Lotu Maʻu Ai Pē

Ke toe mahino ange, ko e lotú ko e fetuʻutaki ia ʻa e Tamai Hēvaní mo Hono ngaahi foha mo e ʻofefine ʻi he māmaní. “ʻI heʻetau ako ki heʻetau fetuʻutaki mo e ʻOtuá (ʻa ia, ko e ʻOtuá ko ʻetau Tamaí Ia, pea ko ʻEne fānaú ʻa kitautolu), ʻoku hoko leva e lotú ko ha meʻa fakanatula kiate kitautolu” (Bible Dictionary, “Prayer,” 752). ʻOku fekauʻi kitautolu ke tau lotu maʻu ai pē ki he Tamaí ʻi he huafa ʻo e ʻAló (vakai, 3 Nīfai 18:19–20). Kuo talaʻofa mai kapau te tau lotu fakamātoato ki he meʻa ʻoku totonu mo leleí ʻo fakatatau ki he finangalo ʻo e ʻOtuá, ʻe lava ke tāpuakiʻi, maluʻi, mo takiekina ʻa kitautolu (vakai, 3 Nīfai 18:20; T&F 19:38).

Ko e fakahaá ko e fetuʻutaki ia ʻa e Tamai Hēvaní ki Heʻene fānau he māmaní. ʻI heʻetau kole ʻi he tuí, ʻe lava ke tau hokohoko maʻu fakahā ai pea mo ha ʻilo pea ʻilo ʻa e ngaahi meʻa liló mo e ngaahi meʻa fakanongá ʻa ia ʻokú ne ʻomi ʻa e fiefiá mo e moʻui taʻengatá (vakai, T&F 42:61). “Ko e ngaahi meʻa liló ʻa e ngaahi meʻa ʻoku toki ʻiloʻi mo maʻu ha mahino ki ai ʻi he mālohi ʻo e Laumālie Māʻoniʻoní” (vakai, Harold B. Lee, Ye Are the Light of the World [1974], 211).

ʻOku ʻomi e ngaahi fakahā ʻa e Tamaí mo e ʻAló ʻo fakafou mai ʻi he mēmipa hono tolu ʻo e Toluʻi ʻOtuá, ʻa ia ko e Laumālie Māʻoniʻoní. Ko e Laumālie Māʻoniʻoní ko e fakamoʻoni mo e talafekau ia ʻa e Tamaí mo e ʻAló.

ʻOku tokoni e sīpinga naʻe ngāueʻaki ʻe he ʻOtuá ʻi hono fakatupu e māmaní ke mahino kiate kitautolu ʻa e founga hono ʻai ke toe mahuʻingamālie ange ʻetau lotú. ʻI he vahe hono tolu ʻo e tohi ʻa Mōsesé ʻoku tau ako ai naʻe fakatupu fakalaumālie ʻa e ngaahi meʻa kotoa pē kimuʻa pea toki tupu fakanatula ʻi he māmaní.

“Pea ko ʻeni, vakai, ʻoku ou pehē kiate koe, ko e ngaahi tala fakahohoko ʻeni ki he langí pea mo e māmaní, ʻi he taimi naʻe fakatupu ai iá, ʻi he ʻaho ʻa ia ko au, ko e ʻEiki ko e ʻOtuá, naʻá ku ngaohi ai ʻa e langí pea mo e māmaní,

“Pea mo e ʻakau kotoa pē ʻo e ngoué ki muʻa ʻi he teʻeki ai ke tuʻu ia ʻi he kelekelé, pea mo e ʻakau iiki kotoa pē ʻo e fonuá ʻi he teʻeki ai ke tupu iá. He ko au ko e ʻEiki ko e ʻOtuá, naʻá ku fakatupu fakalaumālie ʻa e ngaahi meʻa kotoa pē ʻa ia kuó u lau ki aí, ʻi he teʻeki ai ke tuʻu ia ʻi he anga-fakanatulá ʻi he funga ʻo e māmaní” (Mōsese 3:4–5).

