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Book of Mormon Commentary
Moroni Chapter 8
Parents need not weep, nor be baptized for their infants who died without baptism. "Baptism is
unto repentance" for the "remission of sins" (12; Acts 2:38). "But little children are alive in Christ,
even from the foundation of the world" (Mi. 8:13). Not just from the crucifixion (A.D. 33), but
from the beginning of time. Otherwise this would indict God as being partial; "also a changeable
God, and a respecter of persons" (13). If such an indictment were sustained, it would rob God of
mercy, omniscience, and deity.
Mormon then condemns one who thoughtlessly accepts such a doctrine as being "in the gall of
bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity; for he had neither faith, hope, nor charity" (15).
Mormon then adds something quite significant, but it might be misinterpreted. "Should he be cut
off {die} while in the thought, he must go down to hell." Some have interpreted similar statements
to mean that "God would send a man to hell who even expressed such a thought." Our heavenly
Father has said that men shall be punished and rewarded for their own deeds or works and not for
their thoughts. It is quite likely that Mormon is saying that a man who would labor under the
"gross error" that God would send an infant or little child to hell because his parents had not had
him baptized would not love God nor serve him. Therefore that in man's ultimate destiny, and
perhaps in this life also, he would suffer the pangs of hell. "Wo be unto him that shall pervert the
ways of the Lord after this manner" (17).
Moroni 8:20 Little children can not 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.
A person must have a consciousness of guilt and have moral judgment to be able to repent. This is
not innate in a little child, but depends on physical and spiritual growth. To say that lie cannot be
saved without baptism, which is for remission of sin, is to deny "the mercies of Christ, and setteth
at naught the atonement of him, and the power of his redemption" (21).
Moroni 8:25 For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the
law.
The same principle holds with the heathen nations, or those who have never had any opportunity
to learn and to obey the gospel, as to children who have not reached the age of accountability. A
just God would not require them to obey a law or any commandments which they knew nothing
about. Hence "the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; . . . unto such
baptism availeth nothing" (26). To put them through a ceremony called "baptism" "is mockery
before God ... and putting trust in dead works" (27).
Mormon closes his epistle with a summary statement of Christ's doctrine on all these matters he
had discussed. (1) "The first-fruits of repentance is baptism; and (2) baptism cometh by faith, unto
the fulfilling the commandments." (3) This step "bringeth remission of sins," which will produce
"meekness, and lowliness of heart." (4) Then "cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost . . . with
hope and perfect love." (5) This "love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come,
when all the saints shall dwell with God" (29).
Moroni 8:30 Behold, my son, I will write unto you again if I go not out soon against the Lamanites.
Mormon was born about A.D. 309-311, and was living a precarious and dangerous life. Moroni
records that his father was hunted and destroyed by the Lamanites about A.D. 400 (Mn. 4:2, 7).