How did Mormon doctrine determine the age of accountability to be 8? I believe God is just and since he is just I believe he would not condemn a baby to hell but I have no idea at what age a person becomes accountable.
2 Responses to “How did Mormon doctrine determine the age of accountability …”
Andrea
2008-06-22 22:32:28
Yes! I totally agree with you! And so does mormon doctrine. It saddens me to see people mourn because they believe their baby was condemned for not being baptized. Babies are pure and sinless! They have no need to be washed of sin. I was actually just reading a part in the Book of Mormon the other day that talks about this. It's in Moroni 8. It says, "And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism... But little children are alive in Christ."
I think the age of eight was chosen because this is around the time when kids start being able to discern good from bad. They can make choices for themselves. They become accountable for their choices. Although that's not to say kids a day over eight will go to hell without baptism. Heavenly Father is so merciful. He wants everyone to return to him and he will give everyone a chance to choose him. If we don't make it back it's because we hardened our hearts and chose not to. Baptism is a way to outwardly express our devotion to him.
Thanks for your thoughtful question!
Anonymous
2008-07-07 05:07:44
We read in the Docrtrine and Covenants section 68 the age of acountability as eight. The heading to this section reads as follows:
"Revelation given through Joseph Smith the prophet, at Hiram, Ohio, November 1831, at the request of Orson Hyde, Luke S. Johnson, Lyman E. Johnson, and William E. Mclellin. HC 1: 227229. Although this revelation was given in response to supplication that the mind of the Lord be made known concerning the elders named, much of the content pertains to the whole church."
Further in this revelation we read the following passage of scripture from God:
25 And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents. 26 For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized. 27 And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands. 28 And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.
I would also recomend a seeking out Elder Bruce R. McConkie's words on the subject which can be found on lds.org in an online copy of the March 1978 Liahona Magazine article, entitled "Salvation of Little Children", or just searching out the phrase "age of accountability" or "accountability" on that site.
I think the age of eight was chosen because this is around the time when kids start being able to discern good from bad. They can make choices for themselves. They become accountable for their choices. Although that's not to say kids a day over eight will go to hell without baptism. Heavenly Father is so merciful. He wants everyone to return to him and he will give everyone a chance to choose him. If we don't make it back it's because we hardened our hearts and chose not to. Baptism is a way to outwardly express our devotion to him.
Thanks for your thoughtful question!
"Revelation given through Joseph Smith the prophet, at Hiram, Ohio, November 1831, at the request of Orson Hyde, Luke S. Johnson, Lyman E. Johnson, and William E. Mclellin. HC 1: 227229. Although this revelation was given in response to supplication that the mind of the Lord be made known concerning the elders named, much of the content pertains to the whole church."
Further in this revelation we read the following passage of scripture from God:
25 And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.
26 For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized.
27 And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands.
28 And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.
I would also recomend a seeking out Elder Bruce R. McConkie's words on the subject which can be found on lds.org in an online copy of the March 1978 Liahona Magazine article, entitled "Salvation of Little Children", or just searching out the phrase "age of accountability" or "accountability" on that site.
Best of luck!