Moroni 8

“Little Children Are Alive in Christ”

toddler boy playing with a watch

In his writings, the prophet Moroni shared a letter written to him by his father, Mormon, regarding the baptism of little children. Mormon’s writings on the subject stem from a revelation he received from Jesus Christ. The revelation demonstrates the power of the Savior’s Atonement and how it impacts little children. This lesson is intended to help you better understand why little children do not need baptism and what that teaches us about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Give students opportunities to discuss gospel truths. Make time for students to practice talking about what they are learning about the Savior and His gospel. This can help students internalize and remember these truths and express them clearly. This practice can also increase students’ confidence that they can share truths in other settings.

Student preparation: You might share the story from the beginning of the lesson or something similar and ask students to think about how they might respond to the situation.

Possible Learning Activities

How would you respond?

Consider showing the following video or sharing the story in your own words.

Read the following story shared by President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, or watch “And a Little Child Shall Lead Them” from time code 4:42 to 5:59, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Imagine you were one of the missionaries in the situation.

President Boyd K. Packer

Two missionaries were laboring in the mountains of the southern United States. One day, from a hilltop, they saw people gathering in a clearing far below. The missionaries did not often have many people to whom they might preach, so they made their way down to the clearing.

A little boy had drowned, and there was to be a funeral. His parents had sent for the minister to “say words” over their son. The missionaries stood back as the itinerant minister faced the grieving father and mother and began his sermon. If the parents expected to receive comfort from this man of the cloth, they would be disappointed.

He scolded them severely for not having had the little boy baptized. They had put it off because of one thing or another, and now it was too late. He told them very bluntly that their little boy had gone to hell. It was their fault. They were to blame for his endless torment.

After the sermon was over and the grave was covered, the elders approached the grieving parents. “We are servants of the Lord,” they told the mother, “and we have come with a message for you.” (Boyd K. Packer, “And a Little Child Shall Lead Them,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 7)

Rate your answer to the following question on a scale of 1 to 4, with (1) not confident at all, (2) somewhat confident, (3) confident, and (4) very confident.

• How confident would you feel teaching and comforting these grieving parents and helping them feel the Lord’s love?

Students will have the opportunity later in the lesson to share how they might respond to the situation.

As you study Moroni 8, consider how you could help these parents better understand Jesus Christ’s Atonement in relation to little children. Also think about how the truths from Moroni 8 might help you better understand Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s goodness and mercy.

Little children are whole

Having recently been called to the ministry of Jesus Christ, Moroni received a letter from his father, Mormon. Mormon wrote to his “beloved son” (Moroni 8:2) that he was “mindful of [him] always in [his] prayers” (Moroni 8:3). He counseled Moroni about disputations that had arisen among the Nephites about the baptism of little children. Later in his life, Moroni added this letter to his record in the gold plates.

Read Moroni 8:4–8, looking for how Mormon reacted when he heard of the disputation.

Invite students to share any insights they gained from these verses.

Consider drawing the following chart on the board and organizing students’ responses into the appropriate columns. Ask students to share why their insights may be important or meaningful.

Copy the following chart into your study journal, and record what you learn from these verses. You will add to this chart later in the lesson.

Why little children do not need baptism	What we learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

One truth we can learn from these verses is that little children are made whole through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

A helpful scripture study tool is using footnotes. Notice footnote d next to the word “whole” in verse 8.

Read at least one of the following verses from the footnote, looking for why it is that little children are whole:

• Doctrine and Covenants 29:46

  You may want to have students also read verse 47, in which the Lord mentions that children cannot sin until they become accountable. The Lord has said that children begin to become accountable before Him at age eight. Revelations on this truth are found in the Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis 17:11 and in Doctrine and Covenants 68:25–27. Consider sharing some or all of this with students if they have questions.

• Doctrine and Covenants 74:7

• What does it mean in Moroni 8:8 that “little children are whole”?

Little children do not need baptism

Consider putting students into pairs and inviting each partner to read one of the following sets of verses.

