What, historically, was the age of accountability for Latter-Day-Saints before D&C 68:27?
score:2
It is clearly taught in the Book of Mormon that baptism is only required for those who are accountable and capable of committing sin. Moroni Chapter 8 contains a letter of Mormon to his son expounding on the theology of the subject. (Especially verses 5-26). Mosiah 3:16-21 also contains teaching that "little children" are sinless and are redeemed by Christ. The passages mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants (18:42 and 20:71) also mention "the years of accountability" but are not more specific.
At this point in the history of the Church, (November 1831) there were no more than a few thousand members and whether someone was sufficiently accountable was most likely left to the judgement of the missionaries, parents, and the individuals involved. There were some young children among the newly baptized convert families, but only a few would have aged and matured enough for the question of when they should be be baptized to arise.
Joseph Smith taught (Genesis 17:11-12; Joseph Smith Translation) that the 8 year old age for accountability was connected to the 8 days of age for circumcision according to the law given to Abraham.
Upvote:-3
+1 for the well thought out question. As for the answer, I don't know but I do have some speculation. Disclaimer: This is not LDS doctrine.
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
My speculation comes from the phrase: eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us. It would seem from these verses that the age of accountability reaches at least back to the New Testament times, perhaps further. Then again, it may not.
Edit: If you look at this question here: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/35116/what-is-the-significance-of-the-number-eight-in-relation-to-baptism in one of the comments, There is a different idea to what the same scripture means.
Upvote:1
There was no specified age.
"Little children" do not need to be baptized (Moroni 8), but until D&C 68 there wasn't a particular age at which someone became not a "little child".
And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.
Moroni 8:11
This isn't speculation as much as just a lack of further specification. I realize that's not very citable, other than to say Moroni 8 was simply the most detailed instruction available for those 18 months.
More post
- π How do Cessationists reconcile the doctrine of Cessationism with Paul's exhortation to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 14:1?
- π What should a seminarian who is commanded to distribute communion do?
- π How do those who hold to a literal interpretation of the flood account respond to the criticism that Noah building the ark would be unfeasible?
- π In the 325 Nicene Creed, what is the meaning of "of" in the phrase, "He is of another substance or essence?"
- π Which is the "correct" bible for Catholics?
- π Did Waldensians believe in unconditional election?
- π Should we put God to test?
- π Did John Wesley reject the Athanasian Creed?
- π When did the demon announce they were afraid of God?
- π How would a Reformed theologian distinguish his or her view of atonement?
- π Jeremiah 23:6 - βThe LORD Our Righteousnessβ or βThe LORD shall call him βOur Righteousnessββ?
- π Does Jesus have a last name?
- π How to make driving out demons reasonable for non-christians?
- π Do the Roman catacombs confirm the early Church believed in the doctrine of the communion of saints?
- π Did Philip Melanchthon teach penal substitution?
- π Are there any conditions which make oneself completely unredeemable in the eyes of God?
- π Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise
- π Do Catholics have an "Apocrypha" or just a "Bible"?
- π 1 Corinthians 4:15-16 - does Paul have the right to raise himself higher than others going against Jesus teaching?
- π According to Catholicism, how can a relic help a sick person?
- π Any research done on the Narrative of Zosimus & Lehi's "Tree of Life" Dream in 1 Nephi (LDS scripture)? Similarities? More info on N. of Zosimus?
- π Did Pontius Pilate follow God's Plan?
- π Why aren't the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches in communion with each other?
- π Expectation of salvation for the poorly catechized
- π How did Brigham Young become the most well-known Mormon leader (after Joseph Smith left the scene)?
- π The Jehovah's Witnesses deny that Jesus Christ existed eternally or everlastingly, how do they reconcile this with Micah 5:2?
- π What do Jehovah's Witnesses believe about the nature of God?
- π How was the 70 weeks of Daniel understood over the ages?
- π Why does transubstantiation refer only to communion?
- π On what basis do Evangelical apologists argue that Muhammad committed sin?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π What, historically, was the age of accountability for Latter-Day-Saints before D&C 68:27?
- π What was the main reason for excluding 35 latest names from the list of recognized saints by ROC?
- π Do Mary and the other saints know what we are praying for before we ask them?
- π What is God waiting for before He ends the world?
- π What is the support for saying Jesus believed Genesis was a literal account of creation?
- π What was the specific trap being set for Jesus by the Pharisees in John 8?
- π What is the basis for Lombard's view that the basis of justification for OT men was different than for OT women?
- π What was the reasons for documentary hypothesis?
- π What is the biblical basis for the belief that Satan was the serpent in the Garden of Eden?
- π What is the basis for saying that the Gospel of Thomas was accepted as scripture by early Christians?
- π What was Van Til's view on the use and validity of historical proofs for the resurrection?
- π Since when did the Catholic church accept Protestant baptism, and what was the original rationale for accepting?
- π What was the light of the first day of creation?
- π What is the justification for applying God's promises to Israel to modern day Christians?
- π How does the view of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints about Jesus Christ differ from Protestant Trinitarian Christology?
- π What could be the reason for Jesus not telling His disciples to write down whatever He was teaching them?
- π What was Jerome's defense for translating the Hebrew word Χ§Φ΄ΧΧ§ΦΈΧΧΦΉΧ (kikayon) in Jonah 4:6, etc. into Latin as hedera?
- π What evidence does the LDS church forward for the claim that the Garden of Eden was in Missouri?
- π What is the evidence for the claim that Young Earth Creationism was the mainstream viewpoint in ancient times?
- π What do Protestants say was the source for the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary?
- π What arguments do adherents of a global flood give for how water was able to cover the entire earth?
- π What was the basis for saying that 11th-century Greek churches were "rebaptizing" Latins?
- π What is the name of the Eternal Father worshipped by Latter Day Saints?
- π What made Jesus question at Mt 21:25 a good example for Christians or was it a bad question because the Jews could not answer?
- π On what basis was Jesusβ death sufficient for redemption according Non-Trinitarians who maintain that Jesus was not eternal God as God the Father is?
- π What was the Law of God Before Moses and How was It Disseminated?
- π What is the basis for the belief that Eve was created on the sixth day, like Adam?
- π What was the explanation for why Catharism identified the Old Testament God as Satan?
- π What are the reasons for fasting from midnight before Eucharist?
- π What was the impetus for restoring the consecration of virgins for women living in the world in the 20th Century?