Reading: Moroni 7-10
We are going to press forward and start our discussion today
in chapter 8 of Moroni. These last
three chapters contain things that are curious to me to include in the last
pages of The Book of Mormon, and again asking the question: “Why is this
included in The Book of Mormon? Especially in the last pages?” makes a
profitable study.
Chapter 8 is a letter that Moroni received from his father
Mormon, years ago, when he was newly called to the ministry of Christ. The two men were in separate parts of
the warring land and Mormon had learned that the people with Moroni were, among
other sinful practices, were baptizing very little children. In prime example,
Mormon went right to the Lord for answers.
Issues with Infant Baptism
Children are whole. While infants are subject to physical
death, they are protected from spiritual death for a time. (D&C 93:38-40)
38 Every spirit of man was innocent
in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again,
in their infant state, innocent before God.
39 And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and
truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the
tradition of their fathers.
40 But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light
and truth.
Little children and
not accountable. Parents are
accountable for teaching them the right.
Parents in Zion have the special
responsibility of teaching and training their children in righteousness. They
are to be taught “to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the
Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the
laying on of the hands, when eight years old.” Otherwise, the Lord declared,
“the sin be upon the heads of the parents” (D&C 68:25). This teaching is to
be done before a child reaches the age of accountability, and while innocent
and sin-free. This is protected time for parents to teach the principles and
ordinances of salvation to their children without interference from Satan. It
is a time to dress them in armor in preparation for the battle against sin.
When this preparation time is neglected, they are left vulnerable to the enemy.
To permit a child to enter into that period of his life when he will be
buffeted and tempted by the evil one, without faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
and an understanding of the basic principles of the gospel, is to set him
adrift in a world of wickedness. During these formative, innocent years, a
child may learn wrong behavior; but such is not the result of Satan’s
temptations, but comes from the wrong teachings and the bad example of others.
In this context, the Savior’s harsh judgment of adults who offend children is
better understood, wherein he said, “It were better for him that a millstone
were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should
offend one of these little ones” (Luke 17:2). Elder Merlin Lybbert, “The Special Status of Children,”
April 1994.
Little children cannot
repent. They have not sinned
(even if they have done something wrong, the condemnation is on the responsible
party), so there is nothing to repent of.
Both little children and they who are without the law are not
accountable until they understand the law.
Why it mocks God and his plan
·
Denies the mercies of Christ
·
“Setteth at naught the atonement and power of
redemption”
WHY DO WE NEED TO
KNOW THIS INFORMAITON ABOUT INFANT BAPTISM? IS THERE MORE TO LEARN THAN JUST THE INCORRECTNESS OF INFANT
BAPTISM?
·
Bring peace to parents
·
Bring instruction to parents
·
Understand the condition of people without the
law or who are just coming into the law (those who are baptized are spiritually
like little children)
·
Understand the atonement
·
Confirm that the Lord knows all (age of
accountability, lawlessness, individual capability for accountability)
·
The importance of the complete truth
·
Man is not to counsel God on doctrinal practices
·
The importance of receiving revelation from God
·
God has a plan: faith, hope and charity
Why faith,
hope, charity is necessary and in opposition of infant baptism/lawless
Moroni 8:25-26
(how to access the plan)
·
Repentance and faith >>> Baptism and
fulfilling commandments >>> remission of sins >>> meekness
and lowliness of heart >>> visitation of the Holy Ghost >>> Hope and perfect love >>> endure with diligence and prayer
·
Verse 14 - Those who think children need baptism
are without faith (in Christ), hope (in the resurrection) and charity (love for
themselves and others). Without understanding
these principles, deviations from them are man-made and prideful as any other
definition given besides revelation is man placing his thoughts above God.
In the second to the last chapter Moroni chooses not to
insert another great doctrinal discourse, but shows the antithesis of or the
effects of the lack of true doctrine, specifically, faith, hope and
charity. Despair and depravity are
the effect of man placing themselves above others and above God.
The people partake in extremely wicked practices, including
canabalism, rape, torture, and much more.
In short, Moroni says they were “without principle and past feeling.”
So, it comes to the last chapter. What are we to do with this information and all the
information included within the whole book?
This whole record is to show how merciful the Lord hath been
to his children. Does that mean
all good things have happened? No.
Much of the book is filled with murder and war and contention. But the lessons are learned in how the
people got through those rough and awful times by relying on the merits of
Christ, or how they did not get through them because they did not rely on
Christ. So, if you really want a
personal witness that these people prospered with the Lord and that they fell
without Him, and know that the same can happen with you, ask God, with a
sincere heart (you really want to know).
So, you can read about it, you can receive a witness of it’s
truthfulness, but here’s the clincher: you have to pray with real intent.
WHAT IS REAL INTENT?
What do you intend to do with the witness? “What are you intentions with my
daughter?” Can you imagine
receiving a witness and not doing anything about it? There are some serious consequences that would follow
receiving a witness but not doing anything. We come to the point at the end of the year to ask this
question of what we have learned.
What are your intentions with the feelings you have felt and the
knowledge and wisdom you have gained and the hunger you’ve felt enlightened and
want to know more?
• Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles commented on Moroni’s promise of having “real
intent”: “Moroni did not promise a manifestation of the Holy Ghost to those who
seek to know the truth of the Book of Mormon for hypothetical or academic
reasons, even if they ‘ask with a sincere heart.’ The promise of Moroni is for
those who are committed in their hearts to act upon the manifestation if it is
received. Prayers based on any other reason have no promise because they are
not made ‘with real intent’” (Pure in Heart [1988], 19–20).
Moroni helps us along with how to identify answers and
receive direction to act. In the
verses 6-19, he lists the gifts of the spirit to help us recognize good things (in
ourselves and in others) and therefore recognize their author:
V6 – everything that is good comes from Christ
V8 – the gifts of God are given to men to profit them – to
help them with their intentions
V9-17 – some of the gifts of God to watch for: teaching the
word of wisdom, to teach knowledge, to have faith, to be healed, to work mighty
miracles, to prophesy, to behold angels, to speak tongues.
V17 – the gifts come “according as he will” he could mean
both the giver and the receiver.
This list of gifts is also in the New Testament and the
Doctrine and Covenants, so that it appears in Moroni lends importance.
Knowing how the spirit guides us and knowing “these things”
(The Book of Mormon) makes us accountable for the information. What is the purpose of knowing these
things? To help us come unto
Christ.
Notice that the word grace is used five times in two
verses. Remember that the
definition of Grace is, “an enabling power that allows men and women to lay
hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best
efforts. However, grace cannot suffice without total effort on the part of the
recipient.”
You initiate the coming, and you shall receive grace. He
will claim you, his grace will be sufficient for you, by His grace you will
become sanctified and perfected IN HIM.
This is the testament and covenant, of Jesus Christ.
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