Community - Discourse Reported by Wilford Woodruff, 20 March 1842
March 20th .
A large assembly of Saints gathered together
at the place of meeting at an early hour, to
hear a discourse delivered by President Joseph
Smith, upon the subject of Baptism. A child
of Mr. Windsor P. Lyons being deseased, the
body of which lay before the assembly, called
forth many remarks from the speaker upon the
subject of death and the resurrection, which
were in the highest degree interesting and
edifying, as were also his remarks upon the
subject of baptism.
The following is a brief synopsis of some of
the items delivered by the speaker.
President Smith read the 14th chap. of Rev.
and said,
"We have again the warning voice sounded
in our midst which shows the uncertainty of
human life; and in my leisure moments I have
meditated upon the subject, and asked the
question, Why it is that infants, innocent chil-
dren are taken away from us? especially those
that seem to be the most intelligent and inter-
esting? and the strongest reasons that present
themselves to my mind are these: This world is
a very wicked world; and it is a proverb that
the 'world grows weaker and wiser' if it is
the case, the world grows more wicked and
corrupt. In the early ages of the world, a righte-
ous man, and a man of God, and of intelligence,
had a better chance to do good, to be believed
and received, than at the present day; but in
these days such a man is much opp[os]ed and
persecuted by most of the inhabitants of the
earth; and he has much sorrow to pass through
here, the Lord takes many away even in in-
fancy that they may escape the envy of man,
and the sorrows and evils of this present world;
they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth;
therefore if rightly considered instead of
mourning we have reason to rejoice as they
are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have
them again.
"What chance is there for infidelity when
we are parting with our friends almost daily?
None at all. The infidel will grasp at every
straw for help until death stares him in the
face, and then his infidelity takes its flight, for
the realities of the eternal world are resting
upon him in mighty power; and when every
earthly support and prop fails him, he then
sensibly feels the eternal truths of the immor-
tality of the soul. We should take warning
and not wait for the death bed to repent, as
we see the infant taken away by death, so
may the youth and middle aged, as well as
the infant suddenly be called into eternity.
Let this then prove as a warning to all, not to
procrastinate repentance, or wait till a death
bed; for it is the will of God that man
should repent, and serve him in health, and in
the strength, and power of his mind, in order
to secure his blessing; and not wait until he
is called to die. Also the doctrine of Baptiz-
ing children, or sprinkling them, or they must
welter in hell is a doctrine not true, not sup-
ported in Holy writ, and is not consistent with
the character of God. All children are re-
deemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and the
moment that children leave this world they are
taken to the bosom of Abraham. The only
difference between the old and young dying,
is, one lives longer in heaven, and eternal light
and glory than the other, and is freed a little
sooner from this miserable wicked world.
Notwithstanding all this glory, we for a mo-
ment lose sight of it, and mourn the loss; but
we do not mourn as those without hope.
"My intention was, to have spoken upon
the subject of baptism, but having a case of
death before us I thought proper to refer to
that subject. I will now however say a few
words upon baptism, as I intended. God has
made certain decrees which are fixed, and
immovable, for instance; God set the sun, the
moon, and the stars in the heavens; and gave
them their laws, conditions, and bounds which
they cannot pass, except by his commandments;
they all move in perfect harmony in their
sphere, and order, and are as lights, wonders,
and signs unto us. The sea also has its bounds
which it cannot pass. God has set many signs
on the earth, as well as in the heavens, for in-
stance; the oak of the forest, the fruit of the
tree, the herb of the field; all bear a sign that
seed hath been planted there; for it is a decree
of the Lord that every tree, plant, and herb,
bearing seed, should bring forth of its kind, and
cannot come forth after any other law, or prin-
ciple. Upon the same principle do I contend
that baptism is a sign ordained of God, for the
believer in Christ to take upon himself in order
to enter into the kingdom of God, "for except
ye are born of water, and of the spirit ye can-
not enter into the kingdom of God," [John 3:5] saith the
Saviour. It is a sign, and commandment which
