The episode starts with Stephanie's own experience during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, discussing the struggles of doing church at home, online education, and unexpected health scares, while balancing her demanding work and personal anxieties. She then shares the anticipation of the birth of her new grandson, which was disrupted due to Covid-19 exposure. The episode then delves into the story of a woman named Aka, who shares her personal journey from a troubled past in American Samoa to eventual conviction and redemption. Meeting Aka in a church service during a trip to Maui, Stephanie draws parallels between her experiences with her faith and Aka's journey of redemption.
Thanks for listening! I'm on Instagram as deardaughtersofgod. Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1iyjqx0cq4kbk&utm_content=qr66nqv
The episode starts with Stephanie's own experience during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, discussing the struggles of doing church at home, online education, and unexpected health scares, while balancing her demanding work and personal anxieties. She then shares the anticipation of the birth of her new grandson, which was disrupted due to Covid-19 exposure. The episode then delves into the story of a woman named Aka, who shares her personal journey from a troubled past in American Samoa to eventual conviction and redemption. Meeting Aka in a church service during a trip to Maui, Stephanie draws parallels between her experiences with her faith and Aka's journey of redemption.
Thanks for listening! I'm on Instagram as deardaughtersofgod. Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1iyjqx0cq4kbk&utm_content=qr66nqv
I am Stephanie Eccles. This is Dear Daughters of God, Episode 10, The Prodigal Daughter. We are inspired by true life experiences of those around us. My name is Stephanie Eccles. I'm an educator. Counselor, school administrator, and natural storyteller. From my perspective as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, I share a variety of life experiences that bring us hope and joy in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Welcome dear Daughters of God. I address you that way because that's what you are to Him. To our Heavenly Father, you are dear. Today I have two stories to share with you. One originates in Utah and the other in Hawaii. By the end you'll see how they both tie together. The first one December of 2020. The Corona virus was affecting the whole world the attendance of church had been suspended in the United States because big groups of people were not allowed to meet this affected me as well as millions of people. I had attended church every Sunday all of my life, and now that wasn't allowed. So, I was learning with my family what it was like to have church at home.
Leading up into that year, It had one serious emergency after another, starting with the Grantsville murders, which I covered in the previous episode, episode number nine. the most significant emergency was the coronavirus, in March of twenty twenty, it was announced that students would not be allowed to Returned to school in Utah after a long weekend. over that weekend, we learned how to educate students online to finish the school year. It was from that summer forward that there was one conflict after another that had to be resolved, and they were all based on the coronavirus starting with, were we going to be giving an in person education to our students in addition to an online education that fall? I would have never imagined as a school administrator to be placed in a position where I was trying to convince my community, to allow students to come back to school in person. What about our teachers and the rest of our staff? Where they ready and willing to come back. all the different parties involved, including parents. Everyone had a strong opinion about what an education should or should not look like during this coronavirus time. And people's worry and anxiety was at a peak. it was at this time that I was starting to experience these strange symptoms Where I'm having flu like symptoms about every two weeks with spasms in my neck, wondering, is this the coronavirus? I talk about this in episode eight called he said what? What I didn't realize in this unusual time of life, is that My calm that I brought to work that I was known for in the workplace was not really how I was feeling on the inside.
Microphone (2- Samson Q2U Microphone)-8:while I was at home, I was feeling stress and worry. And I was way too quick to anger. I didn't understand what was going on with me. Why was I feeling this way? Well, I'll come back to that in a minute. Moving back to December's event. This December, I had a very special event, and that was the anticipation of a new grandson. He was going to be born over Christmas break. It couldn't have been better because it was over the school holiday. I was gonna fly to Washington DC from Utah My daughter Savannah was giving birth to Lincoln. Now you met Savannah in episode six. We talked about the embodiment of Christ. If you haven't heard that episode, go back and listen. It's our fastest growing episode. So I was so looking forward to this special time. I couldn't wait to get there to be a part of that birth and having Christmas together as a family. Well, just a couple of days before Richard and I are supposed to fly to Washington DC, Richard gets a a call from a colleague. And she says, uh, I've just found out I have the coronavirus, Which means that Richard is going to be on quarantine because he's been working in the same office. So, Sadly, this means we cannot fly like planned to Washington, DC. He needs to be on quarantine, and then we need to find out if Richard has the coronavirus. so this squelches the whole plan. I'm so frustrated. at this news. I can't believe it. But I'm thinking everyone's going through something like this all over the world.
