There is so much more that I want to write about Moroni chapter 7, but Moroni 8 is also a great and powerful chapter.
Instead of a sermon, this time Moroni inserts into his book a pair of epistles that his father wrote to him. Moroni informs us that his father Mormon wrote the first of these epistles soon after he, Moroni, received his calling to the ministry.
Why did Mormon write an epistle? Why didn’t Mormon simply teach Moroni directly and in person? I don’t know. I think that it is likely that Mormon was fulfilling his duties as the chief military leader of the Nephites, and that he could not speak with his son Moroni directly at this time. Many of the epistles in the Book of Mormon were written during times of war and in the midst of battles, and I imagine that such was the case here as well.
Of all the epistles that Mormon may have written, why did Moroni choose this first particular epistle to include in his final book? This epistle contains an excellent example of the process of inquiring of the Lord and receiving an answer about a very specific question. It also contains teachings that are highly relevant to modern times or the era in which the Book of Mormon has come forth.
In my opinion, there is no greater introduction and greeting from a father to his son in all of scripture than that which we find at the beginning of Mormon’s epistle to his son Moroni:
My 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.
I 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 8:2-3)
More than a decade ago, I took an institute class on the Book of Mormon with Elder Jay E. Jensen. I purchased a copy of his book Treasure Up the Word, and he signed my copy. By his signature he wrote Moroni 8:3. I highly recommend Elder Jensen’s book for anyone who is seeking to improve his or her scripture study. I would like to read it again when I begin my next study of the Book of Mormon. It is a great little book.
Mormon was filled with joy because of the Lord’s tender mercies and shepherding of his beloved son Moroni. We might substitute a name of any loved one, no matter who he or she is or what his or her current circumstances may be, and repeat Mormon’s expression of gratitude:
My __________ (name of loved one), I rejoice exceedingly that your Lord Jesus Christ hath been mindful of you.
Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son Jesus Christ are mindful of each one of us. This is something for which we can be grateful and rejoice daily. What added to Mormon’s joy was Moroni’s mission call, a calling to the Lord’s ministry and His holy work. It is beautiful that Mormon follows the Lord’s example in being mindful of his son. Just as the Lord was mindful of Moroni, and just as He is mindful of each one of us, we too can be mindful of those within our stewardship.
What does it mean to be mindful?
Mormon wrote in his epistle that he was mindful of Moroni always in his prayers, continually praying unto God the Father for a very specific and essential blessing for his son. In his mindfulness, what did Mormon prayer for? He didn’t merely pray that his son Moroni would have a successful mission or ministry, or that he would be healthy and strong, although I’m sure that his prayers included such petitions. Mormon prayed for a blessing upon his son that all good parents desire for each one of their children. He prayed continually for his son Moroni to be true to the faith.
As I have composed these Book of Mormon Notes, even as a single man, I believe that my main audience is a future audience, and particularly a future audience of my own family, sons and daughter, grandsons and granddaughters, great-grandsons and great-granddaughters and so forth. Therefore, to you my dear son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter, great-grandson or great-granddaughter, and so forth, I write:
I 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 8:2-3)
You can also insert your own name, and imagine that the Lord is speaking to you, because He is:
My beloved (son or daughter) __________ (insert your name), I rejoice exceedingly that your Lord Jesus Christ hath been mindful of you.
Sadly, the subject matter of Mormon’s epistles to his son was grievous. In the first epistle, Mormon addresses the problem of the baptism of little children. In the second epistle, Mormon writes about the heinous sins of both the Lamanites and the Nephites. Mormon writes to his son Moroni in order to help him end the disputes among the Nephites and bless him in the midst of terrible wickedness.
Mormon teaches that the baptism of children is a gross error, and a solemn mockery before God. As soon as Mormon learned that his people were disputing over the baptism of children, he inquired of the Lord and received this response:
Listen 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. (Moroni 8:8)
Little children are whole and incapable of committing sin.
Just as a side-note, if the law of circumcision has been done away by Jesus Christ, why do many people still circumcise their male children? Circumcision seems like an entirely unnecessary and even potentially damaging procedure to me.
