Legacies

"We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression." (Articles of Faith 1:2)

This article of faith says a few things about what we believe: children are born innocent, children do not answer for their parents' sins, and that the Fall of man is a blessing. 

We believe that children are innocent and pure, incapable of sin until the age of eight, the age of accountability. We do not believe in the baptism of infants. In Moroni chapter eight it talks about why we do not baptize young children. Christ came to save the sinners, to be physician to the sick. Children are considered "whole" and not capable of committing sin. If God were to condem all the children who have died before the age of eight, he would be an imperfect being. Since children are incapable of committing sin, then he would be an impartial God who denies the blessings of heaven to the other innocent children who died without baptism. We also believe that people should leave a good inheritance for our children. This does not mean money necessarily, it means that when we die we should leave the world a better place than when we arrived. Raising upstanding members of society, being a good example of a disciple of Christ, lower national debt, etc. 

In John 9:1-3, there was a man blind from birth and Jesus' disciples asked Jesus who had sinned, the man's parents or the blind man. Jesus answered that neither had sinned to cause this man's blindness. The sins of parents do not transfer to their children. 

Adam and Eve were given two commandments: do not eat the forbidden fruit and have children. They could not have possibly been able to follow both commandments. The first would mean they had to be innocent forever and not have children. The second would mean they would have to eat from the tree and die eventually. If Adam and Eve didn't eat the forbidden fruit, the Plan of Salvation would have been brought to a halt. We would never have been able to have bodies, and thus never have the opportunity to become like our Father in heaven. We honor Adam and Eve as our first parents. 

I am very grateful for the opportunity to come to this earth and experience true joy. I testify that I know that God has a plan for me. That plan is possible because Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit and Christ suffered, died, and then was resurrected so that we can have the opportunity to gain eternal life. I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Questions, comments, cheese? All are welcome (except for the cheese, please don't mail me cheese)!