Issue #1, March 2006
· : LDS Deaf Events : ·
Deaflds.org Back Online with New Design
By Deaflds.org Staff / March 1, 2006
Deaflds.org is back online with a new design and new goals to contact more Deaf Latter-day Saints across the world. Feel free to browse around and see what's available. A large-print version for deaf-blind members is coming.
For more information about deaflds.org, contact 
info@deaflds.org.
Northwest Deaf Celebrates 25 Years in Portland
By Deaflds.org Staff / March 1, 2006
The Portland Heights Deaf Branch announces "Celebrating the Northwest: 25 Years of Faith," an area conference for the Deaf to be held in Portland, July 26-29, 2006. Former Oregon Deaf program missionaries (those who served in Portland or Salem) are welcome to attend a missionary reunion. The Conference will have two days of workshops and Sunday services to be held at the Portland Deaf Branch.
For more information, contact info@deaflds.org.
· : News & Info : ·
New Missionaries Called to Serve in San Jose, Ft. Lauderdale
By Deaflds.org Staff / March 1, 2006
Mike Brown (Orem, UT) has been called to serve in the San Jose California Mission (Fremont Deaf Branch, Fremont, CA). He entered the MTC January 25, 2006.
Jim and Peggy Harper (Orem, UT), are currently serving in the Ft. Lauderdale Florida Mission, working in the Miramar Deaf Branch in Hollywood, FL until November 2007.
Have Deaf Program missionary news to share?
Please send the information to info@deaflds.org.
Signs of faith: A Mormon missionary brings religion to the hearing impaired
By Alexandra Alter / Miami Herald
"On Sunday mornings at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hollywood, hymns are sung with synchronized gestures, bread and water are blessed through signs, prayers for the sick and absent alight with a flutter of hands. Fifty people rise to their feet and say "Amen" -- a light punch, the right hand driving into the left..."
Read the rest of this story online at the Miami Herald.
Have Deaf Program missionary news to share?
Please send the information to info@deaflds.org.
Where is Everybody?
By Deaflds.org Staff / March 1, 2006
Ever since the early days of the organization of groups, branches, and wards for the Deaf throughout the Church, it has been difficult to find and keep in contact with all of them. Branches and groups are established, and then as quickly, they go away again. Our experience with the 2004 Deaf Symposium reminded us of this problem: 1) obviously, not all Deaf Latter-day Saints live in Utah (several from the Eastern US wished they knew more about about the Symposium) and 2) if they're not in Utah, then where are they?
We need your help: let us know where you are. We want to build a Deaf Unit Directory that makes it easier to contact you and inform you of conferences, workshops, temple accessibility, and prepare for the next Deaf Symposium in 2007.
If you have additional information about Deaf wards, branches, or groups, please contact us at info@deaflds.org.
· : Materials & Resources : ·
Book of Mormon ASL Translation Finally Released on DVD
By Deaflds.org Staff / March 5, 2006
The DVD edition of the Book of Mormon in American Sign Language (ASL) with closed captioning is now available. There is no audio track. It is a set of 17 DVDs and is now at the Salt Lake Distribution Services either on line or by mail.
On the internet go to www.ldscatalog.org then on the left of the screen enter the product number 54024 and click Go this will go directly to the order screen for the DVD Book of Mormon, ASL. 54024010 Book of Mormon, American Sign Language Edition $2.50
First Presidency Messages and Visiting Teaching Messages in ASL Now Available Online
By Deaflds.org Staff / March 5, 2006
To help people get directly to the ASL materials on the Church's website www.lds.org, simply enter asl.lds.org in your browser to find the page.
Currently you will find the Monthly First Presidency messages and the Visiting Teaching messages in ASL. These messages will be posted at the first of each month. The files on this page include American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, 56K and 300K refer to the size of the file and the quality of the video. If you have a dial-up or slow internet connection, we recommend using the 56K file. We hope this newest improvement will help you as you teach these inspiring messages as you do your Home and visiting Teaching.
Please visit this site and give your comments on the ASL Usage Survey at the top right of the screen. The more that Deaf members use this site, the more ASL material will be approved to be placed on the site to bless the lives of those who will use it.
Joseph Smith Broadcast, Christmas Devotional, General Conference ASL Interpretations Online
By Deaflds.org Staff / March 1, 2006
The Joseph Smith Commerative Broadcast, 23 Dec is available on the Internet with ASL interpretation. You will need a high speed connection, 300K to view it. Go to www.lds.org and click 'Joseph Smith Commerative Broadcast' and choose 'American Sign Language 300k'. Note also that ASL interpretation is available for the 4 Dec 2005 First Presidency Devotional and the October 2005 General Conference and the General Relief Society Meeting.