The Innocence of Children: Echoes of Eden and the Restoration

We’ve wrestled with the concept of original sin within our own families, haven’t we? That nagging feeling, instilled by years of inherited doctrine, that our children are somehow tainted, needing redemption from the moment they draw breath. Jase Robertson’s exploration of this topic in his recent podcast offering, however, provides a welcome clarity, a balm for the soul troubled by this ancient misconception. He doesn't merely dissect the scriptures; he illuminates them with a pastoral grace that recognizes the inherent goodness in the youngest among us.

The common narrative—that children are born with a “sin nature”—is a distortion, a refraction of truth through the lens of flawed theology. Robertson rightly points to 1 John 4:7, highlighting the profound connection between love and divine origin: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” This isn't merely a pleasant sentiment; it's a foundational truth about our children. They are born of God, possessing the spark of divinity.

Consider also 1 John 2:28, referenced by Robertson. This verse speaks to the lineage and connection we have. The implications are staggering: our children, in their nascent innocence, are not inheritors of Adam’s transgression but inheritors of God’s love.

The echoes of Eden resonate here. The tree of the knowledge of good and bad, presented to Adam and Eve as a test, finds a parallel in the innocence of childhood, a time before deliberate choices define a life. Isaiah 7 provides a prophetic window, a glimpse of the Messiah’s arrival and the restoration of that primordial innocence. The prophecy that the boy Jesus would “know to reject the wrong and choose the right” underscores the principle that righteousness is a learned virtue, not an inherited condition. This aligns perfectly with Latter-day Saint understanding of agency and the process of becoming.

The Restoration sheds crucial light on this matter. While acknowledging the consequences of the Fall—mortality, pain, and the potential for transgression—it clarifies that the condemnation of Adam’s sin did not automatically extend to his descendants. Through Christ’s Atonement, we are offered a path of redemption, not from a pre-existing sin nature, but from the consequences of our own choices. Our children are born clean, capable of receiving the blessings of the Gospel and progressing along the covenant path.

Robertson’s observation about those who’ve shared the Gospel and encountered resistance, especially with those entrenched in sin, is particularly poignant. His realization that emphasizing our shared divine origin—that we are *all* children of God—can be a bridge to repentance is a powerful insight. It reorients the conversation, focusing not on condemnation but on the potential for renewal and transformation.

This isn’t about minimizing sin. It’s about understanding its source and recognizing the profound grace offered through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It's about seeing our children as they truly are: reflections of God’s love, vessels of potential, and inheritors of a glorious destiny.

Let us ponder these truths, not as abstract theological concepts, but as guiding principles in our interactions with our children, our families, and our communities. Let us embrace the innocence we see in them, fostering an environment of love, understanding, and unwavering faith.