Ko e ʻAi Valá mo e Teuteú ʻa Hoku Tūkiaʻangá

FAKAMATALA FAI ʻE EILEEN BRUMBAUGH

NAʻE ʻohake au ʻi he muʻaki lotu Papitaiso Brethren Siamané, ʻa ia ʻoku meimei tatau mo e lotu Amish mo e Minonaití. Naʻe kamata ʻa e ngaʻunu ʻa e Brethren ʻi Siamané ʻi he 1708 ko ha konga ʻo e fakaakeake fakalaumālie naʻe ui ko e tui faka-Pietí. ʻOku pehē ʻi he The Encyclopedia of Religion ko e tui faka-Pietí naʻa nau taukaveʻi ʻa e “fiemaʻu ko ia ki he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá ʻa e kōsipeli ʻa Kalaisí.” Ko e foʻi fakakaukau ko iá naʻe taki atu ki ha ngaahi feingangāue fakamisinale lavameʻa ʻi he ngaahi fonua kehekehe.

ʻI he 1719 ko ha kiʻi kulupu naʻe taki ʻe Alexander Mack naʻa nau aʻu ki he feituʻu ʻoku ui he taimí ni ko Pennsylvania, ʻi ʻAmelika. Talu mei ai, kuo faʻu ʻa e ngaahi kulupu kehe pea nau māvahevahe. Ko e kulupu taki taha naʻa nau muimui ki he ngaahi fakaʻuhinga pē ʻanautolu ʻo fakatatau ki he ngaahi akonaki ʻa Alexander Mack. Ko homau kiʻi siasí naʻe toko 50 nai hono kau mēmipá. Ko hono lau ʻa e Tohi Tapú pea pipiki ofi ki he ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni ʻa e kau mēmipa ʻo e siasí naʻe fakamamafaʻi.

ʻI hoku fāmilí ko e toʻutangata nai ʻe tolu naʻa nau pīkitai ki he tui mo e founga moʻui ko ení. Naʻá ku kau ki he siasí pea papitaiso ʻi hoku taʻu 13. Naʻá ku tupu hake ʻo tui naʻe hala ke u maʻu pe ngāueʻaki ha meʻalele, loli, telefoni pe naʻa mo ha letiō pe ko ha faʻahinga meʻangāue fakaʻuhila pē. Ko e kau fefiné naʻa nau ʻai vala anga-maheni pē, pea naʻe ʻikai ke mau kosi homau ʻulú pe taʻekofukofu homau ʻulú. Ko e kakai tangatá naʻa nau tuku kava. Naʻa mau fakakaukau ko e ʻikai hoko ko ha konga ʻo e māmaní naʻe kau ai ʻa e ʻikai tui ʻa e vala ʻi onopōní, vali mata pe tui ʻa e siueli, ʻa ia naʻa mau ongoʻi ko e fakahāhā ia ʻo e hīkisia angahalaʻia.

Naʻe akoʻi kimautolu ke maʻu ha fakaʻapaʻapa loloto ki he Tohi Tapú, ʻa ia naʻa mau lau ko ʻemau meʻakai fakalaumālie. ʻI he pongipongi kotoa ki muʻa ʻi he kai pongipongí, naʻa mau fakatahataha ki he loto falé pea fanongo kia Papa ʻi heʻene lau ha vahe mei he Tohi Tapú pea fakamatalaʻi ʻa e meʻa naʻá ne laú. Naʻa mau tūʻulutui kotoa leva kae lotu ʻa Papa. Hili iá, naʻe lau ʻe heʻeku faʻeé ʻa e Lotu ʻa e ʻEikí. Naʻá ku faʻa fakatuʻotuʻa maʻu pē ki heʻemau lotu pongipongí, koeʻuhí naʻe fakatahataha ai homau fāmilí kotoa, ʻo tokangataha ki he ngaahi meʻa fakalaumālié.

