“Alia’s New Ring,” Friend, Jan. 2015, 14–15
Alia’s New Ring
What could be better than a shiny CTR ring?
“Listen to the still small voice! Listen! Listen! when you have to make a choice. He will guide you always” (Children’s Songbook, 107).
Alia twisted the new CTR ring on her finger. At church today her Primary teacher had given everyone in the class a CTR ring. Alia loved the shiny green shield. She took her ring off to show Mom.
“What does ‘choose the right’ mean?” Mom asked.
“It means you do what Heavenly Father wants you to do,” Alia said.
Mom nodded. “You choose the right in lots of ways. Like when you’re kind to your brother and sister, or when you help Dad and me at home.”
Alia smiled and traced the letters on the ring.
She kept a close eye on her ring while she stacked blocks with Ethan and Grace. She liked the way the letters shone. She was careful with it during dinner. She didn’t want it to fall into the mashed potatoes! When she helped clear the table, she kept her fist clenched so the ring wouldn’t slip off.
Mom and Dad were washing dishes when Alia remembered to ask, “Why wasn’t Mikayla at church today?”
Mikayla was Alia’s newest friend. They’d met at church a few months ago, and Mikayla and her mom were planning to be baptized soon.
“I don’t know,” Dad said. “Maybe you could visit her tonight.”
“Could we take her some cookies?”
“Good idea,” Mom said. “After Ethan and Grace are in bed, we can take some of the cookies we made yesterday.”
As they got in the car later, Alia said, “I think I should give my CTR ring to Mikayla.”
“Are you sure?”
“Well, I guess we could just give her the cookies, but …”
“I know you love your ring, so you decide. Listen to the Holy Ghost,” Mom said. “Then follow that prompting!”
“But how do I know if it’s the Holy Ghost?”
“You’ll feel peaceful and happy inside. Why don’t we pray about it? If you feel good, then you know that’s the Holy Ghost.”
“OK. But if I give her my ring, can I get another one?”
“Yes, but it might take a while to come in the mail.”
After the prayer, they drove to Mikayla’s house.
“I’ll give them the cookies,” Mom said as they walked to the door. “I won’t say anything about the ring—that’s up to you. Just tug on my sleeve if you decide to do it.”
Alia twisted the ring around and around on her finger. She thought hard about what she should do.
Mom rang the doorbell. Mikayla’s mom answered and invited them in.
“We missed you at church today,” Mom said. “We wanted to let you know we were thinking about you.”
“Thank you. These cookies look great. Mikayla, come say hi.”
They talked for a few minutes. Mom was saying goodbye when Alia tugged on her sleeve. Mom looked down and smiled at Alia.
“Looks like there’s one more thing.”
Alia slid her ring off and handed it to Mikalya.
“Alia wanted to give you this,” Mom said. “We prayed about it before we came. She wants you to have it.”
Mikayla put the ring on her finger. “Thank you!”
Alia grinned. “It means ‘choose the right’!”
As Alia and her mom walked back to the car, Mom said, “Well, how do you feel?”
“A little sad that I don’t have the ring anymore, but glad I listened to the Holy Ghost.”
“I’m proud of you. And now you know what the Holy Ghost feels like!”
Alia smiled. “Can we get lots of CTR rings? In case the Holy Ghost tells me to give more away?”
Mom hugged her. “Good idea,” she said.