I had the most unique experience last Sunday that I forgot I was going to blog about. So I'm going to share it now. It was just like any other fast and testimony meeting. I was sitting in my seat rummaging around in my scripture back looking for my tithing envelope when I heard our 1st counselor say from the pulpit "We have a deaf person visiting our ward. She has asked if anyone knows any ASL at all, that they would go and help her understand the meeting." My mom's hand shot straight up in the air and she pointed to me. Brother Heaton looked at me and said "Loryn? Are you willing to help out our deaf visitor?" My eyes widened and I slowly nodded my head yes. With hundreds of eyeballs on me, I went over and sat by our deaf visitor. PAUSE. Now, I have only taken one year of sign language. My mom has been teaching me simple signs since I was little, but as far as interpreting goes? Yeah. No experience whatsoever. I can't even explain how nervous I felt. Okay, unpause. Sister Deaf-lady looked at me with thankful eyes. She was so excited that she was going to be able to understand the meeting. I kinda shook my head and signed "I'm so sorry, I'm only and ASL 1 student, I will try my best." She told me that she was just grateful for anything I could help her understand. I said a silent prayer that Heavenly Father would help guide my hands to sign well and so my mind would be clear so that I could remember everything I had been taught. I did have to ask her couple different signs like "salvation" and "Christ" and "baptism" so it was cool because I also learned so much. As I began signing, I realized it wasn't too bad. It came naturally and I felt pretty good. There wasn't some crazy "all of a sudden I'm fluent miracle" But Heavenly Father did guide my hands and my mind in a way that she could understand and feel the spirit.
I honestly didn't think signing for a deaf person was a big deal, but as the testimonies started, I was so touched to hear that almost all of them mentioned me in some way. Many people related my act of brave service to missionary work, and how people don't know about the gospel and we have to go out of our way to help them understand so they can have the gospel in their lives. My eyes filled with tears as my home teacher, Brother Slack, got up to the pulpit and said how what I did for our deaf visitor had hit him hard. He said he could tell that I was nervous, but I was able to push through so someone could have the opportunity to feel the spirit and know what was going on. I could go on and on with people's kind words about my small but meaningful act of service.
After the meeting was over, my new deaf friend told me how grateful she was that I would help her understand the meeting. I had multiple people tell me that was I did was inspiring.
Now, I'm not trying to toot my own horn here. I know anyone would have helped her out. I wasn't expecting this kind of outcome. I was just simply willing to help someone understand the sacrament service. After the meeting, I know it was much more than that. My gratitude for the gospel had definitely increased. I know other's testimonies were strengthened as well as my own. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity to help someone understand sacrament meeting.
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