Her name is Sister Swain. Her calling is the Primary chorister.

Gavin is one of the Primary's darling 3-year-olds. And, while he doesn't always get Sister Swain's name right — he sometimes calls her Sister Swing — he recognizes Sister Swain, even when their meeting is not in the familiar surroundings of the children's meeting room at their ward meetinghouse.

But, most of all, Gavin knows that Sister Swain loves and cares about him.

Some time ago, Gavin saw Sister Swain at the grocery store. When Sister Swain saw Gavin, she went out of her way to walk over and say hello.

Gavin was pleased. And after Sister Swain left, Gavin told his mother, "She belongs to me."

In a way, we — adults — do belong to the children. We belong to them in that we have a responsibility to teach and train, to help and lift, to comfort and nurture, to guide and lead them with the truths of the gospel.

Perhaps one of the reasons that the Savior told His followers to "suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me," is that He knew so well that these young souls are impressionable, teachable and thirsty for knowledge. (See Matt. 19:14, Mark 10:14 and Luke 18:16.)

The Old Testament story of Samuel and Eli is a good illustration of that childhood enthusiasm for truth.

Though Eli was the priest, he'd had some difficulty in his own family. His sons' deeds were particularly troublesome.

The boy Samuel was a righteous lad and, though not one of Eli's own sons, was sent to learn at the feet of Eli.

As Samuel slept one night, the Lord called him. Being obedient, Samuel answered "Here am I" and then, thinking it was Eli who had called, ran to see what the priest wanted. Eli, of course, told Samuel he had not called.

Again Samuel went to sleep and again he was awaken by the voice of the Lord. Mistaken again about whose voice he heard, Samuel sought Eli and was again informed that the priest had not called him.

"And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.

"Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

"And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth." (1 Sam. 3:8-10.)

This, of course, was an unparalleled teaching experience for the young man — one that helped him make good decisions later in life.

The Lord told Samuel, among other things, that Eli's house would be "judged . . . because his sons made themselves vile, and he [Eli] restrained them not." (1 Sam. 3:13.)

But Samuel's real challenge came the next morning when Eli, someone Samuel obviously revered, asked Samuel what the Lord had told him. Telling his mentor that the Lord was displeased with him, must have been difficult for the boy. But "Samuel told him every whit. . . . "

Samuel's integrity, even at that young age, was true. And he set a correct course for his life.

"And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him. . . . " (See 1 Sam. 3:18-19.)

What parent, teacher, leader or friend would not want the blessing of having the "Lord with him" as a child navigates an uncertain and often troubling world? And what could be a greater blessing than to have a continual guidance throughout one's life? And, of course, the best way to ensure that blessing as an adult is to plant, cultivate and grow — while still a child — the principles upon which it is based.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Prov. 22:6.)

Perhaps, then, we — the adults who "belong" to the children — should suffer the little ones to come to us so that we can fulfill our sacred responsibility.

One could reasonably suggest that Sister Swain wasn't directly teaching Gavin when she acknowledged him in the grocery store. But it is wondrously obvious that she has had more than a passing influence on Gavin — during Primary sharing time, in the grocery store or wherever.

Gavin's parents, no doubt, are thankful for the Sister Swains of the world. And so are the rest of us.