“Also They That Are Without the Law”

The law that is here being referred to is accountability to the gospel law. It is not only little children who are incapable of sinning because of their lack of accountability; so also are those who are mentally deficient and thereby not accountable because they are not physically, mentally, and/or spiritually mature enough to repent (see D&C 29:49-50; see also Elder Bruce R. McConkie’s discussion of this issue in “The Salvation of Little Children,” Ensign April 1977, pp. 6-7).

“They That Are Without the Law”

In his vision of the celestial kingdom Joseph Smith gained a significant doctrinal insight concerning this latter group of people. In it the doctrine of salvation for the dead-those who were not able to be fully accountable in mortality-was taught him. “Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom” (D&C 137:7-8, italics added).

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4

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