"Become as a Little Child", Part 3

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Little children are nothing if not honest. They will always tell you exactly what they think, even if it means making comments that would seem extremely rude or offensive to an adult. So you hear things like, "This food is really gross", "You're getting really old, Grandma", and "Why is that guy so fat?". 

Part of the honesty of little children is the ability to never cease asking for what they need. They will tell you exactly when they feel the slightest bit of hunger, when they're having trouble with something, or when they are hurt. Sometimes those notifications will be verbal. Little children rarely believe they can handle everything on their own and so they are often correct. If there is no assistance whatsoever given to a little child in need, eventually that child will die. So it is with you (Mosiah 2:21).

Part of your repentance might need to include this childlike attribute of continually depending upon and asking God for all of your needs without worrying about offending Him. Even though God knows exactly what you need before you even know (Matthew 6:8), He still wants you to ask. In Alma 34, Amulek teaches how far this doctrine should be taken:

 17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;

 18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.

 19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.

 20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.

 21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.

 22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.

 23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.

24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.

 25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.

 26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.

 27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.

Revelation 3 also teaches the importance of knowing what you need and asking:

 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  

The scriptures invite you to become as a little child and become keenly aware of the things you need. Shamelessly ask for those things. That is part of the repentance described in the Doctrine of Christ.