The Definition of Probation
To understand this topic, we first look to the definition of “Probation”:
Probation – noun:
- the act of testing.
- the testing or trial of a person's conduct, character, qualifications, or the like.
- the state or period of such testing or trial.
Please keep this definition in mind while reading the following fictional discussion.
The Beginning of Our Probation
Teacher – When does our probationary period begin?
Student – I think Birth is the beginning of the probation period. So, as soon as we are born and gain a physical body.
Teacher – That would seem the case, but, surprisingly, it is not! Let’s consider the purpose of this probation period before we explain:
“And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God.” - Alma 42:4
Now, you will notice that the main theme of the probation period is “repentance” and “preparation” for the “endless state”.
“And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead.” - Alma 12:24
One reason we adamantly study the life of Adam and Eve and compare it to our own lives is to understand the Plan of Redemption and all its little nuances. We learn from Adam and Eve that the probationary period does not begin until after the fall. More specifically, they were not on probation until they had the ability to choose good from evil. This ability did not come until after they had taken the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
The logic behind this is very simple. Probation means that we are being observed and tested to see what we will do or choose. When given the choice, will we chose good or evil? Will we choose to repent and serve God or not?
Adam and Eve in the garden were “innocent”, “having forgotten all”. They were not capable of choosing good or evil. They could not commit sin. And as they could not commit sin, they could not repent from sin. They also were living forever and had no death which as you will see later is an additional requirement for a probation or preparatory period, (before their endless state).
This tells us a number of things. First our probation does not begin until we are capable of repentance which first requires us to be capable of committing sins.
One of the things that is required to sin is that we must be placed under the law. If we are not given a law, then we cannot sin against it and we cannot repent of what we have not been given.
“Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment?” - Alma 42:17
“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” - Romans 2:12
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” - Romans 3:20
“For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” - Romans 7:9
Babies and little children are not given the law and cannot comprehend the law and so they are not accountable to it. Without the law, they cannot sin.
The Law of the Lord includes is the list of “Thou Shalt” and “Thou shalt not” commandments as well as any rules for which a person can be punished for breaking. In short sin is to knowingly and willingly break “the law of the Lord.” Transgression is to unknowingly or unwillingly break “the law of the Lord”.
We will talk about the difference between sin and transgression later, but for now, realize that babies and little children lack the required knowledge to sin against the law are only able to transgress the law. We are only able to sin when we are accountable for our actions against the law. When we sin, we are able to repent. Without sin, there is no repentance required.
“Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment?” - Alma 42:17
As parents raise their children, they attempt to teach them right from wrong, good from evil. They teach them to be nice to others, not to hit when they don’t get their way, how to handle their anger and frustration.
They teach them what is acceptable and what is not. As they grow and develop, they are able to understand and comprehend more. Eventually parents are able to teach their children “the law of the Lord”. Little children are able to learn the law but are not accountable to it until they reach the age of accountability. When they become accountable to the law, they are able to sin.
We are taught that the age at which we accept that the average child has begun to become accountable and therefore capable of committing sin is eight years old.
To clarify, when we have begun to become accountable, our probation has begun in an equal portion to our accountability.
This inherently makes sense as it would not be useful to test babies and very little children to see if they will choose good or evil until they were sufficiently taught to recognize the difference and given all the information and capability of passing or failing the test. This concept is reconfirmed by the many scriptures which say “little children” are not capable of committing sin or repenting and so are automatically redeemed having no probation or testing period.
“8. Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me. ...
19. Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy...
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—” - Moro. 8:8-25, (See also: D&C 29:46-49)
This now brings out a very interesting point! Repentance is only a valid principle to those who are in the probationary state. Redemption comes freely and without conditions to those who are not being tested in this probationary state. On the other hand, those who are being tested in the probationary state can only be redeemed on conditions of repentance, (while in their probation).
“Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.” - Alma 42:13
So, this probationary state begins not at birth, but at the “age of accountability”. While in the probationary state, those who know and can choose good from evil are being tested to see which of these options they will consistently, (but not perfectly), choose.
The Age of Accountability
Student – Why do we baptize children when they turn eight years old?
Teacher – Rather than looking at every individual child to determine when they have begun to become accountable, the lord has simply said that by the time they turn eight, the natural development of a child has enabled them to comprehend the law and the punishment required to sin. The child has begun to comprehend and recognize good from evil and are enabled to choose between good and evil to a degree that they can begin the test. In other words, they are not fully accountable, but they have begun to become accountable.
They have begun to be taught the law of the Lord are placed under the law sufficiently to sin against it. Because they now sin, they are accountable and subject to the punishment of the law. They are able to comprehend these things and the atonement of Christ sufficiently to know that by repenting they can change their path and be forgiven of their sins. When they are able to repent of their own accord, they are able to be taught about baptism which is the symbolic outward ordinance that represents being washed and clean of sin.
This infers that before they are eight years old, they have met the requirements for baptism which include; accountability, sin and repentance.
“For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized.
