This is the second of the Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden and were given two commandments, among other assignments. The first of these commandments was for Adam and Eve to "be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it." The second was that while Adam and Eve could eat anything they wanted in the garden, they should not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because it would cause them to spiritually die.
Lo and behold, the serpent (Lucifer, aka Satan) beguiled (led by deception) Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. Eve then gave the fruit to Adam who also ate. Thus Adam and Eve had both disobeyed Heavenly Father. The consequence for this disobedience had been laid out to them when the command was given to not eat of the specific tree. That consequence was death. Adam and Eve did not physically die upon eating of the fruit, but were instead immediately questioned of their actions and then cast out of Heavenly Father's presence. To be separated from Heavenly Father's presence is called spiritual death.
As a result of Adam and Eve's decision to eat of the fruit that was forbidden them, they were not only cast out of the Garden of Eden, but were also subject to pain, suffering, and physical death. They could now die. This was a consequence of their disobedience. But it wasn't a consequence that affected just them; we are all subject to pain, suffering, physical death, and living away from God's presence because of the transgression (infringement or violation of a law, command, or duty) of Adam and Eve.
We are not, however, held responsible for the decision that they made. By this, I mean that we will not be punished for the actual act of them disobeying. We are "punished" by the consequences of their action, but we are not expected to pay for their action.
Let me give an example that may help to clarify this concept. If I, as a husband and father, decide to look at pornography and that leads me to cheat on my wife, it will likely destroy my marriage and have long lasting effects on my wife, my son, the person with whom I cheated, and potentially others (my other family and friends, one of the 8-year-old kids in my Sunday school class, etc.). My wife would not be held responsible for my decision to look at pornography or my decision to be unfaithful, but she would most definitely be affected by the consequences of my decision.
So to reiterate, Adam and Eve disobeyed a rule that Heavenly Father gave to them. They were given consequences for their disobedience. Some of those consequences affect us. Adam and Eve are expected to repent and use the Atonement of Jesus Christ (see the next post for more on this topic) to be forgiven of their disobedience. We do not have to pay for their act of disobedience.
For these reasons, we believe that children are born sinless. We believe that children are not held responsible for their actions until they reach a stage of development that allows them to reason and recognize the difference between good and evil. The Lord revealed to a modern prophet, a man similar to Adam, Enoch, Noah, Moses, and Abraham, that this age of accountability is eight years old. Thus, in the Church of Jesus Christ, baptism is not necessary before the age of eight.
I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves us so much that He only holds us responsible for our own actions and not for the actions of all those who affect us. Can you imagine if you were required to pay for the decisions of all those who decide to mistreat you, hurt you, abuse you, and even kill you? I know that we don't have to suffer in that way, because Jesus Christ did suffer in that way, and as the Son of God, He was able to overcome the consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience. He overcame both physical and spiritual death, and for that, we are all eternally indebted to Him.
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