I never question Jesus’ word but Catholics don’t subscribe to a sola scriptura doctrine so we weigh scripture in light of our God-led tradition along with the rest of scripture in context-so His word can be ascertained.
Thank you. I respect that position entirely. Mormons have additional revelation/scripture that you could say does the same thing for us that “sacred tradition” does for you; and I will tell you shortly what that additional Mormon scripture teaches on this subject.
Of course we recognize the innocence of children and, as such, they can provide a great model for the attitude we must have towards God, our Father. This does not, however, explain why, invariably, they lose that innocence, as if something was already at work towards that end. Serial killers more often than not probably start out as someone’s dearly loved infant.
I agree, there is “something at work,” but for us Mormons that “something” does not look exactly like the way it does in Catholic theology.
If there’s not a basic flaw of some kind within mankind; if there was never a higher level from which he fell, then all individual sin is inevitable and unavoidable-and absolutely natural for man. God had no right to give man the Law, in this case.
I am not sure exactly how you draw that conclusion from the given premise, but the premise is not far out. I accept the premise to a large extent. Now I will tell you what the doctrine is in Mormonism, and you can compare it with what is taught in Catholicism. Here I will just talk about the fate of little children, because to discuss the whole business of the Fall and what it entailed is a bigger and lengthier subject to talk about. Here is what Mormon revelation teaches about the fate of children in the gospel:
Mosiah 3:
16 And even if it were possible that little children could sin they could not be saved; but I say unto you they are blessed; for behold, as in Adam, or by nature, they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins.
Moroni 8:
11 And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.
12 But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism!
22 For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing—
D&C 29:
46 But behold, I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine Only Begotten;
47 Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me;
D&C 74:
7 But little children are holy, being sanctified through the atonement of Jesus Christ; and this is what the scriptures mean.
D&C 93:
38 Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God.
D&C 137:
10 And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven.
Moses 6:
53 And our father Adam spake unto the Lord, and said: Why is it that men must repent and be baptized in water? And the Lord said unto Adam: Behold I have forgiven thee thy transgression in the Garden of Eden.
54 Hence came the saying abroad among the people, that the Son of God hath atoned for original guilt, wherein the sins of the parents cannot be answered upon the heads of the children, for they are whole from the foundation of the world.
I think that is pretty much self-explanatory. We believe that little children, until they reach the age of accountability, are essentially sinless. Whatever the effect of the Fall might be on them, it does not make them sinful, in the sense of make them guilty of sin, or unholy. Satan in fact does not have the power to tempt little children. It doesn’t mean they can’t do anything wrong. They can be naughty. They can be mischievous. But they are not held accountable for it, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ redeems them unconditionally.
As far as the subject of the Fall itself is concerned, and what effects and consequences it has or has not for the rest of us, that is a bigger subject that is best discussed separately.
I hope that has answered your question. If not, fire on!
