Howl's Moving Castle

I used to dream as they do, walk above the street...

Another Japanese anime that I watched recently. I truely like the story. Beautiful. I hope you get the chance to watch it as well. Just add in some pics of it...

Grave of Fireflies

As I just leaved my work in Kong Hwa School, I watched some Japanese Animes from the DVD my landlord lend me. Today i just like to write down some of my thoughts and feelings while / after watching this anime. Then I found out that there is a Live Action Movie online at Youtube. I personally prefer the anime tough.

After I watched the anime, I questioned myself. What had I learnt other then just sobbing for the last 100 minutes in-front of my laptop? My conclusion as below:

Why I sob?

Am I pity on what happened? It's just a story...

I realized that it is because I do have a younger sister and a mom and dad that love me so much...

What if I am the boy in the movie, can I endure what he had suffered?

Truly I hope I can. I know he had strong faith that all trials and tribulations will over.

As we live in peace and prosperous countries at this moment. Are we still have the same strong will and determination to endure the tiny hardships that encounter us? The afflictions that we are facing now are really small and light if we compare them with the tribulations in era of our ancestors who suffered in wars, disasters, and sicknesses without much help from the technologies that we enjoying now.

What I have to do with these thoughts?

Of course I commit to myself that

1) I will be a better son, brother, and friends to whom I love so much.

2) I will show more gratitute to what I having now. (no wasting of food, money, time and talents)

3) i need to do more in helping and assisting those who are not as fortunate as I am. (more donation and volunteering to serve those in need).

Who like to watch the anime but can't find it can try to loan it from National Library if you stay in singapore. Else, try to find it online ... I hope you will love this anime as well. (get some tissue paper by your side before you watch it!) Have a good day. I love you all...

Evolution vs Creation (Doubt?)

Today, I read a boldest testimony that I had ever encounter...

President Stephen L. Richards: “Just say to those skeptical, disturbing, rebellious thoughts, ‘I propose to stay with my faith, with the faith of my people. I know that happiness and contentment are there and I forbid you, agnostic, doubting thoughts, to destroy the house of my faith. I acknowledge that I do not understand the processes of creation, but I accept the fact of it. I grant that I cannot explain the miracles of the Bible, and I do not attempt to do so, but I accept God’s word. I wasn’t with Joseph, but I believe him. My faith did not come to me through science and I will not permit science to destroy it."

I was in doubt before I received my confirmation from the spirit that there is a Heavenly Father who watched over us. He loves us. He has a great plan for us to achieve. I pray that my dear friends who is still in doubt can put off all of our pride, knee down and say a sincere prayer to ask god if he is really there listening for you...

You will know him by your own efforts, I testify... in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Death

We have a missionary just transfered in to Singapore 2nd Ward last Saturday. -司马长老 I knew him since April this year after my visit back to the areas I served in Sarawak. He did serve in a couple of areas that I served before and he sent me some good news and some sad notices.

One sister, who is the mom of my convert when I served in Sarawak, had passed away. I'm truely not prepared as I still have a promise to her that I'll visit her and her son again after I find my eternal companion. She is one of the greatest mom that I ever met. I miss her a lot and I know so as his beloved son.

I started to worry again, and seek comfort and understanding on this issue and I read the following passage from the Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young : Understanding Death and Resurrection.

President Brigham Young spoke on the subject of death: “What a dark valley and a shadow it is that we call death! To pass from this state of existence as far as the mortal body is concerned, into a state of inanition [emptiness], how strange it is! How dark this valley is! How mysterious is this road, and we have got to travel it alone. I would like to say to you, my friends and brethren, if we could see things as they are, and as we shall see and understand them, this dark shadow and valley is so trifling that we shall turn round and look about upon it and think, when we have crossed it, why this is the greatest advantage of my whole existence, for I have passed from a state of sorrow, grief, mourning, woe, misery, pain, anguish and disappointment into a state of existence, where I can enjoy life to the fullest extent as far as that can be done without a body. My spirit is set free, I thirst no more, I want to sleep no more, I hunger no more, I tire no more, I run, I walk, I labor, I go, I come, I do this, I do that, whatever is required of me, nothing like pain or weariness, I am full of life, full of vigor, and I enjoy the presence of my heavenly Father, by the power of his Spirit. I want to say to my friends, if you will live your religion, live so as to be full of the faith of God, that the light of eternity will shine upon you, you can see and understand these things for yourselves”

This faithful sister once told me that the only worldly thing that she is still concern about is his son (who is my convert), who still recovering from his injury and his future (work, marriage etc.)