Naʻa mau nofo ʻi ha faama ofi ki Delphi, Indiana, ʻa ia naʻa mau tō ai ʻa e ngoue kehekehe. Naʻa mau ʻave ia ki kolo ʻi he hoosi mo e saliote, pea naʻa mau fakatau atu ia ʻi he veʻe halá pe mei he fale ki he fale. Naʻa mau ongoʻi ko e ngāue mālohí ko e konga ia ʻemau tauhi ki he ʻOtuá. Ko ia naʻa mau tokangataha ki ai, tuku kehe pē ʻi he ʻaho Sāpaté, ko e taimi ia naʻe ʻikai ke mau fai ai ha “ngāue mamafa.” Neongo ia, ʻi he taimi ʻe niʻihi, naʻe fuʻu tokangataha homau fāmilí ki he ngāue ʻi he fāmá ʻo faingataʻa ai ke tauhi maʻu ʻemau vakai fakalaumālié.

Nofo Mali mo e Fāmili

ʻI he 1963, ʻi heʻeku taʻu 17, naʻá ku mali mo James, ko ha mēmipa ʻo e Old Brethren. Talu mei heʻene kui-uá mo ʻenau kau ki he lotu Old Brethren. Naʻá ma fakatou maʻu ʻa e holi mālohi ke tauhi ki he ʻOtuá pea naʻá ma tui ko ʻemau lotú ʻa e lotu moʻoni pē tahá.

ʻI he 1975 naʻá ma maʻu ha fānau ʻe toko ono, pea ʻi he 1983 naʻe fanauʻi ai ʻema kiʻi leka hono fitú ʻa ia ko e siʻisiʻi tahá. Ko Rebecca, ʻa e fika uá, ʻema taʻahine pē tahá. Naʻá ma ngāue mālohi, ʻikai ke ma fuʻu loko fakamole, peá ma moʻui faingofua. Naʻá ma feinga ke fakahūhū ki heʻema fānaú ʻa e ngaahi tefitoʻi moʻoni Fakatohitapu tatau mo ia naʻá ma ako mei heʻema mātuʻá pea mo e niʻihi kehe ʻi he Old Brethren.

Ko e fōtunga hā maí naʻe mahuʻinga ʻaupito ki he Old Brethren. Naʻa mau ongoʻi koeʻuhi heʻikai lava ʻe ha taha ke sio ki he lotó, ko e founga ʻai vala ʻa ha tokotaha naʻá ne fakahaaʻi mai ʻa hono tuʻunga ʻi lotó. Ko ia kapau naʻe tōtuʻa hono ʻai ʻe ha taha hono ʻulú, naʻe lau ia ko ha fakaʻilonga ʻo e hīkisia. Kapau naʻe fuʻu lahi ʻa e tisaini ʻi homau kofú, ko ha toe fakaʻilonga ia ʻo e hīkisia. ʻI he taimi ʻe niʻihi, ko e ngaahi ʻīsiu ko ení naʻe laka ia ʻi he meʻa naʻe hā ʻi he Folofolá.

Ko ha Hokosia ʻi Pilīsone

ʻI he konga ki mui ʻo e 1960 tupú, ko e tokoua hoku husepānití ko Jesse, naʻe ʻohake foki mo ia ʻi he tui Old Brethren, naʻe ʻave ki pilīsone koeʻuhi ko ʻene fakafisi ke tali ʻa e ngāue fakakautaú. ʻI heʻene ʻi aí, naʻá ne fetaulaki mo e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová, ʻa ia naʻa nau ongoʻi foki ko e kau ʻi he taú ʻoku ʻikai fehoanaki ia mo e ngaahi tefitoʻi moʻoni Fakatohitapú. (ʻAisea 2:4; Mātiu 26:52) Naʻe fiefia ʻa Jesse ʻi he ngaahi fetalanoaʻaki Fakatohitapu mo e Kau Fakamoʻoní pea naʻá ne sio tonu ki honau ngaahi ʻulungāngá. Hili ʻa e ako Tohi Tapú, naʻá ne papitaiso ko e taha ʻo e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová​—naʻa mau loto-mamahi ai.