Microphone (2- Samson Q2U Microphone)-13:If all goes well, we'll depart one week later than originally planned, and we'll all be in Washington DC before the holiday
Microphone (2- Samson Q2U Microphone)-8:Well, we get a piece of good news, the church had gotten permission to have a special Christmas program in person. we could gather for sacrament meeting for this Christmas program. So this was going to be a very special Sunday. I approach this particular sacrament meeting having offered many prayers for my distress and worry and looking for answers and for help from the Lord. So I go to church on this Sunday. It does feel rather awkward, having not been there for over six months and being there alone. That is rather strange for me, but I'm thrilled to be there.
Microphone (2- Samson Q2U Microphone)-14:It was time for the sacrament ordinance to begin. The very purpose why all of us were gathered together. To renew our covenants with our heavenly father, To remember our savior, Jesus Christ, and take upon us his name. To repent and covenant to keep the commandments. It was so sacred to be there together as a congregation and partake of this holy ordinance. There were beautiful sermonettes given about to the birth and the life of our savior and Christmas music, Mostly instrumental because the choir was not allowed to practice. But the most significant of all of it was when joy to the world, a duet with the piano and the organ began. It was powerful. It was loud. The vibration of the music awoke every synapse in my body. Within moments, The spirit lifted me, and I found myself in another place. I was now in the chapel that I attended as a little girl, rather than my Eaglewood Ward in North Salt Lake, I was in the Colonial Hills Ward in Salt Lake City in the Browning Avenue area, viewing myself as a ten year old With my five sisters and my mom and dad sitting on the second pew from the front as usual, There was my father, the gentle giant. Six foot seven, tall, thin body With a ready smile, his little bit of brown hair left, few hairs combed over His bald head, this lovely, gentle face and singing off tune. And my mother, five foot two, with her five inch afro hair do, every hair curled in place. I could feel the power of her testimony emulating from her. I could see them from the spirit's Wisdom. I could see their human frailties, And I could see their goodness. I understood from the spirit that one of the greatest blessings that they gave me was that my goodly parents taught me to go to church every Sunday. it became a habit. And through the years, I gradually learned the meaning
Stephanie Mic Aka Interview Multitrack:of the ordinance of the sacrament. I took on those covenants, and I could see the blessings that came to me and protected me through my life because I had the spirit of God with me from continuing to make my sacramental covenants.
This was a blessing for my heavenly father, but carried through by goodly parents who taught me to go to church by taking me to church every Sunday.
Microphone (2- Samson Q2U Microphone)-14:now I understood that I needed to make sure I continued this tradition goodly parents, who took me to church every week. That was a blessing I received that day at the Christmas program, the distress, the worry, the anger was replaced with a blessing of great joy and elation.
I would like to share another story with you about a beautiful Samoan woman named Aka. she also has a goodly mother that took her to church. We will hear her story Over Thanksgiving break, we were visiting Maui. we were staying in the Kanapali resort not far from Lahaina. On Sunday, we went to the Lahaina Ward building. And along with many other tourists, we came upon a sign that redirected us to another stake
Stephanie Mic Aka Interview Multitrack:building about an hour away,
The command mass take center.
