Is baptism for little children necessary? Let’s ask ourselves another question before we consider that question. Can little children sin?
Wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin” Moro. 8:8.
If little children are not capable of committing sin, what do children need to repent of? So if they don’t have anything to repent of, is baptism for little children necessary?
Baptism for Little Children
This scripture from the Book of Mormon states baptism for little children and repentance is not needed.
And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins. Moroni 8:11
Children are alive in Christ
But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; Moroni 8:12
If little children are alive in Christ, the mandate to become as a little child from the book of Matthew becomes more easily understood. I am including a blog link I wrote about the challenge of “unlearning adulthood” to become as a little child to consider possible relationships between the question of baptism for little children, and Christ’s words “to become as a little child.”
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-3
Little children and the kingdom of heaven
Little children must already be in the kingdom of heaven if that is who we are to become like to enter the kingdom of heaven. That is another angle to consider. If little children have already attained the kingdom of heaven, is baptism for little children necessary?
Living Waters
I prefer baptism in living water such as lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans. Since we are alive, it seems appropriate to be baptized in water that is alive with life also.
Baptism by Immersion
To me, baptism by immersion represents Christ’s death and resurrection. For example, when our daughter, Ashirya, was baptized by immersion, death was represented when her dad completely immersed her in water. She had to hold her breath to stay alive and she would have died if her dad had not lifted her back out of the water. The resurrection was represented as Ashirya needed the strength of her father to lift her out of the water to rise back to new life just as Christ needed the power of His Father to raise him back to life.
Ordinances bear testimony of the real event
Ordinances are the preliminary act, designed to bear testimony of the real event. They are not the real thing, but a “type” of the real thing. They must be seen through the eyes of faith to allow us to gain the faith necessary to obtain the real thing.- Denver Snuffer
Repentance and baptism interrelated
It is written in the Bible to repent and be baptized. When we repent we turn and face God to receive his light or intelligence resulting in positive inner changes. When we get baptized, we are turning to face God through a physical act. Therefore, it is logical that repentance and baptism are interrelated since we turn and face God for both actions. Through repentance, inner changes occur within our spirit. On the other hand, baptism is an outward representation perfectly complementing the inward change that comes through repentance.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Act 2:38
Top Featured Photo by Jorge Barahona
