Officially opened to the public last November 23, 2018, the Light the World Giving Machines – big, red vending machines – in the Upper Ground Floor, EDSA Entrance of SM Megamall is just one of the five machines that will be placed in different parts of the world.

How does it work? It works like a regular vending machine but instead of dispensing items for your own use, you can choose items you can donate. Some items to choose from include clothing, food, medicine, hygiene supplies, livestock, art kits, sporting equipment, and even wheelchairs. The Church partners with Caritas Manila, UNICEF Philippines, and The Purple Center Foundation. These three organizations are the primary recipients of the donations that will be gathered in the Light the World Giving Machines. If you’ve always wanted to donate in these organizations but are not sure how to, the charity machines can help you.

Everyone can contribute something – you can donate even with just Php 30! Kids and adults alike will have the opportunity to serve. These charity machines can help people “Give us Jesus gave.”

The Light the World Giving Machines will be available all throughout the Christmas season. One hundred percent of the donations collected will be given to the partner organizations.

To learn more about the Light the World campaign of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how you can participate, click here.

The post Light the World Giving Machines: A New Way to Give this Christmas appeared first on morefaith.ph.

People with depression, diagnosed or not, experience more than just sadness or emotional distress. They are experiencing a medical condition that is out of their control, and that they did nothing to cause. The saying, “Happiness is a choice” may not ring true for them at all, as it does for others. Sometimes, even after putting their entire mind and will into it, happiness still seems impossible. Knowing this, let’s avoid saying the following phrases the next time we console someone battling depression.

It’s just a bad day. Tomorrow will be a fresh start. For people battling depression this is not true at all, because what they are experiencing does not last only one day. For them, feelings of sadness, despair, hopelessness, and loss of interest can last for days, or even weeks.  Some of them might not even be looking forward to tomorrow.  This phrase can make them feel that nobody really understands their condition.

If they are having a bad day, we can invite them to do something they are usually interested in—exercise, watch a movie, play some sports, take a walk, or anything that will help them get their minds off what they currently feel. But we should not expect them to cheer up right away.  Often, relief comes gradually, and on some occasions, they might not cheer up at all. But we should keep inviting them to activities anyway. This will keep them from being alone and doing things alone.

On the other hand, we must also respect their choices and understand that there are days that are more difficult than most. Try to strike a balance between friendship and personal space.

You should pray more and trust that Jesus Christ will help you. With the hardship that they are experiencing, they have probably already prayed earnestly to God to take the burden from their shoulders and to take the negative emotions away, even just for a little while. They might have already poured their hearts out many times to God, seeking comfort and strength, so saying this phrase to them might not be as helpful as it may sound. It may in fact make them feel more hopeless, wondering if they are doing something wrong, and why God has not answered their prayers and taken the trial away. We must understand that having depression does not equate to being spiritually weak or not being close enough to God. Depression certainly is not an indicator of one’s faithfulness.

Instead, we should always be there for them and become God’s instrument in helping them feel that they are not alone. We can accompany them to doctor’s appointments, counselling sessions, and other activities that might be helpful.

Others have it worse than you. Be grateful and count your blessings. The severity of peoples’ challenges and the impact these challenges have on their lives are different. Two people may be going through depression but their circumstances, personal and past experiences, support system, and access to professional advice may be different. So we cannot simply judge who is having it worse. This phrase will only trigger guilt in them and will make them feel ungrateful.

Instead, help them see the possibilities in life despite their condition—their capacity to serve, love, and become a blessing to others. This can enlarge their perspective, and help them see that their lives are not limited to the confinement of depression.

The willpower it takes to live a life in which you cannot simply choose to be happy is much greater than you might imagine. So ours is a divine calling to be kinder, more genuine, more understanding, and become more available to those battling depression one considerate word at a time.

The post 3 Phrases You Should Never Say to People with Depression appeared first on morefaith.ph.

To ministering brothers and sisters, this active member still needs you.

Like you, I always thought that I no longer needed to visit those members who were always there on Sundays, and who were involved in their Church callings and responsibilities. It is safe to say that I often assumed that with their strong testimony of the gospel, they no longer needed what I had to say.

But ministering friends, this active member still needs you.

We all have daily struggles not often seen during Sunday services. It is always refreshing when someone visits to remind us what matters most in life — the gospel. Don’t hesitate to share your testimony, no matter how simple you think it is. It is a blessing when we see your great love and commitment to the Lord. We may not say it, but your example of service and love for the gospel strengthens us too — especially during times of unspoken struggles.

Yes, in times of struggles, this active member still needs you.

