Mormon Dilemma 50

19 August

Was Mankind Born Perfect or Sinful?

If you’ve ever been a Mormon there was probably a time in your life when your sacred canon caused you some confusion.  I’ve spoken to countless people both active and ex-Mormon who have experienced just this thing.

For me it was the day I was baptized at the age of eight.  I was being baptized for the remission of sins, but up until that time I had been taught I was born perfect and couldn’t sin.

Their contradictory teaching on this subject is worth exploring and worthy of asking the Mormon in your life what they think of this.

If man is born without the nature of sin then why would someone need to be baptized?  When did you sin and how did you know to do it?  As I’ve mentioned before, I never had to teach my kids how to pitch a fit – they came by that quite naturally.

Ether 3:13 says that man must be redeemed from the fall: “And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.

D&C 29:46-47; “But behold, I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine Only Begotten; 47 Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me.

The 2nd Article of Faith in Mormonism says; “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgressions.

Romans 5:12; “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

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One Response to “Mormon Dilemma 50”

  1. shematwater August 23, 2011 at 4:52 pm #

    First, this really shouldn’t cause any confusion. We know that it is about the age of Eight that people become accountable and thus able to sin.
    We also know that one cannot sin if they lack the understanding of the knowledge of Good and Evil.

    In truth, psychology has supported this with many tests that have shown in it between the ages of seven and eight that children begin to develop the sense of right and wrong. Before that time they have no real understanding.

    Example: The situation was given – Tommy is playing in the living room and accidentally knocks into the table, breaking three of his mothers glass figurines. Later than day, David becomes angry at his mother and throws one of the figures, shattering it. Which act was worse?
    Without fail children under the age of seven said Tommy, because he broke three and David only one. It was about the age of seven that children began to answer David, because he did it on purpose while Tommy did it on accident.

    So, we are born without sin in us, for no one can be condemned for the actions of others. The truly young cannot sin for they lack true understanding as what it is. However, just prior to turning eight children begin to understand Good and Evil and thus become accountable for their actions. Now that they are accountable they must be baptized, for now they are capable of sin.

    We are not baptized before we have ever sinned, but very soon after we become accountable for our actions. Most children, when they are baptized, have committed sin, but only for a short while.

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