it was a little funny. Next one I set some ground rules and talked to them during the game so there was no pushing etc. Anyway it was a blast, girls and I had so much fun. Erana and Leila loved dancing to the music, they were a crack up! All the kids looked like they were having lots of fun. We handed out treats to the winner and punched the kids cards so they can earn treats etc. There was a fishing game, cup game, arts and crafts and snack and treat table. 

Friday 8th - girls went to one of Maya's plays she was in. The Descendants Musical - They took her flowers. They slept over at Minas and Tanes. 

Sunday 10th - Girls and I had our Young Women 'Night of Reflection Night'. It was at the Chapel. I forgot I was suppose to show up early to help decorate, my bad! Anyway it all looked amazing, and the program was lovely. Leila and Erana had brought stuff to stick on the table, their goals for the year. Leila also spoke about her experience in the Temple. She gave an awesome talk. 

Saturday 16th - My beautiful babies went to a Stake Masquerade Dance. 

Sunday 24th - Leila procrastinated writing her talk for her farewell she was up late the night before trying to get it done, even in the morning she had to make a couple of changes. - scary! Yesterday Jay, Me and baby went over to Scotts house to clean and set up. I also prepared a lot of food. 

Leila wore her white/purple Tausala Puletasi dress. Jayden Masina and the La'ulu family gave her flower leis, she also got black leis. The chapel was packed hardly any seats were left. I saw many of our family member, the Bakers, Hillams, our Tausala family, Jaxons friends lol, the Gudgeons, Loni and Jenni and lots of other people.

Leila's talk was amazing, the spirit was strong and she made me cry and I was so proud of her. I left after her talk to prepare the food at Scotts house. So I missed a lot of people, cause some of them did not come to the feed. Surprisingly the weather was great, it was suppose to rain and be really cold but we were able to have people sit outside, an answer to my prayers. I was worried about food running out because it was potluck and nearly everyone bought desserts. I had made pulled pork, lupulu, meat balls (which turned out wrong arrrgh!). Hiromi Taylor to the rescue, she came later but brought noodles and masubi's etc lots of it! We had lot's of people and it was a bit crowded, some people were in the Tiny house and outside too. I took photos of Leila and people when the left. I was glad it was coming to an end. 

Wednesday 27th - Started our fall break. Prepared food for Thanksgiving tomorrow. We continue to get Leila's things for her mission and pack Leila's bags. 

Thursday 28th - I made stuffing, grilled veges, sweet potatoes, apple pie,, sparkly drink and Monis Jello salad was a flop lol. It was only our family and Scotts family at Tanias. We had a very nice time eating and spending time with each other. Tania gave me some of her unwanted jerseys, some of them were Mums. I wore a mask so I wouldn't be sick from the dogs afterwards. Looked at Taylors RV, it was huge. 

Saturday 30th -  Leila had a Leatherbys gift card and a $25 visa card to use, so she shouted us to Leatherbys. Dad had fish n chips, girls and I had Ice-cream and cheese fries.  

Leila's Farewell Talk

Kia ora and talofa! I’m so honored to be speaking to you all this Sabbath morning before Thanksgiving and before becoming a full-time missionary for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in the Samoa, Apia mission. I’ve grown up performing Samoan siva with my Samoan-based Polynesian dance group, Tausala, and have attended Samoan celebrations and ceremonies. So I’ve already had the chance to come to learn and love the people and the culture. And when other polys would try to guess what my background was, they would always say Samoan first, so I guess I look the part too. It’s always fun when people try to guess my ethnicity because they would never guess Maori. When people would ask me where I wanted to serve my mission, I would always say Japan because I love their food and language. But as I was working on my mission papers, I felt it in my spirit that I would be called to a Polynesian island, and that being specifically Samoa. I thought I was being biased though, because out of the Polynesian islands, Samoan is my favorite to dance. But thinking about it now, Samoan dance is my favorite because I’ve felt the spirit most while performing it. It’s like the Lord was dropping hints that I would be serving in Samoa in the future. I used to be really shy before I joined Tausala and I didn’t like to dance because it brought me out of my comfort zone. But I’m glad I decided to continue dancing because it gave me more confidence and is one of my most favorite things to do. So, the Samoan people have already shared with me what is precious to them, and now I’m so happy to share with them what is precious to me. Throughout my talk, I will be wrapping its contents around Elder Dale G. Renlund’s talk “Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God” from the October 2020 General Conference.

