Elder Stephen Peterson, president of the Hawaii Honolulu Mission, and his wife, Sister Cathy Peterson, expressed their excitement and gratitude at the opportunity to speak, in tandem, at a BYU Hawaii devotional. The message they shared was that of the mission motto:
"We are grateful to be in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission - the Aloha Mission. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is our message, love of God and others is our motivation, and obedience to the commandments and mission rules is our strength. By sharing the gospel with others, we can give them the "ha" - the breath of life, even eternal life. Aloha."
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is our message
For our mission, t he 'A' in aloha "represents the Atonement of Christ," President Peterson explained. "The atonement of Jesus Christ truly is our main message to the world. Our unique message is that God has again spoken to his people through a living prophet and that priesthood power, authority and keys have been restored to the earth. The main message of the Gospel, the doctrine that makes everything possible in time and in eternity, is that Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Redeemer."
Quoting Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, President Peterson explained the deep importance the atonement holds in gospel teachings.It is "the crucial foundation, the chief doctrine, and the greatest expression of divine love" as Christ's virtue and mercy both satisfies justice and allows us to be sanctified through His suffering.
President Peterson related an experience where his young son endured surgery, only comforted by a local anesthetic and the prayers of his father, who had to walk down the hall to withdraw from the painful cries of his son. President Peterson asked, "How difficult it must have been for the Father to hear the cries of His Beloved Son… Someday, you young students will have children of your own… Someday you will watch as they suffer in body or spirit or both, from the consequences of their own decisions or from the actions of others. Someday your hearts will nearly break as you realize that for them, in that moment, 'there is no other way.' In that day, you will begin to understand at a very small level, the anguish that we can only imagine the Father felt for His Son."
Love for God and others is our motivation
Sister Peterson explained that the "L" represents the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. "With all that they have done and continue to do for us," she explained, "how vital it is that we show our love for them and others - in fact, we are commanded to do so." Sister Peterson urged listeners into action to express our devotion and affection. She remarked with insistency that with out charity, other spiritual gifts are of little help.
She quoted the prophet Joseph Smith who taught "love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race." She too, recounted a story of a good family friend that seemed to be "an angel of mercy." This "remarkable friend" attended the funeral of President Peterson's father, bringing comfort to President's mother in his stead as the Petersons were here serving the Lord.
Sister Peterson then quoted President Hinckley: "Each of us can, with effort, successfully root the principle of love deep in our being so that we may be nourished by its great power all our lives. For as we tap into the power of love, we come to understand the great truth written by John, God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God. "
Obedience to the commandments is our strength
Using stories and examples, President Peterson spoke of the important of obedience. He defined obedience not simply as doing what one is told, but as an act of listening, entrusting, submissive behavior, and willingness. Focusing not only on sins of commission, but also on sins of omission, President Peterson told the story of the stripling warriors and the blessings that come from their exact obedience as well as the story of Saul sparing the Amalekites as an example of the consequences that come from less than perfect obedience.
Another example of obedience used by President Peterson was Adam and Eve. "There will occasionally be things that we are asked to do even though the reasons for doing them may not be immediately obvious," remarked President Peterson. "I hope and pray that we can all learn to be obedient just because the Lord commands."
Quoting President Ezra Taft Benson, President Peterson said, "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power." He then explained, "That power is the thing that will enable us to sanctify ourselves through the atonement of Christ and return back to the presence of the Father."
HA - The Breath of Life
"The last syllable in ALOHA is ha which in the Hawaiian language means breath of life," explained Sister Peterson. "By sharing the gospel with others, we not only help people receive the 'breath of life' in mortality, but we show them the path to eternal life in the world to come."
Relating two conversion stories, Sister Peterson testified of the importance of the restoration of the G ospel of Jesus Christ in allowing us to proceed on the path to gaining eternal life. Both converts are very grateful for the out pouring of the spirit in their lives as they begin on the path, through baptism, to eternal salvation.
As she concluded, she remarked, "We are grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has blessed our life immensely! We are grateful for the hope and faith that we have that we can be together as husband and wife, with our children and grandchildren forever because of the power of the Atonement and the blessings it brings. We are grateful to be on the path to eternal life."
"We know that the things about which we have spoken today are true. The principles of the all-encompassing power of the Atonement, developing a mighty love for God and our fellowmen, obedience to God, and enjoying the breath of life now and in eternity are true principles. We pray that every time you hear the word, ALOHA , you will be reminded of these principles. We rejoice in this glorious restored gospel of Jesus Christ and testify that our lives have been made richer by it. We pray that God's choicest blessings will rest upon each of you, in all of your righteous endeavors."
photo by Monique Saenz