Developing Our Talents

 

My son Mike has been taught piano by Kay, his instructor, for years.  Kay has two sons of her own; Robin, who is a music instructor at BYU and a concert pianist, and  Randal, his younger brother who has been deaf from birth. 

Robin developed his talent for playing piano at a very young age.  His mother, being a piano instructor herself, taught him the basics and nurtured him along with his music. Today, Robin teaches music at BYU and plays concerts all over the world.
Randal was born deaf, but was soon placed in a school for the deaf where he became very proficient at reading lips.  By developing this talent, Randal was able to communicate with others and complete a master’s degree in Education for the Deaf and Blind.

Last year Randal wrote his mother and told her that he had bought himself a used grand piano from a church that was switching its music venue from piano to guitar and drums.  Now that he had a piano he told her that he would like to learn to play.  “That would be wonderful” she said.  “But what would you like me to do? I live in Washington, and you live in Utah.  I can’t come down there for lessons, what do you suggest”?  Like the Brother of Jared (Ether chapter 3), Randal   knew what he wanted and he had the faith that his mother could help him.  “Go out and buy yourself a web cam for your computer and we can correspond over the internet via the video cam.  You can speak what I should do, and I can read your lips and learn how to play”.  She did, and he did.  He has recently been called as the ward baptismal pianist.  He plays at all of the ward baptisms.  When he finishes playing a piece he says “I have never heard a mistake in my playing; It always sounds great to me”. 

We all have talents; some come natural, others need to be nurtured and developed.  It is not important as to what our talents are, or how well we do with them, but that we share them with others.  That is the real joy and benefit of a talent, to share with others. 

 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

Ether chapter 3 is a reference from the Book of Mormon
For all LDS scripture references, go to http://lds.org/scriptures?lang=eng

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