Church Talks
ROCKS
Tah-Maw’
[Talk given by Elder John E. Enslen at first Branch Conference of Siem Reap Branch, Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on November 25, 2007. The talk was given in the Khmer language. The English translation precedes the Khmer paragraph by paragraph. The Khmer used in my talk was of my own invention—using English phonetics to duplicate the sound of the Khmer words, consistent with the manner in which I personally heard those words whenever the native Cambodians spoke them. The Khmer written language does not use any part of our English alphabet. The Khmer written language is usually referred to by English speaking peoples as “chicken scratching.”]
The title of my talk is “Rocks.” In this great country of Cambodia, there are many beautiful rocks. People come from all over the world to see the amazing rock structures which were built here long ago.
Prah-tee’-ahn-ah-bot’ nay gah neeg-yea’ roe’-bah kee-yome’ goo “Tah-maw.” Noe knong praw-thay’ kahm-poo-chee’-ah daw-awh’-jah, poe’-uk nayek mee’-ahn tah-maw’ srah sah-aht’ jee’-ah jer-ron’. Men-nue’ jee’-ah jer-ron’ moke pee jume-vwin’ pee-pope-loke’ dahm-bay’ mull sum-nahng’ tah-mah’ daw-awh’-jah dial bahn kaw-sang’ noe thee-neeh’ jee’-ah you’-year naah moke how’ee.
Having rocks is good. God created the rocks for our use. Rocks can be used to build homes and other buildings, and roads, and bridges.
Mee’ahn tah-maw’ goo lah-or’. Prey-ah bahn bong kout tah-maw’ sum-rap’ gah prie-or-prie’ roe’-bah yerng. Tah-maw’ ott(ch) [(ch= “j” sound] throw bahn prie’-or dahm-bay’ twer pee-thay’-ah, how’-ee nung ah-kee’-ah pah-sang’ pah-sang thee’-it, how’-ee nung ploe, how’-ee nung spee’-ahn.
Because a large natural rock is heavy and difficult to move or destroy, Jesus Christ used the rock as a symbol of his gospel.
Pee-prue’-ah tah-maw’ toe’-um-mah-jee’-it daw tohm moo’-ee goo wee’-ah tah-ngoo’-un how’-ee pee-back’
dahm-bay’ ruhm-kull’, rue kaw bohm-plie’-ang, prey’-ah
yea-sue-kree prie-or-prie’ tah-maw’ jee’-ah
neke-mutt’-sine-yah’ nay dahm nung lah-or’ roe’-bah throng.
Jesus said that: “[S]eek the kingdom of God, and all things shall be added [unto you.] Build upon my rock, which is my gospel.” (D& C 11:23-24)
Prey’-ah yea-sue-kree mee’ahn prey’-ah bun-thule’ taa: “Joe’-el swang er-ruk’ nuh-kuh’ prey’-ah joe, how’-ee krupe roe’-bah thang lie’-ee nung bahn praw-tee’-ahn time thee’it ow’-ee nayek. Joe’-el sahng noe ler tah-maw-dah’ roe-bah yerng, dial jee’-ah dahm nung lah-or’ roe’-bah yerng.” (D& C 11:23-24)
Christ also said that his Church is built upon the rock of revelation. May I please read?
Prey’-ah kree kaw mee’-ahn prey’-ah bun-thule’ pong-die’ taa sahss nah jack roe’-bah throng goo throw sahng noe ler tah-maw’ nay vee-vore’-ah-nack’. Kee-yome’ soam ann:
“Jesus … asked his disciples … Whom say ye that I am?
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. [A]nd upon this rock [of revelation] I will build my church …”
(Matt. 16:13-18)
“Prey-ah yea-sue mee’-ahn bun-thule’ sack-sue’-ah suh taa, thah’-oh nayek taa kee-yome’ jee’-ah nayek naa?
See-mun’ Pay-throw’ thule chah-lowh’-ee taa, throng jee’-ah prey’-ah kree, jee’-ah prey’-ah ree-itch’-bah-thrah nay
prey’-ah daw mee’-ahn prey’-ah juhn rue’-ah. Rue’-ik
prey’-ah yea-sue mee’-ahn bun-thule’ thop taa, nayek
See-mun’ Kone Yoe-nah’ ehr’-ee, mee’-ahn poe how’-ee: tah-but’ mun’-man jee’-ah site-chee’-um dial bahn sohm die’-ing ow’-ee’ nayek squawl thay, goo prey-ah voe’-bae-dah nay kee-yome’ dial kuhng noe tahn sue’-ah vwin. How’ee noe ler tah-maw-dah’ neeh [nay vee-vore’-ah-nack] yerng nung thahng poe’-uk jume-nome! …
Christ has used rock of the earth as a symbol of Himself. We can read in the Book of Mormon these words that the prophet Helaman spoke to his sons. May I please read?
