I understand that those who died before reaching the age of accountability will automatically be exalted. They were very righteous and too pure. Since about 80% of HF children are in that category does that mean the rest of us were the dregs of those who came to earth. Are we the really terrible children?
Mona
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Mona,
Through the Lord’s prophets, in light of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have been informed, Joseph Smith’s Vision of the Celestial Kingdom contains this statement: “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)”
Joseph Smith also declared (I assume this is the quote you have read or heard of), “In my leisure moments I have meditated upon the subject, and asked the question, why it is that infants, innocent children, are taken away from us, especially those that seem to be the most intelligent and interesting. . . . The Lord takes many away even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again. . . . All children are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and the moment that children leave this world, they are taken to the bosom of Abraham. The only difference between the old and young dying is, one lives longer in heaven and eternal light and glory than the other, and is freed a little sooner from this miserable wicked world.”
(Joseph Smith, Teachings, p. 196-197)
In context, I understand why a person may feel less pure and less innocent if they continue to live after the age of accountability, fortunately however, this is not the case. In answer to your question, I would draw your mind to the words of our Lord in Abraham 3:22-24 as he declared the preparation of many “noble and great ones” — upon which Abraham was one of them. Abraham was pure enough and faithful enough that he received a promised covenant by which all of his children would be blessed.
I would also draw your mind to this verse found in Doctrine and Covenants 93:38 expressing this doctrine, “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.”
We believe Mona, the Lord our Redeemer has overcome sin and death. As a result, should we live and honor our covenants and repent of our sins, we are just as innocent, just as pure, as the children who died before the age of accountability. We will, like them, be brought back into the presence of our God in glory and exaltation.
Gramps
