Dedicated Service

Our daughter Kelly is in her late 40s. She looks like an adult but has the mind of a small child. This special child of God demonstrates what it means to be pure and without guile.

No one thought Kelly would ever be able to hold a calling except our neighbor and Sunday School president, Glenn Hammer. 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.

Brother Hammer recommended Kelly to be the Sunday School bell-ringer, and shortly thereafter, she was sustained in sacrament meeting.

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. At first, the loud sound frightened her, but she persisted and overcame her fear.

Kelly has been reliable and faithful in her duty. 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. 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 smiles and replies, "OK."

Kelly's faithful service soon led to a second assignment. Our Relief Society president asked Kelly to distribute hymnbooks to the sisters before Relief Society. After the meeting she gathers the books and stacks them neatly on a shelf. The Relief Society sisters have done much to reinforce Kelly's feelings of self-worth. In turn, as Kelly offers faithful, Christlike acts to the best of her ability, her example is a powerful spiritual influence on others.

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.

Carolu and Gale Wilson, California, USA