That the baptism of children is a gross error and a solemn mockery before God may come as a shock to many people, particularly Catholics. Many Catholics believe that babies are somehow tainted by original sin, and baptism removes this original sin. But Mormon corrects this gross error. Children are innocent, pure, clean, and whole, and baptism is for those who are accountable and capable of committing sin. Mormon taught his son Moroni true doctrine concerning little children and baptism:
Behold 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.
And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.
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!
Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.
Behold 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.
For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism. (Moroni 8:10-15)
Mormon writes adamantly. He encourages his son Moroni to labor diligently to remove this gross error from among his people. Mormon’s rebuke of those who promote or require the baptism of children grows even more adamant and severe, and he further clarifies the reasons for his rebuke:
Wo 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.
And 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.
For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.
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.
And 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.
Wo 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.
For 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-
But it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works.
Behold, 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. (Moroni 8:16-24)
I love the phrase “alive in Christ”. Mormon uses this phrase three times in this chapter to describe little children. What do you think it means to be “alive in Christ”? The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price provide further clarifying doctrine on this topic:
And even if it were possible that little children could sin they could not be saved; but I say unto you they are blessed; for behold, as in Adam, or by nature, they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins. (Mosiah 3:16)
And little children also have eternal life. (Mosiah 15:25)
No one can be received into the church of Christ unless he has arrived unto the years of accountability before God, and is capable of repentance. (D&C 20:71)
But behold, I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine Only Begotten; (D&C 29:46)
And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands. (D&C 68:27)
But little children are holy, being sanctified through the atonement of Jesus Christ; and this is what the scriptures mean. (D&C 74:7)
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. (D&C 93:38)
And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven. (D&C 137:10)
Hence came the saying abroad among the people, that the Son of God hath atoned for original guilt, wherein the sins of the parents cannot be answered upon the heads of the children, for they are whole from the foundation of the world. (Moses 6:54)
All of these things may remind us of how earnestly and passionately our Savior feels about loving, protecting, nurturing, and becoming like little children:
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3)
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14)
Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. (Mark 9:37)
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:15-16)
Mormon shows us the proper and Christ-like disposition towards little children. Like Jesus Christ, He loved them, as he wrote in one of my favorite verses in all of scripture:
And 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. (Moroni 8:17)
How do you feel about little children? I love them too.
Is it any wonder then the severity with which our Savior rebukes those who harm little children in any way?
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:6)
And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. (Mark 9:42)
Like Mormon, I am sickened and saddened by the gross error and solemn mockery of those who require or support the baptism of children. I am even more sickened and saddened to learn that the offending of children, including the abuse and trafficking of children, is much more rampant and widespread than I would have ever previously supposed. The wickedness and depravity, the monstrosity of harming little children must be stopped. What kind of a civilization not only allows for the murder of millions upon millions of unborn children, but also supports industries and secret combinations that prey upon so many innocent children? (see, e.g. here, here, here, and here)
I shudder at this thought and cry out in my heart: O God, come out in judgment!
In relation to these awful facts, I recall the Prophet Joseph Smith’s encouragement to the Saints from Liberty Jail to publish an account of their persecutions and sufferings:
That we may not only publish to all the world, but present them to the heads of government in all their dark and hellish hue, as the last effort which is enjoined on us by our Heavenly Father, before we can fully and completely claim that promise which shall call him forth from his hiding place; and also that the whole nation may be left without excuse before he can send forth the power of his mighty arm.
It is an imperative duty that we owe to God, to angels, with whom we shall be brought to stand, and also to ourselves, to our wives and children, who have been made to bow down with grief, sorrow, and care, under the most damning hand of murder, tyranny, and oppression, supported and urged on and upheld by the influence of that spirit which hath so strongly riveted the creeds of the fathers, who have inherited lies, upon the hearts of the children, and filled the world with confusion, and has been growing stronger and stronger, and is now the very mainspring of all corruption, and the whole earth groans under the weight of its iniquity.
It is an iron yoke, it is a strong band; they are the very handcuffs, and chains, and shackles, and fetters of hell.
Therefore it is an imperative duty that we owe, not only to our own wives and children, but to the widows and fatherless, whose husbands and fathers have been murdered under its iron hand;
Which dark and blackening deeds are enough to make hell itself shudder, and to stand aghast and pale, and the hands of the very devil to tremble and palsy.
And also it is an imperative duty that we owe to all the rising generation, and to all the pure in heart-
For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it-
Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven- (D&C 123:6-13)