5. Phase of the Atonement Peculiar to "Mormonism:" It may be remarked in passing that the difference noted in the foregoing paragraphs of this lesson on applying the Christ's Atonement to Adam's sin and man's personal sins—in the first case unconditional, and in the second conditional—is a doctrine, in modern times, peculiar to "Mormonism;" or, to speak more accurately, to the New Dispensation of the Gospel revealed to Joseph Smith; and is derived almost wholly from the teachings of the Book of Mormon.[A] In that distinction the beauty and glory of the Atonement, the balanced claims of justice and mercy shine forth as no where else, even in holy writ,—much less in the uninspired writings of men. It may be regarded as the "Mormon" contribution to views of the Atonement of Christ, for it is to be found no where else except in Mormon literature.

[Footnote A: See II Nephi ii. Ibid ix. Alma xxxiv and xlii. Mormon ix.]

7. The Free and Complete Redemption of Little Children: From the foregoing difference in the application of the Atonement to the sin of Adam and the individual sins of men there arises another important matter viz.: If redemption from the consequences of Adam's fall is to be absolutely unconditional, and universal, and that entirely through the Atonement of the Christ and without the co-operation of man, then it logically follows that if man himself remains absolutely without sin, he would stand in need of no satisfaction being made for his sin and no forgiveness of sins, since in the case supposed they have no existence; and therefore the Atonement of the Christ for the sin of Adam, would be all sufficient to redeem man from the power of death and restore him to union with God. It follows that if any part of the human race die in this state of personal innocence then they are redeemed by virtue of the Atonement of Christ without any other consideration whatsoever. Hence Mormon said:

"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 the 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. * * * Little children need no repentance, neither baptism. * * * Little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world."[A]

[Footnote A: Moroni viii:8-12.]

No less explicit is the word of the Lord through the Prophet Joseph Smith:

"But, behold, I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine only Begotten, wherefore they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me."[A]

[Footnote A: Doc. & Cov. Sec. xxix:46, 47.]

8. The Redemption of Those Who Die Without Law: Moreover, it appears that Mercy has special claims upon those men and women, and also upon nations and races who know not the Gospel. The first Nephi in speaking of the Atonement of Christ and its effects where proclaimed and rejected, says:

"Wherefore he [God] 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 [Christ]; 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 [See Alma xii:17],[A] which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel."[B]