Prey’ah kree bahn prie’-or tah-maw’ jee’-ah neke-mutt’-sine-yah nay clue-ahn’ throng pah-thoe’-al. Poe’-uk yerng ott(ch) ann noe knong prey’-ah kom-pee-moe-mun’ noe pee’-ak thang-neeh’ dial pah-chee’-ah-kah-ray’ Hale-ah-man’ bahn neeg-yea’ thoe kan kone kone roe’-bah goe’-ut.
Kee-yome’ soam ann:
“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation …, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” (Helaman 5:12)
How’-ee el’-low-neeh’, owh kone broh thang lie’-ee roe’-bah owh-poke’ ehr’-ee , joe’-el jong jam joe, joe’-el jong jam joe taa goo noe ler say-lie’ nay prey’-ah daw praw-loo’-ah nay yerng, goo prey’-ah kree, jee’-ah prey’-ah ree-itch’-bah-thrah nay prey’ah dial kone, throw sahng krew roe’-bah kone …, dail jee’-ah krew daw kah-joe’-up kah-jew’-un moo’-ee jee’ah krew moo’-ee bah’-oh-son-naa men-nue’ sahng noe ler nuh poe’-uk mun ott(ch) roe-luhm’ bahn lowh’-ee.
On the other hand, Jesus clearly taught that rocks should not be the object of our worship. Rocks have no life; rocks do not grow; rocks do not produce anything, not even baby rocks.
Pah-thue’-ee thoe vwin, prey’-ah yea-sue bahn bong
ree’-ahn yang chah-bah’ taa tah-maw’ mun’-man jee’-ah wah-toke’ dahm-bay’ gure-rope’ thay. Tah-maw’ ott
mee’-ahn jee-vwit’ thee. Tah-maw’ ott rick-loot-lore’ thee.
Tah-maw’ ott bong kout kroe’-up pooch thee, soam-bay’-thie kone tah-maw’.
Rocks can be carved by man into the likeness of the face of a person with mouth, eyes, and ears. But rocks cannot speak forever; rocks cannot see forever; and rocks cannot hear forever.
Tah-maw’ ott(ch) cha-lock’ jee’-ah moke men-nuh’ bahn mee’-ahn mow’-ut (mouth), pah-nake (eyes), nung thraw jee’-uk (ears). Bun-thie’, tah-maw’ mun ott(ch) neeg-yea’ jee’-ah ree’-ung roe-hote’, tah-maw’ mun ott(ch) mull kurn jee’-ah ree’-ung roe-hote,’ nung tah-maw’ mun ott(ch) sah-dap’ loo jee’-ah ree’-ung roe-hote.
The pre-mortal Jesus Christ, who was called Jehovah in the Old Testament, warned against bowing down or praying to things made of rock that have no life. May I please read?
Jee-vwit’ moon kout roe’-bah prey’-ah yea-sue-kree , dial noe knong prey’-ah kom-pee’ sane-nyah-jah’ how’-oh taa prey’-ah yea-hoe-wah,’ throng pro-mee’-ahn koam ow’-ee twie bong kume, rue aht’-tee-tahn jahm-poo’-ah wat-toke’ dial kah-mee’-ahn jee-vwit’ dial twer pee tah-maw.’ Kee-yome soam ann:
“Why have [ye] provoked me to anger with [your] graven images …?” (Jer. 8:19)
“Hat av-way’ bahn jee’-ah [nayek] bun-dile ow’-ee ine
kung dow’-ee sah rupe-jum-lock’ roe’-bah [nayek] …?” (Jer. 8:19)
“Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God.” (Lev. 26:1)
“Mun-throw’ ow’-ee [nayek] roe’-al kah-nee’-ah twer rupe prey’ah, rue bahn choe rupe-jum-lock’, rue bong-kuhl’
tah-maw’ sum’-rop gure-rope’ lowh’-ee , kahr mun-throw’ ow’-ee mee’-ahn tah-maw’ chah-lack’ jee’-ah rupe av-way’ noe knong sroke [nayek] dahm-bay’, nung ow’-on clue’-ahn krap gure-rope’ jum-poo’-ah rupe nuh dial, tah-but’ ine jee’ah yea-hoe-wah’ jee’-ah prey’-ah nay [nayek] roe’-al kah-nee’-ah how’-ee.” (Lev. 26:1)
“[Don’t] pray unto a God that cannot save.” (Isa. 45:20)
“[Coam] aht’-tee-tahn doll prey’-ah dial mun ott(ch) jew’-ee sahn-krue’-ah clue’-ahn yerng bahn.” (Isa. 45:20)
“[Your] graven image … is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.” (Jer. 10:14)
“Tah-but’ rupe’-[jum-lock’] roe’-bah kay jee’-ah sek’-ah-day kahm poot thoe-thay’ ott mee’-ahn dong how-um lowh’-ee.” (Jer. 10:14)
“[T]hey shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the … images, ye are our gods.” (Isa. 42:17)
“Poe’-uk kay nung mee’-ahn sek’-ah-day am-mah’ chur-rope’ moke dial chew’-ah thoke-jet’ nung rupe-jum-lock’ dial neeg-yea’ thoe rupe-jum-lock’ taa, jee’-ah prey’-ah roe’-bah yerng kee-yome’.” (Isa. 42:17)
In the Book of Mormon our resurrected Savior spoke again saying, don’t bow down or pray to things made of rock that have no life. May I please read?
