Sam was asked to give a talk today in Sacrament Meeting, his first! Lisa wrote a talk based on what she knows about him from teaching him home study seminary, and what he has spelled in the past, and then his teacher asked him some additional questions on the subject in his letterboard lessons. Lisa gave the talk from the pulpit and the plan was for Sam to stand next to her but he was really excited, dancing, and jumping so we decided to have him sit on the pew with us. Here is the text of the talk!
Sam and Lisa's Talk, Cardiff Ward Sacrament Meeting, July 15, 2018
Sam and I are happy to be here today to share his feelings about the Book of Mormon which we studied this year in Seminary. I'm not an official seminary teacher but I know Sam very well because we have been having play dates together for the past five years, and Sam's mom asked me to teach him Seminary this year. There are several things Sam is passionate about. At the top of his list is sacred music and scripture study. Sam is completely mesmerized and attentive during seminary lessons. Sam is able to be very close to the Spirit of the Lord because he is so pure in heart.
Over the past year or so Sam has been learning how to spell to communicate using letterboards. This is the first time he has been able to share his thoughts and feelings. It has been an exhilarating and joyous experience to learn who Samuel Chiou really is. (Show a letterboard & explain that Sam points to each letter to spell.) Learning to accurately spell to communicate is a great physical challenge that takes a lot of practice, like learning to play the piano. It is a great physical effort for Sam to control his arm and accurately point his finger at each letter. I was touched beyond belief when he spelled LISA for the first time. In helping me prepare this talk, Sam has shared some very important words from his heart and eventually will be able to write an entire talk himself.
One funny story: As we were working on the talk this week and trying to get Sam to identify things he is passionate about, his wonderful letterboard teacher developed a lesson about the topic of the talk. At one point Sam spelled, I LOVE SCRIPTURE NOT THIS LESSON. (This was his first-ever sassy comment!)
Sam's two favorite characters in the Book of Mormon are Nephi and Moroni. These young men shared many positive traits. They had great moral and physical strength and were strictly obedient to God. These men had great courage and persistence. We asked Sam which of the two prophets he wanted to focus on in the talk, and he spelled MORONI. Sam chose Moroni since we recently finished the lessons in the Book of Alma, which contains accounts of the many wars between the Nephites and Lamanites. Sam enjoyed the war stories. I would be cringing and groaning while reading them while Sam hung onto every word. He does this by putting his face very close to mine, eyes wide open and smiling and many times holding my hand.
In Alma 43 we learn that Moroni was appointed as the chief captain over all the armies of the Nephites at the young age of 25. That's only nine years older than Sam is today.
We asked Sam what trait he admires most in Moroni and he spelled:
OBEDIENT
It has been delightful to see Sam's personality emerge in recent years. In December I lost my voice and Mindy told me to come over anyway. I did my best to read to him in a whisper, and Sam just kept laughing and laughing! He thought it was absolutely hilarious that I didn't have a voice just like he didn't have a voice!
A few months ago during a lesson on Harry Potter, Sam's teacher asked him where his mom got her Harry Potter books. Instead of spelling LIBRARY as she thought he would, he spelled AMAZON.
Sam has communicated many loving and positive thoughts this year. He spelled out his love for each member of his family. He thanked his mother Mindy for his life. In all of Sam's communications he has never used a negative word. He has never complained about his disabilities. He has handled these physical limitations with courage and faith, persistence and love, much like the warriors in the Book of Mormon whom Sam admires so greatly.
In Alma 48:17 we read, "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been and were and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men."
Sam wanted to close his talk with his testimony. Sam has a reverence for and deep love for our Savior, Jesus Christ. He loves to study His words, His teachings, and His gospel. Sam loves each of his family members so much. When asked if he believed the Book of Mormon was true, he spelled:
TOTALLY
We say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Sam and Lisa's Talk, Cardiff Ward Sacrament Meeting, July 15, 2018
Sam and I are happy to be here today to share his feelings about the Book of Mormon which we studied this year in Seminary. I'm not an official seminary teacher but I know Sam very well because we have been having play dates together for the past five years, and Sam's mom asked me to teach him Seminary this year. There are several things Sam is passionate about. At the top of his list is sacred music and scripture study. Sam is completely mesmerized and attentive during seminary lessons. Sam is able to be very close to the Spirit of the Lord because he is so pure in heart.
Over the past year or so Sam has been learning how to spell to communicate using letterboards. This is the first time he has been able to share his thoughts and feelings. It has been an exhilarating and joyous experience to learn who Samuel Chiou really is. (Show a letterboard & explain that Sam points to each letter to spell.) Learning to accurately spell to communicate is a great physical challenge that takes a lot of practice, like learning to play the piano. It is a great physical effort for Sam to control his arm and accurately point his finger at each letter. I was touched beyond belief when he spelled LISA for the first time. In helping me prepare this talk, Sam has shared some very important words from his heart and eventually will be able to write an entire talk himself.
One funny story: As we were working on the talk this week and trying to get Sam to identify things he is passionate about, his wonderful letterboard teacher developed a lesson about the topic of the talk. At one point Sam spelled, I LOVE SCRIPTURE NOT THIS LESSON. (This was his first-ever sassy comment!)
Sam's two favorite characters in the Book of Mormon are Nephi and Moroni. These young men shared many positive traits. They had great moral and physical strength and were strictly obedient to God. These men had great courage and persistence. We asked Sam which of the two prophets he wanted to focus on in the talk, and he spelled MORONI. Sam chose Moroni since we recently finished the lessons in the Book of Alma, which contains accounts of the many wars between the Nephites and Lamanites. Sam enjoyed the war stories. I would be cringing and groaning while reading them while Sam hung onto every word. He does this by putting his face very close to mine, eyes wide open and smiling and many times holding my hand.
In Alma 43 we learn that Moroni was appointed as the chief captain over all the armies of the Nephites at the young age of 25. That's only nine years older than Sam is today.
We asked Sam what trait he admires most in Moroni and he spelled:
OBEDIENT
It has been delightful to see Sam's personality emerge in recent years. In December I lost my voice and Mindy told me to come over anyway. I did my best to read to him in a whisper, and Sam just kept laughing and laughing! He thought it was absolutely hilarious that I didn't have a voice just like he didn't have a voice!
A few months ago during a lesson on Harry Potter, Sam's teacher asked him where his mom got her Harry Potter books. Instead of spelling LIBRARY as she thought he would, he spelled AMAZON.
Sam has communicated many loving and positive thoughts this year. He spelled out his love for each member of his family. He thanked his mother Mindy for his life. In all of Sam's communications he has never used a negative word. He has never complained about his disabilities. He has handled these physical limitations with courage and faith, persistence and love, much like the warriors in the Book of Mormon whom Sam admires so greatly.
In Alma 48:17 we read, "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been and were and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men."
Sam wanted to close his talk with his testimony. Sam has a reverence for and deep love for our Savior, Jesus Christ. He loves to study His words, His teachings, and His gospel. Sam loves each of his family members so much. When asked if he believed the Book of Mormon was true, he spelled:
TOTALLY
We say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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