April 2005 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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50 believing is seeing BY DON L. SEARLE Church Magazines A group of blind members in one Louisiana ward have found that spiritual sight comes through faith and obedience. When Bishop Kyle Anderson of the Ruston (Louisiana) Ward calls on one of his leaders in a ward council meeting, he does not point or nod. Some of them would not be able to see him. They are blind. But when the bishop makes a spiritual point, they can see it very well. Spiritual insight, they say, comes for them through faith and obedience, as it does for any member of the Church. And that is what they would like other members to understand about them: they have no special spiritual gifts just because they are blind, but given the same opportunities as other members, they can develop spiritual abilities in the same ways. Ruston is the home of the Louisiana Center for the Blind, operated by the National Federation of the Blind. Members employed or studying at the center often NOTED AS serve in the ward. In mid-2004, for example, these included Jeff Pearcy, high priests EXCEPT group leader; Zena Pearcy, ward birthday SEARLE, L. secretary; Wayne Pearcy, son of Jeff and Zena DON BY and an assistant in the presidency of the priests quorum; Brian Dulude, elders quorum president; Brook Sexton, first counselor PHOTOGRAPHY
in the Young Women presidency; Rebekah Jakeman, second counselor in the Young Women presidency; and Mary Jo Thorpe, teacher improvement coordinator. This group prefers the term blind to the widely used visually impaired. They recognize that there may be varying degrees of vision loss, but in practical terms, blind is the daily reality they live with. “I consider blindness an inconvenience,” says Jeff Pearcy. He stresses that if you have the tools of the task, you can do the job. For example, he teaches cooking at the center for the blind. His students learn to use ordinary ingredients in ordinary packages and the same kitchen appliances used by any other cook. The only concession to blindness is the braille labels on some cans and packages. Likewise, Brian Dulude says, a blind member who seeks the companionship of the Holy Ghost can do everything in the Church that anyone else can do. “The Holy Ghost will help you accomplish whatever you are called to do.” In that spirit, Brother Dulude teaches the students at the center for the blind how to maneuver around obstacles as they travel through life. He teaches “Orientation and Mobility”—cane travel—by literally taking to the streets, coaching students to find ways to get past physical obstacles they meet. “I teach students to solve problems. When they get through,” he says, “they’ll know Ruston pretty well, but Far left: they’ll also be able to go back home Rebekah and learn their way around there.” Jakeman Rebekah Jakeman, who was Brother practices cane Dulude’s pupil, describes some of the travel, with techniques a blind person using a long instructor Brian cane masters to get around obstacles. Dulude trailing. She points out that in crossing a street it is possible to feel the crown a radial arm saw. of the roadway and know when Dark goggles you have passed the center. It is prevent students at possible to feel water or other the Center for the kinds of surfaces and know what Blind from relying on you are approaching. The cane any residual sight. becomes an extension of the Right: Wayne Pearcy physical senses. practices his trumpet. Top: Rebekah uses PHOTOGRAPH BY KYLE ANDERSON ENSIGN APRIL 2005 51
Page 1 and 2: T H E C H U R C H O F J E S U S C H
Page 3: 18 Strengthening the Family 34 54 T
Page 6 and 7: 4 The Book of Mormon, which we rega
Page 8 and 9: 6 modern prophet—declared with wo
Page 10 and 11: 8 The Holy Ghost and the Light of C
Page 12 and 13: 10 “Wherefore, men are free accor
Page 14 and 15: 12 found, he hideth, and for joy th
Page 16 and 17: 14 Spirit of Christ to sunlight, or
Page 18 and 19: 16 Examples of Patience Desiring to
Page 20 and 21: 18 “The first commandment that Go
Page 22 and 23: 20 Three Principles of MARRIAGE BY
Page 24 and 25: 22 Cleaving As one “leaves,” on
Page 26 and 27: 24 President Spencer W. Kimball tau
Page 28 and 29: 26 ABalanced Keeping the daily dema
Page 30 and 31: O JERUSALEM, BY GREG K. OLSEN; MAY
Page 32 and 33: The Effective Elders Quorum Stake p
Page 34 and 35: 32 ON PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS “It will
Page 36 and 37: 34 Thou Art the
Page 38 and 39: 36 Business Ventures in Kirtland In
Page 40 and 41: 38 Partridge served the Saints in M
Page 42 and 43: BY LARENE PORTER GAUNT Church Magaz
Page 44 and 45: 42 Band. Formed in 1842 to accompan
Page 46 and 47: PHOTOGRAPH BY LYNN HOWLETT 44 perfo
Page 48 and 49: PHOTOGRAPH BY CRAIG DIMOND 46 Recen
Page 50 and 51: 48 look at may become an obsession
Page 54 and 55: 52 Bishop Kyle Anderson (left) with
Page 56 and 57: 54 Now and then in a quiet garden,
Page 58 and 59: 56 of the one perfect man returned
Page 60 and 61: 58 But there is a condition attache
Page 62 and 63: 60 Prayerfully select and read from
Page 64 and 65: 62 MESSAGES FROM THE DOCTRINE &COVE
Page 66 and 67: 64 • Go up unto Mount Zion and un
Page 68 and 69: MESSAGES FROM THE DOCTRINE &COVENAN
Page 70 and 71: 68 Coming Home By Judith A. Deeney
Page 72 and 73: 70 The House That Faith Built By Jo
Page 74 and 75: 72 Teaching Children Purposeful Pra
Page 76 and 77: PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK PHILBRICK/COURTE
Page 78 and 79: PHOTOGRAPH BY WELDEN C. ANDERSEN 76
Page 80 and 81: 78 in the library. Also added was a
Page 82 and 83: T H E C H U R C H O F J E S U S C H
Page 84: 4 02259 04000 2 25904 Apr 05 Our re

April 2005 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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