“Pollutions Upon the Face of the Earth”

Joseph F. McConkie, Robert L. Millet

Little children are innocent and pure in this existence and will be pure and innocent in the world to come, and will come forth in the resurrection of the pure in heart at the appropriate time. At the time of the second coming of Christ, wickedness will be cleansed from the face of the earth. The great Millennium will be ushered in with power and then Satan and his hosts will be bound by the righteousness of the people (see 1 Nephi 22:26). During this glorious era of enlightenment the earth shall be given to the righteous “for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation” (D&C 45:58, italics added) But will not the devil be loosed at the end of the Millennium, some may ask? Could not those who had left mortality without trial be tested during that “little season”? Certainly not, for these children will have already come forth front the graves as resurrected and immortal beings. How could such persons-whose salvation is already assured-possibly be tested? To reason otherwise is to place God and all exalted beings in peril of apostasy. In the words of President Joseph Fielding Smith: “Satan will be loosed to gather Its forces after the millennium. The people who will be tempted, will be people living on this earth, and they will have every opportunity to accept the gospel or reject it. Satan will have nothing to do whatever with little children, or grown people who have received their resurrection and entered into the celestial kingdom. Satan cannot tempt little children in this life, nor in the spirit world, nor after their resurrection. Little children who die before reaching the years of accountability will not be tempted.” (Doctrines of Salvation 2:56-57.)

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4

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