And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands." - D&C 68:26-27
According to the scriptures, the Lord acknowledges that children have sinned and repented prior to being baptized at eight years old.
Student – But if they are not accountable until the day they turn eight and so cannot sin, why do some people baptize their children on the day of their eight birthday?
Teacher – A child is not accountable for anything that they did prior to their eighth birthday, so they are not repenting of their actions for which they are not accountable for. That is the law given by the Lord and we respect that law. But we also recognize the principle by which the law is given. We recognize that the growth and development of a child is gradual and each child grows and develops differently. Some children seem to know right from wrong from a very young age, others take a little longer and have to experiment for themselves before they can understand why they shouldn’t do certain things. Each child is different. The age of eight is given as a general rule or guideline in which the Lord has said that most children have begun to be accountable by the age of eight and so are able to sin and repent. Most children are actually able to understand some portion of the law and knowingly and willingly break it before they turn eight. They are able to be accountable before they are eight.
There is no magical thing that happens on the morning or minute they reach eight years old that instantly makes them able to comprehend good from evil or know the law of the Lord.
Some children are so aware that they realize that there is no real internal difference between breaking the rules before they are eight and breaking them after. They recognize that the last fay of their seventh year is pretty much the same as the first day of their eighth year. And we can recognize that too. But because we are flawed and unable to recognize the true or actual moment that a child has begun to be accountable, a line was drawn by the Lord and that line is drawn where almost all children have already become accountable to a degree required to choose for themselves. The age of 8 years is set as a minimum standard for baptism and therefore becomes part of the symbolic meaning of the ordinance.
Student – Then did we really sin before we turn eight years old?
Teacher – That is a tricky question because there are two sides of the coin. There is our actual spiritual development which follows a natural course and is different for everyone. And then there is the symbolic law or rule which teaches the principle.
In reality, a child is able to learn from their parents what to do and what not to do before they turn eight years old. On the last day of their seventh year, they know enough to be accountable for their actions just as much as they do on the first day of their eight year (their eight birthday). So, according to the spiritual law, yes they are able to be accountable before they are eight. But when is the actual moment that a child develops to that point? We cannot say for sure because it is different for each child.
But here is the problem… A child can be told what to do before they are eight. And that child may or may not obey. But it doesn’t mean that the child is capable of understanding sufficiently to choose for themselves.
In addition, even if the child is able to understand what they should do or should not do, the Lord holds no punishment for children under eight years old. There is no condemnation for children under the age of accountability. They remain innocent regardless of what they know or do not know.
In order to have a law given, there must be a punishment associated with breaking the law. Without a punishment, the law becomes merely advice or wise counsel. You cannot sin against advice or wise counsel. Sin requires a law and law requires a punishment.
“Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment?” - Alma 42:17
Repentance is to obtain a remission of sins and avoid the punishment of the law. Little children are not under condemnation and cannot repent, so to teach them to repent before they are accountable of sin is to misunderstand what is going on.
“8. Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me. ...
19. Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy...
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—” - Moro. 8:8-25, (See also: D&C 29:46-49)
The Lord has declared that they do not begin to become accountable and therefore begin to sin and subject to the justice of God and punishments of the broken law until they are eight. When they are eight, they are then subject to the punishment of a broken law and accountable for their actions to a degree. At that point, we should begin to teach them about repentance, baptism and the remission of sins, but not before.
“Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children.” - Moroni 8:10
Mormon is very clear that repentance and baptism should NOT be taught to people who are not “capable of committing sin”. He emphasizes that we should only teach repentance and baptism to the parents so that they can be saved with their innocent little children. Because children cannot sin, they cannot repent of sin. Teaching them that they need to repent and be baptized is to teach them that they already sin.
If you pay careful attention, you will see that the Lord reaffirms this by what he told Joseph Smith as recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants. Notice in the following verses that the Lord does not say parents should teach repentance and baptism BEFORE they are eight years old, rather he says that parents are to teach these principles WHEN they are eight years old which is when they begin to become accountable and able to sin.
“25. And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.
26. For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized. – D&C 68:25-26
When a child is eight years old, the symbolic law says that they have now begun to become accountable and should be taught the law with its punishment and explained that sin is to knowingly and willingly break the law. They should then be taught about repentance from sin and the remission of sins through Christ as well as baptism and about the gift of the Holy Ghost. These things should all be taught after a child is eight years old.
In addition, Satan is bound in the lives of little children and not able to tempt them until they begin to become accountable. They cannot be persuaded toward good or evil and so are not on probation until they begin to become accountable.
“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 29:46-47
As a baby, we are born innocent and pure being accountable to nothing and having no ability to sin.
From there we develop until we finally have the capacity to understand rules or laws and make decisions and be accountable to those decisions. We learn from our own experience to distinguish between good and evil. With that knowledge be begin to become accountable and with that accountability comes the consequences of our choices be it good or bad. It is at this point that we are placed on probation to see if we choose the good or the evil.
Conclusion:
The “age of accountability” is the age at which children become accountable for their actions and choices and subject to the punishment of the broken law. The Lord has declared that children are not accountable until they are eight years old.