Stephanie Mic Aka Interview Multitrack:We felt so blessed because we got there and had plenty of time before the sacrament meeting began. In the sacrament meeting, a beautiful, small woman in her fifties stood and said that she was speaking in church for the first time. Her name was Aka. She was pleased with this topic because she was supposed to share where her testimony first began, and that was from her mother. Her mother loved the gospel and taught her the gospel. Immediately, I was drawn to because That's where I learned to love the gospel was from my mother. She went on to explain that she had made some unfortunate decisions in her life. these decisions led her to have to serve time in the federal penitentiary, which separated her for some years from her family. As she told her story, I realized this is a story that needs to be shared. At the end of the meeting, I found Aka, and I proposed this idea and asked if she would like to share her story. she said, yes. I do want to share my story. I want to share it with my sisters who are still in prison. I want to share with them the gospel. You'll be hearing now excerpts from the interview that we had together, and I'll be coming in and doing some narration as we go along.
Stephanie test:This is Aka, and I'm so thrilled to have Aka. I've just met Aka this morning here in Maui, and Aka, will you say your beautiful full name for us?
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:Yes Tawha Orata Tufanga Setefano. or they call me Akka
Stephanie test:It's a beautiful name. Thank you. Aka, where are you
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:from? I am originally from American Samoa. Awa is the village where I was from, and that was my dad's village. How was your dad's
Stephanie test:village? You mentioned your faith coming from your mother, right? WheN did your mother become converted in, to this faith?
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:I'm not sure exactly, but I know she was a convert to the gospel. Okay.
Stephanie test:So she was a convert sometime in her life. life. But you were raised as a child from the time you were
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:the time you were Yeah, she was already a member and I was already raised in the gospel.
Stephanie test:Okay. I see. Was your father a member of the
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:church? I believe he was too, but there was just, there's a little riff raff that where my dad is, it was very disappointing for me as a child. My dad was an alcoholic and I think there was a story behind his alcoholism I never got to know I'm sad to say
Later in the interview, Aka explains that she did love her father. And when he was not drunk, he was a kind man, But he was most often drunk. when he was drunk, he was terribly violent, especially to her mother, to avoid his violence, she would stay away from their residence whenever he was drunk, which was very often. Later, although she despised his alcoholism, she took up drinking herself to escape the sadness that came from dealing with watching this violence towards her mother.
Stephanie test:Let's talk about your mother then. Okay. She's the one that instilled in you a love for the gospel. Yes. Tell us about one of your childhood memories about your mother's teachings
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:We So back home in American Samoa, when we moved To Oahu in 1976 that's where I learned more because my mom always had missionaries over in our Growing up in our home. she always invited the missionaries every week and that was, like, part of, you had family home evenings with my dad every now and then, but yeah, that was all I remember as a child having family home evenings, prayer with my parents. Missionaries coming over
Stephanie test:she was very generous in having the
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:It was, Yeah. Nice. She still had that faith. Even in the midst of, fights with my dad when he was drunk and stuff. She still held on to her faith. Like, That was the crazy thing. I look back today and it's she still was steadfast in the faith.
Stephanie test:a Woman of strength and determination, she wanted to raise her children in the gospel. sure did. Yes. You had siblings?
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:I did. I have there's a total of seven of us. There was four girls and three boys. I'm the youngest. I'm the youngest in the family, yeah.
Stephanie test:I see. Okay. She would take you to church regularly?
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:Yeah, regularly. We'd go to church every Sunday. It wasn't an option. had to go. Like, as a child was growing up no was not an option for church. You We had to go, and hate to say that I was forced to go to church, which is a good thing, but I was forced to go to church, which is a good thing, yeah, it was like, there was no, you're going to church,
Stephanie test:so she certainly set you in a good
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:absolutely, and that meant well in my life today,
Stephanie test:yeah. Do you remember developing your own testimony as a young girl or as a teenager?
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:don't, I'm not really, I knew it, it was there, but I didn't wasn't interested. guess I wasn't interested, I know it, the church was there, I know it was true, I, guess I, I wasn't really, that wasn't my focus at that time was distracted, but I can look back now and see where this was going
Stephanie test:yes, I
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:I'm grateful for that, like, and I,
Stephanie test:gift age.
