For my Family History class, I had the opportunity to write a 10 page, double-spaced, 12 font essay about my personal history. At first, I dreaded the fact it was 10 pages, lol, but I'm grateful I was able to sit down and reflect back on my life. I thought it would be a neat idea to share it because I have nothing to hide. This is a story I'd love to pass on to my daughter and her children and this blog is kind of the idea of keeping record of happening in our lives to pass down to our daughter and grand children. I never had the opportunity to meet my grandparents, I've heard stories, but nothing kept down on paper or film, which is sad because I have nothing to pass down to my daughter. Through this family history class, I hope I'm able to retrieve some of these stories of my grandparents and record it for myself and my daughter.
My Personal History
Birth Story
I was born in Otahuhu Auckland, New
Zealand on the first of November in 1990 to Lopelini and Semisi Lasitani. I was
named after my mother’s youngest sister Mahina, by one of my mother’s eldest
sister’s Luse. I was originally supposed to be named after my father’s mother
Seini Tokilupe, being that my father was the oldest and only son in his family.
The first son or daughter my father would have, in the Tongan Culture, the
child’s name would be decided by his side of the family, usually named after
the mother or father. My father agreed to have Luse name me being that he had
already given her permission and didn’t want to go back on his decision. My
first name Mahina came from my mother’s youngest sister and the idea of my
middle name, Kristie Aleyan, came from an American celebrity, Kirstie Alley. Don’t
ask me why because that’s about all I know. Mahina also means moon in my
language.
When I got old enough to understand,
my mother told me the story of how I came to be. Before I was born, my mom had
already given birth to my older brothers Mesuilame Tauleki, also known as Tau,
and the Vaea Junior, whom we just call Vaea. My little brother Siotame
Lotikeni, which we call Keni, was born two years after I was born. My mother
recalls my older brother Tau wanting a baby sister after she gave birth to
Vaea. She urged him to pray to Heavenly Father about having a sister and a year
and half after Vaea was born they were pronounced pregnant, not knowing the
gender of the baby yet. My mother figured with her previous pregnancy’s that I
was a boy too. Everyone was in shock to find out that my mother had given birth
to a girl and that my brother’s prayer for a sister had been answered. I was
then blessed by my father the first Sunday in December of 1990, in the LDS
church. I only have one baby picture of myself and a few pictures as a child.
 |
| I don't know how old I was here. I believe only a few weeks. I weighed 10.8 lbs. |
|
|
 |
| Me and my older brothers Tau and Vaea in New Zealand. |
 |
| We lived in California a few months with my mother's sister when we moved from NZ. |
 |
| Family Picture, I believe taken in 1998. |
My Primary - Teenage Years
I
was born into the LDS faith; both of my parents were active members when I was
born. I was baptized and confirmed into the church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints December 5th, 1998. I remember prior to being baptized my
mother had me memorize all thirteen articles of faith. I don’t recall being
intrigued by it, but she definitely gave me the idea of how important my
decision to be baptized and confirmed in the LDS faith was. I was baptized and
confirmed by my father when I was eight years old. At the age of eleven, I
played the piano for my last primary program. I started piano lessons when I
was eleven years old. I remember when I was younger we lived with my mother’s
brother. My cousins played the piano and that’s when I had a love for the
piano. As a matured into my teenage years, I became active in the LDS young
women’s program where I received my young women medallion by the age of 14
completing the young women personal progress booklet. I remember my mother
encouraging me every Sunday to work on it with her and I believe I wouldn’t
have received it by that age, if it wasn’t for her. At the age of 13, June 20th,
2004, I received my patriarchal blessing. I remember after listening to many
stories of people receiving their patriarchal blessings, I felt prepared to
receive mine. At thirteen I was also called as assistant organist in my ward. I
have never played the organ in my life, but my Bishop at the time felt prompted
and said, “I know you can do it”, and I sure did. I practiced every week using
the church building and I played every other Sunday to get comfortable with
playing, so any time the organist was absent I could fill in. I’m grateful for
the opportunity my Bishop gave me and for the faith he had in me. During my
youth years, I was given many callings as pianist and organist in my ward. In 2005, I had the wonderful opportunity to be
a part of a wonderful dedication of the Newport Beach Temple in California. My
family and I moved to California beginning of my high school year. As part of
this dedication, the youth of our stake were able to be a part of the open
house where we served to put on and take off white cover up slippers over
people’s shoes who were entering the temple, for cleanliness purposes. I had
the neat opportunity to also enter the open house, being my first open house
and viewing the celestial room for my first time. Our stake, the Anaheim stake,
including many other stakes amongst the Newport Beach Temple boundaries, were
given part to be in the celebration of the temple dedication. Our stake danced
given the Disneyland theme, since we lived in the Disneyland area. I loved being
a part of this dedication and the Newport Beach Temple has a whole new meaning
to me. Around the same time I believe, I was involved in a pioneer trek my
stake put together for the youth. In preparation for this trek, we made pioneer
clothing. For about a week, we pushed handcarts along a trail to really get the
feel for the trek. Although we still camped in tents, I came to have a greater
appreciation for our pioneers and the many trials they endured. I also had more
gratitude for my parents their hard work and, this might sound funny, for
bathrooms as well. There was no greater feeling than to come home from the trek
and take a nice hot shower and to have a toilet to sit on comfortably while
doing my business. I loved my youth years, and I would do it all over again.