Naʻe talanoa ʻa Jesse ki hoku husepānití fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi meʻa naʻá ne akó. Naʻá ne fakapapauʻi foki naʻe maʻu maʻu pē ʻe James ʻa e makasini Watchtower mo e Awake! ʻI hono lau ení naʻe fakalahi ai ʻa e mahuʻingaʻia ʻa James ʻi he Tohi Tapú. Koeʻuhi naʻe holi maʻu pē ʻa James ke tauhi ki he ʻOtuá ka naʻá ne faʻa ongoʻi mamaʻo meiate Ia, naʻá ne mahuʻingaʻia moʻoni ʻi ha meʻa pē naʻe lava ke ne tohoakiʻi ia ke ofi ange ki he ʻOtuá.

Naʻe fakalototoʻaʻi kimautolu ʻe heʻemau kau mātuʻá ke lau ʻa e makasini fakalotu ʻa e Amish mo e kau Minonaití, pea mo e ngaahi tui Old Brethren kehé, neongo naʻa mau vakai ki he ngaahi lotu ko iá naʻa nau hoko ko e konga ʻo e māmaní. Neongo ia, ko ʻeku tamaí, naʻá ne mātuʻaki tomuʻa fehiʻa ʻi he Kau Fakamoʻoní. Naʻá ne ongoʻi ʻoku totonu ke ʻoua ʻaupito te ma lau ʻa e Watchtower mo e Awake! Ko ia naʻá ku ʻita ʻi he sio ki hono lau ia ʻe James. Naʻá ku ilifia naʻa faifai ʻo ne ohi ʻa e ngaahi akonaki loí.

Kae kehe, naʻe fuoloa hono fehuʻia ʻe James ʻa e ngaahi tui ʻe niʻihi ʻa e Old Brethren ʻa ia naʻá ne ongoʻi naʻe fepaki mo e Tohi Tapú​—tautefito ki he akonaki ʻo pehē ko ha angahala ke fai ha “ngāue mamafa” ʻi he Sāpaté. Ko e fakatātaá, naʻe akoʻi ʻe he Old Brethren ʻoku ʻatā ke ke fakainu hoʻo fanga manú ʻi he Sāpaté ka heʻikai ke ke taʻaki ha fuʻu vao. Naʻe ʻikai lava ʻe he kau mātuʻá ʻo ʻoange kiate ia ha ʻuhinga Fakatohitapu ki he lao ko ení. Naʻe faai atu pē, ʻo u kamata ke veiveiua foki fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi akonaki ko iá.

Koeʻuhi naʻe fuoloa ʻema tui ko homau siasí ko e siasi ia ʻa e ʻOtuá pea naʻá ma ʻiloʻi ʻa e meʻa ʻe hoko kapau te ma liʻaki ia, naʻe faingataʻa ke ma mavahe mei he Old Brethren. Ka, naʻe ʻikai kei fakaʻatā ai pē kimaua ʻe homa konisēnisí ke kau ʻi ha lotu naʻá ma ongoʻi naʻe ʻikai muimui kakato ki he Tohi Tapú. Ko ia ʻi he 1983 naʻá ma fai ha tohi ʻo fakamatalaʻi ʻa e ʻuhinga ʻo ʻema mavahé pea kole ke lau ʻa e tohí ki he fakatahaʻangá. Naʻe tuʻusi kimaua mei he kulupu lotú.

Fekumi ki he Lotu Moʻoní

Hili iá, naʻá ma fekumi ki he lotu moʻoní. Naʻá ma fekumi ki ha lotu naʻa nau fai ki he meʻa naʻa nau akoʻi ki he niʻihi kehé. ʻUluakí, naʻá ma toʻo ha lotu pē naʻe kau ʻi he taú. Naʻe kei tohoakiʻi pē kimaua ki he ngaahi lotu naʻe moʻui faingofua mo ʻai vala anga-mahení koeʻuhi ko e ngaahi fakaʻilonga ia ʻo e lotu naʻe ʻikai ko ha konga ʻo e māmaní. Mei he 1983 ki he 1985, naʻá ma fononga holo ʻi he fonuá, ʻo sivisiviʻi ʻa e lotu taki taha​—ko e kau Minonaití, kau Kueiká, mo e ngaahi kulupu lotu “faingofua” kehe.