Our smiling faces and positive outlook in life may make you skip our names on the list, but please remember that visiting us can be a balm in Gilead. Some of you may be worried that the help you’re offering — financially and spiritually — may not be enough, but please know that even faithful members of the Church can still find comfort in a big tight hug, a simple home-cooked meal, or a sweet, sincere question like “How are you doing?”

Your simple acts of kindness can go a long way. Your efforts to reach out to us help us feel loved and cared for. Sometimes, what a weary soul really needs is just someone who reaches out in love.

This active member looks up to you.

You may think that because some members are so strong in the faith, no simple visit, no ordinary lesson will be enough. But sometimes, more than the lesson, there’s another thing that counts: your effort to serve. As we see you serving with all your might despite financial limitations or physical challenges, you show us Christlike love. When you come to us, even without knowing what we truly, deeply feel, you help us realize the truth that indeed, the Lord sends angels to rally for us when we feel downtrodden.

So to the ministering members, if ever you feel too inadequate to visit an active member of the Church, please be strengthened by this beautiful quote by Sister Virginia Jensen: “[Members] in all life circumstances have opportunities to nurture and build others within their sphere of influence.”

We too need your care, your testimony, and your example. We believe in you. We believe in the blessings that will come as you extend your ministering efforts to us. Come knock on an active member’s door soon.

The post To Those Who Minister, This Active Member Needs You Too appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Before Peter lived a life of devoted discipleship, he had an encounter with the Savior that changed his life, which Elder Holland considers to be the crucial turning point in Peter’s apostolic ministry. Here are two principles I learned from Elder Holland that taught me what it truly means to love God.

Love for God is Loyalty to Him

After the resurrected Savior left Jerusalem, Peter, together with other apostles, decided to go fishing. The scripture reads “Simon Peter saith unto them, I go fishing. They say unto him, we also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately.” Then Jesus Christ once more showed himself to them and tested Peter’s loyalty by asking him “Lovest thou me?” three times.

Elder Holland taught that when Judgement Day comes, God will ask us the same question Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” And though we might answer yes, Elder Holland said that our love for God will always be measured by our loyalty, because it is the “crowning characteristic of love.”

This made me ponder how loyal I am to God. I knew that because of the natural man within me, my loyalty sometimes tends to shift toward things that make me happier temporarily. There were times when I felt like the prodigal son who left his father to spend his inheritance elsewhere, or even like Peter who went back to fishing after the Savior’s resurrection.

I was more susceptible to these feelings after my mission because I was afraid that serving God would become second priority due to other temporal goals. But knowing that I can choose to be happy and loyal to Him, the One to whom I owe everything, I accepted callings that I knew would bless the lives of others. By doing so, my love and loyalty to God increased. This taught me that loving God and staying loyal to Him are not consequences of receiving blessings but a choice I can make.

Love of God is discipleship.

In this same talk, Elder Holland taught, “…we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord.” And we do this through the service we render to others.

For some, like myself, a life of devoted discipleship seems like an enormous task to take on. But if we truly love God, we can do all things for Christ who will strengthen us. As the saying goes, “love is the most powerful force,” and our love for God will be the force that turns us into disciples.

Listening to Elder Holland speak, I learned that Peter did not immediately became a great apostle. He went back to fishing immediately after the Savior left. But because he was reminded to love God, he went back to his duties with full purpose of heart. He led the apostles, preached the gospel, and greatly influenced the world in which we now live. The Savior could have done anything to encourage the apostles to do their duties, but He knew that reminding them to love God is the key.

It is the same for us, and it is truly the same for me. My love for God motivated me to become a better disciple. My progress was not at all immediate for I fell short repeatedly during my mission. Nevertheless, I served God willfully, making small and consistent steps, steps I knew I could surely make. Through those steps, my love for Him grew steadily and it allowed me to serve others in greater ways than before. And I believe this is the true essence of discipleship: serving God by serving other people.

Our call to become a loyal disciple.

Elder Holland concluded by testifying, “The call is to come back, to stay true, to love God, and to lend a hand.” There is a great weakness in all of us: the weakness of forgetting the miracles and blessings we have been given. Because of this universal weakness, God has provided prophets and apostles so that we can return to loving God and be reminded of our call to discipleship. May we love Him by showing loyalty and keeping His commandments so we can all stand before God on judgement day and honestly reply, “Yea, Lord, we do love thee.”

The post The Talk that Helped Me Understand the First Great Commandment appeared first on morefaith.ph.