From the title, Elder Renlund is quoting from the Old Testament prophet Micah in which he asks, “[God] hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8). Elder Renlund then explains this scripture further, stating that, “To do justly means acting honorably with God and with other people. We act honorably with God by walking humbly with Him. We act honorably with others by loving mercy.” (Renlund, October GC). As I pondered on those words, I thought of ways that I had learned and strived to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God throughout my life and in preparation to becoming a missionary.

Do justly

Elder Renlund says, “To be Christlike, a person does justly, behaving honorably with both God and other people. A just person is civil in words and action and recognizes that differences in outlook or belief do not preclude genuine kindness and friendship.”

To do justly, I think of Christ and His example. He was humble, meek, honest, loving, kind, and true to everyone He met. Although I strive to be like Him now, I wasn’t the nicest when I was little, as in elementary school little before I was homeschooled from 5th grade through 8th grade. I used to have no filter and would say mean things to family and friends. You might say I didn’t know any better since I was younger, but I still remember everyone I was mean to and the things that I’ve said because of the guilt I felt right after saying them. Only during my homeschooled years and when my beloved Grandma Barbara passed away was when I had a change of character, because that was when I gained my own testimony of the plan of salvation, the Savior’s Atonement, and the truthfulness of The Book of Mormon. Looking up to my Grandma Barbara’s spiritual and loving nature, I prayed more after her passing and read The Book of Mormon on my own, wanting to know if it was true for myself and also seeking forgiveness of my sins. The Book of Mormon taught me the love of the Savior, and the love I felt was overwhelming that I couldn’t not want to emulate that same love to those around me. I’ve learned further that the only way to overcome my personal struggles and temptations was by loving and caring for others, serving others, and looking outside of myself. Elder Renlund says, “A just person chooses to obey the commandments of God, repents when falling short, and keeps on trying.” Once I returned to public school as a freshman in Bennion Jr. High, I was probably shy, awkward, and maybe a little weird, and that still hasn’t changed. Other than nerves, the only things I had in mind was that I was going to love, serve, and stay true and humble in everything I did because of what I had experienced and learned from the Savior’s teachings beforehand. One of my favorite teachings of the Savior is in 3 Nephi 12:14-16, and it says “14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house; 16 Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” By doing justly, I also strive to be a light to those around me.

Loving mercy

Elder Renlund says, “To love mercy as God does is inseparably connected to dealing justly with others and not mistreating them.” “People who love mercy are not judgmental; they manifest compassion for others, especially for those who are less fortunate; they are gracious, kind, and honorable.”

In loving mercy, not only is mercy expressed towards others, but through my experiences, I have learned to be merciful towards myself. Thoughts of being unworthy for mistakes I have made in the past have brought me down and have made me think if I am even ready to take on an adventure in serving the Lord and a people in a different language. But as I have looked at examples of disciples of Christ in the scriptures, no one that the Lord has used was really ready to do what was commanded of them. They were all imperfect people, just like you and me. What allowed them to carry on and do what the Lord wanted them to do was their faith and knowledge in the Savior’s Atonement and His plan of happiness for us. My favorite example is the prophet Moses, because he didn’t feel “eloquent” to deliver his people since he was “slow of speech” as he described in Exodus (4:10). I’m not very confident in talking either, so I could relate to Moses feeling doubtful of his abilities to serve the Lord. The Lord responded to Moses, saying “... I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” (Exodus 4:12) I know that if the Lord could help Moses with his doubts and weaknesses, He can help me with mine as well. Elder Renlund describes this perfectly as he said, “Without the blessings that come from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we can never do enough or be enough by ourselves. The good news, though, is that because of and through Jesus Christ we can become enough.”

