This year marked an important milestone for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as 2020 is the 200th anniversary of the First Vision and the commencement of the Restoration.
To commemorate this momentous occasion, the Church launched the #HearHim campaign, inviting everyone to hear Him, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This campaign will run all throughout the year.
One of the basic tenets of the Church of Jesus Christ is that God continues to speak to His children as in times of old. When people take the time to listen with their ears, “the heavens open and He will speak. Jesus taught that He is “the light of the world” and those who follow Him “Shall not walk in darkness” (John 8:12).
The #HearHim initiative provided a unique opportunity to teach and testify of God the Eternal Father and His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. As stated in a letter from the First Presidency sent in September 2019, the campaign “will focus on Him by elevating our use of the name He revealed for His restored Church. We will recognize major events of the ongoing Restoration to celebrate our history and future. We will become even more “converted unto the Lord” and invite all to come and find enduring joy on His covenant path.”
In connection to this, the Philippines Area presidency has organized three weekly devotionals for the rest of May 2020 and will feature messages by them and from selected speakers.
In a letter sent out to all local Church leaders, the schedule for each devotional is as follows:
- Sunday, 17 May - Elder Evan A. Schmutz
- Sunday, 24, May - Elder Steven R. Bangerter
- Sunday, 31 - Elder Taniela B. Wakolo
Keeping Commandments: Tithes and Offerings
During his message, Elder Evan A. Schmutz, General Authority Seventy, shared about the Law of Tithing and Fast Offerings. He reminded Latter-day Saints that one of the ways to hear Him is through the giving of honest tithes and generous fast offerings.
Elder Schmutz implored that “we need our Savior, Jesus Christ more than ever” in this time of the pandemic.
Elder Schmutz encouraged members of the Church to read the scripture verse found in the Old Testament, Malachi 3:10, which reads, “Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, said the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
Elder Schmutz’s devotional message is available for download on the country page of the Church.
Linking Arms Between Members and Missionaries
On 24 May, Elder Steven R. Bangerter, General Authority Seventy, will concentrate on the topic of missionary work as sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ is one of the ways to hear His voice. With COVID-19 lockdown policies in place, temporary adjustments on missionary service have been made. These include foreign missionaries continuing their service in their home countries, Filipino missionaries assigned to serve in foreign countries returning home to continue their services, and incoming missionaries attending their missionary training virtually.
Preparing to Run to the Temple
On 31 May, Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, General Authority Seventy, will share a topic about temple worship in preparation for the reopening of the Manila and Cebu Temples once government regulations permit. As temple worship is considered one of the ways to hear the voice of Jesus Christ, Elder Wakolo may tackle topics that help members prepare, such as doing family history work and indexing.
Due to the pandemic, temple operations across the globe have been halted. It was only until recently that the Church re-opened temples in selected areas. Yet, due to the health threat still at large, temple operations are restricted to family sealings only and by appointment.
The devotionals have been pre-recorded and will be shown as part of each ward’s (congregation) and branch’s (small congregation) at-home Sabbath worship.
They will be made available on the Church’s Philippines Facebook page and Newsroom's YouTube channel.