Sunday, September 18, 2011

Last Post

Today was a historical day. Our Kuala Lumpur Branch was divided and we saw the birth of a new branch: The Cheras Branch.

As such, we as the Kuala Lumpur Branch Relief Society presidency (Claire Lim, Susan Seet and Shirlee Keddington) have been released.

It has been a great honor serving all of our lovely sisters. We are grateful for all their support and love all these years. We pray that we will all continue to love and care for one another and help one another to make it back to our ever-loving Heavenly Father.

(We will no longer be updating this blog)

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Super Chinese Woman with No Arms

This is a video about a Chinese woman who was born without arms. Ji-Mei Ren's mother wanted to throw her into the sea but her father was against it. Her father suggested they took care of her like a pet.

Instead of being discouraged, Ji-Mei learnt to make the best of her situation. She works in the fields as well as takes care of her family and their home. We can see how capable she is and how happy her family members are. She indeed has a very positive attitude.

She's able to use her feet to do whatever people with arms can do with their hands like making dumplings, making noodles, cooking, sewing, farming, embroidering, writing, dressing herself, etc.

Her husband, Lee came from a very poor family as his parents had many children. He couldn't afford a wife so his aunt recommended that he married the armless young woman. He asked his aunt to go to Ji-Mei's home to ask for her hand. When Lee's aunt was there, she made it clear that Lee was very poor. Ji-Mei's father didn't mind it as long as Lee was mild-tempered and would not treat Ji-Mei badly. That was how they got married.

Lee stressed that Ji-Mei has never brought him any problems even though she doesn't have arms. She brought up their three children and takes care of all the household chores, no matter how big or small.

She has not allowed her disability to prevent her from building a happy family. She is without a doubt an amazing woman and we can do much to emulate her great attitude and tenacity.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Changes Made in Senior Missionary Policies


The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently approved changes in the policies regarding length of senior missionary service and missionary housing to encourage more couples to serve full-time missions and to improve their missionary experience.

As of September 1, 2011, couples may serve for 6, 12, 18, or 23 months. In addition, a cap of $1,400 (US) per month will be established for housing costs.

In the past, the policy has been that couples serving outside their country of residence were called for at least 18 months. Those wishing to serve outside their country of residence for less than 18 months may now do so if they pay for their own transportation to and from the field.

A change in housing costs for senior missionaries will also take place in September. Missions, temples, or area administration offices now will locate and secure appropriate housing and pay all housing costs (including rent, utilities, and furnishings). Missionary couples will then reimburse some or all of those housing costs up to the cap.

Missionaries from the United States, Canada, western Europe, Japan, and Australia will be expected to reimburse the cost of housing up to the cap, while those from all other countries will be expected to reimburse the costs up to their individual ability to pay (but not to exceed $1,400 a month). Couples will continue to pay for food and other personal expenses.

The cap on housing costs is intended to allow more couples to serve and to allow Church leaders to make assignments without being constrained by whether couples can afford housing costs.

If you have questions about senior missions, please call 1-800-453-3860, ext. 2-6741 (or 801-240-6741), or e-mail Senior Missionary Services to receive a response to your specific questions.

-June 2, Church News

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Conversion Story - Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck is an American conservative radio and television host, author, entrepreneur, and political commentator.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Conversion Story - Sister Cathy Lee

All the way from primary to secondary school, I studied in a Convent. When I met my best friend Jean at 11 years old, Jean introduced me to Catechism classes (kind of like seminary classes for the Catholic children). From then on, I learnt about our Saviour and I so much wanted to follow Him. By the time I was in secondary school, I asked permission from my mother to be baptised as a Catholic. My mom told me,"You are born into a Buddhist family and you will remain a Buddhist until your dying day.....unless, the man you marry is a Christian, then you are allowed to follow his religion.".

So you can imagine what my prayers are for ever since..... it had always been for me to meet a nice Catholic boy so that I could become a Catholic! I had only wanted to become a Catholic because to me the proper authority was important, and Jesus Christ had passed the authority to Saint Peter....... so I believed that the Catholic Church was the only true church and no other churches would have the direct authority from Christ himself.

It took me a long time waiting for the right 'Catholic boy' to come into my life. Not a single one did......... until I met Eric.........he wasn't a Catholic yet but he was taking classes to get ready to be baptised as a Catholic. So I would finally marry my 'Catholic' and get to become a Catholic myself.....or so I thought..............

Then one day, Eric told me...... that he did not believe that the Catholic church is the true church and that he would go in search for the truth! I was stumped but I just waited and watched where the search would take Eric. He would become any missionary's favourite target! Any friend, contact or acquaintance who invited Eric to their church, he would willingly go....... One day, he was at his office when he saw one of his colleques (Sister Annie (Ling) Teh) reading some kind of church literature. He asked her what was she reading.... she said it was her church book (Eric can't remember now whether it was an RS Manual or Book of Mormon) and she invited him to investigate the church. Of course Eric willingly went along. He took the lessons and attended Sacrament meetings but I would not go along (because it was not the Catholic church!); but every time he came back, I would ask him what they taught him. He would share with me but when I started asking more and more questions, he said,"Why don't you just take the lessons yourself so you can ask as many questions as you like because I don't know how to answer your questions any more"!

So I agreed to take the discussions but was appalled when I found myself in the Mormon church! In my mind I was thinking,"What! Isn't this a cult?"! I prayed to Heavenly Father and asked Him what was happening and how on earth was I led to a cult and to please show me back to the right church"! However, I didn't get any answer from Heavenly Father so I continued with the discussions. I must have given the missionaries such a tough time because they had to continue seeing me for the next two years!

Finally, when Eric and I were ready to get married, I asked Heavenly Father to show me what I should do........... Interestingly, that was when Eric decided that this was the true church he had been searching for and wanted to get baptised (but he didn't ask me to because he thought I wasn't ready). So I thought about it and realised that perhaps it was THIS church that Heavenly Father wanted me to join! I felt that since I was marrying Eric and he was going to become a Christian, then so be it, this would be the right church for me....... So you can imagine the surprise I gave the missionaries....... I remember the day clearly........... The couple missionaries were asking Eric to commit to a baptism date and before Eric could answer, I said I would like to be baptised too (by then I had gained a testimony that Joseph Smith was indeed the Prophet who restored the Gospel after reading the book "Truth Restored" given to me by Brother David Chan). So we decided to be baptised together 3 days after our marriage registration!

When I think back, I am indeed grateful that through Eric, I found the true church and I am certain that was the reason Eric came into my life. I realise now that Heavenly Father has indeed answered my prayer after all. The best part is, He led me to the right church by placing Eric in my life otherwise I would never have in any way come into contact with the church at all!

Isn't it so amazing how things had turned out? I did not end up as a Catholic (much to Jean's disappointment) but I got something better..... the Restored Gospel! For this, I am thankful for Eric's part in my life because I now see a bigger purpose in Heavenly Father's plan for me!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration

People around the world now have a new way to learn about Joseph Smith, the founder and first president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A film called Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration is now available online, marking the first time the Church has shared a full-length film on the Internet.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011