Blessing of Little Children

     Yahshua [Jesus] blessed little children; He and the Apostles did not baptize them. In three passages of Scripture we find examples of instances in which the Savior gave a special blessing to children. “And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them... And He took them up into His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.” [Mark 10:13 & 16] “Then there were brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them, and pray.... And He laid His hands on them.” [Matthew 19:13&15] “And He took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.” [3rd Nephi 17:21]
     It is essential to recognize that the Messiah and His chosen ministers never baptized little children – instead, they took them into their arms, laid hands on them, and blessed them. Yahshua instructed the Elders of His Church: “Ye know the things that ye must do in My Church: for the works which ye have seen Me do, that shall ye also do.” [3rd Nephi 27:21] For this reason, the Elders of the Church do as the Messiah did – they bless little children who are being consecrated to the Father by their parents.

Baptism of Children Denies the Mercy of God

     Of all the Scriptures that relate to this subject, the very most plain is found in the writings of Mormon. “It is solemn mockery before God that ye should baptize little children. Behold, I say unto you, that this thing ye shall teach: repentance and baptism unto they which 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 be saved with their little children. And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism...But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world. If not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons. For how many little children have died without baptism? Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell. Behold, I say unto you that he that supposeth that little children needeth baptism is in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity: for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity.... For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish, because he hath no baptism.... ‘All children are alike unto me, [says the LORD]. Wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike, and partakers of salvation.’ 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. And he that saith that little children needeth baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the Atonement of Him, and the power of His redemption. Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and an endless torment.... For behold, all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the Law. For the power of redemption cometh on all they 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; but it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of His Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works.”  [Moroni 8:9-23]

Jesus Was Blessed as an Infant

     When Jesus was an infant, He was taken by Joseph and Mary to Simeon, a Divinely-called Elder/Prophet in the Congregation of Israel. The infant was taken into Simeon’s arms, and was blessed.  “They brought Him to Jerusalem, to present him to the LORD.... And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout...and the Holy Ghost was upon him.... And when the parents brought in the child Jesus...then he took Him up in his arms, and blessed God.... And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him (the baby Jesus). And Simeon blessed them [also], and said unto Mary, his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel.”  [Luke 2:22-34]

The Role of the Parents

     The special blessing of the child, by Elohim, through the hands of the Elder, is a visible administration, or ordinance, of the Church - the assembly of those who have covenanted with the Messiah. In bringing a child for a blessing, the parents are presenting the child to Elohim. The parents are acknowledging that the child is a gift to them, from God. In presenting the child for a blessing, the child is, in a sense, being consecrated to Elohim. The parents are demonstrating their faith in God, and their deliberate decision to raise that child in a godly manner.
     The parents are acknowledging that the child is a gift to them, from God Almighty. They are witnessing their acceptance of parental responsibilities, as found within the Scriptures, and are affirming their willingness to follow Divine guidelines for raising their little one.
     The Eternal Father, through the prophet Moses, commanded: “these words (the Ten Commandments of the Covenant)...shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children...” [Deuteronomy 6:6-7] The ancient American Prophet, Alma, instructed his son that he should preach the gospel to the people, so that they, in turn, “might prepare the minds of their children to hear the word.”  [Alma 39:16] The Apostle Paul similarly taught parents that they should “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD.” [Ephesians 6:4] Yahshua instructed His followers to “pray in your families unto the Father...that your children may be blessed.”  [3rd Nephi 18:21]
     King Benjamin instructed parents who were followers of the Savior by saying: “ye will not suffer [permit] your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel with one another, and serve the Devil...but ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.” [Mosiah 4:14-15]
     In presenting a child for a blessing, the parents are demonstrating to Yahweh their willingness to do their best to raise the child to love and honor Him, and to obey His commandments.

What Is The Blessing of a Child?

     When blessing an infant child, the Elder will hold the baby in his arms, and will offer a special prayer on behalf of the baby, and will ask God the Father for a special blessing to rest upon the child. [If the child to be blessed is older, the minister will lay his hands upon the seated or kneeling child during the blessing.] When more than one Elder is present, they may all lay their hands upon the child, and more than one may pray during the blessing.
     In many instances, a prophecy or special personal revelation will be spoken concerning the child, during the blessing. The Holy Spirit will rest upon the minister, and his mouth will speak the words of God concerning the child. Such was the case in Jesus’ blessing [Luke 2:28-34], and John the Baptist’s blessing [Luke 1:67-79]. When this is the case, the prophecy may foretell a special mission or spiritual calling of that child, and may include special instruction for the child’s parents and guardians.
     In other, much less frequent instances, a special spiritual name will be given to the child. One example of this is when David’s son, Solomon, was blessed. “And David comforted his wife, Bathsheba...and she gave birth to a son, whom she called Solomon. Yahweh loved him, and made this known through the prophet Nathan, who named him Jedidiah, as Yahweh instructed.” [2nd Samuel 12:24-25]
     Parents who are members of the Church should present their children to the Elders for this special blessing. [An individual need not be a member of the Church in order to present a child to be blessed; all children are welcome.] The laying on of hands to bless small children is a special ordinance of Jesus Christ’s Church. Although mentioned within the Scriptures, most churches do not practice the blessing of children. Instead, they follow the incorrect practice of baptizing children. The blessing of a child at the hands of a minister who has been given authority by Yahshua the Messiah, is truly a very special gift to those who fellowship with the true Church of Christ.


David Bruce Clark
Lion of God Ministries
PO Box 33  Oak Grove MO 64075
www.lionofgod.com