Some of the more important parts of the human body are relatively small like our eyes and ears. There are many references in the scriptures to the human ear, which allows us to use our sense of hearing.
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear
(Matthew 13:16)
But not everyone is blessed with the ability to hear due to birth defects, accidents, or illnesses that can occur at any time in one's lifetime. The Chesapeake Ward, where Sister Lindsay and I are serving our mission, has been designated as the congregation where deaf members within the Baltimore Stake should attend meetings. One of the four young missionaries working with us here is a certified instructor in American Sign Language (ASL), and he regularly translates for deaf Church members during our services on Sundays.
Missionary instructor teaching sign language to Church members
Although there are a couple of local Church members who are able to assist in this translation work, there is an ongoing need to have more people learn how to sign, because there will come a time when this missionary will either be transferred to another area or will complete his two year mission. The missionary instructor is now teaching a weekly ASL class to others who wish to learn this skill.
Not being able to hear due to a physical problem with one's ears is one thing that can be remedied through the reading of another person's lips or by using sign language to communicate. There is a second problem with hearing, however, that has eternal consequences.
God’s prophets have always told people the things that Heavenly Father wants them to do to be protected and to live happy lives. But often the people haven’t had "ears to hear," which means that even with functioning ears, they haven’t wanted to listen and obey what the prophets have said.
In ancient times the prophet Noah told the people that they needed to repent, but only some members of his family "had ears to hear" and were willing to act upon what they heard. When the rains came, those who ignored the warning were drowned in the ensuing great flood that came upon the earth.
As teaching missionaries, Sister Lindsay and I are doing our best to share the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ with those whom we meet; but so many of the people we encounter do not respond to the urgency of our message . . . sadly, they choose not to hear. Before the Lord's Second Coming, the time will surely come as prophesied in God's Word through the ages when He will preach His own sermon rather than through the voice of His servants. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
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