The Book of Mormon
~AD 401–421

Moroni 8

Mormon addresses infant baptism in a letter to Moroni. After learning about disputes regarding baptizing little children, Mormon inquired of the Lord and received revelation. Christ declared that little children are whole and incapable of sin, making their baptism mockery. Those who suppose children need baptism deny Christ's mercies. Mormon warns of the Nephites' pride and fears destruction.

Mormon’s Letter to Moroni

This is a letter my father Mormon wrote to me, Moroni. He wrote it to me soon after I was called to be a minister. This is what he wrote:

My dear son Moroni, I’m very happy that the Lord Jesus Christ has remembered you and called you to serve him in his holy work. I always remember you in my prayers. I keep praying to God the Father in the name of his holy child, Jesus. I pray that through his goodness and grace, he will keep you faithful to the end.

The Problem with Baptizing Children

My son, I need to talk to you about something that makes me very sad. It makes me sad that people are arguing among you. I learned that people are arguing about baptizing little children. My son, I want you to work hard to get rid of this big mistake. That’s why I wrote this letter.

Right after I learned about this, I asked the Lord about it. The word of the Lord came to me by the power of the Holy Spirit. He said:

The Lord’s Words About Children

'Listen to the words of Christ, your Savior, your Lord and your God. I came into the world to call sinners to turn away from their sins. I didn’t come to call people who are already doing right. Healthy people don’t need a doctor. Only sick people do. Little children are healthy. They can’t sin. So the curse of Adam is taken away from them in me. It has no power over them. The law about circumcision is done away in me.'

This is how the Holy Spirit told me God’s word. So my dear son, I know that baptizing little children makes fun of God. I tell you, this is what you should teach: people who are old enough to know right from wrong need to turn from their sins and be baptized. Teach parents that they must turn from their sins and be baptized. They must humble themselves like their little children. Then they and their little children will all be saved. Little children don’t need to turn from sins. They don’t need baptism. Baptism is for turning from sins and obeying God’s commands to have sins forgiven. But little children are alive in Christ from the very beginning of the world. If not, then God treats people differently. He would also be a God who changes and picks favorites. Think of how many little children have died without baptism. So if little children couldn’t be saved without baptism, they would have gone to an endless hell.

Why Baptizing Children Is Wrong

I tell you, anyone who thinks little children need baptism is very bitter and trapped in sin. That person has no faith, hope, or charity. If that person died while thinking that way, he would go to hell. It’s terrible and wrong to think that God saves one child because of baptism, but another child dies because he wasn’t baptized.

Bad things will happen to people who twist the ways of the Lord like this. They will die unless they turn from their sins. I speak boldly because I have authority from God. I’m not scared of what people can do. Perfect love takes away all fear. I’m filled with charity, which is love that lasts forever. So all children are the same to me. I love little children with a perfect love. They are all the same and share in being saved.

I know that God doesn’t treat people differently. He doesn’t change. He stays the same from the beginning of time to the end of time. Little children can’t turn from sins. So it’s terrible and wrong to say they don’t get God’s pure mercy. They are all alive in him because of his mercy. Anyone who says little children need baptism rejects Christ’s mercy. That person says Christ’s sacrifice and his power to save don’t matter. Bad things will happen to people like that. They are in danger of death, hell, and endless pain. I speak boldly because God commanded me. Listen to these words and pay attention. Or these words will stand against you when Christ judges you.

Who Needs to Turn from Sins

All little children are alive in Christ. So are all people who don’t know the law. The power to save comes to all people who don’t know the law. So anyone who isn’t condemned can’t turn from sins. For people like that, baptism does nothing. But it makes fun of God. It rejects Christ’s mercy and the power of his Holy Spirit. It means trusting in dead works.

My son, this shouldn’t happen. Turning from sins is for people who are condemned and under the curse of a broken law. The first step of turning from sins is baptism. Baptism comes by faith to obey the commands. Obeying the commands brings forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness of sins brings gentleness and humility. Because of gentleness and humility, the Holy Spirit comes. This comforter fills people with hope and perfect love. This love lasts by praying hard until the end comes. Then all God’s people will live with God.

The Nephites Are in Danger

My son, I’ll write to you again if I don’t go out soon to fight the Lamanites. The pride of this nation, the people of the Nephites, will destroy them unless they turn from their sins. Pray for them, my son. Pray that they will turn from their sins. But I’m scared that the Spirit has stopped trying to help them. In this part of the land they are trying to get rid of all power and authority that comes from God. They are rejecting the Holy Spirit. After rejecting such great knowledge, my son, they will die soon. This will fulfill what the prophets said would happen, and also what our Savior himself said.

Goodbye, my son, until I write to you again or meet you again. Amen.

Influences

  • 8:1 — 1 Corinthians 5:9 (KJV)
    I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
  • 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. 11:18
    For 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 — Luke 13:3 (KJV)
    I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
  • 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 — Matthew 7:29 (KJV)
    For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
  • 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.
Moroni 7Moroni 9