ʻOku tau ako mei he ngaahi veesi ko ʻení naʻe fuofua fai e fakatupu fakalaumālié kimuʻa he fakatupu fakaemāmaní. ʻOku mahuʻinga ʻa e lotu ʻoku mahuʻingamālié he pongipongi taki taha, ko ha konga mahuʻinga ia ʻo e teuteu fakalaumālie fakafoʻituitui ki he ʻaho takitaha, pea ʻoku hoko ia kimuʻa pea kamata e ngāue ʻo e ʻahó, ʻo hangē ko e hoko ʻa e fakatupu fakalaumālié ko ha teuteu mahuʻinga ki he fakatupu fakaemāmaní. Hangē ko ia ko e fehokotaki mo e hoko atu ʻe he fakatupu fakaemāmaní ʻa e fakatupu fakalaumālié, ʻoku pehē pē ʻa e hoko atu e fehokotaki ʻa e lotu pongipongi mo efiafi ʻoku mahuʻingamālié.

Fakakaukau angé ki he sīpinga ko ʻení. ʻE ʻi ai ha ngaahi meʻa ʻi hotau ʻulungāangá, tōʻongá, pe ko ʻetau tupulaki fakalaumālié te tau fie maʻu ke tau fealeaʻaki ai mo e Tamai Hēvaní ʻi he lotu pongipongí. Hili ʻetau fakahā ʻetau fakamālō koeʻuhí ko e ngaahi tāpuaki kuo maʻú, ʻoku tau kole leva ke maʻu ha mahino, tataki, mo ha tokoni ke fai e ngaahi meʻa ʻoku ʻikai ke tau lava ʻo fai ʻiate kitautolú pē. Hangē ko ʻení, ʻi heʻetau lotú mahalo te tau:

• Fakalaulauloto ki he ngaahi taimi naʻa tau lea hohaʻa pe taʻefeʻunga ai ki he niʻihi ko ia ʻoku tau ʻofa taha aí.

• Fakatokangaʻi ʻoku tau ʻiloʻi lelei ange, ka ʻoku ʻikai ke tau faʻa fai ʻa ia ʻoku tau ʻilo ke faí.

• Fakahā ha fakatomala koeʻuhí ko hotau ngaahi vaivaí mo e ʻikai siʻaki e tangata fakaekakanó.

• Fakapapauʻi te tau muimui kakato ange ʻi he sīpinga ʻa e Fakamoʻuí.

• Kole ha mālohi lahi ange ke fai lelei pea hoko ʻo lelei ange.

ʻOku hoko ʻa e lotu peheé ko ha konga mahuʻinga ʻo e mateuteu fakalaumālie ki he ʻahó.

Lolotonga e ʻahó, ʻoku tau lotu ke hokohoko atu ʻa hono tokoniʻi mo fakahinohinoʻi kitautolú—ʻo hangē ko e fokotuʻu ʻa ʻAlamaá: “Tuku ke hanga atu hoʻo ngaahi fakakaukau kotoa pē ki he ʻEikí” (ʻAlamā 37:36).

ʻOku tau fakatokangaʻi ʻi ha ʻaho pehē ʻoku ʻi ai ha ngaahi taimi ne tau angamaheni ʻaki e lea hohaʻá, ka ʻoku ʻikai ke tau fai pehē; pe te tau ongoʻi ke ʻita, ka ʻoku ʻikai ke tau fai pehē. ʻOku tau ʻiloʻi e tokoni mo e mālohi fakalangí pea tau ʻilo ai ʻi he loto fakatōkilalo ʻa e ngaahi tali ki heʻetau lotú. Pea aʻu pē ki he momeniti ko ia ʻo ʻetau ʻiloʻí, ʻoku tau ʻohake leva ha lotu fakalongolongo ʻi he loto houngaʻia.

ʻI he fakaʻosinga e ʻahó, ʻoku tau toe tūʻulutui pea fai ha fakamatala ki heʻetau Tamaí. ʻOku tau fakalau e ngaahi meʻa ne hoko he ʻahó pea tau fakahā ʻetau fakamālō koeʻuhí ko e ngaahi tāpuaki mo e tokoni naʻe fai maí. ʻOku tau fakatomala pea tau ʻiloʻi e ngaahi founga te tau lava ʻo fai lelei ange pea hoko ʻo lelei ange ai ʻi he ʻapongipongí, ʻi he tokoni ʻa e Laumālie ʻa e ʻEikí. Ko ia ai, ʻoku hoko ʻa e lotu efiafí ko e fakavaʻe mo e hoko atu ia ʻo e lotu pongipongí. Pea ʻoku toe hoko ʻetau lotu efiafí ko ha teuteu ia ki ha lotu pongipongi ʻoku mahuʻingamālié.

