I know the importance of that because I have felt in my life the very tangible difference between having the Holy Ghost and not having the Holy Ghost. When I have the Holy Ghost, I feel peace – regardless of the circumstances I find myself in. When I don’t have the Holy Ghost, I feel despair. I lack faith and hope.

As I listened to the talk given by Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at the April general conference of the church, I realized that the blessing of having the Holy Ghost with us is realized when we follow the counsel she gave to come closer to Jesus Christ.

“We want our children to believe in Jesus Christ, belong to Jesus Christ and His Church through covenant, and strive to become like Jesus Christ,” she said, according to the printed version of her talk on the Church’s website.

Believing in Jesus Christ

First speaking of belief in Jesus Christ, Sister Wright pulled from the New Testament. She said:

Ryan Comer, Standard-Examiner

“After the bread of life sermon, ‘many of [the Lord’s] disciples’ found it hard to accept His teachings and doctrine, and they ‘went back, and walked no more with him.‘ Jesus then turned to the Twelve and asked a heart-wrenching question: ‘Will ye also go away?’

“Peter responded:

“‘Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

“‘… We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.’

“As Peter demonstrated, belief is ‘to have faith in someone or to accept something as true.’ And for our faith to lead to salvation, it must be centered in the Lord Jesus Christ. ‘We … exercise faith in [Jesus] Christ when we have an assurance that He exists, [an understanding] of His [true] character [and nature], and a knowledge that we are striving to live according to His will.'”

She quoted President Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who said, “Faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of all belief and the conduit of divine power.”

Faith in Jesus Christ isn’t some abstract idea that serves as nothing more than an emotional crutch during difficult times but doesn’t lead to anything. True faith in Jesus Christ, which Sister Wright explained, leads to salvation and is the conduit of divine power. That means we have blessings in this life, which include peace and strength to handle whatever comes our way, and we have blessings eternally: salvation.

Speaking of helping “children strengthen their belief in Jesus Christ and access His divine power,” Sister Wright said:

“Do they hear testimonies of Jesus Christ and His gospel? Do they see reverential, worshipful images of His ministry and godhood? Do they feel and recognize the Holy Ghost testifying of His reality and divinity? Do they know of His message and mission?”

Belonging to Jesus Christ and His Church

Secondly, Sister Wright touched on belonging to Jesus Christ and His Church. She said:

“King Benjamin’s people experienced a mighty change of heart and by covenant dedicated their lives to doing God’s will. Because of the covenant they made with God and Jesus Christ, they were ‘called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters.’ As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have a covenantal responsibility to build His kingdom and prepare for His return.

“How can we help children make and keep sacred covenants? In the Come, Follow Me manual, in appendix A and B, we find conversation starters and lessons that will empower families and support teachers and leaders in their sacred responsibility to prepare children for a lifetime on God’s covenant path.”

To me, the point here isn’t simply to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ but to also remain on the covenant path. A huge reason for me wanting my children to have the Holy Ghost with them is so that they can remain on that path when it inevitably becomes difficult.

Becoming like Jesus Christ

Third, Sister Wright spoke of becoming like Jesus Christ.

“In the Book of Mormon, the Savior admonished His newly called disciples to emulate Him as closely as possible: ‘What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.’

“How can we help baptized and confirmed children fulfill their covenantal responsibility to gather themselves and others unto Jesus Christ? Lifelong discipleship requires us to ‘be … doers of the word, and not hearers only.’

“When extending invitations to the Lord’s youngest disciples, please take every opportunity to lead them, guide them, walk beside them, and help them find the Way. Counsel with these precious little ones as they prepare to teach, testify, pray, or serve so they are confident and experience joy in fulfilling their responsibilities. Seek inspired ways to help them come to know this is their Church and they have a vital role to play in preparing for the Savior’s return.

“As Jesus Christ becomes the focus of our lives, what we desire, and how we desire it, is forever altered. Conversion changes everything! It changes our nature ‘that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.’ It changes how we spend our time, our resources; what we read, watch, listen to, and share. …”

It always strikes me a certain way when leaders of the Church say something will be a certain way because I know from personal experiences that they are telling the truth. When Sister Wright says all that conversion does, I don’t have to wonder, “Is she telling the truth? Is that really how it is?” I simply know as a matter of fact that it is, because everything she said conversion does, it has done for me, and I have specific examples of it. That kind of testimony can never be shattered.

Conclusion

The final part of Sister Wright’s talk was particularly powerful. I was in the Conference Center for the session in which this talk was given, and I remember after she said it, someone next to me let out an exclamation of awe because they knew, just like I knew, the truth and power behind her words. I don’t know how any of the 21,000 or however many people were in attendance couldn’t have felt the exact same thing.

“We need to infuse the Light of Jesus Christ into every corner of our lives,” she said. “If we are not testifying to the veracity of His premortal godhood, His divine mission, and His prison-bursting Resurrection in our homes and in every single meeting of this Church, then our messages of love, service, honesty, humility, gratitude, and compassion can become nothing more than a jaunty pep talk of thoughtful living. Without Jesus Christ there is no power to change, no purpose to aspire to, and no reconciliation of the travails of life. If we become casual in our discipleship of Jesus Christ, it could be catastrophic for our children.

“When we tell our children we love them, are we also telling them that their Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ love them? Our love may comfort and inspire, but Their love can sanctify, exalt, and heal.

“This Jesus should not be a fictional Jesus, or a simplistic Jesus, or a bodiless Jesus, or a casual Jesus, or an unknown Jesus, but a glorified, omnipotent, resurrected, exalted, worshipful, powerful Only Begotten Son of God, who is mighty to save. And as a young child in the Philippines compellingly testified to me one day, ‘We are worth saving!’ In the sacred and holy name of Him ‘whom God hath set forth to be [the great] propitiation,’ Jesus Christ, amen.”