The song of the righteous is a prayer unto me.

Have you ever 'sung' a hymn in sign language? The post title will lead you to a site with American Sign Language hymns. Mark and I spoke this morning in our ASL ward. We sang with an entire congregation of ASL speaking people. I think ours were the only audible voices during each song. (I tried to sign along, but I was really only able to pick up the last verses of choruses that repeated themselves.) Our missionaries that have served in that ward have been so enthusiastic about their service there, that I was excited for the opportunity to finally attend their meeting. I've met several ASL memebers individually at firesides, Christmas/Easter pageants and stake conference, but I loved being with so many of them together.

ASL missionary work has unique challenges, but that doesn't shake the faith of the missionaries called to serve in that area. Though everyone is familiar with the concept of hunting a needle in a haystack, not many people have real experience with it. ASL missionaries do. Among the literally millions of people that live in the Phoenix/Mesa area are scattered a unique group of people in which these missionaries are specifically called to teach the gospel. Instruction they receive says that 'the Lord will lead you (the missionary) to those that are prepared or lead them to you'. Elder Chris Hamilton, one of our great missionaries, bore a strong witness of that in the way he pursued his missionary work. Others told him, he wouldn't find anyone or have success in his efforts. He chose instead to believe the counsel he recieved from his leaders-and he found them. One of the missionaries he trained (Elder Pead) loves to tell me when and how that happens. Every time they find someone, it is a miracle. Sometimes, they will be lead to a particular house, or person who knows someone. Other times, the people will find them. For example, a few months ago, someone actually drove up to Elder Pead while he was out searching-this man found the missionaries.

And today we met many of the people whose lives they influence. When I spoke of the missionaries that these people know and love, their faces lit up. They know these young people were called specifically for them, because God loves each of us individually. Each soul is precious to Him. The world has forgotten or misunderstood this basic truth. Understandably then, this concept is among the first things that missionaries teach people; a relationship of a loving Father in Heaven with His children. Love expressed in the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ; in prayer as a form of communicating with Him; and in prophets called to guide and direct God's children to Christ and His gospel, for Christ will bring all of us back to our Father.

The Elders in our ward taught a sweet young mother in our home this week. There was a beautiful feeling as they spoke of this love and told her about the prophet today. Her happy reaction was something I can't describe with words, but I'm so happy that general conference is next week. She will be able to see for herself and know that God does guide us through a prophet today as He did anciently. I have a favorite scripture that teaches 'to whom much is given, much is required.' I love to focus on the phrase-'to whom much is given', for I truly feel that I have been given much just in my own personal witness of these truths, not to mention my family, health, friends....

The feeling that comes from pondering all that I have is called Reverence. There's a beautiful children's song about it titled simply, 'Reverence is Love'. I thought of it later today when we were speaking at another ward comprised of young college aged adults. It follows:

Reverence is more than just quietly sitting.

It's thinking of Father above.

A feeling I get when I think of His blessings.

I'm reverent, for reverence is love.

I wish you could hear a little child sing that song. (Actually on the title website, you can find it under Children's songs.) Those sensations prompt me to feel in my heart, with all the energy of my soul, that there is nothing God can ask of me that I would not be willingly to give. It is something to stand at the bottom of a steep and rocky climb, knowing not only that you must ascend if God requires it, but that your heart is willing. With that willingness, comes the assurance, that the path-though daunting- is the fastest and surest way to peace, salvation, and joy for it will bring us closer to God. I can't wait for conference this Saturday and Sunday-when that path will be illuminated and clarified for us. The confusion and muddle of the world will melt away, and we will see clearly what we must do individually and as families. Hopefully, we will all make plans to share it with someone who is searching.

Happy conference everyone.