Auntie Nani's Testimony

I am a support missionary in the Kalaheo ward, and I just love being a missionary.  I also am a visiting teacher and the chorister in the Kalaheo ward.  And what I am going to do today is bare you my testimony of why the gospel is important in my life.  I bare you my testimony that the church is true, that the scriptures, the gospel is true.  That Heavenly Father continues to forgive us and continues to love us.  In my life, for me to appreciate the gospel and the teachings was because one day I was thinking how troubled I was, and as I was pondering upon the subject I opened the Book of Mormon and I found a scripture as I opened it that said for me not to worry and be not troubled because Heavenly Father is here.  And it is true that He was here with me and He listened and He knew my feelings and He, in some way, because He was not talking to me face to face, the scriptures, I opened it, and He was talking to me through the scriptures.  Heavenly Father has always answered my prayers and always gave me some indication whether I was on the right path, or whether I shouldn’t do it or whether I should.  I love Him so much!   He has always been the person that keeps me in the path, that comforts me, that keeps me safe and answers my prayers.   I know that He has lived with us here on the Earth.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the true book in this whole world because it tells us of what is happening today in our life here.  I love Him so much!  I bear you my testimony that if each and every one of you truly want to know the truthfulness of the gospel, pray to Heavenly Father before you read the Book of Mormon, and when you get through reading the Book of Mormon you will absolutely know it is the true Book.

Mary's Story

When I was 16 I got my patriarchal blessing.  It was a great time in my life.  In my blessing it states "you will serve a mission in the mission fields of the church as a young person."  When the Patriarch said that, I had a confirmation that was very powerful and undeniable that I needed to go on a mission.  I had to keep reminding me of that feeling, especially when I met Chad.  I met Chad 1 1/2 years before I was supposed to go and I felt good about him; however I knew what I needed to do.  I committed to the Lord and for me I knew what I had to do.  I ended up serving a mission and the beauty and blessings, and growth I experienced has blessed my life and strengthened my testimony.  Plus, I ended up being blessed with Chad after!

Lana's Story

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at 28 years old.  I had to accept the unknown course of this disease.  I was a busy hard working mother of 2.  I had to decide my treatment plan.  For 2 years I tried just supplements and now I am on a disease modifying drug that I inject every day.  This diagnosis literally changed my life.  I was obese for the majority of my life and at the beginning of 2010 I began working out 2 hours a day and it has been very close to a cure for me.  I am no longer obese and I have my symptoms to a manageable point.  The church has been a huge blessing for me…

Alma's Story

When I was in high school I knew I wanted a career in art, so I never took higher math or science courses.  I wanted to go to art school in New York, but my mother didn’t want me to go so far.  So I went to UH-Manoa my freshman year, but I planned to go away my sophomore year.  By then I decided not to go so far and ended up going to the University of Cincinnati where I did enter their School of Design, architecture and Art.  It was totally different and new.  I was the only Asian undergraduate student.  There was a Chinese graduate student, but that was it.  It was a great experience, but I felt guilty about spending so much money.  I decided to go back to UH-Monoa and planned to major in Fashion Design.  Right before I was to register for classes, I was at the library and started reading a book about how the foods we eat affect us.  I changed my major to Nutrition, not knowing that I needed to take a lot of math and science courses.  I ended up graduating at the top of my class and went on to attend UC- Berkley to get a graduate degree in Public Health Nutrition.  I had wanted to go abroad and work in underdeveloped countries and teach them better nutrition.  That never happened because I got married and moved to Kauai, and I never worked in nutrition.  Although you make plans, you can’t plan everything.

Christina's Story

A few months before graduating from high school, I came across an article that was a commencement speech that a guy gave to a graduating senior class.  He told the students to not be anxious to grow up.  Not in a childish, immature way but to not be anxious and rush going out on your own.  He told them to enjoy the short time that they are dependent on their parents, because they will have the rest of their lives to be independent.  He said travel and experience and then be responsible.  I took it to heart.  I went on as many trips as I could.  I lived in Russia, in China, in Japan.  Went to Thailand, Hong Kong, Korea, Mexico.  I had experiences that I would never be able to do as a “responsible” adult, I met people, I made memories, I played.  I am so grateful that I read that speech.  I am so glad I took it to heart.  I am grateful that he gave me permission to create a part of me that I will always treasure.

Peggy's Story

I was born to very loving parents who had to struggle with being an inter-racial couple – my mother is 100% Japanese and my father is a good ole farm boy from Utah that met my mother while stationed in Japan during the Korean War.  Their struggles and hardships of adapting to each other’s ways, customs, traditions, and even languages spilled over onto me and my 2 younger brothers growing up.  Many things I didn’t understand, most hurtful was the father’s family being disrespectful to my mother just because she was Japanese.  However, we turned those struggles around and it helped us to become a very close, loving, strong family – we have always stayed close, took care of each other, and been there for each other through thick and thin!

Tara's Story

My life started out hard, although I didn’t know it at the time.  My parents had an off and on relationship with the church, so I only attended until I was 10.  Thankfully my grandparents knew that we needed the Gospel and took us as much as they could.  When we moved away when I was 10, church was no longer a part of our lives.  I made many poor choices as a youth.  After 10 years of in-activity, I started attending church again.  I had been fellowshipped by a very loving ward and it all felt so right.  By this time in my life I was 20, married, and the mom of 2 babies.  Life was hard with no money, a very abusive husband in all senses of the word, and no love and support from my family.  After many years of praying and fasting, I knew that I was to divorce my husband.  It was a very hard and painful choice, especially since I was the mom of 4 children now.  I had received my endowments and was so thankful for that.  I knew it was the right choice, not something I was rushing into.  By this time, I had worked hard to support us financially.  My Tupperware business had grown and I knew I could support myself on it.  6 weeks after my divorce was finalized, I met my eternal companion.  We were married 8 short weeks later.  That marriage not only brought me a husband, but also 3 more children.  I was now the mom of 7 children.  I also helped my husband with running our business.  I have helped and learned so many things since then.  Being a mom is so very hard and especially when you are limited on what you can do.  Some of their choices have been so hard to help them with.  But then you find your hands tied.  We now have adopted another child, one of our children’s children.  We know her place is with us.  I have learned so much and am so grateful to Heavenly Father.  He has blessed me so many times and so very much!