Mormons why do you say?

Question

It is a mockery before God to baptize little children (Mormon teaching manual Chapter 20). When the holy bible saids.

"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to Him." [Acts 2:38-39]

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." [Acts 16:31]

...and he (the jailer) was baptized at once, with all his family. [Acts 16:33]

Now these baptisms were performed with a sense of urgency. If baptism were not necessary for salvation, then why did St. Paul baptize the jailer and his family almost immediately during the midnight hour? Since baptism is a one-time event for a person, it was more expedient for St. Paul to simply baptize the whole family than to tell the jailer that baptism is necessary for salvation.

This particular passage leads into the second issue: infant baptism. Even though the Bible does not directly address the issue of infant baptism, it does record the baptisms of three different families. As quoted above all of the jailer's family were baptized (Acts 16:33). Also the family of Lydia (Acts 16:15) and the family of Stephanas (1 Cor 1:16) were baptized. Typically a family includes children. These three passages infer infant baptism, even though they may not explicitly indicate the baptism of children. There are no indications that only adults were involved. Now it is possible that a family may be childless; however, the chance that these three families had at least one young child is greater than the chance that all three had no children. A Christian, who objects to infant baptism, must interpret these three Bible passages with the assumption that each family had no young children.

Elsewhere Jesus said:

"Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. [Luke 18:16-17; also see Matt 11:25]

Answer 1

Jesus said to let the little children come to Him, but He didn't qualify that with "...but you better baptize them first, or forget it!"

Answer 2

You already have some pretty good answers here. It might help if you study psychologist Piaget and child development for a while and then look at this issue again. Baptism is a choice, it is a decision, it is a covenant, a responsibility. You don't give that kind of responsibility to a baby or a very young child. That's why we believe that the age of 8 and upwards is what the Lord has proscribed. See below for more information, in addition to what the Bible has said.
Book of Mormon, Mosiah chapter 18
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a ccovenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

Again, you can see that this is a two-way promise, that someone has to understand and be willing to keep the basic commandments of God. Babies, being innocent, are already saved under the great and everlasting Atonement of Jesus Christ as a free gift, and the same goes for very little children. But from about age 8 and upwards, barring any developmental delays, the development of a "conscience" or knowing the difference between right and wrong, is what constitutes eligibility for baptism. Have a happy day, and I send you a gummy bear.

Answer 3

Infant Baptism is a mockery of God, because it trivializes the Atonement of Christ. Infants have not committed any sins, therefore they do not need to be baptized for the forgiveness and remission of their (non-existent) sins.

"His family" does not imply infants, but his wife and older children. [Luke 18:16-17; also see Matt 11:25] refers to being taught the Gospel.

Answer 4

Mormons don't do infant baptisms....you're thinking of Catholics.

The reason they baptize children at the age of 8 (although they do baptisms for older children and adults and even the dead,) is because at that age, they believe children are able to start being held accountable. In other words, they are able to commit sin and know they are making a poor choice. It is still part of the parents responsibility to guide the child, but the child is also given some responsibility for their actions in life.

Answer 5

Why don't they baptize babies as soon as they are born, some babies die within the 1st 24 hours, are they going to Hell because their parents did not take them to get baptized?
Maybe the baby should have used mind controlling to get someone to baptize it, babies are innocent if you think otherwise, GOOD FOR YOU! Leave everyone else alone, thanks! Personally I think baptizing babies is EVIL, but that's good for me isn't it?!?!?!
Mormons do not believe that we "pay" for the original sin, through Jesus this is possible...your last quote from the bible, "like a child" I interpret that as a child is innocent, so if you are innocent then you can enter the kingdom of God.

Answer 6

You are interpretting these passages as you see it. How I see it, however, is that while these families may have had children, we do not know what age they are. For you to say Latter-day Saints do not believe in infant baptism is correct. For you to say, however, that we do not believe in child baptism is incorrect. The age we baptize our children is the age of 8. Eight is the age of accountability as we believe it to be. To baptize an infant is ridiculous, as they are unable to account for their sins as they have none.

Next question?

Answer 7

Baptism is a covenent between a person and Heavenly Father. He forgives our sins and we promise to take the name of Christ upon us and keep His commandments. Children under 8 are not accountable for sin, hence they do not require forgiveness. If they die they are automatically saved in the Celestial Kingdom of God. When they do become old enough, they need to make this covenent for themselves.