ʻOku ʻikai taʻefekauʻaki e lotu pongipongí mo e lotu efiafí—kaeʻumaʻā e ngaahi lotu ʻi he ongo vahaʻa taimi ko iá; ka ko ha fakafehokotakiʻanga ia ʻo e ʻaho taki taha ki he ngaahi ʻaho, uike, māhina, mo e taʻu kotoa pē. Ko e founga ʻeni ʻoku tau fakahoko ai ʻa e naʻinaʻi fakafolofola ke “lotu maʻu ai pē” (Luke 21:36; 3 Nīfai 18:15, 18; T&F 31:12). ʻOku fakafou mai he ngaahi lotu mahuʻingamālie peheé ʻa e ngaahi tāpuaki maʻongoʻonga taha kuo fakatatali ʻe he ʻOtuá maʻa ʻEne fānau faivelengá.

ʻOku toe mahuʻingamālie ange e lotú ʻi heʻetau manatuʻi ʻetau fehokotaki mo e ʻOtuá pea muimui ʻi he naʻinaʻi ke:

“Tangi ki he ʻOtuá ke maʻu ho tauhi kotoa pē; ʻio, fai hoʻo ngaahi ngāue kotoa pē ki he ʻEikí, pea ʻilonga ha potu te ke ʻalu ki ai ke fai ia ʻi he ʻEikí; ʻio, tuku ke hanga atu hoʻo ngaahi fakakaukau kotoa pē ki he ʻEikí; ʻio, tuku ke fai ki he ʻEikí ʻa e ʻofa ʻa ho lotó ʻo taʻengata.

“Fealeaʻaki mo e ʻEikí ʻi he meʻa kotoa pē te ke fai, pea te ne fakahinohinoʻi koe ʻi he meʻa ʻoku leleí; ʻio, ʻo ka ke ka tokoto hifo ʻi he poʻulí tokoto hifo ki he ʻEikí, koeʻuhi ke ne tokangaʻi koe ʻi hoʻo mohé; pea ʻo ka ke ka tuʻu hake ʻi he pongipongí tuku ke fonu ho lotó ʻi he fakafetaʻi ki he ʻOtuá; pea kapau te ke fai ʻa e ngaahi meʻá ni, ʻe hiki hake koe ʻi he ʻaho fakaʻosí” (ʻAlamā 37:36–37; toki tānaki atu e fakamamafa).

Lolotonga ʻema faifatongia ʻi he ʻUnivēsiti Pilikihami ʻIongi–ʻAitahoó, naʻá ma faʻa talitali mo Sisitā Petinā ha Kau Taki Māʻolunga ki homa ʻapí. Naʻe ako ʻe homa fāmilí ha lēsoni mahuʻinga fekauʻaki mo e lotu ʻoku mahuʻingamālié ʻi heʻemau tuʻulutui ʻi ha efiafi ʻe taha ke lotu mo ha mēmipa ʻo e Kōlomu ʻo e Kau ʻAposetolo ʻe Toko Hongofulu Mā Uá.

