More than 400 participants gathered to learn and socialize together during the Deaf Symposium at BYU July 21-25.
The symposium attracted participants from Greece, England, Taiwan, Mexico and Canada, as well as the United States, according to program coordinator Pamela Felshaw. The symposium's theme was: "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."Reports from those who attended indicated what they enjoyed most was the association with other deaf people, Sister Felshaw said.
It was also an opportunity for spiritual upliftment for the deaf community, said program administrator Valori Westwood.
Elder Joe J. Christensen of the Seventy spoke during a sacrament meeting as
the symposium concluded Sunday, July 25.
Members of the Utah Valley (Deaf) Branch, Provo Utah South Stake, and the Salt Lake Valley (Deaf) Ward, Salt Lake Park Stake, were among the 900 in attendance at the sacrament meeting in BYU's Joseph Smith Building auditorium, Sister Felshaw said.
There were several workshops during the symposium that was directed by Church Educational System Youth and Family Programs. Some of the workshop subjects were marriage and family, dealing with adversity, coping with being single, the priesthood, budgeting and avoiding debt, and deaf culture.
Many in the group went to the Provo Temple the night of July 22 for an endowment session in American Sign Language or to be baptized for the dead.
In addition to free time Saturday, July 24, there were displays and booths on personal preparedness. A barbecue dinner was followed by a slide show review of the symposium.
The symposium is held every two years. This year it followed an "Especially for Deaf Youth" conference.