Mercy is enlaced through the whole gospel of Jesus Christ, and as such, should be shared with those around us. In cases where I have felt immense pain and guilt for my wrongdoings, I have also felt peace, comfort, and joy in knowing that because of Christ’s love and mercy, I am able to learn from my mistakes and become better through His Atonement. After coming to know the Savior’s mercy for myself, I had a strong desire to share Christ’s love and the restored gospel with others. In Mosiah 28 of The Book of Mormon, the third and fourth verses have stood out to me and are one of the many motivations of why I have chosen to serve a mission. To give context, the verses are in the point of view of the sons of Mosiah who are asking their father if they can preach to the Lamanites, and it says, “3 Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble. 4 And thus did the Spirit of the Lord work upon them, for they were the very vilest of sinners. And the Lord saw fit in his infinite mercy to spare them; nevertheless they suffered much anguish of soul because of their iniquities, suffering much and fearing that they should be cast off forever.” Just like the sons of Mosiah, we are able to experience the ‘infinite mercy’ of the Lord because of His Atoning sacrifice and the fullness of the gospel. Knowing the heartache that I have gone through, but also knowing what Christ has done for me, sparks within my soul a need to tell and show those around me what Christ and His gospel provides.

Walk humbly with God 

Elder Renlund says, “To be Christlike, a person chooses God, walks humbly with Him, seeks to please Him, and keeps covenants with Him. Individuals who walk humbly with God remember what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have done for them.”

As I have been preparing spiritually and temporally for this next chapter in my life, I’ve attended temple classes and made it a goal for myself to go to the temple at least once a week before I became endowed. Knowing that the adversary would try extra hard to ensnare me since I’ve made these important spiritual decisions, I wanted the spiritual guidance and protection that comes with attending the temple more often. I was then blessed to become endowed in the Taylorsville temple on my birthday. Preparing for and learning about an endowment taught me the importance of making and keeping sacred covenants with our Father in Heaven and what it means to choose God and walk humbly with Him. President Boyd K. Packer states, “Ordinances and covenants become our credentials for admission into [God’s] presence.” (Boyd K. Packer, “Covenants,” Ensign, May 1987). Ordinances and covenants are the path to eternal life and there is no other way to eternal life except through Christ and His Atonement. That’s why I am serving a mission, to bring the restored gospel to anyone who hearkens unto the Spirit.

Other than becoming endowed, I’ve had the privilege of serving in the temple as an ordinance worker these past two weeks, and this week being my last before my new calling as a missionary. I have never felt more at peace anywhere else than in the presence of the House of the Lord, and to be able to serve others at the same time has been such a humbling and spiritual experience. Being in the temple more often has helped me to be still, be more reverent, and ponder more on the blessings the Lord pours onto those who choose to walk humbly with and please Him by making and keeping their covenants with Him. It’s also helped me to understand what being a disciple of Christ looks like. It looks like someone who is willing to guide, offer a smile, and let the Spirit emulate from their countenance. Seeing the faces of those who sacrifice their time to worship and serve the Lord in the temple motivates me to continue sacrificing my time and talents to Him not only on my mission, but for the rest of my life and in the eternities.

As we go about our lives, whether that be school, work, retirement, or a mission, I invite you to ponder for yourself how you can do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. As you do so, Elder Renlund says, “We assimilate the attributes of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ into our character, and we love one another.” We become more like the Savior as we strive to follow His example by being a disciple of Jesus Christ. The Lord sees your efforts and will bless you accordingly. I know that as we serve our Lord with all our “heart, might, mind, and strength”, we “may stand blameless before God at the last day.” (D&C 4:2)

With it being Thanksgiving season, I’m grateful for my family and friends for supporting me in my decision to serve a mission and I’m grateful for everyone who helped raise me up in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m grateful for the priesthood and the priesthood holders who made it possible for me to serve a mission. I’m so very grateful to be called to serve in Samoa. Lastly, I’m grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, for making me who I am today.

To wrap up my talk, I’m going to attempt to say my testimony in Samoan with some English, haha:

Ou te iloa o le Atua o lo tatou Tama Fa’alelagi. Ou te iloa o i tatou o Ana fanau. Ou te iloa o Iesu Keriso o lo tatou Togiola. Ou te iloa o Iosefa Samita o se perofeta a le Atua. Ou te iloa e moni le Tusi a Mamona. I know that I will be able to see my Grandma Barbara again and that families are forever through the plan of salvation. I le suafa o Iesu Keriso, ‘amene.