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.
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