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:Maturity, Yes,
Stephanie test:Yeah, but at the time you were distracted. Yeah. Let's go to your teenage years. Where was it that, that you felt like your life started to go astray?
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:Um, So now we're living in Honolulu, it, the bickering when my dad was drunk was all bad, like, came we moved from Samoa to get a better life, you Hope for better And And it. And I, it did it got better but Something still didn't change. My dad's alcoholism didn't change. where that was concerned. And I just, I ran. I ran all the time. I skipped school. I smoked, started picking up, drinking weed and smoking weed. I sniffed paint. I never wanted to come home. I'm coming home from school. I hear the stereo blasting. I knew my dad's drunk, Oh, it's not time to go home. And so I'll be out my friends. And I literally had a good friend of mine's that was like, her home was like my second home. my mom woUld have to pick us all up and get away from my dad, run away, find somewhere safe because of his alcoholism throughout my whole life. And then later on my children's lives. Was in it as well. Yeah, so it, the whole cycle repeated itself over and over. until,
Stephanie test:Yes, this generational alcoholism. Yes, although you hate it, and you hate what it did to him. You're finding yourself in the same boat because you have to escape the danger and the sadness and all of that, right? So as a teenager, you're skipping school and you're
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:I ran away. I was in and out of institutions, and jails. You know, a teenager, I was going into youth Jails, ran all the away to the mainland with my boyfriends and stuff like that
You heard August say that her father's alcoholism. Affected not only her, but her children's life. That has to do with the fact that her parents is much the raising of her children.'cause AHCA was in and out of jail. At the end of her last jail sentence. AKA was living in Maui. She was homeless. Her sister had arranged for her to have a car. She was living in this car and she met a man named CEO. He was also selling drugs. And was her drug supplier. He would let her use his place to shower and things like that. Maybe we can't have a relationship. And she had her last two children with him. Together, they sold drugs. The authorities have been watching them for about a year. And they were arrested. Now AKA was facing a sentence. of 189 months in federal prison. Okay. Was. Is expecting her youngest. Oh this time. CEO's child. And so you could imagine this long sentence was just overwhelming. She remembered. The principle of fasting that she had learned as a child. And so she decided. That she would try prayer and fasting and she would go to this final sentencing in front of the judge. Having fasted. With the prayer that. she would serve. Five years rather than 15. The judge. Did not reduce the sentence. DACA was sent to the mainland where there was a federal prison and began. Her 189 month sentence. Theo on the other hand. Was given the minimum sentence of 10 years. As OCHA was serving her sentence in federal prison. The rules did change. And this affects her sentence. It was reduced because of this change to 10 years. I did mention that when she first went to federal prison. She was expecting her youngest child. She and CEO's child. When she delivered that baby boy. He was taken. To August mother. And it was August mother. And DACA sister. That raised. Her and CEO's who children. Has August father. Passed away. Early on. In her federal prison sentence. Now we're going to hear a part of an interview where AKA explains. The importance. Of her serving the full 10 years as compared to the five years that she was hoping and praying for. She's also going to express. Her testimony of her heavenly father. And. Finding a sister. In prison. That was raised in the church and the two of them. Holding church together. In the prison chapel. Tell us about. Your time in prison. When you started to gain a testimony, how did that come about?
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:When I was in, at the detention at the federal here in Honolulu, I was looking into it and learning more about the gospel, because I was at a place where, I think, Lord, this is,'cause I remember at one point I was saying, I I wanna go and see what this side is like.
Stephanie test:The distractions mentioned when you were a teenager, now they were out of the way. Yeah. Yeah. All of that was pushed out of the way
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:Yeah. that. came from prison. when I was fasting to ask for that Five years that to cut. half of my sentence, A lot of that had to do with that. And I realized the reason why I didn't get that time. I got that feeling why he gave me that time because he knew if he had given me that I probably would have came out and either I would have went right back in there and I could have. hurt myself or something. I think, I thought he probably seen that coming within that five years now the drugs that they have now, it's methamphetamine. It's not the business. Fentanyl on top of that? It's not the business. and I thank God he did us a favor, like he really did.
