"I don't wanna grow up, I wanna be a Toys 'R' Us kid..."

Today I'm here to talk about how and why we should be like little children. Matthew 18: 3-4 says, "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." So how do we become the children that the Lord wants us to be and that will be welcomed into His kingdom? What characteristics of a child are required? As I turned to the scriptures I found a few answers. Children are "lacking in understanding." They have a limited knowledge of the things around them and this can create a hunger for learning. Each of us should be quick to observe and learn from our environment. Someone named, James A. Baldwin, once said this, "Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." Along with this lack of understanding can come humility because they know they don't know everything. They have to turn to someone for answers to questions they may have and they're not afraid to ask. In Doctrine and Covenants 78:18 it says, "nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along." Christ is there to take us by the hand if we let him. We don't want to be the kid that has to be picked up and carried across the street while kicking and scream but to be the one who will gladly take His hand and follow along.

Mosiah 3:19 lists several ways as well in which we are to become as a child. We should be submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, and willing to submit to all things by the Father. It's been a humbling experience for me as I've thought about the children being the teachers and how far I still have to go to truly becoming like one. I know that we are part of an enormous heavenly family and that each one of us is loved and has a divine role to play here on this earth. I know that I am a child of God and that He knows and loves me as He does each and every person.