Chinese New Year Celebration

在華人的心中，農曆春節是中國人最重要的節日，在農曆春節前家家戶戶忙打掃、備佳餚，而出門在外奮鬥的遊子，不辭辛勞奔波也要回老家吃頓團圓飯，大家的心中就是期待過年時老老少少齊聚一堂共享歡樂時光。

因為新冠病毒疫情的原故，西元2021年蒙哥馬利中文分會的牛年春節慶祝活動改為在網路線上舉辦，雖然今年的疫情阻隔了大家不能面對面地說聲：「恭喜新年好！」但是藉由現代科技的福祉，讓久違不見、遠居各州的弟兄姊妹們都能在Zoom上重聚一堂歡喜大團圓。寫到這裡，我不禁想要分享一段經文，尼腓一書第三章：7 「事情是這樣的，我，尼腓，對我父親說：我會去做主所命令的事，因為我知道，主決不命令人類兒女去做任何事情，除非祂為他們預備道路，來完成祂所命令的事。」 我相信這次的新冠病毒的疫情多多少少衝擊大家的生活，甚至有些至愛的人我們在今世再也無法相見。然而，這次的疫情提醒我們在今生什麼是最可貴、最需要珍惜的。

在Zoom新年晚會上，我們重溫了以前的精彩節目，大家驚嘆著畫面上娉婷少女現在已成為人妻人母，那些手中懷抱的奶娃兒們現已是學校裡優秀的學生，那些敲鑼打鼓、舞獅獻瑞的男青年們踏上傳道之路，正在宣講神的福音，還有曾在分會服務的傳教士們各個成家立業兒女成群。回顧過去精彩的活動，我們親眼目睹天父賜給人類兒女的偉大祝福！

最後，我要感謝那些深耕和保有中華文化的弟兄姊妹們，感謝你們的努力及教導，讓我們能在西洋文化環繞的土地中能體驗和學習中華文化的精髓，也希望我們每個人都盡一份力做一份工把美好的中華文化一代一代地傳承下去。

李亭慧，新年晚會活動組織者

In the hearts of Chinese people, the Lunar New Year is the most important festival for Chinese people. Before the Lunar New Year, every household is busy cleaning and preparing food, and wanderers who are struggling outside will not hesitate to go back to their hometown for a reunion dinner. Everyone’s heart is looking forward to the New Year. Young and old gather together to share a happy time together.

Due to the Corona virus epidemic, the 2021 Montgomery Chinese Chapter’s Lunar New Year celebration for the Year of the Ox was held online. Although this year’s epidemic prevented everyone from saying "Congratulations and Happy New Year!" face to face, technology allowed us as brothers and sisters who have not seen each other for a long time and live in various states to reunite on Zoom. At this point, I can’t help but want to share 1 Nephi 3:7. "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” I believe that this Corona virus epidemic will more or less impact everyone’s lives, even some loved ones. We may never see some of the friends in this life. However, this epidemic reminds us of what is the most precious and most cherished in this life.

At the Zoom Chinese New Year’s party, we revisited wonderful previously recorded shows. Everyone was amazed that the graceful girl on the screen has now become a wife and mother, and the baby in her arms has become excellent students in school. The young men clanging cymbals, beating the drum, and performing the lion dance to display good luck are stepping on the road of missionary work, praeching the Lord's gospel. The missionaries who have served in the Branch are very successful in life, many have started families with wonderful children and have successful careers. Looking back at the wonderful activities in the past, we witnessed the great blessings that our Heavenly Father bestowed on all mankind!

Finally, I would like to thank those brothers and sisters who have deeply cultivated and preserved Chinese culture. Thank you for your hard work and teaching so that we can experience and learn the essence of Chinese culture in a land surrounded by Western culture. I also hope that each of us will do our best to pass on the beautiful Chinese culture from generation to generation.

Sara Huang, organizer, Chinese New Year celebration

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Due to the pandemic, last year's Branch Chinese New Year celebration was canceled. But this year, the Branch celebrated Chinese New Year for the first time online using Zoom. On the eve of another major snowstorm, the Branch Chinese New Year celebration returned in full force virtually on February 6, 2021, with over 100 people attending.

President Charles Huang and Sara Huang served as the emcees for this evening. After an opening prayer by Melinda Urbina, President Huang welcomed everyone to tonight's festivities. We were then favored with a prerecorded video of the 2007 lion dance performed by the youth at that time, which included Melinda. Elder Wang, who has served on his mission for about 33 months and who is slated to fly home on February 9, shared a spiritual message about love. He quoted Mosiah 18:21. "And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another." We wish Elder Wang a safe trip home and good luck in his future.

Next, we enjoyed a recorded musical number entitled "Gongxi Facai", performed by Elder Thorpe (saxophone), Elder Barton (cello), Elder Munk (cello), and Bryan Welton (piano). Although they recorded separately, Bryan composed the music and magically using technology combined the four musicians together into one screen. Next, President and Sister Huang hosted a Kahoot Chinese riddle game consisting of 20 questions. Elder Wang received the gold medal, Sophy Fugal received the silver medal, and Meili Shen received the bronze medal.

Then we watched a prerecording of the 2016 "Spice Girls" dance, consisting of Celeste Bates, Michelle Zheng, Amelia Ly, Cayleigh Zhao, and Joanna Fugal. After Elder Richard Huang played Chopin's "", Elders Barton and Butler shared a message on hope. Elder Barton quoted Ether 12:6, "And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." Elder Butler shared President Nelson's message about hope.

Next, Wesley Wei demonstrated how to fold a cow head from origami, and we watched a prerecording of "Feng yang hua gu" 鳳陽花鼓 "Fengyang Flower Drum" performed by the young women of 2018. We then enjoyed a slideshow of previous Chinese New Year celebrations, created by Sara Huang. President Huang then went off script and asked everyone in attendance to introduce themselves. Finally, we sang individually to "Da Tuan Yuan" or "Big Reunion." The benediction was offered by Isaiah Shen. The rest of the time was relegated to chatting, which did not finish until after 9pm.

Benjamin Tsai