Stephanie test:By giving you the
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:years rather than 5 years that I was asking. I really, and I'm so grateful. that I was asking, he could have probably granted it to me. but I think I that's, that's what I'm, I feel that in my heart that he knew if I had come out, I would have went back and I knew I would have went back Even if I said that Heavenly Father, I'm going to stop, I don't think I was going to stop.
You needed that much time to be away from the distractions of the world.
Stephanie test:You decided that you were going to be clean, even in prison. You were studying the scriptures and just starting life anew.
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:Yeah, and I love it. I look forward to it
Stephanie Mic Aka Interview Multitrack:Just as a reminder to our listeners You are in federal prison at this time. And you're located where.
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:I was in Connecticut
We're Drugs available in prison.
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:Yeah, they were available in there as well. Before going in, the hardest thing that I had was to quit was smoking cigarettes. And that was really hard and mean on top of drugs and all that too, but I think the fine line was when I was in there, I didn't think about it and that was, I knew in my head that this is the opportunity that I needed to stop, cause I couldn't quit cold turkey I couldn't do it, and I think Heavenly Father knew I couldn't do it. I felt like that was the break that I needed too. stop and, was grateful for that. I Really, that was a blessing. That prison time was a blessing for me. all in itself. I I've learned a lot. gained my testimony in there, and I was able to have that one on one time with me and the Lord, my whole prison time. I loved it. That was super great. seen his hands over and over again just amazing, and and had another sister in there, Her name was Michaela, And She was a member of the church. And it was just me and her. anD we would go to church every Sunday, faithfully, just the two of us,
Stephanie test:They had church there?
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:We had but we didn't have any visitors. Somehow, we were trying to get visitors to come in, and I think it was harder there so we didn't have anybody But we would meet up, me and her, and sing and pray together and stuff every Sunday. We would meet up every Hey, oh, how neat. keep in touch
We're about to introduce to new voices. into this interview Imagine if you will. The kitchen table with four chairs around it. And two microphones on the table. we just slid these two microphones around to whomever was talking. you've heard from two of the four of us that were involved in this interview. Myself. And OCHA. now you'll hear from the other two. You'll hear just a little bit from Richard, my husband. And you'll hear from CEO.
Stephanie test:C O
is now. Occas husband. When they were serving. Their time. They were not married, but. After being released, they both returned to Maui. Where their children were being raised by August mother. Who's now 93 years old. And OCHA sister. And since returning to Maui. They've married. We're going to hear a CEO talk about a little bit of time in prison and his childhood time. His religious upbringing. And the destructive effect. Of his father's gambling. On his family. He's also from American Samoa. But then came to Hawaii as a teenager. An interesting fact about CEO is. Before serving time, he was a fire dancer. That's interesting. Isn't it? then we'll go back and hear from OCHA.
Stephanie Mic Aka Interview Multitrack:Talks about her faith. And heavenly father and her love for him. Specifically. How it relates to the first commandment, how we are to put. No other God before him. she wants her husband and all of her family. To feel the same faith that she feels towards him. She wants them to feel that faith. And to know of him, like she does. that's what she's expressing. In this next clip.
sio:so did
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:you attend any church?
sio:There was a church service. on Sunday, they have the chapel over there where they have Christian, Catholic, you Muslim Mormons. Yeah. I go to the church on Sunday, but sometimes I don't, you wasn't a mandatory thing for everybody to go, sometimes I'll you go or sometimes I'll stay back. but they have all kind of people that come outside to to volunteers. service. So,
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:were your parents religious?
