また、最後までキリストに仕える決心をしてキリストの名を受けた者でなければ、誰もバプテスマを認められなかった。モロナイ６：３
And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end. Moroni 6:3
In the last part of Moroni’s record, he teaches us about what was done in the Church in his day. He tells us in the first few verses of chapter 6, that no one was baptized unless “they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it”.
モロナイ書の最後の部分で、彼は当時の教会で行われていたことを教えています。6章の最初の数節で「バプテスマを受けるにふさわしい実を結ばなければ」バプテスマを施されなかったと述べています。
He tells us that only those who came forth with “a broken heart and a contrite spirit” and who truly repented of all their sins were baptized.
彼は「打ち砕かれた心と悔いる霊をもって」進み出て、心から罪を悔い改めた者だけがバプテスマを受けたと述べています。
For each of us, the path to baptism was the same. We were taught true principles, then given time to study and pray about those principles to find out if they were true or not.
バプテスマへの道は人によって違うものではありません。私たちは真の原則を教わり、その原則が正しいのかどうかを学び祈る時間が与えられています。
When we received a testimony that those principles were true, we began to repent of our sins. We began to change our lives. We began to live as followers of Jesus Christ.
その原則が正しいという証を受ける時、私たちは自分の罪を悔い改め始めます。生活を変え始めます。イエス・キリストに従う者になろうと生活を改めます。
The third verse in the chapter is the focus of our scripture thought today.
この章の3節は今日の霊的メッセージの焦点になっています。
We have all been taught the gospel. We have all received a testimony of the truth. We have all been baptized. Now what do we do?
私たちは皆、福音を教えられ真理の証を受けています。私たちは皆バプテスマを受けました。今私たちは何をすればよいでしょう？
We are to do exactly what Moroni teaches us in verse 3. We have taken upon us the name of Christ and now we must have a “determination to serve him to the end”.
私たちは3節でまさにモロナイが教えたことを行う必要があります。キリストの名を引き受け、「最後までキリストに仕える決心」をしなければなりません。
“The end” does not mean just for a few weeks, or for a few months, or until our missionary gets transferred. “The end” does not mean until the ward is divided, or until a new bishop is called, or until we are given a new and difficult assignment.
「最後」とは数週間とか数か月、宣教師が転勤するまでという意味ではありません。「最後」とはワードが別れたり新しいビショップが召されたり、新しく難しいアサイメントを受けるまでと言う意味ではありません。
“The end” means until the very end of our life here in mortality.
「最後」とはこの死すべき世で自分の命が終わるまでという意味です。
We made that promise to the Lord when we were baptized. Are we keeping that promise?
私たちはバプテスマを受けた時に主とその約束を交わしたのです。あなたはその約束を守っていますか？
Are we serving the Lord as well as we can? Are we serving in the place where the Lord has assigned us? Are we serving “with determination”?
私たちは主にできる限り仕えていますか？主が召してくださったその場所で仕えていますか？「決意をもって」仕えていますか？
Are we doing the things that we were taught to do, before we were baptized? Are we praying each day? Are we reading the scriptures each day? Are we attending all of our Church meetings?
バプテスマの前に行うよう教えられた事を行っていますか？毎日祈っていますか？毎日聖典を読んでいますか？教会のすべての集会に出席していますか？
Are we ministering to those around us? Are we looking for opportunities to serve? Are we reaching out in friendship to those who may be new, or who are struggling with their testimony, or who are just learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ?
周りの人々にミニスタリングしていますか？仕える機会を探していますか？新しい人や証が持てなくて悩んでいる人、イエス・キリストの福音を最近学び始めた人などに友情を持って手を差しのべていますか？
Are we doing our very best to be good followers of Jesus Christ, with a determination to serve him until the end?
イエス・キリストの良い従者となるよう最後まで主に仕えると決意を持って最善を尽くしていますか？
As we go through this next week, let’s think about Moroni’s words. Let’s evaluate how we are doing and, if we have strayed from the path a little, let’s do whatever is needed to repent. Let’s be determined to serve the Lord until the very end of our lives!
来週このモロナイの言葉について考えてみましょう。自分の今の行いを評価し、少し道から外れたなら、悔い改めるために必要なことは何でも行いましょう。人生の最後まで主に仕える決意をしましょう。
Let’s all have a great week!
頑張って！
Bill Hiatt