Lolotonga ʻa e vahaʻa taimi ko iá naʻe ʻaʻahi mai ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová ki homau fāmá, ofi ki Camden , Indiana. Naʻá ma fanongo, ʻo kole ange ke nau ngāueʻaki pē ʻa e liliu Tohi Tapu King James. Naʻá ku fakaʻapaʻapaʻi ʻa e vakai ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoní ki he taú. Ka naʻe faingataʻa ke u fanongo kiate kinautolu koeʻuhí kapau naʻe ʻikai lava ke nau sio ki he fiemaʻu ke mavahe mei he māmaní ʻaki ʻa e ʻai vala anga-mahení, naʻá ku ongoʻi ʻe lava fēfē ai ke nau hoko ko e lotu moʻoní. Naʻá ku ongoʻi, ko e hīkisiá naʻá ne ʻai ʻa e kakaí ke kehe ʻenau ʻai valá meiate kimautolu. Naʻá ku tui ko e koloá naʻá ne ʻai ha taha ke hīkisia.

Naʻe kamata ke ʻalu ʻa James ki he Fale Fakatahaʻanga ʻo e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová, ʻo ʻave ʻa e niʻihi ʻema tamaiki tangatá. Naʻá ku loto-mamahi lahi. Naʻe tala mai ʻe hoku husepānití ke u ʻalu mo ia, ka naʻe ʻikai ke u ʻalu. Pea ʻi he ʻaho ʻe taha naʻá ne pehē, “Neongo kapau ʻoku ʻikai ke ke loto-tatau mo e kotoa ʻenau ngaahi akonakí, ʻalu pē ʻo sio tonu ki he anga ʻenau fefakafeangaiʻakí.” Ko e meʻa eni naʻe maongo kiate iá.

Faai atu pē, naʻá ku loto ke ʻalu kae mātuʻaki tokanga. Naʻá ku hū atu ki he Fale Fakatahaʻangá mo hoku kofu anga-mahení mo e tatā. Ko e niʻihi ʻo ʻema tamaiki tangatá naʻa nau laʻivaʻe, pea naʻa nau vala anga-maheni foki. Neongo ia, ko e Kau Fakamoʻoní naʻa nau haʻu kiate kimautolu pea fakafeangai anga-ʻofa mai. Naʻá ku fakakaukau, ‘Naʻa mau kehe, ka ʻoku nau kei tali pē kimautolu.’

Naʻe maongo kiate au ʻenau tōʻonga anga-ʻofá, ka naʻá ku kei fakapapauʻi pē ke mamata ʻataʻatā pē. Naʻe ʻikai ke u tuʻu pe hiva ʻi heʻenau ngaahi hivá. Hili ʻa e fakatahá naʻá ku ʻeke ʻa e ngaahi fehuʻi lahi, ʻo fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi meʻa naʻá ku fakakaukau naʻa nau fai ka naʻe ʻikai totonu pe fekauʻaki mo ha ʻuhinga ʻo ha konga Tohi Tapu pau. Neongo naʻe ʻikai ke u fuʻu fakapotopoto, ko e tokotaha taki taha naʻá ku ʻeke ki ai ha fehuʻi naʻá ne mahuʻinga moʻoni ʻiate au. Naʻe toe maongo foki kiate au ʻeku ʻeke ʻa e fehuʻi tatau ki he faʻahinga kehekehe pea kei maʻu pē ʻa e tali tatau. ʻI he taimi ʻe niʻihi naʻa nau hiki hifo ʻa e talí, ʻa ia naʻe tokoni lahi, he naʻe lava ke u toki ako ʻa e fakamatalá ki mui ai.

