Moroni Records An Epistle of His Father

Event 212

Reference: Moro. 8:1-30

AN epistle of my father Mormon, written to me, Moroni;and it was written unto me soon after my calling to theministry. And on this wise did he write unto me, saying:MoroniLand northwardA.D. 401 to 4202 My beloved son, Moroni, I rejoice exceedingly that your LordJesus Christ hath been mindful of you, and hath called you to hisministry, and to his holy work. 3 I am mindful of you always in myprayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name ofhis Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness andgrace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name tothe end. 4 And now, my son, I speak unto you concerning thatwhich grieveth me exceedingly; for it grieveth me that thereshould disputations rise among you. 5 For, if I have learned thetruth, there have been disputations among you concerning thebaptism of your little children.Mormon6 And now, my son, I desire that ye should labor diligently, thatthis gross error should be removed from among you; for, for thisintent I have written this epistle. 7 For immediately after I hadlearned these things of you I inquired of the Lord concerning thematter. And the word of the Lord came to me by the power of theHoly Ghost, saying:8 Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord andyour God. Behold, I came into the world not to call therighteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need nophysician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children arewhole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore thecurse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no powerover them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.Jesus Christ9 And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word ofGod unto me; wherefore, my beloved son, I know that it is solemnmockery before God, that ye should baptize little children. 10Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentanceand baptism unto those who are accountable and capable ofcommitting sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and bebaptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and theyshall all be saved with their little children.Mormon11 And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism.Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling thecommandments unto the remission of sins. 12 But little childrenare alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if notso, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and arespecter to persons; for how many little children have diedwithout baptism! 13 Wherefore, if little children could not besaved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell. 14Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds ofiniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore,should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.15 For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth onechild because of baptism, and the other must perish because hehath no baptism.MormonLand northwardA.D. 401 to 42016 Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord afterthis manner, for they shall perish except they repent. Behold, Ispeak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear notwhat man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear. 17 And I amfilled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, allchildren are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with aperfect love; and they are all alike and partakers of salvation. 18For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeablebeing; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.19 Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickednessto deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive inhim because of his mercy. 20 And he that saith that little childrenneed baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naughtthe atonement of him and the power of his redemption. 21 Wo untosuch, for they are in danger of death, hell, and an endless torment.I speak it boldly; God hath commanded me. Listen unto them andgive heed, or they stand against you at the judgment-seat of Christ.22 For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also allthey that are without the law. For the power of redemption comethon all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned,or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto suchbaptism availeth nothing— 23 But it is mockery before God,denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit,and putting trust in dead works.24 Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be; for repentance isunto them that are under condemnation and under the curse of abroken law. 25 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; andbaptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments;and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins; 26And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness ofheart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh thevisitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hopeand perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer,until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.27 Behold, my son, I will write unto you again if I go not out soonagainst the Lamanites. Behold, the pride of this nation, or thepeople of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction except theyshould repent. 28 Pray for them, my son, that repentance maycome unto them. But behold, I fear lest the Spirit hath ceasedstriving with them; and in this part of the land they are alsoseeking to put down all power and authority which cometh fromGod; and they are denying the Holy Ghost. 29 And after rejectingso great a knowledge, my son, they must perish soon, unto the fulfilling of the prophecies which were spoken by the prophets, aswell as the words of our Savior himself. 30 Farewell, my son, untilI shall write unto you, or shall meet you again. Amen.MormonLand northwardA.D. 401 to 420