Infant Baptism
The doctrine of baptizing children, or sprinkling them, or they must welter in hell, is a doctrine not true, not supported in Holy Writ, and is not consistent with the character of God. All children are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and the moment that children leave this world, they are taken to the bosom of Abraham. The only difference between the old and young dying is, one lives longer in heaven and eternal light and glory than the other, and is freed a little sooner from this miserable, wicked world. Notwithstanding all this glory, we for a moment lose sight of it, and mourn the loss, but we do not mourn as those without hope. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 4:554)
"Do you believe in the baptism of infants?" asks the Presbyterian. No. "Why?" Because it is nowhere written in the Bible. Circumcision is not baptism, neither was baptism instituted in the place of circumcision. Baptism is for remission of sins. Children have no sins. Jesus blessed them and said, "Do what you have seen me do." Children are all made alive in Christ, and those of riper years through faith and repentance. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 5:499)
Footnotes
984. Sabbath address, Nauvoo, 20 March 1842.
985. Sabbath address, Nauvoo, 9 July 1843.
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