Question
Gramps,
No one can be baptized before age 8. I understand a child who receives a baby blessing is a member of the Church. A baby lost her father while her mother was pregnant. The baby was raised in the church but never received a name or blessing. The child was baptized and confirmed at the age of 8. Was that child a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before her baptism?
Shasta
Answer
Shasta,
One of the Church’s teachings is the belief that children under the age of eight are innocent and incapable of sinning. This doctrine is grounded in the interpretation of scriptures, notably Moroni 8:9-11, which states:
9 And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore, my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children.
10 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.
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.
Prior to the age of eight years old children cannot sin. The power to even tempt them was taken from Satan. Because they are without sin, there is no need for baptism or repentance. We also believe children before this age are pure and innocent and totally without sin and are received in the Celestial Kingdom.
This belief shows that the spiritual potential and moral standing of young children are inherently pure, exempt from the need for ordinances like baptism, which are designed for those capable of making informed covenants.
Baby blessings, or the naming and blessing of infants, are a tender tradition within the Church. They serve to acknowledge the child’s entrance into the covenant community and invite divine protection and guidance. However, it’s essential to differentiate between a baby blessing and membership or salvation.
While baby blessings are a cherished practice, they are not a prerequisite for Church membership or entry into the Celestial Kingdom. The Church asserts that children under eight are automatically embraced by God’s grace due to their innocence, regardless of whether a baby blessing has been performed. This perspective emphasizes that divine love and acceptance are not contingent upon specific rituals performed on behalf of the child.
Membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is often associated with ordinances such as baptism and confirmation. However, for children under eight, these rites are not considered necessary for salvation. The Church teaches that these children are inherently on the path to eternal life, free from sin’s influence and fully accepted by God.
Since children under eight do not possess the agency to sin or commit transgressions, the necessity for ordinances like baptism, which symbolizes repentance and covenant-making, is understood differently.
The assurance of salvation for children under eight is deeply rooted in the Church’s teachings on grace and the nature of God’s mercy. By removing the possibility of sinning, the Church affirms that these young children are recipients of divine grace from birth. This grace ensures their rightful place in the Celestial Kingdom, the highest degree of glory in the afterlife, emphasizing that eternal destiny is not solely tied to earthly ordinances but also to inherent divinity and God’s encompassing love.
Gramps
