The Salt Lake Valley (Deaf) 1st Ward

It’s been a while since I’ve written anything, so I thought it would be fun to write about my experience in the Salt Lake Deaf 1^st Ward last Sunday (and hope I don’t step on anyone’s toes). Let me preface this story by explaining why I have decided to attend the Deaf ward on a more regular basis whether Steve comes with me or not. A few weeks ago, after another miscommunication issue in our hearing ward, I knew I had to make a change for my own sanity. I announced to my bishop that I would be attending the Deaf ward and Steve may or may not come with me. I said, “No one is going to understand why I am going to a Deaf ward and Steve is going to a hearing ward. This will be a time when ‘judge not and you will not be judged’ will apply.” Sometimes I am able to attend meetings in both wards. If I only attend Sacrament Meeting in the hearing ward I don’t have to talk to anyone, so it all works out.

Sunday, April 20 – Our friend, Gwen, who has been attending our ASL class, wants to go with me to the Deaf ward. I am elated to know that she and Steve will be joining me for the following reasons: I do not like going to church by myself, I won’t be the only person there who is lousy at signing, and Steve will be there.

I am driving as we travel along the interstate past the Great Salt Lake. It’s a challenge to keep the car on the road because the wind is howling and shaking the car. I must keep both hands on the wheel so even one-handed signing is out of the question. Gwen and Steve make conversation with very little help from me, and it’s nice.

We get to the Deaf ward building a few minutes early and walk into the chapel. I immediately notice Pat Walker sitting in the front preparing to interpret for the meeting. Steve heads off to chat with her while Gwen and I find a place to sit near the back of the chapel. The signers at the podium are projected onto a large screen in front of the chapel, so I am thinking that we can sit anywhere and see what is being signed.

After we have been seated, I turn around and see Richard behind me. I wave to him and sign that Steve is here, and point to where he is. I sign to Richard, “I stay try get him come here all time.” I thought I was signing “still” and realized later that I signed “stay”. The sentence in English is suppose to be, “I am still trying to get him to come here all of the time.” Richard seems to understand me in spite of my lousy signing.

Steve comes back to sit with Gwen and me and he sees another person that he knows. He goes over to chat with her. She looks at me and waves and then signs something to me. I believe she is fingerspelling her name, but I have no clue as to what it is. Gwen and I do understand when she signs “welcome” and we sign “thank you” back to her. Later Steve tells me her name.

Gwen is looking around the room and notices the bishopric signing to each other in front of the chapel. She says to me, “You would know what the bishopric is talking about up there.” I nod my head.

The meeting starts and I relax while watching the signers and listening to Pat voice interpret the messages. The Sacrament prayers are voice interpreted by a man sitting in the front. The LDS ASL DVD of selected Hymns is projected onto the screen during the signing of the hymns. I try to follow the signs but it’s difficult because the signs do not match the words being sung. It would be easier if I didn’t have to listen to the words. My brain has to make a choice about what to focus on, and I am getting a headache. Someone told me that we use the right side of our brains to process Sign Language and the left side of our brains to hear. Maybe the right and left sides of my brain are not connected (or something like that).

All of the Sacrament Meeting messages are signed except for the last speaker who chooses to talk while Pat stands next to her and interprets in sign. The speaker mentions that she is still learning how to sign and thanks everyone for putting up with her fumbles. It warms my heart to hear someone else admit that she is struggling. Gwen mentions that it’s nice to have someone voice interpret for people who are still learning how to sign. I tell her that Pat has a master certification in interpreting. She can keep up with and interpret for anyone. Gwen says, “That’s amazing!” I have no doubt that the Spirit helps Pat a lot.

I notice a man in front of us who has a cochlear implant, and I ask Steve if he noticed. He did and says he is happy for him if it works for him. Later he asked me if I noticed that the man removed the processor towards the end of the meeting. I said that maybe he didn’t like listening to the screaming baby behind us. There are advantages to being deaf.

Steve tells me that he enjoyed the meeting, and next time he wants to sit closer to the front so he can see the TV screen. I guess that means there will be a next time. Yippy! I love going to the Deaf ward.