In the opening session of the October 1986 General Conference, Boyd K. Packer spoke on “Little Children.” This is a tender subject because, as we know, children grow to be adults and forget that we will forever be God’s beloved little children.

Little children are innocent. Elder Packer lists just a few of many scriptures that prove God’s great love for innocent children.

Psalms 127:3   “Children are an heritage of the Lord.”

Mark 10:14     “Suffer the little children to come unto me.”

Matt. 18:1-5    “’ Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’… Jesus called a little child unto him.”

3 Ne 17:21      “And he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them.”

Elder Packer opens his talk by telling a story of a visitor who spends the night at a home where he is offered the master bedroom to sleep. In the middle of the night, a child, seeking comfort after a bad dream, finds the stranger in his parents’ bed. The child asks, “Did my daddy say you could sleep here?” The stranger responds, “Yes, your daddy said I could sleep here.” With that, the child climbs into the bed and is soon fast asleep.

As I read this story, my heart cringed. We live in a world where evil people ruin innocent and trusting children. It made me sad that this is where my thoughts went first.

These words, from Elder Packer, actually address my very thoughts:

“The bodies and minds and morals of increasing numbers of little children are brutalized and abused by those who should protect them.”

Brutalized children grow up to be angry and bitter adults. These adults often set out to brutalize other children, including their own. We live in an ugly world where men and women hurt each other because they have wounds that have never healed.

Heavenly Father provided us with a Savior who was willing to take on all the pains, sufferings, and open wounds we deal with in our lifetimes. Can we really accept that Jesus Christ asks us to unload our heavy burdens onto Him, who is mighty to save?

This now-famous quote, first uttered by Elder Packer in this talk, is a profound truth:

“The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.”

If we spend all of our time talking about our hurt and pain, we will become very depressed. If we talk about trying to do better and form better habits in our lives to escape our hurt and pain, we may have some success, but will likely, eventually fail. But, if we study the doctrines of the gospel and accept Jesus Christ as the ultimate healer of our hurt and pain and worship Him as our Savior, we can finally improve our behavior and become happy and innocent once again.

This truth goes for perpetrators and victims alike. We can all turn to the Savior and be healed. Our innocence can return, and we can return back to our Heavenly Father feeling like we are truly His beloved little children.

As trusting as that little child was to the stranger in the bed, so can we be safe in the arms of our Heavenly Father, and His Son, who brings us there.

What a great talk! It’s easy to get depressed with all the horrible, ugly things that are happening around us, but talks like this remind us of the hope we must have in our Savior. May we turn to Him and use those great gifts of forgiveness, repentance, and testimony to believe we are God’s beloved little children forever.