Adam's fall blessed humanity with agency; children are innocent at birth
LDS theology teaches that Adam's transgression in the Garden of Eden was not a catastrophic moral failure but a necessary step that allowed humanity to gain mortal experience, knowledge of good and evil, and the possibility of spiritual growth and exaltation. The Fall is understood as part of God's plan, not as a tragic deviation from it. This is sometimes called the 'fortunate fall' in LDS theology.
Individuals are not born guilty for Adam's sin. LDS Article of Faith 2 explicitly states: 'We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.' Children are born innocent and are not in need of baptism for original sin; infant baptism is explicitly rejected. Responsibility for sin begins at the 'age of accountability' (eight years old, per LDS teaching).
Key Distinctions
- Doctrine type:
- the Fall was a necessary and positive step enabling mortal experience; no Augustinian original sin
- Free will effect:
- moral agency is foundational; the Fall enhanced human potential
- Infant guilt:
- children under 8 are without sin; baptism of infants forbidden as unnecessary
Scripture References
- LDS Articles of Faith 2
- 2 Nephi 2:22-25
- Moroni 8:8-22
Sources
- LDS Articles of Faith 2
- 2 Nephi 2 (Book of Mormon)
- LDS Gospel Topics: Fall of Adam and Eve