Announcement for Branch Reunion

亲爱的成员和朋友们，

我们很高兴宣布蒙哥马利华语分会成立30周年庆活动日期已确定：

2022年5月14至15日

所有的活动在马里兰州和Zoom上同时举行。更多细节在接下来几周将推出。

请注意，总会会长团已宣布华盛顿圣殿重新奉献典礼和青年炉边会已移至八月, 并有可能延长开放日日期。但，这不应影响分会30周年庆日期。无论是当面或在线上与您见面，我们非常期待与您一起庆祝蒙哥马利华语分会成立30周年！


Dear Branch members, alumni, and friends,

The Branch Reunion Committee is pleased to announce the 30th Anniversary Montgomery Chinese Branch Reunion celebration will be held on May 14 to 15, 2022, in Maryland and concurrently on Zoom.  More details will be coming in the near future.

Please note that the First Presidency has announced that the Temple Rededication and Youth Fireside have been moved to August, with the possibility of extending the Open House dates.  This, however, should not impact the dates for the Branch Reunion.

We look forward to seeing you in person or online as we celebrate 30 years of this amazing Chinese Branch.

With Love,

Montgomery Chinese Branch Reunion Committee

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Chinese New Year Party on Zoom

The Montgomery Chinese Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints held the Lunar New Year party on February 12, 2022. The party was planned by a committee led by President Charles Huang and organized by Jason Liu and Brad Johnson. The Branch wanted to use this opportunity to share spiritual thoughts with all the attendees and gauge interest in learning more about the diverse culture of the church. The party was held online through Zoom and hosted by Brother Jason Liu and Brother Brad Johnson. It started at 7 pm and lasted about 1 hour and 30 minutes. There were about 50 to 70 people who attended the party.

All the organizations in the branch contributed their time and talent making special programs for the party. Here’s the detailed program: 

1. 黄新員会长欢迎词 Welcome message by President Charles Huang

2. 開會禱告：蔡致涵姊妹 Opening Prayer by Megan Tsai

3. 舞狮：趙達智、趙松昌、趙松勝、趙秀芳 、劉佳琛 Lion Dance by Da Zhao, Brennan Zhao, Clayton Zhao, Cayleigh Zhao, and Jason Liu

4. 虎年猜虎 （长老定额组） Riddles by Elders Quorum; Conducted by Wesley Wei 

5. 恭喜发财 演唱：张明文弟兄 Gong Xi Fa Cai Song by Brother George Chang

6. 孔雀舞 刘淑澄姐妹 Peacock Dance by Sister Shucheng Liu

7. 传教士分享 Spiritual Thought by Elder Chandler and Elder Butler

8. 恭喜恭喜 慈助会姐妹 Congratulations Song by Relief Society Sisters

9. 乐器演奏 Instrumental Number by Henri and Daniel Ly

10. 初级会节目 Primary Program

11. 紙偶戲：年的故事 Puppet show: The Story of Nian (Year); Produced by Henri, Amelia, Daniel and Jacob Ly; Script by Charles Huang

12. 分會唱詩班：因為我已獲賜良多 Branch Choir: Because I Have Been Given Much

13. 女青年节目 Young Women's Program

The party was a joyful and spiritual activity. We believe that the party helped to unite all God’s children in the branch and to extend his love to their families and friends. 

-Brother J. Liu

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2022-01-08 Youth Ice Skating at Rockville Town Center

The Youth went ice skating at the Rockville Town Center. They all had a great time. 

The young women leader, Sister Smith, stated this: "The Montgomery Branch Youth Outdoor Ice Skating was a blast! People enjoyed seeing each other and having nice hot boba drinks afterward. We look forward to the new year!"

The young woman, Joanna Fugal stated this with the title ""blefloogah": "Ice skating was a great activity, because I hadn't done it in years. At first it was slippery and tough, but it became easier and super fun to do with my friends and siblings. When it was done, we also got delicious boba tea, and got to talk with everybody. Anyways, overall, it was an amazing day and I would 100/10 do it again if I could."

