Dear Brothers and Sisters, dear Friends,
Happy New Year! On behalf of the Asia area presidency, we wish each of you and your families a joyous and healthy lunar new year!
In the 12th chapter of the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament, we read about the designation of a new year for the Israelites and the events of the first Passover. We learn about the importance of family gatherings and traditions, the eating of symbolic food, the sacrificial lamb and the significance of its blood painted onto doorways so that the lives of the children of that household can be spared from harm. The similarities with our customs and cultural heritage are deep and perhaps point towards a common origin. This has helped us to observe each lunar new year with greater appreciation.
This year is the year of the Horse (“MA 马”) and we would like to share 3 “horse (Ma)” related scriptures that contain our new year’s wishes for you.
The first is in the Old Testament, in Malachi (“MA La Ji 玛拉基”) 4:5-6 which reads: “Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers...”
This year, may we all strengthen our connection to and draw strength from our ancestors as we diligently research our family history. May we faithfully honor our covenants, attend the temple as often as our circumstances permit, and be fortified with heavenly power.
The second scripture is in the New Testament, in Luke 24:13-33, which tells about two of Jesus’ disciples walking on the road to Emmaus (“Yi Ma Wu Si 以马忤斯”). These disciples were sad and hopeless because of the death of the Savior and shared their despair to a stranger who was travelling with them. It was not until the disciples had invited the stranger to abide with them after a long day of walking that the Lord revealed Himself to them and they realized that He had been with them all along.
This year, may we all invite the Lord to abide in us. May we receive a personal witness that the Lord knows us and accompanies us through our despair even though we may not yet recognize His presence.
The third scripture is found in the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 24 regarding the people of Alma (“A Er Ma 阿尔玛”). The people of Alma were a righteous people but were subject to persecution with heavy burdens placed on them. However, they did not waiver in their faith and their prayers to God. They patiently bore their afflictions and submitted to His will. As a result, the Lord strengthened them so that they could bear their burdens with ease and ultimately delivered them from their bondage.
This year, may we all continue to exercise faith and be unceasing in our prayers so that whatever burdens we carry can be made light and so that we may be delivered from bondage.
Brothers and Sisters, we love you. We pray for heaven’s blessings upon you and your families. We thank you for your faithfulness and service. May the Lord guide you on wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved.[i] We testify that because of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice we can all hope for a new spring despite our challenges and circumstances. He is our Redeemer, the great Emmanuel[ii] (“Yi Ma Nei Li 以马内利”) and He truly is with us. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
亲爱的弟兄姊妹及朋友们：
新年快乐！谨代表亚洲区域会长团，祝愿各位及家人恭贺新喜，身体健康！
在旧约圣经出埃及记第十二章中，我们读到以色列人民如何指定新年的开始，以及第一个逾越节的事件。我们了解到家庭团聚和传统的重要性，食用具有象征意义的食物的习俗，献祭羔羊以及将羔羊血涂抹在门框上以保佑家中孩童免受灾祸的意义。这些与我们的习俗和文化传承有着深刻的相似之处，或许指向共同的起源。这让我们更加珍惜每一个农历新年。
今年是马年，我们想和大家分享三段和「马」字谐音的经文，其中包含了我们对大家的新年祝福及愿望。
第一章经文出自旧约圣经玛拉基书 4：5-6，经文写道：「 看哪，耶和华大而可畏的日子未到以前，我必差遣先知以利亚到你们那里去。他必使父亲的心转向儿女，儿女的心转向父亲。」
在这新的一年，愿我们都能透过勤勉地研究家谱，加强与祖先的连结，并从中汲取力量。愿我们都能光大所立的圣约，尽可能经常去圣殿，并获得天上力量的巩固。
第二段经文出自新约圣经路加福音24：13-33，讲述了耶稣的两个门徒在前往以马忤斯的路上行走的故事。救主的离世让这两位门徒感到悲伤和绝望，他们便向一位同行的陌生人倾诉痛苦。经过了一天的长途跋涉，当门徒邀请这位陌生人与他们同住，主才向他们显现，他们才意识到，祂一直与他们同在。
在新的一年，愿我们都邀请主与我们同在。愿我们都能亲身感受到，即使我们尚未意识到祂与我们同在，主也认识我们，并陪伴着我们度过绝望的时刻。
第三段经文出自摩尔门经摩赛亚书第24章，讲述阿尔玛的人民的故事。阿尔玛的人民是正义的子民，然而他们遭受迫害，肩负沉重的负担。然而，他们在信心与向神的祈祷上毫不动摇。他们耐心承受苦难，并顺服祂的旨意。结果，主加添他们的力量，使他们能轻易得挑起重担，并最终将他们从奴役中拯救出来。
在新的一年，愿我们持续运用信心，并不断向天父祈祷，使我们所承担的各样重担得以减轻，并最终能从束缚中获得解脱。
弟兄姊妹们，我们爱你们。我们祈求天父赐福于你们和你们的家人。感谢你们的忠信和服务。愿主引导你们走在智慧的道路，使你们蒙福、昌盛、并被保全。我们见证，因为救主的赎罪牺牲，无论是否身处挑战和困境之中，我们都能盼望新春。祂是我们的救赎主，伟大的以马内利，祂确实与我们同在。奉耶稣基督的名，阿们。
[i] See Mosiah 2:36（见摩赛亚书2：36）
[ii] See Isaiah 7:14, 8:8, Mathew 1:23（见以赛亚书7：14、8：8、马太福音1：23）