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Sister Amy Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, speaks to children, parents and leaders from the Balanga, Lubao, Olongapo, Iba, San Antonio, Sta. Cruz and Orion stakes in the Philippines on Sunday, August 21, 2022.© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Two General Officers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared messages about Jesus Christ with Latter-day Saints and missionaries during a recent assignment to the Philippines.
Sister Amy A. Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, and Sister Rebecca L. Craven, Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, spoke to children, parents, leaders and missionaries in separate meetings. The two General Officers were accompanied by their husbands, Brother James M. Wright and Brother Ronald Craven.
“When righteous men and women get together for the cause of Christ, there is no mountain we cannot move because of faith,” said Sister Wright during a special devotional on Sunday, August 21. Leaders, parents and children from the Balanga and Lubao stakes (diocese) filled the Lubao Stake Center, and members from the Olongapo, Iba, San Antonio, Sta. Cruz and Orion stakes joined virtually.
Sister Wright extended a message from Church President Russell M. Nelson to the children: “Thank you. Salamat. We love you, precious children. We need you.” She also encouraged parents and leaders “to be more loving, more kind and more pure, just like the little children.”
Children were invited to illustrate on paper how they felt about their responsibilities to live the gospel, care for those in need, unite, and invite others. Several children came to the pulpit to show and share what they had drawn.
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Children, parents and leaders from the Balanga and Lubao, stakes in the Philippines attend a devotional with Sister Amy Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency on Sunday, August 21, 2022.© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.During her talk, Sister Wright played the tune from “I Am a Child of God” on a xylophone she had brought and asked the congregation to guess what song she had played. As the members identified the tune, she said, “Sometimes music is the way the Holy Ghost speaks to us. Words of comfort, words of peace, words to guide and direct, to warn of danger, … and teach truth such as you are a child of God.” She also taught them how to sign “Holy Ghost” in American Sign Language (ASL).
“You have an important role as you live, care, unite, and invite,” Sister Wright said. “You have an important role as we prepare for the Second Coming [of Christ]. He loves you, knows you and trusts you. It is an opportunity and responsibility to be part of this great work. You are needed in this Kingdom of God.”
Sister Wright and Sister Craven invited missionaries to consistently focus on the Savior in a special devotional held in the Missionary Training Center (MTC) on Tuesday, August 23.
Sister Wright highlighted the need to acknowledge the power of the scriptures to give us comfort and guidance. “Your mission is tailor-made, uniquely hard for you,” she said.
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2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sister Craven shared the principle of squares. She taught that squares are an essential part of the gospel. For example, raising the hand in a square means making and keeping covenants. Such gestures are seen during the ordinance of baptism, where the person baptizing raises his right hand in a square. Heavenly Father wants missionaries to be square, she said. “To be square means to be honest, direct, true and strict,” she said.
