One of my favorite people in High Priest’s quorum is a guy who is 60-plus and is unmarried and has a long series of self-admitted mental problems. He gives the most sincere prayers of anybody I know.
This is a man who has lived in Miami most of his life yet has a huge fear of bridges and water (you have to cross over bridges and water everywhere you go in Miami). He has had a series of health problems, in addition to a long list of phobias. He appears physically incapable of looking people in the eye yet has had the calling of “greeter” in the ward for more than seven years now.
He does not own a car and works as a legal clerk a short walk from his small studio apartment where he lives by himself. I have gotten to know him pretty well, and I don’t think he has ever had a girlfriend. But every Sunday, without fail, he either gets a ride to church or takes the bus the 10 miles from him house to the chapel. He is never late.
He really is an extraordinary person. He has taught himself to be fluent in Spanish (despite the fact that he is afraid to speak to people) and he speaks a little Portuguese. The former is a Miami survival mechanism, the latter appears to be just for fun. He knows the scriptures extremely well and has been known to hand out Books of Mormon on the bus, somehow overcoming a long list of phobias.
This man, let’s call him Adam, gives the most sincere prayers of anybody I have heard. I have witnessed him state his testimony — staring at the podium so he doesn’t have to see the Sacrament crowd — several times. Each time has been after he has overcome some physical problem. His testimony is usually like this:
“Heavenly Father, thank you once again for helping me overcome my latest illness. I told you I would give my testimony if you helped me with this illness, and here I am telling people that I know you are there and listening to me. You really helped me once again, and I’m grateful. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
Every time he gives his testimony, I try to listen carefully because I am always moved. Here is one of the least of these, talking directly to his Father. I wish I had even a mustard seed’s worth of this man’s faith.
A few weeks ago, Adam prayed in High Priest’s group:
“Heavenly Father, I want to thank you for allowing me to come to Church today. You know I have a lot of fears and problems to overcome, but every week I somehow make it to Church. I want to thank you once again for all you do for me. Help us to listen in High Priest’s.”
You’ll notice there are no “thees” and “thous” in these prayers. This is a man who is very accustomed to talking to his best and sometimes only friend. And he knows His Friend is listening.