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Angela Johnson 精彩演講爲華報讀者簽名祝福

〔本報訊〕五月一日晩上七點,在Kirtland OH,離克利夫蘭唐人街三十分鐘的Historic Kirtland 敎堂,雕塑藝術家Angela Johnson爲數百名信徒和仰慕她的觀衆做了精彩的演講,當日華報讀者王玉蘭,Irene Chiang等人聆聽了Angela Johnson的演講,大家被她的激情和眞情感動,最後Angela Johnson還特意和本報讀者座談她愛上帝,並爲讀者簽名祝福。
    Angela Johnson 從13就開始學習聲樂,是一位有25年演唱生涯的歌唱家,一個偶然她發現自己還是一個雕塑藝術家。那時在Angela 接近40歲的時候,她發現自己在練習唱歌時,總是不那么愉快,一天她終于關上鋼琴蓋,開車到了一家藝術品商店,買了雕刻工具和水粘土回家,到家後就開始做雕塑,幾個小時後,一個小女孩展現在她面前。太神奇了,她從來沒有學過雕塑,她知道這是上帝的手指在觸及她的心。她用她的生命和心靈去觸摸去感受。Angela Johnson,耶穌基督給她天賦,讓她成爲一個天才雕塑家,雕刻出生動的藝術作品。
     當日她除了演講,還爲大家唱歌劇曲目和贊歌,舞臺上的 Angela Johnson 就象一支蠟燭點亮大家的心。 Angela Johnson 現家住尤塔州,她有三個孩子和九個孫子和外孫。

   It is Jesus Christ and His Gospel that has filled my heart my entire life. It is from that well of living water that I draw from.
There is risk involved, as there always is when people share. Giving means risk, but it also means growth.
      I am personally devoted to the growth process. One of my lifetime favorite sayings is, "What you are to be, you are now becoming." It is one of the most sacred responsibilities of someone who is invited to present, is to help others believe in their own ability to change, to progress. The way I feel that is accomplished is to help them see the power of creativity and empower them to search for their own soul treasures.
The Gospel of
   Jesus Christ empowers souls to create.
   Jesus Christ was constantly teaching parables of talents, gifts and giving. His Gospel is permeated with the vibrancy of life and light.
    No one soul is greater than another. God is no respecter of persons.
   Many times the unspoken, or maybe spoken message is that those called upon to present must somehow be more special. That is simply not true. Presentations must never carrying with them a condescending air of one individual bestowing light and wisdom upon another soul. All light and wisdom comes from God and without Him we would all be miserable, blind unenlightened souls.
    Jesus Christ taught by His example that humility, love and serving others are the qualities that define greatness.
   So take all of what I just said, and picture me standing backstage wearing my maroon Indian sari while Elder Pedersen, the Director of the Oakland Visitors' Center introduces me. When I come out on stage, I see that the lower level of the Inter Stake Center is almost completely full, somewhere around 1,000 people. I felt such a strong spirit of love for them and a desire that during the time we spent together, our lives would be better for it.
      I'm not going to give all the details of the presentation, but I want to let you know how I started things off. It's no secret that I grew up on a dairy farm in Montana. There are plenty of stories about that. But I thought, what can I give these people from the Oakland and surrounding areas that would be unique and just from me? So I decided to sing to the a rousing rendition of the Montana state song. Yes, I know, you wish you could have been there to hear it!
I had Rojohn Rietta, the awesome tenor I was going to sing "The Prayer" accompany me. He came to the piano, sounded the prearranged note and then returned to his seat. I have not sung that song in at least fifteen to twenty years. While I sang it I showed a few slides from my home in Montana, you know cows and tractors and things like that.
    And so the evening began. I stood on the left of the stage so as not to be in the way of the screen, with a spotlight on me, for almost an hour sharing my message, testifying of the healing power of our Savior. A PowerPoint presentation featured each one of the sculptures, which most of the people had seen. I closed my presentation singing Amazing Grace and The Temple Hill Choir sang so beautifully This Is The Christ.
      As I stood to greet people afterwords I was amazed by the outpouring of love. I loved to look into the eyes of those who came up to talk to me and so moved by the expressions of gratitude that were given.
     As has happened with every performance, I walked out of the hall with my husband, I was a better person for having sharing my life and love of Christ. I carry in my heart the hope that those who were there were strengthened with a greater comprehension of the love God has for all of us. That entire night I felt such a profound outpouring of the love of God. I was sustained as though on the wings of His love.