When Eight Years Old

To my daughter, 

In some Christian traditions, infants are baptized through the sprinkling of water. The Lord has revealed, though, that baptism is for those who can choose to make this covenant with the Savior when they are older. He said that parents should teach their children “to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old…. And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands” (Doctrine and Covenants 68:25, 27). Now that you are eight years old, you will soon be baptized because you have reached the age of accountability and you have chosen to receive this ordinance. Up until this point you have been learning how to make choices, and the Lord feels you are ready to be accountable for your choices. That means that you have more responsibility to try to do what is right and to strive to do what Jesus would do. Of course you will still make mistakes, but that’s why He has given us the gift of repentance when we do. I love these words of the Savior given to us by Mormon: “Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me…. Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin” (Moroni 8:8, 10). When you were small you were pure and could not commit sin; now that you are older and can choose you need the Savior’s help to stay clean and pure, and that help is the covenant of baptism He offers to each of us who so choose.

Mormon also taught about the cycle that can be a pattern the rest of your life: “And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins; And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God” (Mormon 8:25-26). After your baptism, as you make mistakes, you will repent and receive a remission of sins, meaning that the Lord will forgive you and it will become as if you never made those mistakes. That repentance will include striving to keep His commandments. Then with that forgiveness you will feel humble and your heart will be ready to receive the Holy Ghost that will fill you with love. As you continue to pray, that love will remain with you. If you strive to live by this pattern throughout your life, always repenting for your sins and trying to keep His commandments and praying to be filled with His love, you will continually have the Holy Ghost to guide you. That will ultimately lead you back to your Father in Heaven.  

Love,

Dad