Come, Follow Me for Littles · September 7

A mother and father in modest ancient-Israel robes sitting together on a low stone bench under a leafy olive tree with their two small children gathered close, an open scroll across their laps, everyone smiling warmly at each other, green grass and colourful wildflowers all around, sunny day.

Monday

The Very First Step

Today's idea Being wise starts with one thing: loving Heavenly Father.

Have you ever learned something brand new — like building a tall block tower, or zipping up your own coat? Everything you learn has a first step.

There is a book in the scriptures called Proverbs. It is full of short, wise sayings, a little like the good advice a grandpa gives you. And right at the beginning, it tells us the very first step to becoming wise: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

Now, that word “fear” sounds a little funny, doesn’t it? Here it does not mean being scared. Not even a tiny bit. It means loving Heavenly Father so much, and knowing He is so good, that you want to do what He asks.

It is the way you feel about somebody you love all the way — you listen to them, because you know they love you back.

Proverbs says something else on the very same page: listen to your mom and dad when they teach you good things. Their words are like a beautiful necklace you get to wear everywhere you go.

So being wise does not start with being big, or being fast, or knowing lots of facts. It starts with love. And you can start today.

A delighted child in modest ancient-Israel robes kneeling in warm sandy earth beside a small wooden treasure chest they have just uncovered, the open lid spilling a soft golden glow, a little woven basket and a small trowel beside them, sunny day.

Tuesday

Digging for Treasure

Proverbs 2

Today's idea Wisdom is worth looking for, like hidden treasure — and Heavenly Father loves to give it away.

If somebody told you there was treasure buried in your backyard, what would you do? Probably run and get a shovel and start digging right away!

Proverbs says we should look for wisdom exactly like that. It says to “search for her as for hid treasures” — the way you would hunt for a chest full of gold.

But what is wisdom? Wisdom is knowing the good and right thing to do, and then actually doing it. It is different from just knowing facts. You can know a lot of things and still not be wise.

Proverbs also says to “incline thine ear.” That means lean in close and listen carefully. Wisdom does not shout at you. You have to want it, and be quiet enough to hear it.

And here is the very best part. You do not have to dig it up all by yourself, because “the Lord giveth wisdom.” When you ask Heavenly Father to help you know what is right, that warm, quiet feeling inside is the Holy Ghost helping you.

That is treasure you get to carry around in your heart. And it never, ever runs out.

A small child in modest ancient-Israel robes holding the hand of a kind grown-up as they walk together up a gentle winding path through soft green hills at sunrise, the path glowing warm and bright ahead, wildflowers along both edges.

Wednesday

He Will Show You the Way

Proverbs 3

Today's idea When we trust Heavenly Father with our whole heart, He helps show us which way to go.

Have you ever gone on a walk holding somebody’s hand — somebody bigger than you, who knew the way? You did not have to read a map or remember the turns. You just held on and walked.

The most famous words in all of Proverbs say something like that: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding… and he shall direct thy paths.”

“Lean not unto thine own understanding” is an old way of saying: you do not have to figure out every single thing all by yourself. That is such good news, because little people do not know everything yet. (Neither do grown-ups, actually!)

And “he shall direct thy paths” means Heavenly Father will help show you which way to go. Sometimes that is a good idea that pops into your head. Sometimes it is a kind grown-up who helps. Sometimes it is a warm feeling that says, this way.

Proverbs says the good path is like the morning: it starts out soft and gets brighter and brighter and brighter, all day long.

So you can trust Him with the whole walk — even the parts around the corner that you cannot see yet.

Two children in modest ancient-Israel robes sitting facing each other on a sunny stone courtyard step, one gently offering a small piece of honeycomb with an open hand, the other beginning to smile, a clay bowl of figs beside them, warm golden light.

Thursday

A Soft Answer

Proverbs 15

Today's idea Gentle words help big feelings get smaller.

Have you ever noticed what happens when somebody is upset, and you shout right back at them? It almost always gets louder.

