God Bless the little ones.

A small girl, about 7 years old, went to the stand today during Fast and Testimony meeting and said, (as best I can remember)

“Last Sunday I was outside picking up some nuts that had fallen. I think it is like everyone in the whole world, people who make mistakes and sin and fall down on the ground. Then Jesus comes along and scoops them up if they repent and makes it all better. We talked this out and we decided it is like a squirrel who gathers the nuts and makes them His. I just wanted to tell you about it, in the name of Jesus, Amen.”

Well, you get a talk like that once in a lifetime or so, but then at the very end of the meeting a man went up front with a questioning look on his face since it was time for the meeting to end. He looked at the Bishop and got a very warm encouraging smile, so he came on up, but then found he couldn’t speak. He stood there, then shuffled around, started to return to his seat, then came back, looked at the bishop again, stammered a couple words, and stopped. Then a little girl of about 5 years, his daughter, came up on the stand and stood next to him and held his hand, and just stood smiling at him. Then he could start. He thanked the ward for their support. He petted the little girl’s head as he calmly explained that for the past few weeks their little newborn had struggled and finally died the day before yesterday. He explained that they had been praying for the wrong thing, that the baby would be healed. They were at peace and the Lord was at the helm. He calmly thanked the ward for their support and, closing in the name of Christ, returned to his seat. This man is an investigator, not yet a member.

The faith of the children can accomplish miracles. These are the ones that Christ tarried with when he visited the Nephites of old, and He will do it again when He returns. Maybe we can learn to be more like these children if we really try hard. Neither of the above events could have happened if children were discouraged from getting up in our Fast and Testimony meetings and telling us what they feel.

God Bless the little ones.

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