In verse 9, Mormon began his discussion of infant baptism by calling the baptism of little children “solemn mockery before God.” In verse 23, he repeats: “It [infant baptism] is mockery before God.”
Before coming to the end of this discussion, Mormon also recapitulates the relationship of little children to the mercies of Christ, declaring that the atonement covers them without baptism, because they are not in need of it. “All little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law.” That last phrase is an important addition to the discussion. To this point, everything has focused on the baptism of little children. Nevertheless, the teaching also expands to a different realm. The issue is not simply the baptism of children, but also the baptism of others who have no law.
Mormon has declared that baptism follows repentance, and repentance requires an understanding that one is contrary to God’s law. In one very important phrase, Mormon expands the teaching beyond children to include “all they that are without the law.”