HOPE AT THE TIME OF DEATH Karmila Devi Ratnam & Venkat Ratnam [Samabula IIward]

We had our RS lesson on the prophet Joseph Smith and how he gained knowledge about the afterlife through the deaths of his 6 children and 4 family members during a ten year period. Chapter 14 in Teachings of Teachings of the Presidents. In my group were 2 women [Hindi] who were looking at the church for the first time. A woman from Tonga whos family had been members since the gospel was taken to the islands of Tonga [1940's] my self convert at 12, and this this sweet sister- Karmila Devi a new member of 2 months. Just a footnote on indian women they keep their maiden names and use their husbands sometimes when abroad. The class lesson was on death and how we as members use the gospel to help in times of death and sadness. The prophet Joseph Smith said " there are seasons of happiness and seasons of other." In ambers RS I learned that quote. Seasons of other seems to fit many different times in all of our lives,"doesn't it?" What I wanted to address here was the diversity of women in our little group. The woman from Tonga was in her late 60's and had a generational testimony-one passed down from one woman to another through each generation. One woman explaining the gospel in real everday terms that save your very souls. You see life and death do meet in our families, regularly and often and when we are not prepared [most aren't] our families suffer even more. She spoke of a grandmother tending the heart of a young mother and then dying herself. Knowing that she was going to the same place in death as her youngest great grandchild. And welcoming the joy of loving the littlest of our Gods angels while the rest of the family went on with life, here on earth. The women asked what if the gods were getting even and finally someone in that family was receiving justice? Soft;y the woman from Tonga stated our loving and father God doesn't get even with any of His children-never. I said little ones are perfect. Adam has his own life to be judged for-not a child. They were amazed. Getting even is a major part of their gods motives. Then little sister Ratnam spoke. She said that her father in law had just died and they had been denied access to the family home while the offical morning period was being observed. They also have others in the family who are now Christians and they too were excluded. She told of her testimony of the next life and where her childrens pappa was. Her children knew, knew just where pappa was and what he was doing. He was being taught about about Jesus and the true gospel. I was so proud to set at such a table with these women . So remarkable. The gospel of our Savior is so true and is through out these islands changing lives and cultures. As President Bhan has said the gospel of Christ brings us out of the culture of the village [island, people, belief system] and into the culture of the church and then the culture of the Temple will bring us into life with our Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ. This last week Sr. Wells said this." We always want to hear more about our Heavenly Father but, will we take the time out of our busy lives to spend 1 hour and 30 min. listening to both the Father and His Son together in the Temple in our language, in comfort and in quiet? Like I said " being in the same room with such women was enough of a testimony for me last week and I just wanted you to all know my friend, Sr. Karmila Devi Ratnam, of Suva , Fiji.

Love MUM