Kimuʻa ange ʻi he ʻaho ko iá naʻe fakahoko mai kiate au mo Sisitā Petinā kuo pekia ha taha ʻo homa kaungāmeʻa mamaé, pea naʻá ma loto ke lotua e uitoú mo e fānau paeá. ʻI heʻeku fakaafeʻi hoku uaifí ke fai e lotú, naʻe fokotuʻu ange ʻe he mēmipa ʻo e Toko Hongofulu Mā Uá, ʻo ʻikai ke ne ʻilo ki he meʻa naʻe hokó, ke lotu pē ʻa Sisitā Petinā ʻo fakahaaʻi ʻene loto houngaʻia koeʻuhí ko e ngaahi tapuaki kuo foaki maí pea ʻoua naʻá ne kole ha meʻa. Naʻe faitatau ʻene akonakí mo e fakahinohino naʻe fai ʻe ʻAlamā ki he kāingalotu ʻo e Siasí ʻi he kuonga muʻá “ke lotu taʻetuku, pea ke ʻatu ʻa e fakafetaʻi ʻi he meʻa kotoa pē” (Mōsaia 26:39). ʻI heʻema ʻiloʻi e meʻa fakamamahi naʻe hokó, ne hangē naʻe ongo vivili ange kiate kimaua ke kole ha ngaahi tāpuaki maʻa homa kaungāmeʻá kae ʻikai ko hono fakahaaʻi ʻo ha loto fakamāloó.

Naʻe tali lelei ʻe Sisitā Petinā ʻi he tui ʻa e fakahinohino naʻá ne maʻú. Naʻá ne fakamālō ki he Tamai Hēvaní ko e ngaahi meʻa mahuʻingamālie mo fakangalongataʻa naʻá ne aʻusia mo hono kaungāmeʻa ʻofeiná. Naʻá ne fakahoko ha fakamālō loto houngaʻia moʻoni ʻi he hoko ʻa e Laumālie Māʻoniʻoní ko e Fakafiemālié pea mo e ngaahi meʻa foaki ʻo e Laumālié ʻa ia ʻoku lava ai ke tau fehangahangai mo e ʻahiʻahí mo tokoniʻi e niʻihi kehé. Kae mahuʻinga tahá, ko ʻene fakahā ha loto houngaʻia ko e palani e fakamoʻuí, feilaulau fakalelei ʻa Sīsū Kalaisí, ko ʻEne Toe Tuʻú, mo e ngaahi ouau mo e fuakava ʻo e ongoongolelei kuo toe fakafoki maí ʻa ia ʻoku malava ai ke nofo taʻengata e ngaahi fāmilí.

Naʻe ako homa fāmilí ha lēsoni maʻongoʻonga mei he meʻa ko iá ʻo fekauʻaki mo e mālohi ʻo e fakamālō ʻi he lotu ʻoku mahuʻingamālié. Koeʻuhí ko e lotu ko iá, naʻe faitāpuekina ai homa fāmilí ʻaki ha ngaahi ueʻi fakalaumālie ʻo fekauʻaki mo ha ngaahi meʻa kehekehe naʻe hohaʻa ki ai homau ʻatamaí mo e lotó. Naʻa mau ako ai ʻoku ʻomi ʻe heʻemau loto houngaʻia ʻi he palani ʻo e fiefiá mo e misiona fai fakamoʻui ʻa e Fakamoʻuí, ha fakapapau pea fakamālohia ai ʻemau loto falala ʻe lelei ʻa e meʻa kotoa ki homau kaungāmeʻa ʻofeiná. Naʻa mau toe maʻu foki ha ngaahi fakakaukau fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi meʻa ʻoku totonu ke mau lotu mo kole ʻi he tuí.

Ko e ngaahi lotu mahuʻingamālie mo fakalaumālie taha kuó u aʻusiá, ʻa e ngaahi lotu ko ia naʻe lahi ai hono fakahaaʻi ʻo e fakamāloó pea siʻisiʻi pe ʻikai fai ai ha kolé. ʻI hono tāpuekina au he lolotongá ni ke u lotu fakataha mo ha kau ʻaposetolo mo ha kau palōfitá, ʻoku ou maʻu ai mei he kau taki fakaonopooni ko ʻeni ʻo e Siasi ʻo e Fakamoʻuí ʻa e ngaahi ʻulungāanga tatau mo ia ʻoku fakamatalaʻiʻaki ʻa e ʻEikitau ko Molonaí ʻi he Tohi ʻa Molomoná: ko e kau tangata ʻeni ʻa ia ʻoku fonu honau lotó ʻi he fakafetaʻi ki he ʻOtuá, mo e ngaahi faingamālie mo e ngaahi tāpuaki lahi kuó Ne foaki ki Hono kakaí (vakai, ʻAlamā 48:12). ʻOku ʻikai foki ke nau toutou lea ʻaki e ngaahi lea tatau, he naʻe fakahā kiate kinautolu ʻa e meʻa ke nau lotu ʻakí, pea naʻa nau fonu ʻi he fakaʻamu (vakai, 3 Nīfai 19:24). ʻOku hangē ʻa e ngaahi lotu ʻa e kau palōfitá ko e lotu ʻa e fānau īkí ʻi heʻene mahinongofua mo mālohí koeʻuhí ko ʻenau fakamātoató.

