"Building Bridges" is the title of the statue of which 5-year-old Devin Knight is so proud. Excitedly pointing to the porcelain figure of a father and son, he exclaimed, "That's the statue he gave me" - "he" meaning President Gordon B. Hinckley.

The statue, a gift to Devin during a recent visit to the prophet's office in Salt Lake City, sits on a bookshelf in the Knight home in this small central Utah community."Building Bridges" is an apt phrase describing the activities of the precocious youngster who has been traveling the country throughout the past year as the 1995 national ambassador for the March of Dimes. The son of Jay and Charlene Knight of the Hobble Creek 1st Ward, Springville Utah Hobble Creek Stake, Devin was born 21/2 months premature and had under-developed lungs. His life was saved by a then-experimental drug for which research was supported by March of Dimes funds.

Today, the healthy child has visited some 30 U.S. cities - in the company of one of more family members - speaking at fund-raising events and visiting with numerous people as the national representative of the March of Dimes. Among the many highlights of his travels were visits with the First Presidency and a meeting in the White House with U.S. President Bill Clinton.

It was a conversation with President Clinton that still makes Brother and Sister Knight laugh - and turn a little red. Devin, along with his parents and siblings, Kara, 14; B.J., 12; and Katy, 9, met the president in the Oval Office in July.

President Clinton, the Knights recalled, quickly put them at ease and graciously accepted a gift of a Mormon Tabernacle Choir tape. The president then offered Devin a small pin of the presidential seal. Looking at the pin, the little boy asked - to the horror of his parents, "I wish it was bigger."

Chuckling, President Clinton took Devin by the hand to a cabinet in his office where the child picked from several items a shiny, silver sheriff's badge. Devin still has the pin, though it's obvious the badge is his favorite.

This was just one of many experiences the family has had during the past year. "Thrilled" was the one word Brother Knight used in describing his son being chosen as the March of Dimes national ambassador. "It's been an incredible opportunity for our family," he said. "I thought, `This is my opportunity to give something back.' On behalf of parents like us, we can go to these volunteers and fund-raisers and say, `Thank you for what you've done.' "

During a Church News interview in their home, the Knights spoke of the effects of the past year on their family. Sister Knight explained why a healthy child was used for what used to be called the March of Dimes "poster child," which used to depict children with more visible disabilities or birth defects.

"They (March of Dimes officials) wanted to change from that focus and say, `We are making a difference in the lives of children. Here's someone who started out critically ill and who is now perfectly healthy.' "

"They wanted a success story," Brother Knight added.

And a success story it truly is. Devin has come from a premature birth followed by two open-heart surgeries to being an energetic, happy, blond-haired, blue-eyed boy whose favorite way to answer questions is "Yup!"

Born cesarean section on April 21, 1990, because his mother had toxemia, Devin weighed just three pounds. By that night, Devin developed Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), which causes the lungs to collapse. Upon receiving permission from the Knights, the doctors began administering a new drug, which closely resembles a natural coating in human lungs.

Within four days, Devin's condition improved, but there were many ups and downs during the following weeks, including the surgeries. Finally, three months later, after many fasts by family, friends and ward members and priesthood blessings, the Knights took their child to Church. "Probably one of the proudest moments in my life was when we blessed him there in front of the whole ward," Brother Knight recalled. At the time, the Knights were members of the Springville (Utah) 16th Ward.

Devin was a healthy 4-year-old when he began representing the March of Dimes. At the time, Brother Knight was in his first year chairing a March of Dimes-Walk-A-Thon for his employer. He began taking Devin with him while signing up fellow employees.

"March of Dimes officials thought it was such a good idea that they used him to represent the local chapter," Brother Knight related. This soon led to county and then state representation. In August 1994, state officials encouraged the Knights to enter an application for national ambassador.

Excited is an understatement describing the Knights reaction when an official from the national headquarters called Brother Knight at his office in November with the news of Devin's selection as the 1995 ambassador. The happy father quickly called his wife.

Sister Knight recalled: "My family was visiting for Thanksgiving. I was screaming to them,' Devin's it!' "

Devin has, indeed, been "it" for nearly a year now - setting a good example for the March of Dimes, and, along with his family, setting a good example of the gospel. During many trips, Devin wore a CTR ring.

Asked if "choosing the right" is "building bridges," he answered, "Yup."