Moroni Chapter 8

** IMPORTANT NOTE ** In chapters 8 and 9, Moroni publishes two epistles that his father Mormon wrote to him. These were written to Moroni shortly after Moroni has started his ministry.

Summary: In this first epistle written by Mormon to his son Moroni, he teaches that infant baptism is an evil abomination because little children are alive in Christ due to his atonement. He then teaches that faith, repentance, meekness and lowliness of heart, receiving the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end lead to salvation and eternal life.

Lessons Taught/To be Learned:

The reason infant baptism is considered an abomination before Christ is because they cannot be held accountable for their actions until they are old enough to understand right from wrong. In further revelation, this was told to Joseph Smith to be when a child is eight years old. Prior to that, if they were to perish, they would be saved due to Jesus Christ's atonement and cannot be held accountable since they did not know the difference between right and wrong.

Key Scriptures (italicized and in quotes):

"11 And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.""

"12 But 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!"

"19 Little 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."