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bill's testimony

May 5, 2013

Sunday, Fast and Testimony Day

So today Big Bill bore his testimony.  It was a very special thing.  He rarely chooses to speak out in public but today he was motivated to do so.

After "lumbering" up to the podium.  He looked us in the eye and began.

He started by saying that on Facebook he had read an article about a young, down syndrome girl who attends Springville High School.  (Immediately the three teen- agers in front of me were caught.  This ole guy reads facebook(?) AND we know this girl.)  He went on to say that she was recently named the Homecoming Queen and that she was a cheerleader.  He was impressed with the way that the other students treated her.  But most interesting to him was when the girl's father was interviewed, he was asked if it was hard to have a girl with special needs.  The Father's reply was "No, all of my children have special needs, her's is just more obvious because it is physical."

Bill:  "All of us have special needs.  Even in our audience today all of us have special needs.  When we lived in Reno I attended a seminar for new seminary teachers.  The teacher encouraged us to share ourselves with others.  He reminded the students that even a "smile" was a way to share ourselves.  So the next day I was at the LDS Institute where students often assembled during a break in their university classes.  I had noticed a girl who sat with a book over her face all of the time.  (Bill put his hands in the shape of a book and held them up over his face.)  I decided that I would smile at her.  She brought the book down and I smiled.  She immediately covered her face.  (Bill returned his hands in front of his face.)  The next day, I repeated the action and this time, she smiled back.  As the days pasted I continued to reach out to this girl.  Finally one day I walked to where she sat and asked her if she would like to play ping pong with me.  (Now Big Bill had won the San Francisco ping pong tournament.  He was GOOD!)  She reluctanly agreed and although she was not a good player we played.  Eventually we played as a team in the Institute Ping Pong tournament and we WON."

Bill:  I don't even remember her name (of course, that is not uncommon as I can't remember a lot of things) and I don't know if she is active in the church.  But I do know that by smiling at others and reaching out we can help others who have special needs.  

By this time, Rosi Mathews was weeping...  along with others.  Many people were touched.  It felt good to rest my head against his chest when he returned to his seat.