Baptized at 8, washing away all those sins?

[_SuperDell]

L-d$,inc baptized kids at the age of 8. Baptism washes away your sins. Kids under 8, the age of accountability - can't sin.

We have all been to a kids baptism and heard the glorious talks about how their sins are washed away in the waters of baptism - yet the kid isn't old enough to have sinned.

Jesus was baptized in his 30's. Enough time for him to have built up a few sins - or, if the story is believed he did it only "to fulfill all righteousness" and "be an example".

For normal folks it would make a lot more sense to wait til a kid is older and can somewhat actually choose baptism rather than just doing so to please mommy and daddy and the record keepers who count tithe payers.

Give people a chance to sin so baptism can actually mean more than the initiation ceremony. Make it 16 or later so those who are now getting to be Deacons at 11 can be old enough to become "the husband of one wife" as scripture says Deacons should be. At least 16-18 year old deacons makes more sense than an 11 year old who still believes in the Easter Bunny.

Then again, it is religion so it doesn't have to make sense.

[_Dr Exiled]

Well, we should give Joseph a break. It's tough making up religious rules and dogmas when one is preoccupied with women. I heard somewhere that men think about sex every 17 seconds? Joseph must have been thinking about it every 2 seconds. It's actually surprising that someone that preoccupied with sex could do anything else. Perhaps this is a new apologetic: Joseph was too preoccupied with sex to make up anything so it all must have been inspired?

[_Shulem]

Mormonism is a cult that brainwashes and abuses children on all kinds of levels including the idea that once they reach the age of 8 they are no longer worthy or capable of returning to live with Heavenly Father unless they are baptized a Mormon. This practice and doctrine is evil. It originates with the Mormons who have targeted young children at the age of 8 and through brainwashing and indoctrination abuse children.

Baptizing 8 year old kids because they are sinful and in need of repenting before the throne of Mormon Man-God is akin to baptizing babies and forcing them into the cult of Christianity which uses symbols of water and blood to get rid of sin. Mormons are in the gull of bitterness and abomination. The Mormon religion is evil and should be avoided at all cost.

[_Fence Sitter]

. . . We have all been to a kids baptism and heard the glorious talks about how their sins are washed away in the waters of baptism - yet the kid isn't old enough to have sinned. . . Then again, it is religion so it doesn't have to make sense.

Excellent point!

It is akin to asking how Adam could've sinned by eating the apple if he didn't know the difference between good and evil yet? What exactly was "Adam's transgression" referred to in the AoF?

[_MsJack]

Routine/Mandatory baptism at age 8 is pretty much just slightly delayed infant baptism.

[_Fence Sitter]

Routine/Mandatory baptism at age 8 is pretty much just slightly delayed infant baptism.

Not really, at least not in Mormonism. The rationale behind 8 years old in Mormonism is that it is somehow the magic age at which all children suddenly become accountable for their actions. A 7 year old cannot be held accountable for their actions by God while an 8 year old can. How this magic number came to be is a mystery.

[_Dr. Shades]

Make it 16 or later so those who are now getting to be Deacons at 11 can be old enough to become "the husband of one wife" as scripture says Deacons should be. At least 16-18 year old deacons makes more sense than an 11 year old who still believes in the Easter Bunny.

Deacons become deacons at age 12, not 11.

[_Dr Moore]

Not any more. Deacons, Teachers and Priests can be ordained at the start of the calendar year in which they turn 12, 14 and 16.

[_huckelberry]

If baptism does not have an effect for sins committed after the event it is pretty useless, that is for sins, unless timed just before death.

[_moksha]

It is akin to asking how Adam could've sinned by eating the apple if he didn't know the difference between good and evil yet?

Catch 22.