As lifetime missionaries, we are encouraged to find people who are willing to be taught by the full-time missionaries. This was taught by Elder David A. Bednar when he said, “[Full-time] missionaries are full-time teachers; you and I are full-time finders.” Here are some ideas for making missionary work a part of your life.

Share an amazing story from the Book of Mormon.

Sharing stories with a co-worker or classmate is already a part of our daily life. Everyone loves a good story and the Book of Mormon is full of them. We can share Nephi’s struggles with his brothers, Lehi’s dream, Teancum’s fearless battles, or even Ammon defending the Lamanite king’s flock. These stories are good even without introducing the Book of Mormon. But telling them that it came from golden plates might make them even more interested.

Invite friends to activities.

When it comes to having fun, our friends are first on our invitation list. One of the purposes of church activities is to have fun, and it is also a great missionary opportunity. If you’re afraid of inviting your non-member friends to devotionals and ward home evenings, try inviting them to Institute activities. Institute has dance nights, sports activities, movie nights and many other fun casual activities.

Share family history.

Family is important for every individual, member or non-member. The Family History program is an amazing missionary opportunity because it connects everyone, both the living and those who have passed away. You can let your friends see old pictures of your ancestors on our Church’s “Memories” app or show them your lineage on the “Family Tree” app. These are interesting conversation topics and a way to introduce the church and the gospel.

Post on social media.

Sharing content on social media apps like Facebook is a great way to spread the gospel. Over a billion people worldwide use social media sharing a massive amount of information between them. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has plenty of shareable content. This gives us a nice opportunity to share our beliefs without even talking to anyone. Though this is subtle way of doing missionary work, it is surely a good way. Because of websites like Mormons.ph, people are starting to notice the gospel and some have already been baptized.

Share a Mormon message that fits someone’s circumstances.

“The Mormon Messages video series contain short inspirational messages regarding principles and values that are important to the world”. If you know someone who is struggling to find peace, share with him or her “The Hope of God’s Light”. If you know a father who feels incompetent protecting and guiding his family, share with him “Earthly Father, Heavenly Father”. These short messages will surely motivate and inspire. They’re insightful, entertaining, emotional and a loving way to share gospel truths.

Share a comforting verse from the Book of Mormon.

There are lots of simple verses that teach principles we need every day of our lives. By sharing few verses with a friend or co-worker, we can brighten their day. 1 Nephi 20:10 can easily comfort and make someone stronger in their times of trial. Mosiah 4:27 can motivate those who think their best isn’t good enough. The scriptures contains power and truth. As you share verses, the Holy Ghost will prepare your friends, perhaps prompting them to want to know more about the Book of Mormon or be taught by the missionaries.

What the Lord needs.

Elder Quentin L. Cook said, “What we desperately need is for member-missionary work to become a way of life—for the Savior’s mandate to share the gospel to become part of who we are.” By making missionary work a part of our lives, our friends will know the truth, we will become true disciples of Christ, and the work of God in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man will be accomplished.

The post 6 Ways to Make Missionary Work a Part of Your Life appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Isn’t that scary? Wouldn’t that make you run out of the room in a heartbeat, question your decision to shift, and decide to never come back again? But how many times must new converts feel just this way?

President Gordon B. Hinckley once famously said that every convert needs “a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with the good word of God.” Isn’t it interesting that out of all of the factors he could have mentioned, the first thing that a convert needs is a friend? I asked three new converts how sincere friendships really help new members stay.

Sincere Friendships Help New Converts Know They’re Not Alone

Cassie was introduced to the Church by her friend Jane. Although it took some time for her to agree to baptism, she already knew that what she was about to do was right. However, there was a little problem: Cassie already had some impressions about Mormons. “I always thought everyone was super rich because whenever I saw them going to church, they always wore really nice clothes. I thought I couldn’t ever blend in.”

Like being in a quantum physics class, our new converts often are afraid of not being able to acquaint themselves with other members. Most of the time, this results to them feeling alone. What do we do to help them overcome this? Let’s reach out to them. Let’s introduce them to other friends and let them know they’re not alone. “I am blessed that I already have one friend in the Church. Jane introduced me to her best friends, and they eventually became my friends, too. Their friendship sustained me through the years of my membership.”

Sincere Friendships Help New Converts Understand the Gospel Better

Isn’t it comforting when someone cares enough to help you understand something that is totally new to you? Imagine how grateful you would be if one of your quantum physics classmates were to approach you and offer to help you with difficult topics? New converts can learn and know the gospel better if they have a friend who is always willing to teach and bear their testimony.

