Moro 8:1-30
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Questions
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Lexical notes
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Exegesis
Verse 7
The fact that Mormon chooses to take this question to the Lord indicates that in at least some sense the question of whether to baptize children was at the time an open question for Mormon--a question for which it made sense to seek revelation. But how could it be an open question, if as we see in verse 14, anyone who believes such a doctrine must go to Hell? This question will be addressed in the commentary between here and verse 14.
Verse 8
Mormon precedes verse 8 by telling us that these are the words the Lord delivered through the power of the Holy Ghost. This revelation tells us much about the curse of Adam. The curse Adam receives in Gen 3:17 is really a cursing of the ground "for [Adam's] sake." However this curse (unless interpretted metaphorically) doesn't seem to be the one referred to here; it doesn't appear, for example, that Mormon is saying that for children thorns and thistles won't grow in the ground. Instead Mormon is referring to some type of spiritual curse. Though the phrase "curse of Adam" is no where else used in the scriptures, the type of curse referred to seems similar to the discussion of Adam in 2 Ne 2:19-25. Specifically verse 21 is helpful:
- And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents. (Emphasis added.)
The curse of Adam is this: that everyone is lost because of the Adam's transgression. At first blush this seems to contradict the second Article of Faith. But in fact, Mormon's words here reconcile the two. The Lord tells Mormon that in the curse of Adam applies to children in the sense that Christ's sacrifice is required in order to save them from it: "the curse of Adam is taken from them in me." So, though we usually think of the purpose of the atonement as to take away the sins of the guilty who repent (and it is)--the Lord makes it clear that another purpose is to take away this curse from the innocent. Without Christ Adam's curse would apply to the innocent, but because of Christ, we are only punished for our own sins.
Verse 9
Mormon ties here his knowledge that infant baptism is mockery before God to the revelation from God he has just received.
Verse 10-11
Verse 8 stopped short of explicitly saying that repentance is not required of the innocent (though it seemed to imply it). Now in verses 10 and 11, Mormon makes this explicit.
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