Mormon’s Letter About Little Children
This is a letter my father Mormon wrote to me soon after I was called to ministry.
' 'I pray for you constantly.
' 'Son, you need to work hard to clear up this terrible mistake.
'As soon as I heard about it, I asked the Lord.
God’s Message to Mormon
'’Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. I didn’t come into the world to call the righteous—I came for sinners who need to change. Healthy people don’t need a doctor; sick people do. Little children aren’t sick. They can’t sin yet. Adam’s curse has no hold on them because of me.
'That’s how the Holy Spirit revealed God’s word to me. ' 'Here’s what you should teach: repentance and baptism are for people old enough to understand right and wrong and capable of sin. Teach parents that they need to repent, be baptized, and become humble like their little children. ' 'Little children don’t need repentance or baptism.
'Little children are alive in Christ from the beginning of time. If that weren’t true, God would be playing favorites and changing his mind—he’d be biased.
A Warning Against False Teaching
'Anyone who thinks little children need baptism is poisoned with bitterness and trapped in sin. They have no faith, no hope, no love.
'Terrible judgment awaits anyone who twists God’s ways like this—unless they repent. I’m speaking boldly because God has given me authority. I’m not afraid of what anyone thinks. ' 'I’m filled with love that never ends. All children are the same to me. I love little children with a perfect love. ' 'I know God doesn’t play favorites. He doesn’t change.
'Little children can’t repent. So it’s terrible wickedness to deny them God’s pure mercy. ' 'Disaster is coming for people like that—death, hell, and endless suffering. I’m speaking boldly because God commanded me to.
'All little children are alive in Christ. So are all people who’ve never heard God’s law. The power of Christ’s sacrifice reaches everyone who never had the law. ' 'Baptizing them is mockery before God. It denies Christ’s mercy and the Holy Spirit’s power.
'Son, this shouldn’t be happening.
The Path of Repentance
'The first step of repentance is baptism. Baptism comes through faith and leads to obeying God’s commands. ' 'Forgiveness brings humility and a gentle heart. Because of that humility, the Holy Spirit comes as a comforter, filling you with hope and perfect love.
News from the War
'I’ll write you again, son, if I don’t have to march out against the Lamanites soon. ' 'Pray for them, son. Pray that they’ll turn back. But I’m afraid the Spirit has stopped trying to reach them. In this part of the land they’re trying to tear down every authority that comes from God. ' 'After rejecting so much truth, son, they’re going to be destroyed soon. ' 'Goodbye, my son. I’ll write again, or maybe we’ll see each other.
Influences
- 8:1 — Colossians 4:17 (KJV)And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
- 8:1 — John 21:1 (KJV)After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
- 8:2 — Galatians 3:1 (KJV)O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
- 8:3 — Romans 1:9 (KJV)For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
- 8:3 — Acts 4:30 (KJV)By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
- 8:5 — 1 Corinthians 1:11 (KJV), cf. 11:18For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
- 8:6 — Ephesians 3:13 (KJV)Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
- 8:7 — Romans 15:13 (KJV)Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
- 8:8 — Matthew 9:12 (KJV)But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
- 8:10 — Acts 2:38 (KJV)Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
- 8:11 — Luke 15:7 (KJV)I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
- 8:11 — Matthew 3:11 (KJV)I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
- 8:11 — Matthew 26:28 (KJV)For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
- 8:12 — Matthew 13:35 (KJV)That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
- 8:14 — Acts 8:23 (KJV)For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
- 8:16 — Acts 13:10 (KJV)And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
- 8:16 — Acts 4:31 (KJV)And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
- 8:16 — 1 John 4:18 (KJV)There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
- 8:16 — 1 John 4:18 (KJV)There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
- 8:17 — Colossians 3:14 (KJV)And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
- 8:19 — Romans 12:1 (KJV)I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
- 8:21 — Matthew 5:21 (KJV)Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
- 8:21 — Romans 14:10 (KJV)But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
- 8:22 — Romans 8:1 (KJV)There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
- 8:23 — Hebrews 6:1 (KJV)Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
- 8:25 — Matthew 26:28 (KJV)For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
- 8:26 — Philippians 2:3 (KJV)Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
- 8:26 — Matthew 1:18 (KJV)Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
- 8:28 — Matthew 5:44 (KJV)But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
- 8:28 — 2 Corinthians 11:3 (KJV)But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
- 8:28 — Luke 9:1 (KJV)Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
- 8:28 — John 5:44 (KJV)How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
- 8:29 — Romans 13:10 (KJV)Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.