Moroni 8
People in this chapter
This chapter is a letter from a father to a son. Mormon writes to Moroni soon after my calling to the ministry (v. 1), and he opens with joy and a promise to keep praying for him (vv. 2-3). Then he turns to something that grieveth me exceedingly: members of the Church were disputing about whether to baptize their little children (vv. 4-5).
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
Moroni 8:1-6My Beloved Son
1An epistle of my father Mormon, written to me, Moroni; and it was written unto me soon after my calling to the ministry. And on this wise did he write unto me, saying: 2My beloved son, Moroni, I rejoice exceedingly that your Lord Jesus Christ hath been mindful of you, and hath called you to his ministry, and to his holy work. 3I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end.
Moroni copies a letter his father wrote him. Mormon is glad the Lord has called his son to the ministry, and he promises to pray for him always.
4And now, my son, I speak unto you concerning that which grieveth me exceedingly; for it grieveth me that there should disputations rise among you. 5For, if I have learned the truth, there have been disputations among you concerning the baptism of your little children. 6And 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.
Mormon has heard that Church members are arguing about baptizing little children. It grieves him, and he asks Moroni to work hard to correct the error.
Moroni 8:7-9Listen to the Words of Christ
7For immediately after I had learned these things of you I inquired of the Lord concerning the matter. And the word of the Lord came to me by the power of the Holy Ghost, saying: 8Listen 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 whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me. 9And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore, my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children.
Mormon asked the Lord right away, and the answer came by the Holy Ghost as the words of Christ.
Because of Christ, Adam's transgression has no power over little children. They are not punished for something they did not do.
Moroni 8:10-15Little Children Are Alive in Christ
10Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children. 11And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.
Baptism is for people who are old enough to be accountable and to sin. Little children need no repentance and no baptism. Parents should repent, be baptized, and become humble like their children.
12But little children 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 respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism! 13Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.
Many children have died without baptism. If baptism were required for them, God would be unfair. God is fair to every child.
14Behold 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 faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell. 15For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism.
Mormon speaks strongly against the false teaching that one child is saved by baptism while another child is lost without it.
Moroni 8:16-24Perfect Love Casteth Out All Fear
16Wo 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 authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear. 17And I am filled with charity, 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 partakers of salvation. 18For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.
Mormon speaks boldly because God gave him authority, and because love drives out fear. He loves all little children, and says they all share in salvation.
19Little children 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 mercy. 20And 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. 21Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and an endless torment. I speak it boldly; God hath commanded me. Listen unto them and give heed, or they stand against you at the judgment-seat of Christ.
Little children cannot repent, and they are alive in Christ because of His mercy. Saying they need baptism denies the power of His Atonement.
22For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing— 23But it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works. 24Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be; for repentance is unto them that are under condemnation and under the curse of a broken law.
Christ's redemption also covers people who never had the law. Repentance and baptism are for those who know the law and have broken it.
Moroni 8:25-26The First Fruits of Repentance
25And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins; 26And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.
For those who are accountable, repentance leads to baptism, then forgiveness, then meekness, then the Holy Ghost, who fills us with hope and perfect love. That love lasts as we keep praying.
Moroni 8:27-30Pray for Them, My Son
27Behold, my son, I will write unto you again if I go not out soon against the Lamanites. Behold, the pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction except they should repent. 28Pray for them, my son, that repentance may come unto them. But behold, I fear lest the Spirit hath ceased striving with them; and in this part of the land they are also seeking to put down all power and authority which cometh from God; and they are denying the Holy Ghost. 29And after rejecting so great a knowledge, my son, they must perish soon, unto the fulfilling of the prophecies which were spoken by the prophets, as well as the words of our Savior himself. 30Farewell, my son, until I shall write unto you, or shall meet you again. Amen.
Mormon worries about the pride of the Nephites. He asks Moroni to pray that they will repent, and then says goodbye until he can write again.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- Infant BaptismGathers the scriptures on why little children do not need baptism, beginning with this chapter.
- AccountabilityThe Church's teaching on the age of accountability and the salvation of little children.
- BaptismExplains baptism unto repentance for those who are accountable and capable of committing sin (v. 10).
- Doctrine and Covenants 137Joseph Smith's vision of the celestial kingdom, including the revelation about children who die before the years of accountability (v. 10).
Where this echoes in Scripture
My Beloved Son
Listen to the Words of Christ
- Mark 2:17They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
- Moses 6:54The Son of God hath atoned for original guilt... for they are whole from the foundation of the world.
- Articles of Faith 1:2We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
- Mark 10:14-16Suffer the little children to come unto me... And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Little Children Are Alive in Christ
- D&C 29:46-47Little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine Only Begotten; wherefore, they cannot sin.
- D&C 68:25, 27Their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old.
- Mosiah 3:16, 18The infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy.
- Acts 10:34Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.
- Revelation 13:8The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Perfect Love Casteth Out All Fear
- 1 John 4:18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.
- D&C 137:10All children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven.
- 2 Nephi 9:25-26Where there is no law given there is no punishment... the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them.
- Mormon 9:9God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing.
The First Fruits of Repentance
- 2 Nephi 31:17The gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
- John 14:26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things.
- Moroni 7:43-44He cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.
Pray for Them, My Son
- Mormon 3:12My soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them.Mormon's long prayers for his people.
- Mormon 5:16The Spirit of the Lord hath already ceased to strive with their fathers.
- Matthew 5:44Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
- Proverbs 16:18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.