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Christmas Party

On December 18 at 7pm, Jason Liu served as the emcee for a virtual Christmas party after hours of organization.  After Elder Frame offered the invocation, President Huang welcomed everyone to the party.  The Elders Quorum under the direction of Brad Johnson and Jason Liu created a nativity quiz.  They consulted members of the quorum to quiz branch members on ten Christmas myths.  After reading the mythical statement, members were asked to figure out whether the statements were based on scripture or not.  Some of the questions were very tricky.  We all had fun trying to sort our fact from fiction.  Then the Relief Society prerecorded audio clips of their singing Christmas hymns.  We were asked to identify the singers.  The sisters did a great job in bringing Christmas cheer.  The Young Women presented a video of their performance followed by a video from the Primary children.  Thanks to Brad and Jason for organizing and emceeing the Christmas program tonight.

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2021-12-11 Sister Feng Chang Ping Endowment at the Philadelphia Temple

 2021-12-11 Sister Feng Chang Ping received her own endowment at the Philadelphia Temple. It was a beautiful day. Sister Feng requested to have as many people attend the temple as we can, so we maxed out the allowable amount of people allowed to attend during Covid. She was ecstatic how many members attended her endowment. We went to Philly Chinatown to celebrate her endowment by having dimsum. The following are the words from Sister Feng's testimony:

去圣殿的收获

非常高兴和感恩，今天有机会分享去圣殿的收获。我一直盼望着去圣殿，希望去圣殿接受祝福，得到从高天来的能力，帮助我遵守主的诫命，成为更好的人，最终获得超升。圣殿里的象征和仪式帮助我一心专注于救主。

去圣殿之前，我一直默想的经文是：教约130:11 而且每一个来到高荣国度的人会得到一块白石，上面写着新名字，除了那领受的以外，没有人知道。

还有一节经文对我帮助也很大，赛62:2 列国必见你的公义；列王必见你的荣耀。你必得新名的称呼，是耶和华亲口所起的。

经文告诉我，在圣殿得的新名字是基督亲口给我超的。

去圣殿后，我更加确信天父认识我，爱我。耶稣基督亲口给我起了新名字，这让我非常惊喜。感谢天父让我在圣殿记住了自己的新名字。鼓励我在今生做一个得胜者。启2:17 得胜的，我必将那隐藏的吗哪赐给他，并赐他一块白石，石上写着新名；除了那领受的以外，没有人能认识。’”(启示录2:17 和合本)

此时，我想起雅格在毗努伊勒与神面对面摔交时，神给雅格改了名字，不要再叫雅格，要叫以色列。以色列是让神在生活中得胜的人，我一生最大的渴望和追求就是让神在我的生活中得胜。

在圣殿里，天地是相通的，我一直感受到圣灵的同在，体会到一身的重担脱落了，享受着轻松，平静和安宁。

约19:30耶稣基督在十字架上说：“成了”，将灵魂交给父。太27:51忽然，圣殿里的幔子从上到下裂为两半小时。

来10:20这幔子就是基督的身体。感谢天父，通过基督的赎罪牺牲，把我能带进至圣所，回到天父身边，进入高荣国度。

通过去圣殿，帮助我更加确认自己的身份和使命。彼前2:9 惟有你们是被拣选的族类，是有君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国度，是属　神的子民，要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。

圣殿顶上的天使吹号提醒我盼望主来。

帖前4:16-17

因为主必亲自从天降临，有呼叫的声音和天使长的声音，又有　神的号吹响；那在基督里死了的人必先复活。 以后我们这活着还存留的人必和他们一同被提到云里，在空中与主相遇。这样，我们就要和主永远同在。 

分享一节我很喜欢的经文是：教约84:21“没有圣职的教仪和圣职的权柄，神性的能力就不会向肉身中的世人显示；”

我相信没有任何工作比圣殿事工更能涤净我的灵性。没有任何工作比圣殿事工更能给我力量。

相信我接受了有关圣殿教仪工作的启示，问心无愧地订下与主的圣约，主就会保护我。我会得到足以应付生命中各种挑战的灵感。

每天沉思圣殿仪式，并思考我所立的圣约。这么做会使我每天都受到鼓励，因而有更正义的思想及行为。

我盼望再回圣殿与主相遇。”因为看啊，我已接受这家宅，我的名将在这里；我必仁慈地在这家宅中向我人民显示我自己”（教约110：7）。

奉耶稣基督的圣名，

阿们

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