77. Is anything too hard for the Lord? The Mormon Church in China!
This subject, the Church in China, is especially interesting to us. We had a son, McKay go on a mission in the 1980's to Taipai, Taiwan, and we now have a grandson serving in the Taichung, Taiwan mission. McKay married a lovely Chinese girl, Kim, whom he met at BYU Hawaii. We have a loving relationship with her family.
Last night, Friday Jan. 24, 2014, we went to a very interesting fireside in the St. George Tabernacle, by Brother Lynn Blake. He was born and raised on a small farm in Northern Utah. He went on a mission to Germany when the Berlin wall was still up, after having been an exchange student to Germany when in high school. Brother Blake has served as a Bishop, Stake President, Mission President (Canada Halifax Mission). He worked for the Missionary Department (51 mission presidents in the three Europe Areas), Temple President (Canada Halifax Temple) and now a sealer in the St George Temple. They are parents of 7 children, 33 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.
Brother Blake began telling several things he had remembered -- such as during the time the Berlin Wall was up, (during his mission to Germany) that it seemed impossible it could come down without quite a war, but it happened without a single shot. He remembered when he was growing up that we were afraid of Russia, and what they may do to our country. Recently he had been in the Finland Temple, and there were native Russians officiating in a Russian language Temple session.
He told of a time in Slovakia, (part of Czechoslovakia) when the Church wasn't allowed to have missionaries. Finally some leader there said if they could get the signatures of 2300 people in 2 weeks, they would consider it. The Mission President wondered how they could do that, because the missionaries were not from their country, couldn't speak the language well, and the people there didn't know much about our Church! The missionaries got to work, and got 2500 signatures! Also, when it came time to present the signatures to the government authorities they sent Elder David A. Bednar over to do it with the Mission President, because Elder Bednar's ancestors came from that area. His powerful words helped get permission. Then Brother Blake would repeat: "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"
Brother Blake's daughter's husband had been on a mission in Taiwan, and speaks Mandarin, and they moved to Shanghai, China, where he works for a branch of an American business. They have lived there more than 15 years, and the Blakes have visited them often in China. The Chinese government made strict rules that Church members living in China were to follow. They could not talk about the Church to native Chinese people, or have them meet with their Church branches. The members (including his daughter's family) were very careful to follow the rules set by the government, and so were over 500 couples who eventually came over there to teach at over 40 different universities. Because of their obedience to those laws, the rules of Church members there have been somewhat eased.
The members realized when they couldn't preach religion, that they needed to find another way to reach the people, showing their kindness, etc. The foreign members there decided to follow the 12th Article of Faith, which states: "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law." To follow that, they have organized many service projects, in which the Chinese people have greatly benefitted. One was to organize an event in which they honored over 1000 women breast cancer survivors. Often there, when a woman had breast cancer, their families would leave them and treat them as an outcast, and it did a lot of good for many people.
The Temple in Hong Kong was built while the British still ruled Hong Kong, but when it went back under the rule of the mainland, it was allowed to stay. Also selected young native Chinese have been allowed to come to some U S universities, including BYU Hawaii. (We know of some here at Dixie State University, in St. George, Utah). There are 4 stakes in Hong Kong, and many branches. It is quite common for someone to come south to Hong Kong, and hear the missionary lessons, and be baptized, and return to their homes in the mainland.
Now, the government has allowed any native Chinese who was baptized into the Church in other countries they were staying in temporarily, to come back to China, and teach and baptize people in their own families. Awhile back they had to go to Hong Kong to be baptised, but now can do that in China. Also they have given permission for Church members in China to fill foreign missions outside of China, and then return! But another rule is that no Chinese nationals (natives) can attend a Church meeting with foreigners. There are two different types of groups that meet in regular Church meetings -- Those who live in China from other countries, and those who are native Chinese, and each group has its own leaders. On the website below, a native Chinese can find out where their meetings are, and who are Church leaders in their area ---
The following is from a new Church website: www.mormonsinchina.org
Purpose of this Website
Many individuals from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while living in other nations, including the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia. Chinese language congregations are now found in several countries.
Many of these Chinese members remain where they have been working or studying, but many also return to China and do not know how to find the Church in their country and may not understand how they should comply with Chinese laws in relation to religious practice.
This website seeks to answer “Frequently Asked Questions” by PRC (Peoples Republic of China) Church members outside China and by Church leaders who work around the world with those members. It gives needed basic information for PRC Chinese members returning to China, including whom to contact for information, attending Sunday Church meetings and encouragement to observe relevant Chinese laws. Also provided are links to online Church resources in simplified Chinese.
Over the years, the Church has built a strong relationship of trust with the People’s Republic of China by always respecting the important laws and traditions of that country. In order to observe Chinese laws and directions on religious activities, the Church is blocking access to this website so it cannot be viewed inside China. (Anyone interested can go to this website).
He also told of members in Mongolia, who have had to go on a 3 day train ride through China to get to the Hong Kong Temple. They hope to get their own Temple some day. Recently a Patriarch was ordained in Mongolia, and to this day has given blessings to someone from every one of the twelve tribes. He mentioned several other situations in which the Hand of the Lord has definitely helped "hasten the work!"
Is anything too hard for the Lord?
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