ʻI he faʻahitaʻu māfana ʻo e 1985, naʻe ʻalu homau fāmilí ki ha fakataha-lahi ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová ʻi Memphis, Tennessee​—ke mamata pē. Naʻe kei tuku kava pē ʻa James, pea naʻa mau kei tui pē homau vala anga-mahení. ʻI he taimi mālōloó naʻe ʻi ai maʻu pē ʻa e niʻihi naʻe ʻaʻahi mai kiate kimautolu. Naʻe maongo kiate kimautolu ʻa e ʻofa, tokanga mo hono talitali lelei kimautolú. Naʻe toe maongo foki kiate kimautolu ʻa e fāʻūtahá, he neongo pe ko fē ha feituʻu naʻa mau maʻu ai ha fakataha, ko e ngaahi akonakí naʻe tatau pē.

Ko James, naʻe maongo kiate ia ʻa e tokanga fakafoʻituitui ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoní peá ne tali ha ako Tohi Tapu. Naʻá ne sivisiviʻi ʻa e meʻa kotoa, ʻo loto ke ne fakapapauʻi ʻa e meʻa naʻá ne akó. (Ngāue 17:11; 1 Tesalonaika 5:​21) ʻI he faai atu ʻa e taimí, naʻe ongoʻi ʻe James kuó ne maʻu ʻa e moʻoní. Neongo ia, naʻá ku mātuʻaki ongoʻi veiveiua. Naʻá ku loto ke fai ʻa e meʻa totonú, ka naʻe ʻikai ke u loto ke u hoko ʻo “fakaonopooni” pea lau ʻoku ou “fakamāmani.” ʻI heʻeku fuofua loto ke kau ʻi he ako Tohi Tapú, naʻá ku hili ʻa e Tohi Tapu King James ʻi hoku tui ʻe taha pea ko e Liliu Tohi Tapu Māmani Foʻoú naʻe onopooni angé ʻi hoku tui ʻe tahá. Naʻá ku vakaiʻi ʻa e veesi kotoa ʻi he ongo liliú fakatouʻosi ke fakapapauʻi naʻe ʻikai ke takihalaʻi au.

Founga Naʻá Ku Tuipau Aí

ʻI heʻema ako mo e Kau Fakamoʻoní, naʻá ma ʻiloʻi ko ʻetau Tamai fakahēvaní ko e ʻOtua pē tahá, ʻo ʻikai ko ha Tolu-Tahaʻi-ʻOtua, pea ʻoku ʻikai ke tau maʻu ha laumālie taʻefaʻamate. (Sēnesi 2:7; Teutalōnome 6:4; ʻIsikeli 18:4; 1 Kolinitō 8:​5, 6) Naʻá ma toe ako foki ko helí ko e faʻitoka anga-maheni ia ʻo e faʻahinga kotoa ʻo e tangatá, ʻo ʻikai ko ha feituʻu ʻo e fakamamahiʻi ʻaki ʻa e afí. (Siope 14:13; Saame 16:10; Tangata Malanga 9:​5, 10; Ngāue 2:​31) Ko hono ako ʻa e moʻoni fekauʻaki mo helí naʻe hoko ia ko ha maka-maile, koeʻuhi naʻe ʻikai loto-tatau ʻa e Old Brethren ia mo e ʻuhingá ni.

Neongo ia, naʻá ku kei fifili pē pe ʻe lava fēfē ke hoko ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoní ko e lotu moʻoní lolotonga iá ʻi heʻeku fakakaukaú, naʻa nau kei hoko pē ko e konga ʻo e māmaní. Naʻe ʻikai ke nau muimui ki he founga moʻui faingofua ʻa ia naʻá ku vakai ki ai naʻe mātuʻaki mahuʻingá. Kae kehe, ʻi he taimi tatau, naʻá ku ʻiloʻi naʻa nau fakahoko ʻa e fekau ʻa Sīsū ke malangaʻi ʻa e ongoongo lelei ʻo e Puleʻangá ki he kakai kotoa pē. Naʻá ku ongoʻi mātuʻaki puputuʻu!​—Mātiu 24:14; 28:19, 20.

