“Stop!”

By Barbara Jean Jones

Renee Huggins was born in Haiti, a country located on a small island in the Caribbean Sea. When she was eight years old, she and her mother moved to Utah to be closer to Renee’s aunts, uncles, and cousins.

After the move, Renee’s family and friends told her and her mother about the gospel. Soon the missionaries started teaching them.

At first, Renee wasn’t sure she wanted to be baptized. Then one day the missionaries read a scripture about baptism from the Book of Mormon. The prophet Nephi said that baptism is like a gate to a path leading to Heavenly Father. He also described the blessings of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism. (See 2 Ne. 31:17–18.)

Renee felt a warm, happy feeling in her heart. She knew she wanted to return to Heavenly Father. And she wanted the gift of the Holy Ghost. She thought the Holy Ghost would be a good friend and companion to help her throughout her life. She and her mother were soon baptized.

On a winter day not long after her baptism, Renee learned firsthand about the protection of the Holy Ghost. As she walked out the doors of her school, she heard a voice say, “Stop!” She looked around. She couldn’t see anyone, so she started forward again. Once again, the voice said, “Stop!” She obeyed.

As soon as she stopped, a pile of snow and big chunks of ice slid off the roof of the building and landed right in front of her! Her heart beat fast as she looked at the snow. If those ice chunks had hit her head, she could have been badly hurt.

Renee knew the Holy Ghost had warned her to stop. That night in her prayers, she thanked Heavenly Father for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Renee Huggins, age 9, Capitol Hill First Ward, Salt Lake Stake

Illustrated by Spencer Budd

Story Time in Galilee, by Del Parson