sio:me, with my starting religion, I didn't grow up at the church. Yeah. Yeah. my parents split in their own ways. When I was 12 years old, that was back in 1977. my dad was a Catholic. his side of the family was Catholic. My mom was member of the Mormon church. So when Yeah. Your mom was. Yeah, my mom was. So when they split right. My dad. My dad lives on this side of the village, and that's where the Catholic Church was, and my mom lives on this side, and then there's the Mormon Church, right? So I had three real siblings. I was the youngest one at the time. I also have older siblings from both sides of my parents. But, I decided to co stay with my dad, you So I kind grew up in the Catholic Church, you I went to a Catholic school, boys go to Senao College. St. Peter's Senao College. And I even became an alteport growing up. But when I left in 82, when I was 17, after I finished school came here in December of 92, you my mom was already here. and my mom's side of the family all live in Laie by, you PCC, so that's where my brother was over there, Benetton. And just before I moved to Hawaii, they moved to Maui, so I came straight to Maui to join them. So my mom would have the missionary come to lessons, you But for me it was really, think at that point for me it was kind confused because, just coming off of being in a Catholic school and being outsupported from the Catholic school. Came here and my mom was trying to get the mission to my, you lessons and stuff. Yeah. Hoping that, you was gonna get baptized But, I thought I was baptized back then, that's right, but I guess they couldn't find records of it. So I was telling my wife, maybe I would baptize myself the way things was going back then because 17 years old, come over here and being all, you didn't actually get baptized until last September, I September this year, Yeah, just, I got baptized recently on, uh, church Oh! In September,
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:yeah. yeah. So you're member
sio:of the Church of Jesus Christ? Yeah, yeah, I'm a member now. Oh! Oh, that's amazing. Just recently, September this year, I got baptized, Oh, okay. Is your mom still alive? No, my mom passed away, unfortunately, when I was, prison? Two years in my prison. passed away. Yeah. So she's well aware. I'm sure there's much rejoice Yes. my, yeah, my, my like s story, my dad wasn't a, an alcoholic, but he was a avid camper. Oh yeah. So I remember back in days we have like little store, we have like, one of those, one of the first time you have back in day if you have, like a. A car back then was, you have like, not reached by your average family, you so we have a, a Datsun truck back then. But eventually my dad's gambling, much lose everything because of his addiction to gambling. He lost his store, lost it, yeah. This was in Samoa? In Samoa. And that's how I noticed, like, my, my dad has a group of, uh, couples. that. after church on Sunday, they go and they pick each house where they go play cards, you gamble. And I remember, because I used to go with my dad, I would sit next to him and he wins, he'll hand me a dollar or, you back in those days, a dollar would, for me, it's Big money, you But then sometimes when I see my dad lose, you I go away. I don't like sit around, you wait for Hannah when he lose. But those times too is hard for my mom because my dad will come home and take it out on her. Yeah, and then I think that's where the separation It's pretty hard on her to, with my dad when he's losing. Addiction is addiction, right? Yes. You whether it's alcohol, whether it's gambling. it's gambling. It's the same. still just devastating So
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:So that's why I try to share with him. I try not to push my faith on, but I want him to learn. I want him to learn. and know Heavenly Father where is that, and, I want him to know that, you that's where, like your go to, I just want to stress this, because I remember when I heard, the commandments, he says, you like love, love me, love, put me first, and I remember it was like, and I had asked them, this, I said, Heavenly Father, I remember asking like, how to we, you and this is where the faith comes in. Because I, and I had to understand this because, my my parents, I love my parents because I see them. I know them, they're here. Which, Heavenly Father, it's all off of faith because we don't see Him. Does that make sense? and I remember, thinking that that's why I had to build that faith of understanding of learning to put him first. then my parents, you know I don't see him, You know what I And that's where my faith had, rather you see, he's always there. You know what I mean? He will always be there. And there's no love that any of my parents will give me than he does. Than he has for me. And I know that now. like my mom could never love me more than, Our Father in Heaven will. I know this now. I know this now. I even see it, where we read, these are the days where Mom and daughters will fight against each other, sister against, you father against son, these are the days, I'm starting to see that. I'm starting to see that here and there and stuff, and, knowing that, no love that I could give my children than our Father in Heaven has for them, I know this now, and I try to share that with my kids, and most especially with my daughter when she was struggling with not knowing her biological, her earthly dad. So I share with her, you know what, at the end of the day, I want you to learn of your Heavenly Father. cause there's no love your biological dad will ever give you than your father in heaven, even though you don't see him, when you start learning and start to see his hands, this is where you will gain that. She still doesn't get it, but I didn't either. and I realize that now, and I tell her, sharing this with you, because I've been there, I know how that feeling was. I know, where you've been, but I just like to share that, because he's doing that in my life, and share that with my husband, so that he can get that too.