Growing up, I was a very shy and
reserved girl and extremely attached to my parents. I remember when I attended
elementary, I never raised my hand to participate in class. I only talked to a
few people and I didn’t grow out of this until after high school. Through my
school years, I recall being a fairly good student. I wasn’t an honor student
nor was I a poor student, I would say I was an average student. I attended Rose
Park Elementary and Northwest Middle school in Salt Lake City, Utah and
graduated from Loara High School in Anaheim California in 2008. I also
graduated from seminary completing all four years. Seminary in California can
only be taken before school, which started at five fifty every week day. In
elementary I was only involved in the school choir. In junior high, I was also
involved in choir and art. I played a few songs on the piano for choir
performances and I also played a song for choir during my junior high
graduation. In the eightieth grade I was also awarded grand prize winner in a
statewide art contest and took home five-hundred dollars for my winning entry. My
school was also awarded five-hundred dollars. I was chosen from over
one-thousand entries submitted by twenty-six middle and junior high schools in
Utah. I was also awarded another
one-hundred and sixty dollars for another art contest submission. After high
school, I was given a 4 year scholarship to attend any Cal State, for academic
and financial purposes. I don’t think I understood the value of this
scholarship nor do I remember understanding the importance of furthering my
education at that time. I ended up attending Santa Ana College in California and
later transferred to Brigham Young University in Idaho. I attended BYU-Idaho for a few semesters from
2009-2010. I returned home because I felt that I needed to figure things out. I
was not living in harmony with the gospel standards and I was taking my
opportunity to attend BYU-Idaho for granted. My experience at BYU-Idaho would
have to be one of my most memorable experiences in my life. After my decision
to return home, I still felt the need to finish school, so I enrolled into
Cypress College in California while attending institute.
I am currently enrolled in
BYU-Idaho’s online program pursuing a Family and Marriage studies major.
Married Life
Shortly after attending Cypress
College, I met my husband. During school break, I decided to come visit my
brother’s in Utah. At the time of my visit, while hanging out with friends, I
met my husband John. We dated for three months before we decided to get
married. During those three months, we dated long distance and John made
frequent visits to visit me in California where I lived with my parents. My
parents were in shock and disappointed with my decision. They did not approve
of my marriage because they had big hopes and dreams of their only daughter
being married in the temple. I remember telling my parents I did not want a
wedding because our decision to marry outside of the temple. I felt that
because I was marrying outside the temple, there was no reason to celebrate. My
parents then tried talking into me about making a little celebration and
planning a wedding. In short, my parents were crushed. John and I were married
March 22nd, 2011 by his grandmother’s bishop in West Valley City,
Utah.
