Deaf - Hearing Relationship

Sunday, Sept. 7 - Steve and I are asked to deliver messages for Sacrament Meeting in the Deaf Ward. Whether or not this is going to happen, I am not sure yet.

Did I forget to mention in this blog that we are now officially members of the Salt Lake Deaf 1st Ward? Even though we have to drive 30 miles to get there (a distance that is unusual in an area where church is only a few blocks away for most people), it is so worth the extra time and gas in my opinion.

For those who read this blog and may not be familiar with how LDS church services are conducted, I will briefly explain. You can always find more information at lds.org. We do not have paid ministers who give sermons every Sunday. The messages (generally known in the Church as “talks” but I can hardly label a signed message as a “talk”) are given by various members of the ward (congregation). There is no hierarchy of who is most important or privileged to give a message. People are chosen by the Bishopric through inspiration of the Spirit.

We are asked to do this on Sept. 28 and that the topics would be provided. I make a plea that I need my topic ASAP because I need as much time as possible to prepare. My first thought is that I want to sign it so I need time to practice. I am given the topic of “Agency“.

Wednesday, Sept. 10 – I am having a hard time deciding if should sign or speak when I deliver my message to the people in the Deaf ward, so I seek the advice of my former ASL instructor at the Salt Lake Community College, who also happens to be a member of the Salt Lake Deaf 2′nd Ward. I ask him in sign, “You think people in ward prefer watch interpreter sign fast and good, or watch me sign slow maybe wrong.” (I must interject here that the Deaf have an amazing capability to understand lousy signers as well as good signers.)

As any good teacher would do, he does not tell me what to do. He asks me what I want to do. “Want sign.” He suggests that I pray about it. He also tells me that the people in the ward would not be critical if I spoke. Is this his subtle way of telling me I better speak? He also suggests that the people would not be critical if I signed and I might get a few hugs if I did.

I really want to sign, so I spend the next few days thinking about my topic and writing exactly how I would sign it. The message is suppose to be about 12 minutes. I practice and adjust my signs according to the time limit. I take into account several seconds of nervous energy here and there, moments of memory loss, and allow time for unrehearsed sharing of my testimony at the end. I feel satisfied that I am prepared.

Sunday, Sept. 14 – As Steve and I sit in the chapel and wait for Sacrament Meeting to begin, the 1st Counselor of the Bishopric comes over to ask if we can give our messages on Oct. 12. He forgot that Sept. 28 is Fast and Testimony Meeting because of General Conference on Oct. 05. (Fast and Testimony Meeting is usually the first Sunday each month.) This postponement is fine with Steve since he hasn’t begun to think about his message. He tells the counselor that I am prepared so I can give my message, but he is going on vacation for who knows how long. Steve is not familiar with how things work in the Church. The counselor is too smart to let him get away with that, and I am more than willing to postpone it until he feels ready.

Sunday, Sept. 21 – The postponement of my message has given me time to ponder further on how I should deliver it. Is the postponement a coincidence or is the Spirit telling me I am not as prepared as I thought. Questions come into my mind. “What is the most important thing when giving a message in Sacrament Meeting? Is the content more important than how it is delivered? Is the delivery more important than the content? Are they equally important?” If I were still in the hearing ward, I would not have this dilemma. But I am now amongst a group of people who I believe are deeply appreciative of anyone who makes an effort to communicate in their language.

After mulling it over in my mind, I believe it is most important that the majority of people receiving the message will feel the Spirit, and will understand what I am talking about. So with this in mind, I rewrite my message knowing that I will speak and allow the Spirit to work through the interpreter. The people know I am trying to learn their language. I can still sign my testimony.

Oct. 4 & 5 (General Conference) – I listen to many words of counsel, hope, and encouragement during these troubled times. My little problems are miniscule in the grand scheme of things. The Spirit is telling me to relax.

Sign or speak - I still have at least a week to change my mind again.