Recently, I talked with an investigator about baptism. He told me that he was baptized into his Church at a very early age of 2 years old. He felt that he don't need to be baptized as he was baptized at this age. I've informed him what the Lord have said concerning infant baptism. It is found in Moroni 8.
In it, Mormon was writing an epistle to his son Moroni about this subject.
4 And now, my son, I speak unto you concerning that which grieveth me exceedingly; for it grieveth me that there should adisputations rise among you.
5 For, if I have learned the truth, there have been disputations among you concerning the baptism of your little children.
6 And now, my son, I desire that ye should labor diligently, that this gross error should be removed from among you; for, for this intent I have written this epistle.
7 For immediately after I had learned these things of you I inquired of the Lord concerning the matter. And the aword of the Lord came to me by the power of the Holy Ghost, saying:
8 aListen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the bwhole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little cchildren are dwhole, for they are not capable of committing esin; wherefore the curse of fAdam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of gcircumcision is done away in me.
9 And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore, my beloved son, I know that it is solemn amockery before God, that ye should baptize little children.
10 Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are aaccountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little bchildren, and they shall all be saved with their little children.
11 And their little achildren need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the bremission of sins.
12 But little achildren are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a brespecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism!
As we see in these verses, the Lord revealed that baptism of little children are an abominable before Him. Jesus Christ came into the world so that the sinners can repent of their sins and be redeemed. Little children when they are born into this world are born whole. They have not sinned in any degree for they are incapable of doing so. As Mormon said, it's a solemn mockery; an insult to God; that little children should be baptized. Only those who are capable of making choices, capable of committing sins should repent and be baptized. Little children cannot for they do not know from the right and the wrong so they are not accountable until they reach an age of accountability.
In verse 11, little children don't need to repent nor do they need to be baptized. For baptism's purpose is unto repentance to fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins. In verse 12, we see that little children are alive in Christ. When they was born into this world they was not born into sin, so they will not be held accountable for the sin. Those who believe in infant baptism imagined up a god who is not God of miracles. If we look over the course of history, an uncountable number of children passed away either due to accidents or natural causes. Will these be thrust down to hell? No, they will be saved at the last days.
13 Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.
If 13 was the case, that would signify that God is changeable and respecter of person. However, we know that it is not so.
14 Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither afaith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.
15 For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism.
16 Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent. Behold, I speak with boldness, having aauthority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for bperfect clove dcasteth out all fear.
17 And I am filled with acharity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and bpartakers of salvation.
18 For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is aunchangeable from ball eternity to all eternity.
19 Little achildren cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his bmercy.
20 And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the aatonement of him and the power of his redemption.
21 Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, ahell, and an bendless torment. I speak it boldly; God hath commanded me. Listen unto them and give heed, or they stand against you at the cjudgment-seat of Christ.
22 For behold that all little children are aalive in Christ, and also all they that are without the blaw. For the power of credemption cometh on all them that have dno law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing—
23 But it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in adead works.
24 Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be; for arepentance is unto them that are under condemnation and under the curse of a broken law.
25 And the first fruits of arepentance is bbaptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth cremission of sins;
26 And the remission of sins bringeth ameekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the bHoly Ghost, which cComforter dfilleth with hope and perfect elove, which love endureth by fdiligence unto gprayer, until the end shall come, when all the hsaints shall dwell with God.
I will allow the verses to explain themselves as they are clear enough to be understood. Those who baptize little children deny God. Whoever does this are in great danger of being cast out into the brimstone lakes. Does it not say in the New Testament that Jesus said unto the disciplines that to enter the kingdom of Heaven, they have to become like children. As it say in Matthew 18: 2-6:
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little achildren, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall ahumble himself as this little bchild, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
6 But whoso shall aoffend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
As we clearly see, Jesus taught that we are to be converted and become as little children or we cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven. If we become childlike, we will be humble, meek, and submissive to everything that the Father sees fit to inflict upon us. Afterward we will be able to enter God's Kingdom. As the last verse say, whoever offend one of those little ones which believe in Jesus Christ, it's better that he be drowned. Baptizing them at early age is an affront to God.
What age should they be baptized? Latter day revelations reveal that the accountable age is 8 years old and capable of making choices. Those who was baptized when they was infant, when they was incapable of sinning is not counted as baptism. For without the laws, can a person be held accountable for something they have no knowledge? No, for it will not be just. As we all know, God is a God of Justice and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, a God of Mercy also. Justice means that we are judged for things that we have control over. If we don't have control over something, how can we be held accountable for it? Mercy is for those who work, have faith, and strive to do what God commands. At the last days mercy will be given to those who followed Jesus Christ, crossed themselves of the world, and took upon them the first ordinance of the gospel which is baptism by immersion, not by sprinkling.
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