When a child is eight years old, they are placed under the law, subject to punishment and begin to meet all the requirements of independent agency. (These requirements will be discussed in detail later.)
For most children born into the church, this happens when they turn eight years old. Until then, they are covered unconditionally by the power of the redemption of Christ and are not subject to the law or its punishment. After they are placed under the law and subject to punishment, they have become accountable and their probation has begun.
“But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!” - 2 Nephi 9:27
Being under the law, they begin to sin. They are taught about repentance and the remission of sins as a way to overcome the effects of their sins.
It is important to note here that the outward principles and ordinances are often symbolic in nature and not literal. For example, the ordinance of baptism is symbolic of being washed clean and ending the old life and beginning the new one as a follower of Jesus Christ.
While Baptism is “for the remission of sins”, it is not what actually required to receive a remission of sins. A person that truly repents will be forgiven and receive a remission of sins before baptism as well as after. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward conviction. It is or should be a witness that the person has already repented and received a remission of their sins and made the commitment to become a disciple and follower of Christ.
“Therefore, there were ordained of Nephi, men unto this ministry, that all such as should come unto them should be baptized with water, and this as a witness and a testimony before God, and unto the people, that they had repented and received a remission of their sins.” - 3 Nephi 7:25
Baptism by water is administered and officiated by the Aaronic priesthood just as it was under the Law of Moses. A person who is not worthy of baptism is not saved any more with it than without it. It is considered a dead work and part of the Law of Moses, but is it symbolic of the true or living work that happens inside of us. It is that living work that brings about the true repentance and forgiveness of sins. It is that internal change that is the true gate by which we enter the path that leads to eternal life.
"2. Wherefore, although a man should be baptized an hundred times it availeth him nothing, for you cannot enter in at the strait gate by the law of Moses, neither by your dead works.
3. For it is because of your dead works that I have caused this last covenant and this church to be built up unto me, even as in days of old.
4. Wherefore, enter ye in at the gate, as I have commanded, and seek not to counsel your God. Amen." - D&C 22:2-4
Baptism by water is an outward sign of in inward commitment. But without that inward commitment, the baptism is dead and meaningless.
In addition, there is nothing stopping a person from making that decision prior to baptism and receiving the all the spiritual benefits of that decision. In the scriptures we see many examples of people receiving the remission of sins, gift of the Holy Ghost and Baptism of fire prior to being baptized with water, (some of these examples include: 3 Nephi 7:25, Acts 10:44-48, 3 Nephi 9:20).
Remember that the church administers the physical or temporal salvation as a symbol of the spiritual or true salvation. The true or spiritual salvation can only be administered by God through the Holy Ghost. This is why a person can lie about their worthiness and be permitted by their Bishop and Stake President to get baptized or married in the temple being unworthy and while the church documents and accepts the ordinances as valid, God does not. Performing physical ordinances does not bind God to honor any covenant, oath, obligation or commitment. All things must be ratified or sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise which is the witness of the Holy Ghost declaring or promising that it has been accepted and honored by God before it is considered spiritually administered. (See D&C 132:7-14)
With this being said, the church does not allow a child to be baptized prior to the age of eight and considers that such persons are not under the law or bound to it. They cannot sin.
Without sin there is no need to repent. Without repentance, the symbol of baptism is a meaningless.
"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." - Moro. 8:11
Student – Does everyone begin to sin when they turn eight?
Teacher – That is an excellent question. The short answer is “No”.
There are 3 groups of people who cannot sin and are not under condemnation. Everyone else sins and is under condemnation and requires repentance and the remission of sins through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Those who are unable to sin, cannot repent of sins and baptism accomplishes nothing except that it puts faith in dead works.
There are various groups of people who are innocent, unaccountable to the law and unable to sin. They aren’t under condemnation and can’t repent. Each of these groups are free from the law.
The first group, little children, we have discussed in detail. The other groups all fall under the same title but for different reasons. They are “they who are without the law” as taught by Moroni,
“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—
23. But it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works.
24. Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be; for repentance is unto them that are under condemnation and under the curse of a broken law.” – Moro. 8:22-24
Anyone not placed under the law is considered innocent and sinless having no condemnation. They do not require repentance.
“25. Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him.
26. For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.
27. But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!” - 2 Nephi 9:25-27
This is a key concept that will be referred to later. For now, remember that if no law is given, then there is no sin and no condemnation and no repentance required. The person who is not under the law is guiltless and able to receive all the blessings of the righteous including the guidance and presence of the Holy Ghost.
Student – Are we accountable for everything we do after we have reached the age of accountability?
Teacher – Again, the simple answer is “No”. At the age of accountability, we begin to become accountable.
“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 29:46-47
At some point as children, we begin to become accountable. This does not mean we are fully accountable. It means we have begun a long process of learning, experiencing growing and developing. As we learn and truly understand, we become accountable to what we have learned and understood. Accountability is a very hard thing to nail down, so it is difficult to say when a person has become accountable to a particular principle.
Few people become fully accountable before they die.