When my best friend, Chaelyn, was baptized into the Church, she needed new convert lessons  as a follow-up to her missionary discussions. Whenever we introduced her to a new lesson, she always asked so many new questions. There were times when she would ask me questions non-stop. Because she had a friend who was willing to help her get to know the gospel better, she was able to understand it more, which helped her stay. What could have happened if she had no one to answer her questions?

Sincere Friendships Help New Converts Look Forward To Sundays

Diana was a new convert that stood out from the rest. One thing that made me notice her immediately was her closeness with the other young single adults. You could really see her eyes glow whenever she got to sit close to her newfound friends. When I asked her how her YSA friends helped her transition in the Church, she quipped “They make me excited for Sundays!”

Imagine how different it would have been if no one had bothered to befriend her. How different would it have been if  she felt alone every Sunday?

Sincere Friendships Help New Converts Feel Less Judged

Conrad is a young man who was recently introduced to the Church. At first, he was quiet and shy and refused to talk at all. He said that he was afraid members would judge him because of his past. Then came Roy. He discovered that Conrad loves drawing manga (Japanese comics) characters, a hobby he also enjoys. He approached Conrad, talked with him about Japanese animes, and the rest was history. Today, Conrad and Roy are inseparable and Conrad has bloomed into an all-around young man in the Church.

Sincere Friendship Help New Members Stay

Indeed, the gospel is simple, and the answer to the question “How can we make new members stay?” is also simple: be their true, sincere friend. May we always remember the reminder from the “For the Strength of Youth” pamphlet:

“Everyone needs good and true friends. They will be a great strength and blessing to you. They will influence how you think and act, and even help determine the person you will become. They will help you be a better person and will make it easier for you to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Whenever we see a new member who’s alone, may we follow the example of the Savior who said “I have called you friends” — be that person’s friend.

The post How Sincere Friendship Help New Members Stay appeared first on morefaith.ph.

I couldn’t help but feel an urgent desire to know who these girls were, and bring them back. Having never been less active myself, I wondered a lot. What words could I say, to help convince them to return? What phrases did they really need to hear?

I’ve asked some of my friends who have been less active at some time in their lives. These are the phrases they feel they needed to hear at the time, when they, like the Prodigal son, took their spiritual inheritance and left.

1. “Hey! How have you been?”

When someone asks me how I have been, it instantly puts a smile not only on my face, but on my heart. It means that the person who asked is interested and wants to know simply how I am. It works the same for everyone, I realized, especially our less-active friends who might’ve lost the feeling that somebody genuinely wants to see how they are. Bringing that feeling back just by asking this simple question soften and touch the hearts of those around you.

2. “Is everything okay with you? You know you can always tell me.”

If you aren’t already, become their shoulder to lean on. Ask them the cause of their choice to step away from the church. Never let them feel that their feelings are not justified, but instead reason with them that there is everything to gain and nothing to lose by returning back to church.

Peter once asked Jesus Christ, “To whom shall we go?” If we choose to “walk no more” with Him, where would we go? It cannot always be seen at the beginning, but when someone chooses to walk away, it puts them at odds with their faith. We can become instruments of the Lord in bringing souls back to Him through simply lifting each other up.

3. “Don’t forget to come, it wouldn’t be fun without you!”

We have many opportunities to reach out to those who have chosen not to attend church, and one is including them in church activities. Visiting our less-active friends and inviting them to go to church events is a great way to let them know that we want them to be involved, and that it would be fun to have them around. As Elder Dieter F. Utchdorf reasoned, “love is really spelt t-i-m-e.” Spending time with people and creating bonds with them harbours feelings of love and care among the people who put effort into doing it.

4. “We need you, and know that you’re never alone.”

“In this church, there are no strangers or outcasts. Only brothers and sisters.” This counsel from Bishop Gerald Causse can be a driving force toward strengthening the church community. With the youth, most of their reasons for drifting away from the church revolve around feeling like they’re strangers, outcasts or alone. As members of the church, we have the responsibility and choice to help our less-active friends feel otherwise, that we are truly brothers and sisters. Consistently make that choice, and it will surely make a difference in someone’s life.

As Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson has invited us, we should “not only love each other more, but love each other better.”

5.“Heavenly Father loves you. He is always waiting for your return.”

Most importantly, let them be reminded of just how much Heavenly Father loves them. No matter how much the opposition tries to convince them otherwise, the doors are open for their return and He is always waiting. His love will be enough, if we become His hands and help our prodigal friends feel it through our effort, sincerity and time.