Three months into our marriage, we
found out we were expecting our first child. I remember feeling sick, not
pregnancy sickness, but I had a sore throat and irritable cough that lasted for
many weeks. It was unusual to be coming down with a cold in the summer time, I
figured a doctor’s visit wouldn’t hurt. Astonished by the doctor’s results that
I was pregnant and not coming down with a cold, I spaced out for a moment, and
all I could imagine was going home and sharing the excitement with my husband. I will
never forget that moment when I told my husband we were pregnant – the light in
his eyes and the big smile on his face, like a child waking up on Christmas
morning and finding presents underneath the tree. I was thrilled, moved, and
humbled knowing a new life was growing inside of me so close to my heart; I was
going to be a mom! From that day forward, I knew I would be excepting the
greatest and most sacred calling on earth; motherhood. When I found out I was
pregnant, I immediately felt a desire to be sealed to my family. I always had a
special feeling when I went to the temple and did baptisms for the dead or when
I saw or passed by a temple. When I knew I was going to have a baby and the
Lord had entrusted me with one of His children, my desire to go to the temple
was greater than I have ever had. I finally understood the importance of
everything my parents were trying to teach me and everything I learned at
church; it was to prepare me for my own family. Everything had a purpose now. I
made it goal to be sealed a year later, which we did. I gave birth to our
daughter on March 4, 2012 a few weeks before our year anniversary. We decided
to name her after one of John’s youngest sister’s named Tina. I was emotional
and became very attached to my daughter. I cried when I reached down and
touched her head for the very first time. I cried with joy when I first held
her in my arms. I cried again when the nurses needed to take her for her shots
and I couldn’t sleep without having her by my side. Let’s just say, I was an
emotional wreck for about three months after giving birth to my daughter. Three
months later on John and I were endowed Friday, June 1st, 2012 and
on Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 my family of three was sealed together
for all time and eternity in the Salt Lake City, Utah temple. We held a
reception for our sealing for everyone to come celebrate our accomplishment as
a family. My daughter at three months, was blessed the following day Sunday,
June 3rd, 2012 by her father. I had a wonderful opportunity to share
my endowment experience with my husband in preparation for our sealing.
Life Today
After I got married and had Tina, I
felt that I needed to be doing something more with my life. With much prayer, I
felt impressed to start school up again. This year is my second semester being
enrolled in BYU-Idaho’s online program. I joined BYU-Idaho’s online through the
Pathway Program that BYU-Idaho also institutes, back in 2013. I am working to
receive my Bachelor’s degree in Family and Marriage Studies and later attend
the University of Utah to get my Master’s Degree in Social Work in hopes to
becoming a social worker and a working counselor and therapist for fostering
children, struggling marriage and families. At this point of my life, my most
important work in this life is being a mother to my daughter. I’ve joined
school to not only further my education, but to prepare myself to work as the
main provider for my family if my husband is unable to work. I would say school
is a back up plan.
My husband and I are hoping to have
more children. Tina is now three years old and eager to have a sibling of her
own. Unfortunately, we haven’t been as lucky as other families, but we have
been fortunate enough to have been blessed with one child. It saddens me at
times when my daughter asks for a sister or a brother, when she asks other
parents to take their baby home, or when I watch her play pretend big sister
with her toys, but I love the bond and relationship I share with my daughter. I
remind her that Heavenly Father will bless us in His own due time and to
continue to pray to Him. Over the years, I’ve come to learn more about the
importance of my role as a mother and the importance of my duty to rear Tina to
God. My desire as a mother is to watch Tina grow up and follow the commandments
of God.
As I reflect back on my life now, I
understand why my parents raised me and taught me the things they did. I
understand, now as a parent, the pain my parents and Heavenly Father must’ve
felt when I strayed from the straight and narrow path. I understand more fully
everything I learned as a child and throughout my teenage and adulthood years
was to prepare me to fulfill certain callings in life, as long as I lived in
harmony with the gospel standards. I understand the importance of living in
harmony with the gospel, in order to be in tune with spirit so I’m able to reap
the blessing my Father in Heaven has in store for me.