ʻI heʻetau feinga ke toe mahuʻingamālie ange ʻetau lotú, ʻoku totonu ke tau manatuʻi “ ʻoku ʻikai ha meʻa ʻoku fakatupu houhau ai ʻa e tangatá ki he ʻOtuá, pe ʻoku ʻikai ha taha kuo tupu Hono houhaú ki ai, ka ko kinautolu ʻoku ʻikai ke fakamoʻoniʻi ʻa e kau mai Hono toʻukupú ʻi he meʻa kotoa pē, pea ʻoku ʻikai ke talangofua ki Heʻene ngaahi fekaú” (T&F, 59:21). Tuku muʻa ke u fokotuʻu atu ke tau faʻa fakahoko ha lotu fakamālō ʻataʻatā pē mo fakahā ha loto houngaʻia. ʻOua naʻa kole ha meʻa; tuku ke fiefia hotau ngaahi laumālié pea feinga ke fakahā e loto houngaʻiá ʻaki e ivi kotoa hotau lotó.

ʻOku lelei ʻaupito pea totonu ke tau kole ki he Tamai Hēvaní ʻa e ngaahi tāpuaki ʻoku tau fie maʻú. ʻOku hoko ʻetau lotu fakamātoato maʻá e niʻihi kehé ko ha konga mahuʻinga ʻo e lotu ʻoku mahuʻinga mālié, ʻo tatau ai pē ʻa e niʻihi ʻoku tau ʻofa aí mo kinautolu ʻoku faihala kiate kitautolú. Hangē ko hono fakalahi e malava ko ia ke maʻu fakahaá ʻi heʻetau fakahā ha loto houngaʻia lahi angé, ʻoku pehē pē hono fakalahi ʻa ʻetau malava ke fakafanongo pea fai ki he leʻo ʻo e ʻEikí ʻi heʻetau lotua ʻa e niʻihi kehé ʻaki ʻa e kotoa hotau lotó.

ʻOku tau ako ha lēsoni mahuʻinga mei he sīpinga ʻa Līhaí ʻi he Tohi ʻa Molomoná. Naʻe tali ʻe Līhai ʻi he loto-tui ʻa e fakahinohino mo e fakatokanga fakapalōfita ki hono fakaʻauha ʻo Selusalemá. Naʻá ne lotu leva ki he ʻEikí “ ʻaki hono lotó kotoa, koeʻuhí ko hono kakaí” (1 Nīfai 1:5; toki tānaki e fakamamafá). ʻI he tali e lotu fakamātoato ko ʻení, ne tāpuekina ʻa Līhai ʻaki ha vīsione nāunauʻia ʻo e ʻOtuá mo Hono ʻAló mo e teu ke fakaʻauha ʻo Selusalemá (vakai, 1 Nīfai 1:6–9, 13, 18). ʻI heʻene peheé, naʻe fiefia ʻa Līhai pea naʻe fakafonu hono lotó ko e tupu mei he ngaahi meʻa ne fakahā ʻe he ʻEikí kiate iá (vakai 1 Nīfai 1:15). Fakatokangaʻi ange naʻe maʻu e vīsioné ko e tali ki hano lotua ʻo e niʻihi kehé kae ʻikai ko ha kole ki ha tāpuaki pe fakahinohino fakafoʻituitui.

ʻOku hoko e Fakamoʻuí ko e sipinga haohaoa hono lotua ʻo e niʻihi kehé ʻi he loto fakamātoato moʻoní. ʻI Heʻene Lotu Hufekina maʻongoʻonga ʻi he pō ko ia kimuʻa Hono tutuki, naʻe lotua ai ʻe Sīsū ʻa ʻEne Kau ʻAposetoló mo e Kāingalotú kotoa.

