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In 1994, a young Mariano “Mar” Peralta of Rosales, Pangasinan underwent cataract surgery because his left eye was weak. The following year, he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After his baptism, Brother Peralta aligned his life with his vision: to follow the covenant path throughout his life.
In 2000, he obeyed the prophet’s call and served a mission. Serving in the Philippines Naga Mission, “we taught our contacts how to be strong as a child of God,” Brother Peralta recalled, “and how to be obedient despite trials.”
Despite his struggling eyesight, Mar still continued on in his spiritual progress, getting sealed to his eternal partner Gloria, and strove to rear their two daughters in righteousness. One time, he and his wife traveled all the way from Pangasinan to Quezon City just so that they could worship the Lord at the Manila Philippines Temple—on a motorbike.
Then, darkness (literally) clouded his vision. In 2010, Brother Peralta’s left eye totally collapsed; he now had to rely on his right eye. Then, in 2023, that remaining eye gave up also.
Mariano was now totally blind.
“Why did I lose my sight?” the desperate father cried out to the Lord. “How could I take care of my family? Why did this happen to me? How will I bring them up?”
Brother Peralta wrestled with what looked like a very dark future, as he could no longer work and provide fully for his family. At times, he avoided talking to anyone. On other occasions, he hid from others, so as not to be seen and pitied.
But still, just like what he taught his contacts during his mission, Mariano strove mightily to maintain his faith and be obedient.
Then, just like what happened to the servant of the Old Testament prophet Elisha (see 2 Kings 6:17), the Lord opened Brother Peralta’s eyes—his spiritual eyes. Mariano understood that the trials he had experienced and would continue to experience would be “for thy good” (Doctrine & Covenants 122:7).
With renewed faith, and with the help of fellow ward and stake members (which he calls his “ministering angels”), Brother and Sister Peralta continue to worship at the House of the Lord, which is now nearer to them, at the Urdaneta Philippines Temple. In the words of one member, “his testimony and example leave us with no reasons or excuses for us not to go to the temple.”
Mariano Peralta hopes others will see what he continues to see: “Let us learn to accept that this is Heavenly Father’s way to help us become firm, and that we can have a wonderful future, as long as we trust He is there for us and know that He will guide us.'