I know she is faithfully carry out her duties as member missionary (she always is) preaching the gospel in Sirit world now. I know her daily prayers to Heavenly Father about her beloved son will be fulfilled. I know Heavely Father will not withhold any of his promised blessings to those who faithfully obey all his commandments and walk in this straight and narrow path.

I love this sister, and I know Heavenly Father loves her more than I do. He will grant unto his son to endure the hardships that follow. He does love us...

St Luke 12:48

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.



Some might said, "why am I worried so much about the end of the world as everyone must die?" The more I learn about the plan and duties which Heavenly Father assigned to me, the more I feel I'm not prepared enough to meet him today and tell him the "BEST" that I had done.

How can I know if I had done my BEST?

President Eyring said "They are polar opposites: one is to be complacent about what we have already done, and the other is to feel overwhelmed by the need to do more. "

Obviously I felt I am in the later group of member.


What should I do now?

The following verses then stand out to me in the long list that I found on Scriptures Search

2 Nephi 2

v 28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;

v 29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.

I think I got the answer, do whatever I can with all my heart, might and strength in obeying the commanments, in carry out my priesthood duties and magnify my callings, in making correct decisions through prayer and inspiration.

May we all able to know what we need to do and follow as Prophet Nephi counsel us

"Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. "

Reflection after watching Poseidon and Movie Trailer of 2012

If I was in that cruise, what will I do? Stay with the crowd in the ball or have the courage and faith to seek the escape from the disaster?

I read the following verses in 3 Nephi Chapter 7 in Book of Mormon this morning...

5 And it came to pass in the *thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land.

6 And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.

7 And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land.

8 And the city of Zarahemla did take fire.

9 And the city of Moroni did bink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned.

10 And the earth was carried up upon the city of Moronihah, that in the place of the city there became a great mountain.

11 And there was a great and terrible destruction in the land southward.

12 But behold, there was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward; for behold, the whole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest and the whirlwinds, and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth;

13 And the highways were broken up, and the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough.

14 And many great and notable cities were sunk, and many were burned, and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left desolate.

15 And there were some cities which remained; but the damage thereof was exceedingly great, and there were many in them who were slain.

16 And there were some who were carried away in the whirlwind; and whither they went no man knoweth, save they know that they were carried away.

17 And thus the face of the whole earth became deformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth.

18 And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were found in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the face of the land.

19 And it came to pass that when the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the storm, and the tempest, and the quakings of the earth did cease—for behold, they did last for about the space of three hours; and it was said by some that the time was greater; nevertheless, all these great and terrible things were done in about the space of three hours—and then behold, there was darkness upon the face of the land.

Isn't it the scene recorded by Mormon is almost the same as the scene shown in 2012 Movie? I am kind of scare and fear if the day (The Coming of Chirst) is taking place now... Am I not prepared? Many might ask?

Frank, I'm not ready for "The Day" now at this moment.

I still have more sins to repent (including watching the movie Poseidon yesterday, in stead of pushing my companion to do home teaching).

I still not yet find the sister that Heavenly Father enrusted to me to enter to the Holy Temple of God to be sealed for time and eternity.

My family are not baptised yet... And many more goals to be achieved...

The writing in 3 Nephi Chapter 7 continue...

24 And in one place they were heard to cry, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they would not have been burned in that great city Zarahemla.

25 And in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then would our mothers and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared, and not have been buried up in that great city Moronihah. And thus were the howlings of the people great and terrible.

It is my prayer and plead to Heavenly Father that we all can truely repent and forsake all the ungodly things and be perfected in Chirst as Moroni taught us:

Moroni 10

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.