Kia Ora Whanau & Goodmorning Brothers and Sisters.
My name is Tyrell Wihongi, but most of you probably know me or have known me as the “Quiet one”. It must be exciting for a lot of you to hear me speak, words. But you all know the saying, like father like son. So in my defense, I definitely inherited my quietness from my dad. My dad is a very soft spoken person, and he was just like me before he went on his mission, or so he’s told me. A mission changed my father, I’m sure of it. And I’m hoping that it does the same for me. Apparently I have a lot of ancestors who lived in North Carolina, ancestry that come from my Grandmother's side who inherit her maiden name “McKinley”, The name was originally from Scotland, but emigrated to the states and eventually settled in North Carolina in the late 1700’s, and then to Texas which is where my Grandma is from. I love my Grandma. I report to the MTC on March 8th.
To the topic that I was given, and asked to speak on.
When Jesus Christ ministered on the Earth he established his church, but it was lost from the Earth following his crucifixion and the ministry of his apostles, we call this “The Great Apostasy”. Because the true church was wiped from the Earth, it meant that many truths, ordinances, prophets, and the priesthood were wiped also. And the world entered a state of spiritual darkness. That apostasy made it necessary the restoration of the gospel. I just wanted to give a little better understanding of why it was necessary for the restoration of the gospel. When I hear the word Restoration I immediately think about the Prophet Joseph Smith.
In 2 Nephi 25: 17…”And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men.”
Heavenly Father was able to do a marvelous work and wonder through Joseph Smith. When Heavenly Father speaks about his marvelous work and wonder he is speaking about the restoration. I know that Joseph had faith when he prayed in the grove, not only did he receive an immediate answer, God himself and Jesus Christ came down before him, and gave him a mission to restore the true church (the church of Jesus Christ) back on Earth. In Joseph’s owns words this is how he describes what he saw after his faithful prayer in the grove.
“I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me… When the light rested upon me I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me by name and said, pointing to the other- This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”
How do you even cope with that kind of answer?
But I Believe him, I know he saw what he said he saw. I remember when I came to know for sure that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and it was in seminary. I remember we had a memorial kinda day for Joseph Smith and it was just all about him, we learned all about Joseph Smith. His life, his family, his trials. Whenever I think I’m going through something hard, I sometimes think about the things Joseph Smith went through. You’d think that if he knew what he was doing wasn’t true, he’d just stop after being tarred and feathered, after being thrown into jail, after almost being killed multiple times, but no he kept going, many people didn’t believe, many doubted him, many wanted proof, many of those people were his friends, family, people he knew, but he kept going. How? Why? Because he knows that it is true, and I know that it is true. Back to my experience in seminary I remember clearly after learning all about Joseph Smith, we sang a song and it was during that song that the spirit testified to me that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. The feeling I felt I cannot describe. A poor Wayfaring man of grief. It is because of the faith of a 14 year old boy, that we are all able to be here today. It is because of him, who overcame many trials and never gave up, that we are able to experience the blessings and the joy that we have all already experienced from the gospel in our lives. And it is because of him that I know that Families can be Together Forever. That is one of the many truths that were restored to him. One of the many truths that are most important to me, And one truth I feel the need to talk about.
Not long ago, I went on a life changing and spiritually uplifting trip to New Zealand. It happened so quick. My dad just unexpectedly asked me if I wanted to go to New Zealand. And I was like pft, yeah. I legitimately thought he was just joking but then he told me that Uncle was dying. My Uncle Alwood (brother of my grandpa). Well before I knew it we (Dad, Scott, Tyrone) embarked on an unforgetable journey that I will never forget. Unfortunately though, My Uncle sadly passed before we landed. Our plan was to visit him in the hospital, but instead we attended his funeral. I cannot tell you how amazing that trip still was though. I had met family I've never met before and the love and the spirit that I felt from them was so overwhelming I felt like I was home. And though I didn't really know my Uncle who had passed away, I had a calm feeling that I would see him again. I’ve never experienced so much love from people who I didn’t really know, but it made me think deeply about the importance of family, and teary eyed to know that I would be able see all of them again, not just in this life but also in the next. I also got to experience a full dose of my maori culture, and to learn a part of who I really am. My uncles, and my dad would point me to everyone and tell me how I was related to them. During one of the services before the funeral, (me,dad,scott) were asked to speak. All three of us bore our testimonies in front of many people I didn't even know, half of which were my relatives, half of which were from another church. But shortly after, everyone was crying, and we were all giving each other hugs, I’m pretty sure I hugged everyone twice. My uncles would tell me you’re probably tired of all this hugging. Nope, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. My testimony of God's plan for us and that families can be together forever was strengthened. I learned many things from my trip and one of them was that true happiness doesn't come from material things or anything of this world, True Happiness only comes from God, but through our family, and through loving others. Families can be together forever. That is one truth that I would not be able to live without. I can't imagine what it'd be like not knowing that, I wouldn't be able to not know that anyway because of course, I have been blessed to be born into the church and was taught that all my life, and because of that sometimes I take it for granted. Don't take it for granted like I did. I now realize how precious that truth is, that families can be forever. There are many people who don’t know that, many who wishes it were true.
Another thing that was restored is the temple. I had the amazing opportunity to go through for my first time last week, to be endowed. I chose to go through the Draper Temple. But all i can say is, it was weird, but my dad explained to me it's because that's how they used to do it way back in Moses and Abraham's day in their temples, so I guess that would make sense why most of the things we do in the temple would seem very strange in our day haha. I may have also thought it was a little cheesy haha, but then I started to feel the spirit so strongly at one point, I might have even cried a little, I prayed to God and said I was sorry that I thought it was cheesy haha. My bishop told me that going through the temple for your endowments is more important than going on your mission. And he’s right. It’s a huge step to take that brings us closer to our Heavenly Father. We are able to perform many beautiful and sacred ordinances in the temple. In fact, that is how we are able to be sealed to our families forever. My temple trip was like the cherry on top to my New Zealand trip. From my NZ trip I learned the importance of family. Now because temples have been restored I know that I can be sealed to them forever. Anyways, I had to share those three experiences I had with you all, but now it's about time for me to close.
Brothers and sisters, this is the message of the Restoration and my testimony to you. That God lives, he loves and knows each one of you individually. That Jesus is the Christ and your savior, he died for you. That many truths were restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and so long as you abide by the principles and laws of the truthfulness of the gospel, you will be saved at the last day.
3 Nephi 27:21-22
21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;
22 Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
I leave my love and my testimony with you, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.22 Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
