Weekly Ward Message 8/23/26
Updated: Aug 28
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The Windows of Heaven, Right Where You Are
By Bishop Kamuela Kimokeo
Aloha Brothers and Sisters,
Welcome to our Kāne‘ohe 4th Ward website! Before I begin my message, I want each of you to know how much I love you! Every night I close my eyes in bed and I pray for you in the name of Jesus Christ. I literally imagine our chapel, and I go row by row and I pray for you ALL by name. I do not pray for your family in generalities, but I pray for specific things for each of you, I speak your individual names to our Father in Heaven. I pray for you and your children until I fall asleep. I also pray to hear Godʻs voice to know what He wants me to share with the ward. In this particular case, the Lord gave me a very clear prompting of what I should address in this first article. He has asked me to speak with you lovingly about the principle of tithing and the blessings that will come to you through your faithfulness.
As we prepare for tithing declarations to begin in September, the topic has increasingly been on my mind.
For some people in the Church, paying tithing has been a lifelong habit. For others, it may be something that you struggle with, have gotten away from, or maybe have never taken the step to start. Whichever category you feel that you fall into, I offer a simple invitation to start where you are.
For many of us, when we hear the word “repent,” we think of chastisement, scoldings, punishment, or some other negative thought. Repentance is NONE of those things! It is beautiful, it is sacred, and it is an invitation to turn our hearts toward the Savior and walk toward Him, trusting that He is walking with us on the journey. If the word “gospel” really does mean “good news,” then it is repentance through Jesus Christ that makes it so. One of the beautiful truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that because of Him, we can always begin again.
If you have not been paying your tithing, please do not allow the past to become a reason not to start today. Whatever has happened before, you cannot change yesterday, but you can choose what you will do from this point forward.
I know personally, like many of you, that because of the cost of living in Hawai‘i, paying tithing requires real faith! There are bills to pay, children to care for, and often many unexpected expenses that arise. The Lord knows each of our individual circumstances and our hearts. He also knows that obedience to this commandment requires sacrifice. Because of this, He has given us a remarkable invitation in Malachi 3:10 to “Prove me now herewith… if I will not open you the windows of heaven.”
In other words, He is saying, “Trust me. Try me. Give me the opportunity to show you that I see your sacrifices.”
We have been taught that the blessings from tithing do not always arrive as more money in our bank accounts. Sometimes the windows of heaven open through peace, health, strength, opportunities, or simply greater confidence that the Lord is aware of us and will help us.
I love the Lord's words in Doctrine and Covenants 64:34: "Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind."
Maybe that is where some of us need to begin, with a willing heart.
As your bishop, my invitation is not to look backward with guilt, but to look forward with faith. If tithing is a commandment you have struggled with, I lovingly invite you to begin again. Start with your next paycheck. Start with your next opportunity. Start with whatever faith you have right now.
Just start where you are, and trust the Lord to open the windows of heaven for you and your family.
As we start tithing declarations, I invite everyone to examine their relationship with this commandment and decide where you want to go from here. Perhaps when we meet for tithing declaration, you won't be able to tell me that you have been a full-tithe payer this year. But maybe you can tell me that you have decided to become one. I would consider that something worth celebrating.
I know the Lord loves each of you and that He eagerly awaits to reveal His hand and to bring about miracles in your life that will come because of your obedience. I know personally that tithing is difficult. I also know personally that I have witnessed miracles in my life because of tithing. I know that as we exercise faith in Jesus Christ and strive to keep His commandments, He will help us become the people He knows we can become. I am grateful that through Him, there is always an opportunity to change, to grow, and to begin again. I love you all.
Aloha,
Bishop Kimokeo
Monthly Family Message
By Roxy Kimokeo
Our scripture study has looked very different over the years as our children have gotten older, but currently, since they all have access to phones, we have a family thread we communicate on.
Every morning I read through and decide which chapter(s) will be assigned for that day and share the link(s) to the family group. This allows them to click on each chapter and read it, then they take a screenshot of a verse or two that stands out to them, and send that screenshot to the thread.
And if I read something related to the reading I’ll send that on the thread too.
At the end of the day we come together and everyone reads their verses and explains either why they chose it or what they learned, or if they have a question about it we discuss this.
I like this because we’re all having a turn leading the discussion in some way and teaches my kids that its not just about finishing the reading but finding what the Lord maybe teaching them personally
Missionary Corner
Take a minute to listen to a message on sharing the gospel from our missionaries, Elder Garner and Elder Guillermo. If you like the message, see the next section.
Missionary Meals
Feeding the missionaries is a happy little service with a big impact. Please add your name to the SIGN-UP SHEET and spread some aloha, or call Elders Garner & Guillermo at 808.253.8666 to meet with them.
Announcements
Join our WhatsApp Community for mobile Ward alerts. While on your phone, CLICK HERE
Tithing Declaration starts in September
YSA Institute - Every Thursday at 7 PM at the Kailua Chapel
Mission Prep - 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Calendar
August 23, 2026 11:30 am - Sacrament Meeting @ Kaneohe Stake Center
August 27, 2026 7:00 pm - Temple & Family History Night @ Kaneohe Stake Center
August 29, 2026 6:30 pm - Ward FHE “Come Home” @ Kaneohe Stake Center
September 12, 2026 10:00 am - Ward Conference Brunch @ Kaneohe Stake Center
September 13, 2026 11:30 am - Ward Conference @ Kaneohe Stake Center
September 26, 2026 5:00 pm - Stake Blast to the Past Dance
October is Chapel Cleanup Month at 7:30 am every Saturday morning
October 3-4, 2026 - General Conference
December 6, 2026 - First Presidency Christmas Devotional
December 20, 2026 11:30 am - Sacrament Meeting Only
Annual Ward Events
October 24, 2026 - Ward Trunk-or-Treat
October 25, 2026 11:30 am - Primary Presentation @ Kaneohe Stake Center
December 19, 2026 - Ward Christmas Party
Awesome messages!
Such awesome messages shared already, I'm going to be looking forward to what is shared here!
This is bishop just seeing how comments show up :)