Why does Peter say that newborn babe taste of the Lord's graciousness?

Regarding babes, I start by referencing these verses of scripture in 1 Peter 2:

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God byJesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay inSion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth onhim shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to themwhich stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

See also Alma 36:24, 26; JST, Hebrews 6:4-5; Mosiah 4:11.

When a person is received unto baptism, fulfilling the prerequisites (broken heart, contrite spirit, repenting of all their sins, taking upon themselves the name of Christ, etc.), this person is wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost and is numbered among the people of the church of Christ (Moroni 6:1-4).  Christ is the author of that person’s salvation.  This person has tasted of the graciousness of the Lord.  He has been baptized by fire.  This is a taste.  This person is a babe in Christ.  Living in Christ is new to this person. Christ is precious to this person.  But, to those that are offended by this doctrine, the doctrine of Christ, the stone (Christ) becomes a stone of stumbling and Christ becomes a rock of offence. They stumble at the word.

A babe is the little child that Jesus speaks of, the only group to inherit the kingdom of God (3 Nephi 10).  This new member has decided to put all his trust in the merits of Christ (Moroni 6:4).  He is now perfect in Christ.  As he continues in Christ he will always rejoice in Christ and always be filled with his love (Mosiah 4:12).  This person is Christ’s seed (see Abinadi’s discourse in Mosiah).  This person knows that Christ paid for his past sins, present sins, and future sins as long as he continues to walk hand in hand in Christ.  This is what makes Christ so precious.  This person feels to always rejoice in what Christ has done. He continues to develop a deeper trust, a deeper knowledge, a deeper love for his Savior.  He is just a babe at first. 

All this begs the question: where do we, as lifelong members fit?  If we haven’t moved to the higher law yet, don’t feel in our hearts that Christ is precious, haven’t received the promise of the Father (baptism of fire), then where are we on the spiritual timeline?  I suppose that this particular person isn’t even a babe.  He’s still in the birth canal struggling to be born (again).

This kind of thinking rubs the average latter-day saint wrong.  They think, since I am an active member it is obvious that I have been born again. My leader told me so.  And, for me, I DO NOT JUDGE the matter.  God will work with each of us, helping us from where we are at.