In December of 2013, I served as an
organist for the Salt Lake City, Temple. I recall sitting in Sunday school and
my Bishop read a letter from the temple regarding more temple workers needed in
the Salt Lake Temple. I took the initiative and asked my Bishop more
information about opportunities. Normally, parents with young children are not
recommended to work in the temple due to family first and children being
extremely important in the church. After meeting with my bishop and stake
president, I submitted my application for approval. As I waited to receive a
call from the temple coordinator, I began to worry about leaving my daughter at
home or neglecting my responsibilities at home. I decided to pray and ask
Heavenly Father for His guidance. A week or so later, I received a call from
the temple coordinator stating a list of available opportunities to work in the
temple. These opportunities consisted of long working hours in the temple,
which would interfere with my responsibility at home. Just as I thought the
list was done, the brethren paused and asked me if I knew how to play the
organ, if so, I would only be playing once a week for two hours. I agreed to
play the organ without any hesitation. I knew that Heavenly Father had heard my
prayers and knew the desires of my heart which were to serve Him and serve my
family. I played as organist for the Salt Lake City temple for over a year
until I moved out of Salt Lake Temple’s boundaries.
When I received this calling, I was
brought back to when my bishop called me as assistant organist for my ward when
I was thirteen. I don’t think he knew and I know I had no idea at the time why
I was called, but someone did know and that was the Lord. I didn’t know I would
serve as organist in a temple ever in my life, but Heavenly Father knew it. It
was a matter of my bishop following the promptings of the spirit and me living
a righteous life to accept and fulfill these callings. I’m grateful for the
experience I had to share my talent especially in His church, but it doesn’t
stop there, I look forward for many more opportunities where I’ll be able to
serve in the house of the Lord.
Interests and Goals
As of today, my goals are to fulfill
my calling as a Beehive Advisor in my ward, attend the temple every week, get
my bachelor’s degree by 2017, exercise and stay healthy for my family, and
fulfill my responsibilities at home as a mother and wife to my family.
Besides school and family, I have a
lot of interests, one of them being working out daily. I remember I started to
work out in junior high school. I would go jogging with my brother around the
block, play basketball in the drive way, and do other workouts in my room. I
also played club volleyball during my junior high school years for Club Union.
Throughout high school, I worked out doing what I knew how to do. I worked out
to stay and look fit. It wasn’t until after high school I found interest in
becoming a body builder. I mentioned to my father on one occasion that I wanted
to become a body builder, but my mother did not approve of the idea. The
thought of becoming a bodybuilder slowly drifted from my mind. It wasn’t until
after I got married and had Tina, the thought of becoming a body builder was
brought back to my attention. I began to learn more about different workouts
and not only looking and being fit attracted me, but being healthy came into
the picture too; mainly because now I wanted to live long for my husband and
daughter. Bodybuilding has become a very popular sport, but once again the idea
slightly slipped my mind mostly because education has become more of a
priority. I continue to work out daily to ease stress and for enjoyment. One
issue I have with body building is the attire. I asked my family, for more
enlightenment, what their thoughts were on me becoming a bodybuilder. After the
many experiences in my life, I’ve learned that my family is a big part of my
life including making certain decisions. If I were to do anything, including
bodybuilding, it would mean a lot to me to have my family support me. I’ve
often asked myself how comfortable would I be standing in front of my father
and brother’s in a bikini, even if the idea was to participate in a sport. After
much prayer and thought into participating in this sport, I came to the
conclusion that in order to keep my love for fitness and respect for my family,
Father in Heaven, and myself, I would stop at where it is today, working out
daily to ease stress and simply for enjoyment. I’ve not had one family member
disapprove of my desire to become a bodybuilder, they’ve been nothing but
supportive, but knowing I would be uncomfortable standing in front of them and
knowing they would be uncomfortable to watch me made my answer more clear. I
knew out of respect for my culture as a Tongan and especially in the culture of
the gospel, participating in this sport would be disrespectful to my family,
including in the eyes of my maker.
My Testimony
Many dreams have come true for me
through being obedient and I’ve missed out on opportunities and blessings when
I was not living as a righteous daughter of God. I choose this day to never
live a day of regret and to live knowing my Heavenly Father is watching me and
aware of my needs and desires. I know there is a life after earth life and
every decision I make today marks the path to two ways: Heavenly Father’s way
or Satan’s way. One choice can open the door to many blessings or the other
choice that can slowly lead to destruction. I know God lives. The church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church on the face of the
earth. I know the prophet Joseph Smith was called of God to bring to pass His
truth and if it wasn’t for him, our prophets and leaders, and my parents, I
would not be where I am today or be the person I am today.
My personal history does not stop
here, and will be continued.
