As a Little Child

Written by April T Giauque

General Conference Talks April 2025

President Jeffery R Holland

President Holland starts his talk with this statement: “Jesus began the last year of His mortal life by intensifying the training of His Apostles. If His message and His Church were to survive Him, more had to be pressed into the hearts of 12 very ordinary men who had known Him for scarcely 24 months.” 

Apply what he said to my life, and I feel the same worry and fear. I would be freaked out to leave a creation in the hands of mere mortals. I mean, we constantly mess up, and this it the kingdom of Heaven He is talking about. And yet, there is still hope in that if we are humble and submissive as a child,, we will seek after HIs guidance and despite our shortcomings, miracles can be granted to the Children of Men because God loves us so much, 

President Holland recounts a story from the New Testament when the 12 were arguing. Jesus is watching this, and since He is the greatest of all teachers, He perceives the thoughts of their hearts and senses the first blush of personal pride. So he called a little child unto him, …

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

If you think about that statement and are filled with selfishness or pride, it might feel degrading, but if you are humble about it, the Savior's words come across as loving, and as a tender parent would do. 

There are many other times that the Savior wants us to become as little children. This is the first talk of the April 2025 conference, and right from the start, the Lord wants us to be humble—to be as little children. He wants us to seek after Him. To be prayerful, to let go of our pride, to think and seek of Him first, and to follow then the counsel that is given. This is a huge message from Heavenly Father to the world! Be humble and get connected with God. 

The Book of Mormon says, “The natural man is an enemy to God, … and will be, forever and ever, unless he … becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, … humble, … full of love, … even as a child [responds] to his father.”

Behold, Your Little Ones

Elder Holland then says,

"So what is it that we are to see in the virtues of life’s junior varsity? What was it that brought Christ Himself to tears in the most tender scene in the entire Book of Mormon? What was Jesus teaching when He called down heavenly fire and protective angels to surround those children, commanding the adults to “behold [their] little ones?”

Elder Holland said, “We don’t know what prompted all of that, but I have to think it had something to do with their purity and innocence, their inborn humility, and what it could bring to our lives if we retain it.” If you look at that story, you'll need to remember that being humble as a child can lead you to Christ and help you follow Him. If we are prideful, we will miss it. 

His next statement is this: “Why are our days of despair labeled by one as “vanity of vanities'? How is it that 'vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men' are the words that characterize the great and spacious building, so spiritually dead in Lehi’s vision?” Contrast: Children are sweet, pure, innocent, obedient, and look to Father for direction.

“Many of us profess to be Christians, yet we … do not take Him seriously. … We respect Him, but we don’t follow Him. … We quote His sayings, but we don’t live by them.” “We admire Him, but we don’t worship Him.” But children really do love Him, and that love can carry over into their other relationships in the playground of life. As a rule, even in their youngest years, children love so easily, they forgive so readily, they laugh so delightfully that even the coldest, hardest heart can melt.

Easton Jolley

Elder Holland shared a story about a boy named Easton Jolley. 

• Easton has Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy.

• Desires to pass the Sacrament without help

• He crawled up the steps of the rostrum to pass it to the Bishop

• The Bishop is his father, and with tears running down his face, he accepted it. 

• Easton wanted to please his Heavenly Father and his brother Jesus Christ, and he prepared himself to accomplish this goal for the glory of the Father.

If we were like little children, we would have faith, loyalty, purity, trust, honor, and, in the end, love for that father like Eastonso wished to please; it would be well with us. These and a dozen other qualities make us also say, “Whosoever … shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Elder Holland shared this, “Sisters and brothers and friends, at the top of the list of the most beautiful images I know are babies and children and youth, as conscientious and priceless as those we have referred to today. I testify that they are images of the kingdom of God flourishing on earth in all of its strength and beauty.”

My greatest takeaway from this talk is to set my pride aside and follow Him. Be meek and submissive and humble so that I can follow His counsel. 

In the end, Elder Holland bears a powerful witness: 

I bear witness that in his youth, Joseph Smith saw what he said he saw and conversed with those with whom he said he spoke. I testify that a humble and pure Russell M. Nelson is God’s ordained and gifted prophet and seer. I bear witness that the Book of Mormon is the most rewarding book I have ever read…I bear witness that priesthood and prayer are restoring my life—Christ’s priesthood and your prayers. I know all this to be true and bear witness of it in the name…even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

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