Ultimately, our words are just words if they are said without love and sincerity. The people I asked had one answer in common: No matter how beautiful or sweet the words you say, it will ultimately be what they feel through your words that will convince them of your genuine love for them.

As President Thomas S. Monson counseled, “Ours is the sacred privilege to brighten, to touch, to save those precious souls entrusted to our care.” May we always choose to exercise that privilege.

The post 5 Phrases Your Less-Active Friends Need to Hear appeared first on morefaith.ph.

1. Grab lunch with a friend. Think of someone who barely gets to go out or relax and take this friend somewhere simple and quiet to eat lunch, and catch-up with each other’s lives. But remember that this should be about taking her out to relax and have fun. Sharing your problems and struggles in life might not be a good idea. Focus on areas that would uplift you, not necessarily spiritual things, but something positive for you both.
2. Send a note to a friend you haven’t been in touch with this year. While grabbing lunch is a good idea, it might not be possible if a friend is living far away or overseas. Sending a note electronically is a convenient way of saying hello and letting them know that you’re thinking of them. Along with a few sentences about your own life, make sure to ask them how they are doing and what they are planning for Christmas. Even if you see each other’s updates and pictures on social media and hit the “Like” button once in a while, a private note is different. It has a more personal touch to it.
3. Make a DIY Christmas card for someone. If sending a virtual note is too mainstream, you can create your very own Christmas card and give or send it to a friend. There are lots of ideas you can find on Pinterest and other DIY sites that will teach you how to make an easy and affordable Christmas card.
4. Babysit for a couple one Friday night. Couples who have kids and are both working may sometimes find it difficult to include a “date night” in their busy schedule. For some, it might have been years since they had a date night so give them a short break and babysit their children for a few hours so they can get a nice, quiet meal together, watch a movie, etc. without having to worry about their kids at home. You can even invite a friend over to help babysit with you, if the parents are okay with it, to make things easier.
5. Help decorate someone’s house for Christmas. Although Christmas is a long-awaited season, some families might not have the time to put up their Christmas decorations or might not have the resources to do so. Ask if they have Christmas decorations or what decorations they already have at home, so you can plan on what to bring. This could be a Family Home Evening
6. Cook dinner for someone. Pick a family in your neighborhood or a family friend and prepare a meal for them. You might consider a family who recently had a baby, or is taking care of a sick loved one. The food does not have to be grand. Something as simple as rice and chicken adobo could be a huge blessing to someone.
7. Donate to Others. Clean out your closet and your food storage, donating clothes that you no longer use and food that will soon expire. You can hold a garage giveaway at your house and invite friends and families to take items that they need. You can also invite them to bring clothes and goods that they want to donate. This could be a great “give and take” activity in your community.

There are many service ideas that you can include on your Christmas to-do list. These acts of love can be done within and outside the walls of your home. Do you have any other Christmas service ideas? Share them in the comments section below for other readers to choose from.

The post 7 Service Ideas That You Can Do This Christmas appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Many people find joy in giving. Some may even see more meaning in life when doing so. However, when circumstances turn in life and we are the ones who need help, we may sometimes feel hesitant to seek help from others because we do not want to bother other people by our situation. Some feel uncomfortable receiving help from others. Some want to resolve problems on their own. While some think less of themselves if they seek help from others. We have our own personal reasons why we do not want to receive help from others but the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us that it is okay to be vulnerable and receive help from others when we need it.

In the Book of Mosiah, the Lord commanded us “to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; … mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort…” This commandment is not one-sided. If we are the ones always giving help and service, it does not mean that others cannot offer us help and service. It is okay to feel that we can solve problems on our own but it is also okay to share our burdens with others. Family, friends and acquaintances can pray and fast for us, rally with us in our battles and understand us better if they know what we are currently going through. It is also important to know that seeking help is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is a sign of humility to recognize that there are certain things we cannot do on our own.

We might think that we would rather ask for Heavenly Father’s help than ask for our neighbor’s help. But our families, friends and neighbors are God’s hands here on earth, and in many cases, He sends the help we need through them. Recognizing this helps us to be more comfortable receiving help.

Seeking help can also empower others, especially those who feel weak, to extend the help they are able give. This can give us a better perspective on our own problems as we help someone else bear their burden as well as having others around us. It unites people by increasing love and concern for others. Moreover, it dispels the myth that you are the only one who might feel weak, or that church members with perfect lives are the ones who give more service. Our Heavenly Father will guide and give us the strength to help and serve his children in big or small ways.

The post Are We Willing To Receive As Much As We Give? appeared first on morefaith.ph.