As bishop of my ward, I visit the Primary children during the second hour of meetings on fast Sunday each month. I always look forward to sharing my testimony and a message with the children. I love Primary. I love the children. I love their teachers and leaders. I love the music and messages and powerful spirit that is in Primary.
Early Sept. 4, my mother, Carol Matheson, passed away. For the first time since becoming the bishop, I wasn’t going to go to Primary on the first Sunday of the month. I had canceled meetings and interviews and planned to leave to gather with my family right after our ward sacrament service.
During the closing hymn, however, I had a flood of memories from my time in Primary as a boy, and recognized that it was my mother who had taught me to love Primary. Mom had served for decades as a Primary president and for years in her favorite calling as Primary music leader.
I knew I had to go to Primary! After sacrament meeting, I quickly exited the chapel and went directly to the room where opening exercises for the children was just beginning.
I greeted the children the way I always do, “How is my favorite, and the most amazing, Primary in the world today?”
I told them that during sacrament meeting I remembered why I loved Primary so very much — I had learned it from my mother. Then I told them that the bishop was a little sad, because just a few hours before church, my mom had passed away. I was happy that she would be with my dad in heaven. My heart was a little heavy and needed a lift. I told the children that I learned from my mother that when I am sad nothing is better than a Primary song to bring the Spirit.
I asked the children if instead of them listening to me if I could listen to them sing mine, and my mom’s, favorite Primary song, “My Heavenly Father Loves Me.” The Spirit filled the room as I sat at the front and felt the peace of that song, along with tender pleas in the voices of the amazing children and their teachers.
When the music ceased, the room was still. I thanked the children for ministering to me the way the Savior did. I told them they had done what Jesus asks all His disciples to do: Mourn with those that mourn and comfort those in need of comfort (Mosiah 18:9). The children realized that even as very young disciples they can minister, comfort and bless in the Savior’s higher, holier way.
Over the next several hours I received text messages and short videos from individual Primary children and entire Primary classes that, having realized their power, influence and impact for good, continued to comfort a bishop in need of comfort.
The children walked with me in my moment of need because they were already walking with Jesus.
“And a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11:6).
— Boyd C. Matheson is bishop of the Manila 9th Ward, Pleasant Grove Utah Manila Stake, and hosts an afternoon program on KSL NewsRadio in Salt Lake City.
