I've heard many Mormons, and non-Mormons argue that since Mormons believe that little children do not need to repent or be baptized, that means that they also have no need for the atonement. This is simply untrue.Little children's exemption from accountability for sins not their own (which we also have), repentance, and baptism is a result of Jesus Christ's atonement and mercy, not an exemption from that as well.
"And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption." [Moroni 8:20]
The atonement is the very reason and power by which have hope that little children are saved from death and sin.
While children may not yet be accountable for their sins, and not yet ready to repent and be baptized in Christ's name, the day will soon come. Parents should lovingly and diligently show their children the means by which we are saved.
While children may not yet be accountable for their sins, and not yet ready to repent and be baptized in Christ's name, the day will soon come. Parents should lovingly and diligently show their children the means by which we are saved.
"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." [2 Nephi 25:26 emphasis added]
3 comments:
How grateful I am for a loving Heavenly Father who provided for us the atonement. His wise and loving kindness, as any parent would do, provides for the young a way to be saved. The youngest in our home often reminds us to be nice or not to yell. It is her sweet little innocence that reminds us who we are and where we came from. She sang her own song the other day about the Temple, when looking at a picture of the Temple. She sang "I am going to the Temple to be quite and to pray".
I love the fact that because of the Atonement we are born innocent and not punished for "Adams Transgressions". The Atonement provides the necessary price for the demand of justice brought on by the sin of disobedience to God’s command. The Atonement allows us to be born as if we were born in the Garden itself, placing us in the same position as Adam and Eve were placed in, free to choose for ourselves if we will obey. The Atonement is our “get out of spiritual death free card” for the first spiritual death we suffer by simply being born into this telestial world.
To avoid our second spiritual death we are required to act, to apply the Atonement through the act of repentance. The first one is given to us freely because of the Atonement.
Doctrine and Covenants 29:41 Wherefore, I, the Lord God, caused that he should be cast out from the Garden of Eden, from my presence, because of his transgression, wherein he became spiritually dead, which is the first death, even that same death which is the last death, which is spiritual, which shall be pronounced upon the wicked when I shall say: Depart, ye cursed.
The universal nature of the atonement certainly shows that our Heavenly Father loves us. It's always surprising too when small children recognize something we can do to be nicer that we don't. It's definitely an evidence of D&C 138:56 "Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord..."
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