Mormon gave additional insights that help us learn more about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ from this doctrine regarding children. Read the following verses, looking for points you can add to both sides of your chart.

• Moroni 8:10–15

• Moroni 8:18–24

Invite students to add to the chart. If useful, consider asking what false ideas people might have that these verses correct.

Take a moment to look over the truths you have written in the second column of the chart. Ponder the following question:

• How might understanding these truths about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ help us in our lives today?

Invite several students to answer the above question. If useful, consider asking students to share situations they might face in which knowing these truths could be helpful. This might include when they or others are tempted to believe that God allows only some people to be saved. Follow the promptings of the Spirit, and look for opportunities to help students feel the Lord’s love.

Think back to the story of the two missionaries from the beginning of the lesson.

• Based on what you have learned today, what would you say to the parents of this child to help them find peace in Jesus Christ?

Invite students to write a response to this question using at least two verses they studied in this lesson. Another option is for students to practice vocalizing their response in a role play rather than just writing it down. Make sure students understand that the intent of this practice is to help people feel hope and peace through the Atonement of Jesus Christ; it is not to criticize the religious practices of others.

Commentary and Background Information

Can young children sin?

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught:

President Dallin H. Oaks

We understand from our doctrine that before the age of accountability a child is “not capable of committing sin” [Moroni 8:8]. During that time, children can commit mistakes, even very serious and damaging ones that must be corrected, but their acts are not accounted as sins. (Dallin H. Oaks, “Sins and Mistakes,” Ensign, Oct. 1996, 65)

Doctrine and Covenants 29:47. What does it mean that children “begin to become accountable”?

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

Accountability does not burst full-bloom upon a child at any given moment in his life. Children become accountable gradually, over a number of years. Becoming accountable is a process, not a goal to be attained when a specified number of years, days, and hours have elapsed. In our revelation the Lord says, “They cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me.” (D&C 29:47.) There comes a time, however, when accountability is real and actual and sin is attributed in the lives of those who develop normally. It is eight years of age, the age of baptism. (Bruce R. McConkie, “The Salvation of Little Children,” Ensign, Apr. 1977, 6)

Moroni 8:12, 19, 22. What does it mean to be “alive in Christ”?

To be alive in Christ means to be redeemed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and worthy to live in the celestial kingdom. Those not accountable are redeemed and made alive in Christ through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Those who are accountable can invite the redeeming power of Jesus Christ into their lives through faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost (Moroni 8:25–26).

Supplemental Learning Activities

Moroni 8:8, 11. Little children are whole through Jesus Christ

One truth you might highlight is that children who die before the age of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom. Consider inviting students to read Moroni 8:8, 11 and Doctrine and Covenants 137:10 to identify this truth. Help students understand that little children are saved in the celestial kingdom without the need of repentance and baptism (see Moroni 8:11). The following video may help students deepen their understanding.

Moroni 9:6. “Let us labor diligently”

If you have time, you may want to invite students to read from another letter Mormon wrote to Moroni. Consider sharing a scenario like the following: “As a member of your class or quorum, you are asked to invite one of the other members who has not come to church meetings or activities in over a year. After you extended personal invitations for the past three months, this person still has not come to any meetings or activities.” Invite students to share what they might do in this situation. Ask students to read Moroni 9:1–6, looking for counsel that would apply to the scenario. Invite students to share thoughts about what Mormon is teaching. You might ask questions like the following: Why would doing what Mormon teaches be difficult? Why would doing what Mormon teaches be good?

Moroni 9:25. “May Christ lift thee up”

Consider dropping a peeled orange and an unpeeled orange in water to see if they float. Invite students to ponder what might bring us down and what lifts us up in life.

Invite students to read Moroni 9:25–26, looking for what Mormon said that might have lifted Moroni’s spirits. Consider asking questions like these: What teachings in these verses could lift your spirits? Why? What do you think it means that Jesus Christ can lift us up? When have you experienced Christ’s lifting influence in your life?