His Design Was a Sound Idea

Katsutoshi Ohta’s work is in demand. As a designer of custom microphones for popular Japanese entertainers and others, he is often involved in unusual assignments.

But this one from his supervisor was a bit vague: “A Christian church in the United States wants a special microphone for a pulpit.” It was to be used in a large building, and it needed to be small.

Brother Ohta, a member of the Machida Second Ward, Machida Japan Stake, was only familiar with one large Christian Church building in the United States—the Salt Lake Tabernacle. So he designed the microphone with that building in mind, hoping it would be suitable for whoever had ordered it.

It was by chance that Brother Ohta learned what happened to his microphone. He saw it in a photograph—in the conference issue of the Church’s International Magazine. It was being used by General Relief Society President Barbara Winder as she spoke in the Tabernacle.

Few members have the opportunity to contribute in any material way to the enjoyment of conference sessions by others, but now Brother Ohta has the satisfaction of knowing he is one of them.