Moroni 8:17-23

Continuing his writings about the baptism of children, Mormon tells Moroni he is filled with charity (“everlasting love”). All children are like him. He loves with a perfect love and are “partakers of salvation” (Moroni 8:17).

“Our ‘children are an heritage of the Lord’ (Psalm 127:3). He knows and loves each one with perfect love (see Moroni 8:17). What a sacred responsibility Heavenly Father places upon us as parents to partner with Him in helping His choice spirits become what He knows they can become.”[1]

God is neither partial nor changeable. “I perceive that it has been made known unto you, by the testimony of his word, that he cannot walk in crooked paths; neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; neither hath he a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right to that which is wrong; therefore, his course is one eternal round” (Alma 7:20).

“For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing” (Mormon 9:9).

He remains unchangeable throughout all eternity. “For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing” (Moroni 7:22).

Children cannot repent. Mormon calls denying them the mercies of God as “an awful wickedness.” Children are alive in Him through His mercy.

“And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

“Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein” (Luke 15:15-17).

Requiring children to be baptized denies Christ’s mercy and causes the atonement and power of His redemption meaningless.

Those who set aside the atonement as meaningless are in danger of death, hell, and endless torment.

“And according to the power of justice, for justice cannot be denied, ye must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless torment” (Jacob 6:10).

“For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore—

“Eternal punishment is God’s punishment.

“Endless punishment is God’s punishment” (D&C 19:10-12).

Mormon speaks boldly because he was commanded to speak this way.

The power of redemption comes to all who have no law. With no law, they are neither condemned nor come under condemnation. They cannot sin and baptism has no benefit for them. Baptism is for those who are capable of sin. All children are alive in Christ and are without the law. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at [OR overlooked, disregarded]; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).

“An often neglected section of Mormon’s letter to Moroni similarly proclaimed that not only are little children alive in Christ, but also those who are ‘without the law. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing’ (Moroni 8:22). According to Mormon, baptism is not needed for children and those ignorant of the law. Where no law is given or understood, there is no ability for men to obey or disobey the commands of God. Baptism does not aid those who lack the ability to obey God’s law since these people cannot sin and therefore need no remission of sins.”[2]

Denying the mercies of Christ is a mockery before God. It is putting trust in dead works. “Wherefore, although a man should be baptized an hundred times it availeth him nothing, for you cannot enter in at the strait gate by the law of Moses, neither by your dead works” (D&C 22:2).

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[1] Teaching Our Children to Understand, Sister Cheryl A. Esplin, April 2012 General Conference.

[2] Redeeming the Dead: Tender Mercies, Turning of Hearts, and Restoration of Authority, David L. Paulsen, Kendel J. Christensen, and Martin Pulido, Maxwell Institute website.