Proverbs knows a much better trick. It says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” A soft answer means quiet, gentle, kind words. And “wrath” is the big, hot, grumpy feeling somebody gets when they are upset.

So when a friend or a brother or a sister is feeling grumpy, gentle words help that grumpy feeling get smaller. It works a bit like blowing on a hot bowl of soup. Soft and slow cools it down.

Proverbs says something lovely about kind words, too. It says pleasant words are like a honeycomb — sweet to taste, and good all the way down inside.

It is not always easy. Sometimes you can feel your own voice starting to get big. When that happens, you can take one slow breath first, and then choose the soft answer.

Jesus talked that way. Even when people were not kind to Him, He answered gently. You can be like Him, one soft answer at a time.

A warm, kind woman in modest ancient-Israel robes handing a round loaf of bread to a smiling neighbor child, her own two children hugging her sides and looking up at her happily, a woven basket of bread and folded cloth beside her, small garden and olive tree behind, golden light.

Friday

The Kindest Kind of Beautiful

Proverbs 31

Today's idea Kindness is what makes a person truly beautiful.

What makes somebody beautiful? Sparkly shoes? Fancy hair? The very last chapter of Proverbs has a surprising answer.

It is a poem about a wonderful woman, and it lists all the things she does. She works hard. She plants a garden. She makes warm clothes for her family. And she reaches out her hand to people who need help.

Then comes the best line of all: “in her tongue is the law of kindness.” That means kindness is the rule for the way she talks — not just on good days. Every day.

The poem also says that strength and honour are her clothing. Isn’t that a nice picture? Being strong and being good, worn like a warm coat she takes everywhere.

Her children notice. The poem says her children stand right up and call her blessed, which is a beautiful old way of saying, “thank you, I love you, you are wonderful.”

Proverbs says that fancy things fade away, but somebody who loves Heavenly Father is the one really worth praising. Kindness is the kindest kind of beautiful.

Children in modest ancient-Israel robes together in a sunny garden — one kneeling to plant a tiny green seedling, one standing with arms raised high dancing, two others hugging, a woven basket of ripe figs nearby, blossoms and warm afternoon light.

Saturday

A Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3

Today's idea There is a right time for every kind of day, and Heavenly Father is with us in all of them.

Some days you run and run and run. Some days you curl up quietly with a blanket. Did you know that both of those are good days?

There is a poem in the scriptures, in a book called Ecclesiastes, that begins: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

Then it makes a list. A time to plant little seeds, and a time to pick what grew. A time to be quiet, and a time to speak up. A time to cry, and a time to laugh. A time to dance. A time to hold each other tight.

Isn’t it nice that crying is on the list? That means a sad day is a real kind of day too — not a mistake. And look what comes right after it on the list: laughing. And dancing. And hugging.

The poem also says that God “hath made every thing beautiful in his time.” Even the slow days. Even the waiting days, when you wish something would hurry up.

Heavenly Father is with you on the running days and the quiet days, the laughing days and the tired ones. Every single kind.

A young child in modest ancient-Israel robes standing on a soft grassy hilltop at sunrise with both hands over their heart and a peaceful happy smile, looking up at a wide golden sky with gentle clouds and a few small birds, wildflowers all around.

Sunday

Remember Him Now

Ecclesiastes 11–12

Today's idea You do not have to be big to love Heavenly Father — you can start right now, while you are little.

There are some things you have to wait until you are bigger to do. Driving a car. Staying up very late. Reaching the top shelf all by yourself.

But there is one thing you never have to wait for. Near the very end of Ecclesiastes it says: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.”

Your Creator is Heavenly Father — the One who made you. And “the days of thy youth” means right now, while you are small.

You do not have to be grown up to talk to Heavenly Father, or sing a song about Him, or be kind to somebody because you love Him. You can do every one of those things today, exactly at the size you are.

Then Ecclesiastes squeezes the whole book down into one little sentence at the end: love Heavenly Father, and keep His commandments. That is it. That is the whole thing.

And that same book says to be joyful while you are young. So go and be glad today. Heavenly Father made you, He knows you, and He is so happy that you are His.