Lolotonga ʻa e taimi faingataʻa ko ení, ko e ʻofa ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoní naʻá ne tokoniʻi au ke hokohoko atu ʻeku sivisiviʻi kinautolú. Ko e kotoa ʻo e fakatahaʻangá naʻa nau mahuʻingaʻia ʻi homau fāmilí. ʻI he ʻaʻahi mai ʻa e faʻahinga kehekehe ʻi he fakatahaʻangá​—ʻi he taimi ʻe niʻihi ʻoku nau fakatau mai ʻemau huʻakau mo e fuaʻimoa koeʻuhí pē ke nau ʻaʻahi mai​—naʻe kamata ke mau vakai kiate kinautolu ko e kakai lelei moʻoni. Neongo naʻe ʻi ai pē ʻa e tokotaha Fakamoʻoni naʻa mau ako naʻe ʻikai ke tuku ai ʻenau ʻaʻahi mai kiate kimautolú. ʻI hono kehé, ʻi ha taimi pē naʻe haʻu ai ha niʻihi mei he fakatahaʻangá ki homau feituʻú, naʻa nau afe mai. Naʻa mau fiemaʻu moʻoni ʻa e faingamālie ko ení ke hoko ai ʻo ʻiloʻi ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoní, pea naʻa mau houngaʻia ʻi heʻenau mahuʻingaʻia mo e ʻofa loto-moʻoní.

Ko e mahuʻingaʻia loto-moʻoni ko ení naʻe ʻikai ngata pē hono fakahāhā mai ʻe he Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻi he fakatahaʻanga ofi taha mai kiate kimautolú. ʻI heʻeku faitau mo e ʻīsiu ʻo e ʻai vala mo e teuteu totonú, ko Kay Briggs, ko ha Fakamoʻoni mei ha fakatahaʻanga ofi mai, ʻa ia naʻá ne saiʻia ke ʻai vala faingofua pē pea ʻikai ke vali hono matá, naʻá ne ʻaʻahi mai kiate au. Naʻá ku ongoʻi fiemālie ke talanoa tauʻatāina ange mo ia. ʻI he ʻaho leva ʻe taha ko Lewis Flora, ʻa ia naʻe ʻohake foki ʻi ha lotu “faingofua,” naʻá ne ʻaʻahi mai kiate au. Naʻe lava ke ne sio ki he hohaʻa ʻi hoku fofongá pea ʻomai ha tohi peesi ʻe hongofulu, ʻo feinga ke fakanonga hoku ʻatamai puputuʻú. Ko ʻene anga-leleí naʻá ne ʻai au ke u tangi, pea naʻá ku toutou lau ʻene tohí.

Naʻá ku kole ange ki ha ʻovasia fefonongaʻaki, ko Tokoua O’Dell, ke ne fakamatalaʻi mai ʻa e ʻAisea 3:​18-​23 mo e 1 Pita 3:​3, 4. Naʻá ku ʻeke ange, “ʻIkai ʻoku fakahaaʻi mai ʻi he ngaahi veesi ko ení ko e ʻai vala anga-mahení ko ha fiemaʻu pau ia ke fakahōifuaʻi ai ʻa e ʻOtuá?” Naʻá ne fakaʻuhinga: “ʻOku hala ke tui ha tatā? ʻOku hala ke fī ʻa e ʻulú?” ʻI he Old Brethren, naʻa mau fī ʻa e ʻulu ʻo e tamaiki fefiné, pea ko e kakai fefiné naʻa nau tui ha tatā. Naʻe lava ke u sio ki he kehe ʻa e meʻa naʻa nau akoʻí mei he Tohi Tapú, pea naʻe maongo kiate au ʻa e anga-kātaki mo e anga-lelei ʻa e ʻovasia fefonongaʻakí.

