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About Me
- The Teacher
- I teach Sunday School in my LDS Ward. I am an active, faithful and believing member of the Church, but many of my ward members would be surprised to know what I really think. (OK, the picture is not really me. It is Richard Ballantyne, father of the LDS Sunday School). Having problems with site? E-mail me at beehivecollections AT gmail DOT com.
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I posted on the history of baptism a while back, including infant baptism. You might find it interesting.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mormonheretic.org/2008/07/17/history-of-baptismmikvah/
I voted no, but I think it the real answer is "maybe." I understand that eight is the Lord's proscribed age of accountability, but I think that definition is more for practicality than it is for a precise date that someone becomes accountable.
ReplyDeleteMy take is this: accountability is based on understanding. Some 7 year olds are more mature, more prepared, and have a greater understanding than some 9 year olds. In this instance, I would say a 7 year old could be accountable and could sin before reaching the technical age of accountability. In this case, baptism would serve as remission of sins.
In other cases, an 8 year old may have less understanding, preparation, maturity, etc. and may not be accountable even having reached the technical age of accountability. In these cases, I would say that the child has no sin and therefore baptism does not serve as remission of sins.
Another way to ask the question, I think, is can a child under 8 sin.
In general, when someone mentions a child being baptized for remission of sins, I usually cringe....I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
MH: Thanks, I will check it out.
ReplyDeleteJim: I cringe, too, when I hear talk of little kids committing sin. I think your analysis makes sense. I guess I see baptism of an 8-year old as a kind of bright line, after which the child will be accountable for sins. I don't really have any scriptural or doctrinal support for that, but that is what I think.
Genesis 17:11 And I will establish a covenant of circumcision with thee, and it shall be my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations; that thou mayest know for ever that children are not accountable before me until they are eight years old.
ReplyDeleteIn The Doghouse: JST, I presume?
ReplyDeleteExactly... I am an avid lover of the JST and the Old Testament! lol Evidently in a nut shell, they were getting screwed up in the teaching of baptism and baptizing infants...to let them understand that the age of baptism, and entering into the covenant is 8 years old, they were instructed to circumcise at 8 days old.
ReplyDeleteToday the Jewish people still circumcise at 8 days old but have no idea why it is so. I love the JST!
One of the commenters on my post above said that we put too much emphasis on "remission of sins", and not enough emphasis on joining the church. I have to say that I agree.
ReplyDeleteRemember that Jesus wasn't baptized for the remission of sins, either. He was entering the gate which leads to eternal life, and obeying his own commandment. I think 2 Nephi 31:4-12 applies with almost perfect precision to children.
ReplyDeleteI think we tend to consider the Articles of Faith (#4, in this case) a comprehensive statement of belief, when it wasn't ever intended as such. Baptism is a symbol and ordinance of more than just remission of sins.
Stimulating topic, Teacher. Thanks!