Personal Response by Alex Capanna

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) does not teach or practice infant baptism, basing its disapproval of the practice upon the foundation of modern day revelation, as well as, doctrine taught in the Bible and the Book of Mormon; as an aside, the evidence for the LDS position as found in the Book of Mormon, is always supported by the Bible and I have included those validating Biblical references. Moroni 8:10-11 states:

“Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach-repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children. And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.”(1) (Emphasis added)

As the prophet Moroni states, baptism is required of those seeking repentance from sin, and the Latter-day Saints maintain that children are born into the world without sin and are not to be held accountable until the age of eight (the age at which most LDS children are baptized), on two accounts. The first is a paramount doctrine of the church, so much so that it was included as the second of thirteen articles of LDS faith:

“We believe that men will be punished [held accountable] for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.”(2)

In other words, Latter-day Saints abjure the doctrines of original sin and original guilt, and approach the concept of infant baptism within that context. A citation of LDS scripture that invalidates the afore mentioned doctrines, can be found in Moses 6:54 which teaches:

“Hence came the saying abroad among the people, that the Son of God hath atoned for original guilt, wherein the sins of the parents cannot be answered upon the heads of the children, for they are whole from the foundation of the world.” (Emphasis added)

In support of this scripture are the words of the Apostle Paul to the Romans:

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one [The Lord] shall many be made righteous.”(3)

Secondly, the church teaches that it is crucial that someone be cognoscente of the commandments, have a general understanding of right and wrong, and be- at the very least- teachable about the concept of accountability for one’s actions, prior to baptism; all of which are traits not typically associated with younger children, especially infants. Support for this position comes to us from the words of Paul to the Romans, once again:

“For where no law is, there is no transgression.”(4)

It goes without saying, that newborn children are neither aware of the law nor do they possess the cognitive ability to a choose sin over righteousness, and according to Paul, are therefore without “transgression”. Another aspect to this argument is that the Lord petitioned his apostles and prospective members of the early church, to “believe and be baptized”(5). An infant cannot express a belief in anything, let alone faith in a Savior who atoned for sins they haven’t even committed yet.

So, in conclusion, based on the evidences shown above, the LDS Church has determined that infants are not born into this world guilty of Adam’s or anyone’s sin, and that their inability to comprehend the laws and commandments of the Gospel, leave them without need of a baptism “unto a remission of sins”(6) until they are age eight or older.

- Alex C.

(1) Moroni 8:10-11, The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
(2) Articles of Faith, article 2
(3) Romans 5:19
(4) Romans 4:15, (Ibid.)
(5) Mark 16:15-16, Romans 10:14
(6) Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3

Personal Response by James E. Faulconer

The answer to this question is straightforward: God didn’t create hell. Hell is the state of being separated from the love of God, a state that we create when we turn from him in sin.

Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) taught, “What is the damnation of hell? To go with that society who have not obeyed his commands” (History of the Church, page 554). Through his Son, Jesus Christ, God has given us a way via which we can return to him, restored from our state of sin to a state of grace and glory, but he will force none of us to return against our will. If we choose to remain in sin when given the chance of being lifted from it, he will allow us to remain where we wish, separated from God, in other words, in hell.

However, the scriptures sometimes use the word “hell” to refer to a place, and when they do so, the word has various meanings. Both the Hebrew and Greek meaning of the Old and New Testament words translated “hell” is simply “the place where the dead reside.” In that light, sometimes the word is understood by Mormons to refer to the place where the disobedient live while awaiting the resurrection. While there they have the opportunity of having the gospel of Jesus Christ preached to them so that, if they will, they may repent and return to God.

After the resurrection, all but a few of humankind will live in a state of reward and glory, though not all will live in the presence of God. (See Doctrine and Covenants 76 for a description of the various states of reward after the resurrection. The Doctrine and Covenants, with the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Pearl of Great Price, is one of the canonical scriptures of the LDS Church.) Those who do not live in his presence-because they have not accepted salvation through Jesus Christ-will be free from pain and suffering, but they will be separated from God. Thus, we could say that they will be in hell, though not that they will be punished.

Finally, sometimes the word “hell” is used to refer to the ultimate destination of those few who have committed the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost (Matthew 12:31). “Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame,” they will be sent to reside “with the devil and his angels” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:35-36). (The Doctrine and Covenants is another Mormon canonical work.) However, we presume that even in this state, the punishment will not be something decreed and inflicted by God, but the self-consciousness of guilt. Joseph Smith said, “A man is his own tormenter and his own condemner. Hence the saying, ‘They shall go into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.’ The torment of disappointment in the mind of man is as exquisite as a lake burning with fire and brimstone” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 357).

The word “hell” has different meanings in different contexts. However, whichever meaning it has, it is something that we create by our disobedience, not something created by God.