Stephanie test:Yes, to make up for the disappointment that he's had, that you had with your father, that your daughter's had with her biological father. That perhaps you had with your father, C O because, we, have a perfect heavenly father. Perfect. And, from him we can receive a perfect love. Right.
Aka's Mic Full interview Multitrack:And even though we don't see him, or maybe we don't see the blessing coming. he's always there. but we do our part.
Stephanie test:I think you mentioned this today in your talk, if we work to fill that spirit, we can feel his love.
Orca has taken us back to her. Sermonette to given in sacrament meeting. And reminded us that heavenly father. Is always there for us. Even though we do not see him. And we may not see the blessings that he gives us. He is always there for us. It next week's episode. We will hear more. From AKA About. Their experiences in prison. And their lives today. But for now, I would like you to visualize. The sacrament meeting. That occurred. When AKA gave her first talk in church. The chapel was full of people. Including August 93 year old mother and her sister. Who raised AHCA's. Youngest two children. including her teenage daughter. On her son. Who had just passed the sacrament. And there was AKA. Dandy at the pulpit. Ready to give her sermonette. Imagine how her mother. Might have felt. Keep that in mind. As I share with you. Excerpts From the inspiring sermonette. Called the prodigal. And the road that leads home. Given by elder Dieter F Oak. Dorf of the quorum of the 12 apostles. And passages. From Luke. Chapter 15. As I read these excerpts. I imagine. Rather than the prodigal son. It being a prodigal daughter. From Luke 15. Quote. And he said. A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, Father. Give me the portion of goods that follow to me. And he divided unto them. His Levine. Unquote. Elder. For says. Can you imagine? What the father felt. When he heard this. When he realized that what his son wanted more than anything else. Was to leave the family and perhaps never return. the sun must have felt. A thrill of adventure and excitement. At long last he was on his own. Brief and the principles and rules of the culture of his youth. He could finally make his own choices. Without being influenced by his parents. No more guilt. He could bask in the acceptance of a like-minded community. And live life on his own terms. Unquote. He spent money freely. Can you imagine the friends he attracted. Boy the life he was loving. Elder Dorf Says this. Quote, they celebrated, applauded and championed his choices. Had there been social media in that time? Surely. He would have filled pages with animated photos of laughing friends. Hashtag living my best life. Hashtag never happier. Hashtag should've done this long ago. But the party. Did not last. It rarely does. Unquote. What would he do now? What his friends help him out. First 14 says. Quote And when he had spent all their rose. A mighty famine in that land. And he began to be in one. Unquote. So he couldn't afford anything. How old's your door goes on to say. How would he survive? He had been generous to his friends. Would they help him now? I can see him ask him for a little support just for now. Until he got back on his feet. The scriptures, tell us. No man. I gave them to him. Desperate to remain alive. He found a local farmer who hired him to feed swine. Extremely hungry now. Abandoned and alone. The young man must have wondered. How things. Who would have gone so terribly dreadfully wrong. It wasn't just an empty stomach that troubled him. It was an empty soul. He had been so sure. The giving into his worldly desires. Would make him happy. The moral laws were obstacles to that happiness. Now. He knew better. And oh, what a price he had to pay for that knowledge? As the physical hunger grew. His thoughts. Returned to his father. Would he help him after all that had happened? Even the humblest of his father's servants had food to eat and shelter. The storms. But returned to his father. Never. Confessed to his village. That he had squandered his inheritance. Impossible. Face the neighbors. Who surely had warned him. That he was disgracing his family and Breaking his parents' hearts. He returned to his old friends after boasting of how he was breaking free. Unbearable. The hunger loneliness, or more simply. Wouldn't go away. And tell. He came to himself. He knew what he needed. To do. Unquote. Prodigal son says this in the began verse 18. I will arise and go