ʻI he faai atu ʻa e taimí, naʻá ku tuipau lahi ange, ka naʻe ʻi ai ha ʻīsiu ʻe taha naʻá ne kei fakahohaʻasi lahi au​—ko e kakai fefiné naʻa nau kosi honau ʻulú. Naʻe fakaʻuhinga ʻa e kau mātuʻa Kalisitiané mo au ʻo pehē ko e kakai fefine ʻe niʻihi ʻoku ʻikai ke fuʻu lōloa honau ʻulú, ka ko e niʻihi ʻoku lōloa ʻaupito honau ʻulú. ʻOku ʻuhinga ení ʻoku lelei ange ʻa e ʻulu ʻo ha fefine ʻe taha ʻi ha toe taha? Naʻa nau toe tokoniʻi foki au ke u sio ki he ngafa ʻo e konisēnisí ʻi heʻene haʻu ki he ʻai valá mo e teuteú pea naʻa nau ʻomai ha fakamatala ke u ʻalu mo ia ki ʻapi ʻo lau.

Ngāueʻaki ʻa e Meʻa Naʻá Ma Akó

Naʻá ma fekumi ki ha ngaahi fua lelei, pea naʻá ma maʻu ia. Naʻe pehē ʻe Sīsū: “Ko e meʻa eni ʻe ʻilo ai ʻe he faʻahinga kotoa ko ʻeku kau ākonga kimoutolú​—ʻo kapau ʻoku mou maʻu ʻa e ʻofá ʻi homou lotolotongá.” (Sione 13:35) Naʻá ma tuipau ko e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová ʻa e kakai ʻoku nau fakahāhā ʻa e ʻofa moʻoní. Neongo ia, naʻe hoko eni ko ha taimi fakapuputuʻu ki heʻema ongo tamaiki lalahí, ʻa Nathan mo Rebecca, koeʻuhi naʻá na ʻosi tali ʻa e lotu Old Brethren pea papitaiso ai. Faai atu pē, naʻe maongo kiate kinaua ʻa e ngaahi moʻoni Fakatohitapu naʻá ma vahevahe mo kinauá, pehē foki ki he ʻofa naʻe fakahāhā ʻe he Kau Fakamoʻoní.

Ko e fakatātaá, ko Rebecca, naʻá ne fakaʻamu maʻu pē ke maʻu ha vahaʻangatae māfana mo e ʻOtuá. Naʻe faingofua ange kiate ia ke lotu ki he ʻOtuá ʻi he taimi naʻá ne ʻiloʻi ai naʻe ʻikai ke ne tomuʻa fakatufakangaʻi ʻa e tōʻonga ʻa ha taha pe ko e kahaʻu ʻo ha taha. Naʻá ne toe ʻunuʻunu ofi ange ki he ʻOtuá ʻi he taimi naʻá ne mahinoʻi ai naʻe ʻikai ko ha konga ia ʻo ha Tolu-Tahaʻi-ʻOtua fakamisiteli, ko ha tokotaha moʻoni ia, ʻa ia ʻe lava ke ne faʻifaʻitaki ki ai. (ʻEfesō 5:1) Pea naʻá ne fiefia ʻi he ʻikai fiemaʻu ke ne faʻifaʻitaki ki he fakalea motuʻa ʻi he King James Version ʻi he taimi ʻokú ne lotu ai kiate iá. ʻI heʻene ako fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi fiemaʻu ʻa e ʻOtuá ki he lotú, pehē foki ki heʻene taumuʻa fisifisimuʻa ki he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá ke nau moʻui taʻengata ʻi ha māmani palataisi, naʻá ne ongoʻi ofi ange ai ki hono Tokotaha-Fakatupú.​—Saame 37:29; Fakahā 21:​3, 4.

