Ask a 7-year-old child of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints what happens at age 8, and the response is simple, quick and exact.

"You get baptized."

Ask a Church member to mention important ordinances, and one often lists baptism, temple ordinances and males receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood.

What's missing?

The ordinance of confirming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and receiving the Holy Ghost — one of the first four principles and ordinances of the gospel (Articles of Faith 1:4).

It is linked by association and timeliness to baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, with both preceded by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance.

When baptism is mentioned, the speaker often implies — and the listener often infers — the inclusion of the receiving of the Holy Ghost.

Just as confirmation cannot occur without the preliminary ordinance of baptism, baptism itself is invalid without one being confirmed and receiving the Holy Ghost.

Joseph Smith said, "You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half—that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost" (History of the Church, 5:499).

In New Testament times, the apostles ensured new converts received both the baptism by water and the baptism by fire. When uncertain of the latter, converts were rebaptized and then they received the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38, 8:12-17, 19:1-6).

In our day, young children often focus primarily on the visible, involved act of baptism.

Parents and others sometimes subconsciously perpetuate that focus in conversations made and attention given.

For example, when a child's baptism and confirmation are performed on the same day, the confirmation sometimes is treated like a routine, perfunctory middle step between the much-anticipated baptism and the subsequent family gathering for commemoration.

An ordinance where the promised companionship of the Godhead's third member is given and inspired blessings are pronounced by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder deserves better.

The influence of the Holy Ghost is available to those who honestly and faithfully seek truth, leading them to Jesus Christ and His gospel.

The Holy Ghost can provide a fullness of the blessings from the Spirit's constant companionship.

Such is a fulfillment of the Savior's promise: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever" (John 14:16).

Baptism is a singular event.

"If ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism — yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel" (2 Nephi 31:13).

The baptismal covenants — to take the name of Christ, to always remember Him and to keep His commandments — are renewed weekly as members partake of the sacrament.

The Holy Ghost is the medium by which members receive inspiration, personal revelation, witnesses, comforts and cautions — not just once or occasionally, but day to day as they live worthily and seek such promptings.

Parents, family members and teachers should teach young children of the equally important ordinances of both baptism and confirmation. Members would do well to remember the ongoing blessings provided through the latter and esteem it equally among the God-given saving ordinances.