Becoming as a Child

“Children are the epitome of innocence, they are the epitome of purity, they are the epitome of love, they are the epitome of hope and gladness in this difficult and troubled world. –Gordon B. Hinckley

(“Behold Your Little Ones,” Children’s Fireside Satellite Broadcast, January 23, 1994.)

Christ has commanded us to be as a little child; meek, humble, submissive, patient,  full of love, forgiving, honest and willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon Him. Becoming as a little child is not an easy task and it requires work, but the Lord has promised us that He will help us. In Doctrine and Covenants, Section 78, verses 17 and 18 it reads:

“¹⁷ Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye  have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; ¹⁸ And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings there of are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.”

Here we see that Christ will lead us along. We do not have all the knowledge sufficient, but He does. We must come unto Him and allow Him to lead us along. We must be teachable and willing to learn at the hands of our Savior. It was so apparent that Jesus Christ loved the children. One of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon is 3 Nephi chapter 9. 

Christ comes to the Americas and tells them that they need to come unto Him as “a little child.” In chapter nine He takes the children, bless them, prayers over them, weeps and angels encircle them. Oh, to be one of those children. Christ has enabled a way for us to become as those children. Through His words and the words of His prophets we can become as a little child; meek, humble, submissive, patient, full of love, forgiving, honest and willing to submit to all things.

“I am A Child of God.”

“Lead me, guide me, walk beside me.

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do,

to live with Him someday.”

(Hymns, pg. 304)