to my father. Unquote. And he rehearses it his mind. Exactly what he's going to say to his father when he gets there. Now back. To elder Dwarfs talk. He's going to describe. From the father's point of view, what he's been through. Coat, how many prayers? How much he offered in the deep of night. Pleading with God that his son would be safe. That he would discover true, but he would return. And then one day the father looks out on that lonely road. The road that leads home. And sees a distant figure walking toward him. Is it possible? No, the individual is a great way off. The father knows in an instant. It is his son. He runs to him, throws his arms around him and kisses him. So other. The sun cries out. In words, he must have rehearsed. A thousand times. I have sinned against both heaven. And you. I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. All I ask is that you take me in. As a hired servant. But the father scarcely lets him finish. Tears in his eyes. He commands his servants. Bring the finest robe in the house. And place it on my son's shoulders. What a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Make a feast to celebrate. My son has returned. I'd quote. Oh, there's another part of this story. Remember. The elder son. Where's the elder son. He's out in the field. He's been working. And now he begins to come home. And as he's getting closer to the house, He hears music. And the sound of dancing. And he calls out to her, the servants what's going. What does all the hope love out? And the servant says, will your brother he's come home. your father. He's so thrilled. He's killed the fatted calf. And he's throwing a party. On behalf of your brother. That he's returned home safe and sound. Well, this did not bode well with the elder brother. He was angry. And he refused to go in. So his father came out. And Encouraged him to come in. This is what the elder brother said to his father in verse 29. Coat. Lowe. These many years. Do I serve the. Neither transgressed I at any time that I commandment. And he had vowed, never gave us to me a kid. That I might make Merry with my friends. But as soon as I son come, which have devour thy living with harlots. Thou has killed for him. The fatter pass. And he said a damn. sun. Though art ever with me. And all that I have. Is that nine. I was meat that we should make Mary. And be glad for this I brother was dead and is alive again and was lost. We just found. I'd quote. Eldora turf. Goes on to say. Quote. A parable for our time, my beloved brothers and sisters, dear friends, like. All of the Savior's parables. This one is not just about people living long ago. It's about you. And to me today. Who among us has not departed from the path of holiness. Foolishly thinking we could find more happiness going our own self centered way. Who among us has not felt humbled, broken hearted and desperate for forgiveness and mercy. Perhaps some. May have even wondered. Is it even possible to come back? Well, I relabeled forever rejected. And avoided. Bye. Bye. Her friends. Is it better to just stay lost? How will God react? If I try to return. This parable gives us the answer. Our heavenly father will run to us. His heart overflowing with love and compassion. He will embrace us. Place a rope around our shoulders. A ring on our finger. At the sandals on our feet. And proclaim. Today we celebrate. For my child who wants was dead. Has come back to life. Heaven will rejoice at our return. After all. We know what it's like to be a prodigal. We all rely daily. On the same atoning power. Of Christ. We know this path. And we will walk with you. Unquote. I want to thank. AKA to Fargo set a Fano and CEO set a Fano. For joining us today and sharing their stories and their testimony. Remember to join us next week for the rest of their story. I want to thank my husband, Richard for helping me. in this interview and buy me a new computer right before Christmas day. So I could finish this episode. For my friend, Rebecca, who told me. The Christmas is still Christmas, even the week after Christmas. thank you to our wonderful listeners. Thank you for listening to our Christmas episode. Please share this episode with those who love. WE'll finish by going back to where we started. In my lesson. But I had goodly parents. That took me to church every week By listening to an instrumental version. Of joy to the world. Side by your classical radio. I wish you all a Merry Christmas. And a happy new year. For now I will say farewell. Until we meet again.