Ngaahi Monū ʻOku Mau Fiefia Kotoa Ai

Ko au mo James mo ʻema fānau lalahi ʻe toko nimá​—ʻa Nathan, Rebecca, George, Daniel mo John​—naʻa mau papitaiso ko e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihova ʻi he faʻahitaʻu māfana ʻo e 1987. Ko Harley naʻá ne papitaiso ʻi he 1989, pea ko Simon ʻi he 1994. Ko homau fāmilí kotoa ʻoku mau kei līʻoa homau taimí ki he ngāue naʻe fekauʻi ʻe Sīsū Kalaisi ki hono kau muimuí ke faí, ʻa ia, ko hono fanongonongo ʻa e ongoongo lelei ʻo e Puleʻanga ʻo e ʻOtuá.

Ko ʻema fānau tangata lalahi ʻe toko nimá​—ʻa Nathan, George, Daniel, John mo Harley​—pehē foki ki heʻema taʻahine ko Rebecca​—naʻa nau ngāue ʻi he ʻōfisi vaʻa ʻo e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihova ʻi ʻAmeliká ʻi ha vahaʻa taimi. Ko George ʻokú ne kei ʻi ai ʻi he hili ha taʻu ʻe 14, pea ko Simon, ʻa ia naʻe ʻosi mei he akó ʻi he 2001, kuó ne toe hoko ko ha mēmipa ʻo e kau ngāue ʻi he vaʻá. ʻOku ʻi ai ʻa e niʻihi ʻi heʻema fānau tangatá ʻoku nau mātuʻa pe sevāniti fakafaifekau ʻi he ngaahi fakatahaʻanga ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová. Ko hoku husepānití ʻokú ne ngāue ko ha mātuʻa ʻi he Fakatahaʻanga Thayer, ʻi Missouri, pea ʻoku ou hanganaki femoʻuekina ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekaú.

ʻOkú ma maʻu he taimí ni ha fanga makapuna ʻe toko tolu​—ko Jessica, Latisha mo Caleb​—pea ʻokú ma fiefia ke sio ki heʻenau mātuʻá ʻoku nau uhuʻi ʻa e ʻofa kia Sihová ʻi honau fanga kiʻi lotó. ʻI he tuʻunga ko ha fāmili, ʻoku mau fiefia ʻi hono tohoakiʻi mai kimautolu ʻe Sihova kiate iá pea tokoniʻi kimautolu ke ʻiloʻi ʻa e kakai ʻoku uiʻaki hono huafá fakafou ʻi he ʻofa fakaʻotua ʻoku nau fakahāhaá.

ʻOku mau kaungāongoʻi mo e niʻihi kehe ʻoku nau maʻu ha holi mālohi ke fakahōifuaʻi ʻa e ʻOtuá ka ko honau konisēnisí kuo akoʻi nai ʻo fakatatau ki honau ʻātakaí kae ʻikai ʻaki ʻa e Tohi Tapú. ʻOku mau ʻamanaki te nau maʻu ʻa e fiefia ʻoku mau maʻu he taimí ni ʻi he ʻalu mei he fale ki he falé, ʻo ʻikai ke fakatau atu ha ngoue, ka ke ʻoatu ha pōpoaki fekauʻaki mo e Puleʻanga ʻo e ʻOtuá mo e ngaahi meʻa fakaofo te ne fakahokó. ʻOku ou fakatōloʻimata ʻi he houngaʻia ʻi heʻeku fakakaukau atu ki he kātaki mo e ʻofa kotoa naʻe fakahāhā mai kiate kimautolu ʻe he kakai ʻoku nau fataki ʻa e huafa ʻo Sihová!

[Fakatātā]

ʻI heʻeku taʻu fitú nai, pea ki mui ai ʻi heʻeku fuʻu lahí

[Fakatātā]

Ko James, George, Harley mo Simon, ʻoku nau tui ʻa e ngaahi vala anga-maheni

[Fakatātā]

Ko hoku tā ʻi heʻeku ʻave ʻa e ngoue ki māketi ʻa ia naʻe hā ʻi he nusipepa fakalotofonuá

[Credit Line]

Journal and Courier, Lafayette, Indiana

[Fakatātā]

Ko homau fāmilí ʻi he ʻahó ni