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 Caring for the Souls of Children
Patricia P. Pinegar exhorts members to better care for each individual child
Role of Children in the Church
"Latter-day Saints believe that children are spirit sons and
daughters of God who have come to earth with their own divine inheritances and identities.
Parents, with the support of the Church, are responsible for nurturing the divine and
righteous attributes of their children and for helping them develop love for God and
fellow beings. Through love and prayerful guidance, parents can help children learn that
they have a potential for greatness and goodness, and that life on earth has purpose and
eternal consequences." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Born
in the Covenant
Children born to the couple after this marriage are automatically
sealed to their parents eternally and are spoken of as having been "born in the
covenant."
Children
and the Family
Elder W. Eugene Hansen discusses the
importance of the family.
Adoption
of Children
"The adoption of children is common among members of the Church. This
is no doubt in part a concomitant of the Church's opposition to abortion and its emphasis on the
central importance of the family." Encyclopedia
of Mormonism
Blessing of Children
"The blessing itself is to be given as dictated by the Spirit and may
contain prophecy concerning the
child's future, a statement of gifts or promises, and instruction or promises to the
parents or siblings of the child." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Salvation of
Children
"In Latter-day Saint doctrine children are to be instructed in the
principles of the gospel and baptized when eight
years of age (D&C 68:25-27). They are then responsible to adhere to the teachings of
the Church relative to obtaining salvation. Before that time they are considered
"infants" or "little children" and are not required to be baptized.
They are considered "alive in Christ" and are "whole" (Moro. 8:8-12;
JST, Matt. 18:10-11)." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
When
Does the Spirit Enter the Womb?
"The time of quickening is when the mother feels the
life of her unborn infant." President Joseph Fielding Smith
Will
a Miscarried Child Be Resurrected?
"..... it would appear that the
only ones to know if a particular miscarried child will be resurrected are the child's
mother and her Heavenly Father." W. John Walsh
Stillborn Children
We can look forward with hope and
anticipation for the resurrection of stillborn children.
(See Basic Beliefs home page;
See Teachings About the Family home page)
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