'Pres. Uchtdorf Visits Faithful In Fiji'

As you all know, I am half Fijian through my mom & am very proud of my heritage. While going through my email this morning, I came across this article on LDSLiving that brought me such JOY while reading it. :D I've only been 2 Fiji once. When I was very young & plan on going back w/my growing family sometime next year. :D Here is the article & just reading it has reminded me, once again, of how IMPERATIVE it is 2 be FAITHFUL in keeping the Law of Tithing. The countless blessings our father in heaven bestows on us 4 being obedient 2 this very principle. :D I've always seen & experienced the blessings that come 4rom being a FULL TITHE PAYER as well as being on the other end of the yard stick in not being a FULL TITHE PAYER. And let me just share w/you now that being on the side of being a FULL TITHE PAYER has always created such a better atmosphere in my life through all the PROMISED blessings that come w/it. :D Here is the article:

'Sitiveni Bale & his wife, Vasiti, are feeling the effects of a long life. Aged 79 & 77 respectively, they are pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fiji having converted to the Church in 1976 when there were barely 1,000 Latter-day Saints throughout the tropical islands that make up the Fijian archipelago. The Church was 1st established in Fiji just 22 years before in 1954.
Now suffering a debilitating form of arthritis, Brother Bale was still anxious to go to Fiji LDS College auditorium last night (10 November 2009) to hear Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2nd Counselor in the Church's 1st Presidency, speak to the gathered Saints. With the broadcast of the meeting being transmitted throughout Fiji, & also to New Caledonia & Vanuatu, the Bales were among many thousands of Church members who had the opportunity of hearing a member of the 1st Presidency speak directly to them. Fiji has 15,400 members, while there are 1,900 members in New Caledonia & 3,900 in Vanuatu.
The Bales were the 1st Temple President & Matron of the newly dedicated Suva Fiji Temple in 2000. Temples are unique in Latter-day Saint theology. While Church members hold their regular Sunday worship services & weekday cultural activities in their many chapels, their temple in Suva is regarded as a House of the Lord where families are united together eternally, not just for this life. Because of their special nature, there are just 130 temples throughout the world.
Having served as a branch president & stake patriarch before his call as temple president, Brother Bale exhibited the humility & forbearance of one who has lived a long & faithful life in the service of the Lord. He especially saw the parallels between his own life & the early experiences of Pres. Uchtdorf.
"Pres. Uchtdorf came through hardship as a young boy in East Germany to become an active member of the Church," said Brother Bale. "For us, there also were challenges & Pres. Uchtdorf's example shows that others can do the same, too. It is special to have him in our part of the world because he is a man called of God. We are privileged that he would come to our shores. By listening to his words & those of our other Church leaders who will speak to us, this will bring blessings to us who are already members of the Church as well as people of other faiths who hear him."
Brother Bale had been employed as a civil servant & printer for 40 years before his retirement in 1990. Sister Bale had been a typist in private companies before retiring in 1988. She raised two children, one of whom, a son, passed away a few years ago. Their daughter, Sulueti Kama, is married to Jese Kama, president of the Lautoka Fiji Stake.
For Sister Bale, Pres. Uchtdorf's words to the Saints about the importance of paying tithing resonated with a significant even in her own life. Before attending the member meeting where Pres. Uchtdorf was due to speak, Sister Bale had related her own conversion story, a conversion that wasn't completed until nearly three years after her baptism.
"One day, a lady came to our Relief Society & encouraged us to pay our tithing," said Sister Bale. "She told us that if we have no food in our cupboards after we pay our tithing, don't worry because the Lord will provide. That day I committed to live the principle of tithing & found the promise to be of God! We never wanted for anything in our life. I knew for sure that the gospel was true."
Pres. Uchtdorf's words at the evening meeting directly echoed Sister Bale's own experience. "Being a full tithe payer is a matter of faith," said Pres. Uchtdorf. "The greatest blessings will come from obedience to this & other commandments of God. Pay your tithing & you will walk tall. There will always be food on your table. And, if you feel you are struggling, go to your Bishop. He will assist you. But paying tithing should be your first priority."
Dharmendra Sharma, 29, joined the Church just one year ago. He runs his own grass-cutting business while studying for a Bachelor of Science degree p/t at the University of the South Pacific. After finishing his under-graduate degree he wants to do post-graduate study as well. One of Brother Sharma's greatest regrets is that he hadn't bothered speaking to the missionaries much earlier. He had certainly seen them around Suva.
Twelve months ago, he saw some elders on the road & approached them to ask about their black badges. He had converted from his native Hindu faith to one of the Christian denominations as a 15 year old & had always had a keen interest in religion & in particular, the life of the Savior.
Yet, he was still searching & wanted to know what they thought about Jesus Christ. "I could not find answers to certain questions in my heart," Brother Sharma said. "But within weeks of talking to the missionaries, I was studying the Book of Mormon ( I had one on my house already) & praying about the Church. I received a wonderful answer that it was true. I joined 2 months after that time on the street."
"The visit of Pres. Uchtdorf is an exciting time for me," said Brother Sharma, a very articulate & intelligent young man. "What Pres. Uchtdorf is saying is what we should be doing. He is giving us precautions about the things we should not do, as well as those things we should do."
Brother Sharma, who is single & has been serving as a Ward Mission Leader in the Suva 1st Ward of the Suva Fiji Stake, expressed sincere gratitude for Pres. Uchtdorf's remarks. Taking notes throughout the meeting, Brother Sharma especially found relevance in Pres. Uchtdorf's encouragement for members to let others know about the gospel through their own actions & example. "He told us to be humble & forbearing towards others & to avoid anger & pride," said Brother Sharma. "When we are humble we are more susceptible to the teachings of Christ."
Brother Sharma spoke of the joy in seeing a member of the 1st Presidency in the flesh. "When you see the General Conference by video, you can really feel the Spirit, but when they are here w/you, you feel like they are looking into your soul."
Dharmendra Sharma's next goal in his Church progression is to take his parents & grandparents names to the temple. A single man w/no living relatives in Fiji, Brother Sharma has just completed the family history research on them. He loves going to the temple to perform baptisms for the dead. "When I first went to the temple, there was this peace. People, including my family, are waiting on the other side of the veil for the ordinances to be performed. I am so looking forward to my own forbears having that opportunity & for me to do it for them."

That's the end of the article. My favorite story is the last one about Brother Sharma. :D What GREAT FAITH this man has in moving forward the work of his deceased loved ones. He is such a GREAT example of pure selflessness & in putting the Lord first in all his doings. I love it & hope 2 be able 2 become more like him in my everyday living. :D