“ʻOku ou lotua ʻa kinautolu: ʻoku ʻikai ke u lotua ʻa māmani, ka ko kinautolu kuó ke foaki kiate aú; he ʻoku ʻaʻau ʻa kinautolu… .

“ʻOku ʻikai ko ʻeku lotua ʻa kinautolú ni pē, ka ko kinautolu foki ʻe tui kiate au ʻi heʻenau leá; …

“… koeʻuhí ke ʻiate kinautolu ʻa e ʻofa ko ia kuó ke ʻofa ʻaki kiate au, peá u nofoʻia ʻa kinautolu ʻe au” (Sione 17:9, 20, 26).

Lolotonga e ngāue fakafaifekau ʻa e Fakamoʻuí ʻi he konitinēniti ʻAmeliká, naʻá Ne tala ki he kakaí ke nau fakalaulauloto ki Heʻene ngaahi akonakí pea nau lotu ke maʻu ha mahino. Naʻá Ne fakamoʻui e mahakí, peá Ne lotua e kakaí ʻi he lea ʻoku ʻikai malava ke tohi (vakai 3 Nīfai 17:1–16). Naʻe mahuʻinga e mālohi ʻo ʻEne lotú: “Koloto ke faʻa ʻiloʻi ʻe ha taha ʻa e fiefia ʻa ia naʻe fakafonu ʻaki homau laumālié ʻi he taimi naʻa mau fanongo ai ki Heʻene hūfekina ʻa kimautolu ki he Tamaí” (3 Nīfai 17:17). Fakakaukau angé pe ko e hā e ongo te tau maʻu ʻi haʻatau fanongo ki he Fakamoʻui ʻo māmaní ʻokú Ne lotua kitautolu.

ʻOku ongoʻi nai ʻe hotau malí, fānaú mo e kau mēmipa kehe ʻo e fāmilí ʻa e mālohi ʻo ʻetau ngaahi lotu ʻoku fai ki he Tamaí koeʻuhí ko ʻenau ngaahi fie maʻú mo e fakaʻamú? ʻOku ongoʻi nai ʻe kinautolu ʻoku tau tauhí ʻa ʻetau lotua kinautolu ʻi he tui mo e loto fakamātoato moʻoní? Kapau ʻoku teʻeki ai ke ongoʻi ʻetau lotu fakamātoató ʻe he niʻihi ʻoku tau ʻofa mo tauhí, ko e taimi pē ʻeni ke tau fakatomala aí. ʻI heʻetau muimui ki he sīpinga ʻa e Fakamoʻuí, ʻe hoko ʻo mahuʻingamālie ange ai ʻetau ngaahi lotú.

ʻOku fekauʻi kitautolu ke tau “lotu maʻu ai pē” (2 Nīfai 32:9; T&F 10:5; 90:24)—“ʻaki ʻa e leʻó pea ʻi [hotau ngaahi lotó] foki; … ʻi he ʻao ʻo māmaní pea ʻi he liló foki, ʻi he ʻao ʻo e kakaí pea ʻi he liló foki” (T&F 19:28). ʻOku ou fakamoʻoni ʻoku mahuʻingamālie ange ʻetau lotú ʻi he taimi ʻoku tau fealeaʻaki ai mo e ʻEikí ʻi he meʻa kotoa pē, ʻi heʻetau fakahaaʻi ha loto houngaʻiá, pea ʻi heʻetau lotua fakamātoato e niʻihi kehé ʻi he loto moʻoní.

ʻOku ou fakamoʻoni ʻoku moʻui ʻa e Tamai Hēvaní pea ʻokú Ne fanongo mo tali ʻetau lotu fakamātoato kotoa pē. Ko e Kalaisí ʻa Sīsū, ko hotau Fakamoʻuí mo hotau Fakalaloá. ʻOku moʻoni e fakahaá. Kuo toe fakafoki mai ʻa e kakato ʻo e ongoongoleleí ki he māmaní ʻi he kuonga fakakosipeli ko ʻení. Ko ʻeku fakamoʻoní ia ʻi he huafa toputapu ʻo e ʻEiki ko Sīsū Kalaisí, ʻēmeni.