Heavenly Mother’s Pain and Sacrifice I Understood in Ireland

I would like to share what I realized while walking the path of the gospel for eight months in Dublin, Ireland, a few years ago.

Ireland, located in the northeastern part of the North Atlantic Ocean, is highly influenced by Catholicism among European countries. Catholic festivals have become big holidays in the country, and you can hear the bells telling you the prayer time anywhere at noon and 6 p.m. Religion takes up a special part in the lives of individuals as well as in the political and cultural sphere, and the Irish people seem to be inseparable from God.

However, it was different from what I had expected when I preached the gospel. Most people did not seek God, and those who attended the church put their knowledge above the Bible. To the Irish people, the Bible was just one of many books in the world—a book that they put at the very bottom of the pile of books and did not even look at.

Even among them, there were souls seeking for God and longing for God’s word. Brother Wojciech didn’t go to church anymore after he found out that the churches do not follow the Bible but keep the laws they made. Even though he did not go to church, there was no change in his faith in God. When he heard about God the Mother and the Passover, he was stunned. He came to Zion that evening and took part in the promise of salvation. Unlike the people I had met so far, he really liked studying the Bible; I knew he was different—he was God’s child.

Brother Prateek from India grew up in Hindu culture and had never read the Bible, but he showed interest in the word of God. Then, he wanted to be blessed with eternal life that God the Mother gives and received the truth. He is filled with hope to go to heaven by accumulating many blessings in God the Mother.

I cannot forget the story about Brother Patrick. Just because he was left-handed when he was young, he was thought to be demon-possessed and was stabbed at his left hand with a sharp weapon. He was wounded more deeply in his heart than his stabbed left hand. Ever since this terrible experience, he lived apart from church.

While preaching the gospel, we realized that there were many people whose souls were hurt and became distant from God like Brother Patrick. Preaching the gospel, we felt proud of it, because preaching was like giving the best medicine to the wounded souls and helping them recover.

I have also learned a lesson that I must have faith that can move God in order to preach. Brother Edward, who led Brother Patrick, is passionate even though he is almost eighty. Spiritually he’s a young adult like the dew of the dawn. Brother Edward not only preaches the gospel, but also is more zealous about giving rides, bringing snacks, etc., than anyone else if it is about the gospel or Zion. Not long ago, he had to get hospital treatment because his health was not good. However, he still joined in preaching until the week before he started the treatment; we were all moved. As God allowed him to bear the fruit of Brother Patrick, it seems God was moved earlier than us.

As I saw new members being led to God one by one through the passion and love of the Dublin Zion members, I thought that the process of a soul’s being led to God is similar to that of a baby being born and growing. A newborn baby can’t even make eye contact with a person close to him. As time goes by, he can focus on objects and starts to recognize his mom and dad. Likewise, our soul does not fully recognize our Heavenly Parents at first. However, through studying the word of God, we begin to spiritually focus on the Bible and get discernment and gradually recognize Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother.

Parents are not satisfied with their children just recognizing them. They love their children and care for them until they grow up. In the Dublin Zion, in order to welcome new members, I cleaned up every corner, checked through the word of God, and looked carefully at the hearts of the members. Doing so, I realized that even every trivial thing that I had not noticed in Zion until then was all filled with the care and love of someone.

I was like a child only begging for the things I wanted. When I came to Ireland, I could finally understand the pain and sacrifice of Heavenly Mother who takes care of Her children. I feel like I am now barely qualified as a young adult like the dew of the dawn who willingly carries out the gospel work.

I give thanks to Father and Mother for allowing me to realize how much care and attention is needed to save one soul and how much love I have received as I grew up physically and spiritually. Even today, Mother does not rest for the salvation of Her children. I will be a mature child, keeping Mother’s love in mind and helping Mother by taking care of my brothers and sisters.