Answer 8

It is my own personal belief that baptism symbolizes ones commitment and declaration to serve God and symbolized our death and resurection by the power of the Holy spirit. Now for a child you can do it in a comitment to God to raise that child so that they can also know the Love of God but you are not makeing that decision for them. So I think if done to a child it would emphasize more on the parents side their comitment to God. It might be healthy for the child also because it could symbolize a declaration for that child about a hope for their future. (better to bring the children to Jesus). Although that depends on how you baptize them. I believe holding a child underwatter for any long peroid of time or against their will is evil peroid and I condemn that. Um it is also a very large commitment to God and I do not believe a child can make that. I would rather have my baby prayed for as a commitment or declaration rather than to be baptized in water. It may also be better for them later in life because they could tell them selves later I have already been baptized so I don't need it now. When doing it is their declaration to God they should make. Man has made all kinds of rules which God does not necessarily agree with and this is a good definition of man made religion as oposed to a relationship with God. I however consider water baptism only a precursor and symbolic to the baptism of the Spirit. In fact it was this verse kjv "Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:" So you see he was preparing the way for what Jesus was bringing (baptism of the Spirit). And throught this (water being symbolic of the Holy Spirit and maybe leading to the next step but there is another baptism of the Spirit that is real and powerfull) the fruits of the spirit begin to develop more within in us (enhances our interaction with God) (love joy peace long suffering wisdom ect). It is part of the journey one must travle as they grow in relationship with the Father. To recieve it seek out some one who has recieved it to pray with you and seek God continualy about it not giving up. Luke 11:9-13. It is not achieved by your own righeousness so don't approach God that way. it is a gift. One of the evidences of recieving it is the fruits of the spirit in your life and I think toungues as in Acts but I am not sure that happens to everyone. However you will know when you recieve it as I did when I recieved it. My expirence was the gift of tongues at first and then the coming of the fruits of the spirit in my life which are still even now developing but have changed me much over time from what I was. I honestly recieved the Indwelling of the Spirit of God before the Water Baptism. The water baptism was my declaration later on.

Answer 9

I am not a mormon, but I do know that infant baptism is NOT a concept taught in the Bible. Infants are sinless, they are saved. There are many things that a person must do prior to being baptized that an infant CANNOT do. A baby cannot repent of his sins, he has none, A baby cannot confess the name of Christ, he cannot speak. A baby cannot believe the Word of God, he is to young to believe and cannot comprehend what he hears.

The example of the jailer does NOT infer that children were baptized because it says family. Verse 32 of Act 16 says "And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house." Are you going to tell me that if infants were present that they understood was he was saying??? Exactly where does it say in those verses that there were children present?? It doesn't. People assume there were children present, which is reading more into the Bible than is present. You cannot use this example, assume certain things to be true and ignore all of the other numerous verses that teach baptism. Even the last verse you qouted supports the fact that children are born sinless. If the kingdom of God is like a child, why would Jesus compare a sinful person to the kingdom???

Here are the rest of the verses you choose to ignore. They prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that infant baptism is not taught in the Bible.

The Bible says there are certain things a person must DO BEFORE he can be baptized. A person MUST BELIEVE in Jesus Christ before he can be baptized. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). How do we come to believe in Jesus as the Son of God? It is by hearing the Word of God. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Therefore a person MUST have faith in Christ BEFORE he can be baptized. To be baptized before a person believes is wrong. That baptism is no good! Now let’s ask a question, Can a baby believe in Jesus as the Son of God? We all know the answer is “no!” Then, babies are NOT to be baptized.

A person MUST REPENT of his sins before he can be baptized. The Bible says, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). To repent means to change one’s life from bad to good. To repent means to have a change of mind. A person no longer wants to do things his way, but now he wants to do what the Lord says. Can a baby repent? Can he change his mind and way of life? In no way! Therefore a baby is not to be baptized!

Before a person can be baptized, he MUST also CONFESS his faith in Christ. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9,10). A good example of this is in Acts 8. The man from Ethiopia was being taught by Philip. They came to some water (v. 36). The man from Ethiopia wanted to be baptized. Before Philip baptized him he confessed, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (v. 37). After his confession, he was baptized. Baptism came AFTER confession, not before. Can a baby confess his faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God? The answer is a definite “no!” Therefore, a baby is not ready for baptism. What have we learned so far? A person must hear the Word of God. He must believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Then he must repent of his sins. After that, he must confess his faith in Christ as the Son of God. All of this must be done BEFORE a person can be baptized. A person cannot be baptized and then believe, repent and confess. The Bible doesn’t teach it that way. That is why a baby is not to be baptized. A baby CANNOT have faith in Christ. A baby CANNOT confess his faith in Christ. A baby CANNOT repent of his sins for two reasons. First, he has no sins. Second, he couldn’t repent of them if he did have them. Let’s follow what the Bible teaches and then we can all agree. The Bible says, “But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized” (Acts 8:12).

Answer 10

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