Waters, you're correct. He blessed every child and still does. Is there anybody in this world, old or young, white or black, gay or straight, who may not receive a priesthood blessing at any hour of any day? Or who may not simply get on their knees and knock, any place, anywhere, any time?
Same question about worthily having the Holy Ghost draw near. Any person, any hour.
Why does He call infant baptism an abomination?
The people who are so outraged over this policy, apparently do not understand the serious nature of covenants. Which isn't surprising, considering how frequently we watch authority figures lie and seemingly get away with it. It's one of the curses of our age. It's saddening to see that Amalickiah, as wicked as he was, refused to break his oaths out of fear for his eternal destination. But today, we see everyone around us, even "active" church members (aka five of the ten virgins) who lie at will, whatever it takes to boost their pride and standing.
If we don't allow these children of apostate parents, who are unrepentant and defiantly continue to live in apostasy, the opportunity to make eternal covenants, then the church stands in danger of losing its popularity!
Some people may see excommunication as a punishment. In reality, it's a tender mercy because those who have made covenants are judged by a higher standard, and if they continue to sin, they receive a higher condemnation. Excommunicating them, until they see the errors of their ways and repent and return, is actually doing them a favor.
It's sad that there's already enough children as it is who have made covenants of baptism but then chosen to follow the poor examples of their parents. Ironically, those choosing to be offended on behalf of the children of apostate parents, actually cite these other children as an example as though it somehow helps their argument. All they are doing is demonstrating a lack of testimony and/or understanding regarding the serious nature of covenants.
Answer this. What happens to all children worldwide, white or black, gay or straight, who die before reaching the age of accountability? They are saved in the celestial kingdom. Now that the church has raised the age of accountability to 18 for children of apostates, exactly which of the two great forces in this world is the one who is NOT happy with the ten more years of protection? Who is the one who cheers when observing apostate behavior and its influence spreading? It's not the one who said it would be better for a millstone to be around the neck of a person who offends the children.
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