Noe knong prey’-ah koam-pee’ moe-mun’, prey-ah-ahng’ sahn-krue’-ah rue’-ah lie’-ong vwin roe’-bah yerng neeg-yea’ mah-dong’ thee’-it, koam ow’-ee ow’-on krap gure-rope’, rue aht’-tee-tahn jahm-poo’-ah wat-toke’ dial kah-mee’-ahn jee-vwit’ dial twer pee tah-maw.’ Kee-yome’ soam ann:
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing in heaven above, or things which are in the earth beneath.” (Mosiah 12:36)
“Nayek mun-throw’ chah-lack’ twer rupe naa sum-rop nayek, rue kaw twer rupe naa ow’-ee doech jee’-ah av-way’ noe tahn-sue’-ah kahng ler, rue av-way’ dial noe pine-day’ kahng kram lowh’-ee.” (Mosiah 12:36)
“[T]hou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands…” (3 Nephi 21: 17)
“[N]ayek roe’-al kah-nee’-ah nung pome ott(ch) twie bong kume snaa die’-ee roe’-bah nayek thee’-it lowh’-ee.” (3 Ne. 21:17)
We will all see rocks every day. As we see the rocks, we can admire their natural beauty. We can admire the craftsmanship that produced the images on the carved rocks.
Poe’-uk yerng thang awh kah-nee’-ah nung kurn
tah-maw’ roe’-al tang-nie’-ee. Doe’-ik dial yerng mull
tah-maw’, poe’-uk yerng gowh’-ut saw-sie’-ah sum-rah’
toe’-um-ah-jee’-it roe’-bah wee’-ah. Yerng ott(ch) gowh’-ut
saw-sie’-ah snie die’-ee jum-lack’ dial twer rupe-ree’-ung
noe ler tah-maw’.
But as we see the rocks, we should always remember that the rocks in their natural condition are symbols of Christ, his revelation and his gospel.
Pun thie, doe’-ik die yerng mull tah-maw’, poe’-uk yerng goo’-ah thie johng jam jee’-ah neech taa tah-maw’ noe knong toe’-um-mah-jee’-it roe’-bah wee’-ah goo jee’ah
neke-mut’-sine-yaa’ nay prey’-ah kree, vee-vore’-ah-nack roe’-bah throng, how’-ee nung dahm nung lah-or’ roe’-bah throng.
The rocks do not deserve our worship. The rocks do not ask us to worship them. The rocks have no power to save us. Our worship should be directed only to the great creators of the rocks and all things that exist in heaven and in earth. Those creators are our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ.
Tah-maw’ mun-man’ sum-rap’ ow’-ee yerng twie bong-kume’ nuh thay. Tah-maw’ mun soam ow’-ee yerng twie bong-kume wee’-ah thay. Tah-maw’ kah-mee’-ahn ohm-not(ch) dahm-bay’
sahng-krue’-ah yerng thay. Kah twie bong-kume’ roe’-bah yerng
goo’-ah-thie pah-dout’-ah-rahm jum-poo’-ah prey’-ah daw bong kaw bong kout daw-ah’-jah thie moo’-ee kuht dial bong kout tah-maw’ how’-ee nung av-way’ av-way’ thang awh dial mee’-ahn noe ler than sue’-ah nung ler pine-day’. Ang bong daw bong kout thang nuh goo prey’-ah voe’-bae-dah sue’-ah roe’-bah yerng how’-ee nung prey’-ah ree-itch’-bah-thrah roe’-bah throng goo prey’-ah yea-sue-kree.
This is my testimony to you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Neeh goo jee’-ah sah-kay’ pee’-up roe’-bah kee-yome’
jum-poe’-ah nayek thang awh kah-nee’-ah noe knong
prey’ah nee’-ahm yea-sue-kree, ah-men’.