![]() The college was a seven-hour journey from home. ![]() We found a renewed hope and determination to help our son grow.īy the time Ian was 16 years old, we were able to secure a place for him at a progressive college for the blind that catered to all of Ian’s disabilities. We learned that Joseph Smith taught that “all the minds and spirits that God ever sent into the world are susceptible of enlargement.” 1 We felt the Spirit witness truth to our belief that there was someone of great worth underneath our son’s disabilities. Six years later, after I had been introduced to the gospel and joined the Church, I met and married a man who became Ian’s father in wonderfully supportive ways. ![]() Shortly thereafter, my husband and I divorced, and I was left to raise Ian on my own. In my heart, I knew Ian was an individual with a meaningful purpose, and I could not believe that he was incapable of growth. I felt devastated as the specialist explained that it would be best to expect little of his future. When he was 10 months old, doctors informed us that he was legally blind and mentally disabled. When I held our son Ian for the first time on the day my husband and I adopted him, I felt certain he was a gift to me from Deity. Kelly has come to understand that she is needed and that we all have something of worth to give in service to the Lord and His children.Ĭarolu and Gale Wilson, California, USA Enlarging Capacities In turn, as Kelly offers faithful, Christlike acts to the best of her ability, her example is a powerful spiritual influence on others. The Relief Society sisters have done much to reinforce Kelly’s feelings of self-worth. After the meeting she gathers the books and stacks them neatly on a shelf. Our Relief Society president asked Kelly to distribute hymnbooks to the sisters before Relief Society. Kelly’s faithful service soon led to a second assignment. With great concern Kelly asks him, “Who ring the bell? Who ring the bell?” Brother Hammer assures her that he will take care of it. She doesn’t know how to use the telephone, but if she is going to be out of town on a Sunday, she asks her father to dial the number of Brother Hammer. Kelly has been reliable and faithful in her duty. At first, the loud sound frightened her, but she persisted and overcame her fear. We gave her a watch and a small card with the time and pictures of bells to represent the number of times to ring the bell: two short rings first, followed five minutes later by one long bell. He knew she was dependable, and he felt that with a few weeks of training, she could grow into her calling, as we all must do.īrother Hammer recommended Kelly to be the Sunday School bell-ringer, and shortly thereafter, she was sustained in sacrament meeting. No one thought Kelly would ever be able to hold a calling except our neighbor and Sunday School president, Glenn Hammer. This special child of God demonstrates what it means to be pure and without guile. She looks like an adult but has the mind of a small child.
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