Elder Taniela B. Wakolo Gives New Meaning to 'LOL' at Easter

Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, General Authority Seventy and a member of the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, says Easter gives us a perfect time to reflect on our relationship with Jesus Christ, and suggested we give new meaning to how we use the letters ‘LOL’ in our lives.

Commonly used to express the term ‘Laugh Out Loud,’ Elder Wakolo told Tongan radio host Ramanlal Vallabh, of Radio Nuku’alofa 88.6 FM, that people often use those letters to express their amazement at something that has happened in their life, good or bad. But he suggested that a new use of the letters this time of year could be “Live Off-Line.”

The interview was conducted on the campus of The Church's Liahona High School. To watch the entire Radio Nuku’alofa interview, click here. 

Elder Wakolo was on the Tongan radio station to introduce the Church’s theme for this year’s Easter season, “Because of Him, You Can.”

He said redefining ‘LOL’ can help us remember the sacrifice of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and give further reasons to look into His teachings and His love for each of us.

“I probably would add a different meaning to that acronym. Maybe we need to ‘Live Off-Line’ sometimes,” he said.

“Maybe we need to live off-line only a few minutes each day. Live off-line and read the scriptures. Live off-line and learn of the Saviour Jesus Christ more and dig deeper into His Word,” Elder Wakolo said.

“Doing that will bring us faith and hope, help us be kinder, help us to be more loving, help us to be more charitable in every way.”

Elder Wakolo had kind words of advice for people in the listening audience that might find themselves in the midst of struggles of some kind, especially at this Easter season when Christians focus on the great atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

“Always remember that you have a loving Father in Heaven who loves you and knows you by name. I testify and bear witness of that—that He loves you and He remembers you individually by name,” Elder Wakolo said.

“Secondly, always remember that you are a son or a daughter of God. Look at that eternal relationship. We have a Father in Heaven who knows us personally and individually, and we are His sons and His daughters,” Elder Wakolo continued. “We hope that you will always remember that, that you are a son or a daughter of God.

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“And that relationship will help you and I to be able to overcome any trials, any challenges.”

He said for the rising generation of youth and young adults it’s a very challenging time in the world today. Elder Wakolo said it’s easy to become lost in the flood of words from a world that is not interested in the individual struggles of today’s youth.

“If we don’t continually remind ourselves of who we are and remind ourselves that we have a Saviour who loves us, then we may listen to the voices of the world. Doing that can be very painful,” Elder Wakolo said.

He quoted 3 John 4: “For I have no greater joy than to hear my children walk in truth," noting that it not only encapsulates the hope our earthly parents and grandparents have for each of us, but the desire of our Saviour Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven, that they can strengthen each of us to overcome our challenges.

How does that happen?

Elder Wakolo said we overcome these issues by doing just a few basic things in our lives. “This scripture is about children who love to go to church on Sunday, children who love to keep the commandments, children who pray every morning and every evening, children who are kinder and loving to each other, who live to inspire and encourage each other.”

Elder Wakolo said by doing these things regularly, our youth will come to know that “God is a loving Heavenly Father who loves all His children. And we are all His sons and all His daughters.”

“Because of Him, we can. Because of Jesus Christ, you can,” Elder Wakolo concluded. “I testify and bear witness that because of our Saviour Jesus Christ, we can overcome trials and temptations, and everything that we face here in mortality, in this life.

“When we think about the sacrifices that we make, and the sacrifice that He did for you and I, and if there are those who are listening today who are going through challenges and trials—the passing of a loved one, or separation or divorce [of spouses or parents], I bear witness and testify that there is no better solution that we can provide for you than the Saviour Jesus Christ,” Elder Wakolo said.

“He has been through all of this, a perfect Son of God who gave His life for all of us.”

To see The Church's Easter messages and resources, click here.