Book of Mormon (Plain English Version)/Moroni/Chapter 8

Mormon's emphatic words against infant baptism...
(compare Moroni, chapter 8)

This is a letter my father Mormon wrote to me, Moroni, soon after I was called to the ministry:

My beloved son, Moroni,

I rejoice greatly because your Lord Jesus Christ has remembered you and called you to His ministry and holy work.

I always remember you as I pray to God the Father in the name of His Holy Child, Jesus Christ. I pray He will protect you through His infinite goodness and grace because of your constant faith in His name throughout your life.

I'm very sorry the people you're teaching argue over the issue of infant baptism.

Now my son, I want you to work hard to stop this great error of baptizing little children. This is why I'm writing this letter.

Just as soon as I read your letter, I asked the Lord about it. His word came through the Holy Ghost, saying,}}

"Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. I did not come into the world to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners. The healthy do not need a doctor, but those who are sick.

Children are completely alive in Christ, not able to sin. Through me the curse of Adam is taken and has

no power over them. Also, the law of circumcision is done away because of me."

Moroni, this is how the Holy Ghost spoke God's word to me. Because of this, I know it is solemn mockery before God to baptize little children.

Teach repentance and baptism of those who are accountable and capable of committing sin. Teach parents to repent, to be baptized and humble themselves as their little ones. Tell them if they do this they will be saved with their children.

Teach that their little children do not need to repent or be baptized. Baptism is only for those who repent. Baptism fulfills the commandment to repent for all who are accountable, bringing them a remission of their sins.

But little children are saved by Christ, and always have been. If this were not true, then God would be an unfair God, saving only those who have been baptized, for how many little children have died without baptism!

If little children could not be saved without baptism, there must be many little children in an endless hell, but we know this is not so.

Those who believe infants need baptism are controlled by their sinfulness and are full of bitterness....with no faith, hope, or charity. Those who die in this belief will suffer in hell.

It is awful wickedness to believe that God saves one child because of baptism and another goes to hell without baptism.

Those who distort the Lord's ways in this manner will be cursed, for they will die spiritually unless they repent.

I speak with boldness, having authority from God. I'm not afraid of what anyone may do to me, for perfect love removes all fear.

I'm filled with charity--an everlasting love. All children are alike to me. I love them with a perfect love, and they are all saved. I know God is not unfair and doesn't change His ways.

Little children cannot repent, so it's awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God to them, for they're all alive in Him because of His mercy.

Those who say little children need baptism deny Christ's mercy, for they dismiss His atonement and the power of His redemption. Such people are cursed and in danger of spiritual death, hell and endless torment of soul.

God has commanded me to speak boldly. Listen to me and be obedient or my words will stand against you at the judgment-seat of Christ.

All little children and all those without Christ's law are alive in Him. The power of His redemption saves all who have no law. They are not condemned, for with no law, they cannot repent. This is why baptizing those without the law is meaningless.

To put trust in dead works such as baptizing those with no law is to deny Christ's mercy and the power of His Holy Spirit--it is mockery before God.

Moroni, my son, this thing should not be done. Repentance and baptism are only for those under condemnation and the curse of a broken law.

The first act of repentance is baptism, which is an act of faith toward fulfilling all the commandments. This brings the remission of sins, which in turn brings meekness and humility.

My son, I'll write you again soon, unless I go out against the Lamanites. The pride of this Nephite nation will cause their destruction unless they repent soon. Pray for them my son, that repentance may come to them.

But I'm afraid the Spirit has already stopped working with them. In this part of the land, they're trying to put down all power and authority from God. They're denying the Holy Ghost.

After rejecting such great knowledge, my son, they must perish soon and fulfill the words of the prophets and of our Savior.

Farewell, my son, until I write or meet you again.