The Book of Mormon on Circumcision

In Moroni 8:8 of The Book of Mormon, Christ, following his death and resurrection, speaks to the people of the western hemisphere, the Nephites and Lamanites. He says, "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 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; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.ʺ

In the Doctrine and Covenants Section 74, a revelation received by the prophet Joseph Smith as an explanation of 1 Corinthians 7:14, explains this further:

1) ʺFor the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; else were your children unclean, but now they are holy.

2) Now, in the days of the apostles, the law of circumcision was had among all the Jews who believed not the gospel of Christ.

3) And it came to pass that there arose a great contention among the people concerning the law of circumcision, for the unbelieving husband was desirous that his children should be circumcised and become subject to the law of Moses, which law was fulfilled.

4) And it came to pass that the children, being brought up in subjection to the law of Moses, gave heed to the traditions of their fathers and believed not the gospel of Christ, wherein they became unholy.

5) Wherefore, for this cause the apostle wrote unto the church, giving unto them a commandment, not of the Lord, but of himself, that a believer should not be united to an unbeliever; except the law of Moses [including circumcision] should be done away among them.

6) That their children might remain without circumcision; and that the tradition might be done away, which saith that little children are unholy; for it was had among the Jews;

7) But little children are holy, being sanctified through the atonement of Jesus Christ; and this is what the scriptures mean."

The leaders of the Latter Day Saints church have made it clear that body modifications are not desirable. It is considered disrespectful to mark the body with piercing or tattoos, etc. If an adult piercing or modifying organs on his/her own body is considered disrespectful, how much more so would this apply to amputating and forever altering the body organs of another human child for non-medical reasons?

Occasionally, Mormons are hesitant to keep their sons intact because while they know that circumcision is not required, they believe leaders in the Church would speak out more strongly within a U.S. culture that continues to circumcise almost 50% of boys born nationwide today (18% on the West Coast). If it were, in fact, wrong to surgically amputate of the prepuce organ from their baby boy, many Mormon parents wonder why the Church wouldn't speak up. The Ensign article, "A Crisis, a Council, and Inspired Leadership," contains an excellent section about traditions addressing this:

“There is no doubt that Peter and the other Brethren knew that the law of Moses was fulfilled. Latter‐day revelation also makes it plain that the law of Moses was fulfilled in Christ [see above]...Obedience to the law of Moses was no longer a requirement for salvation since Jesus had completed his atonement.

In like manner today [regarding any conflict between traditional practices like circumcision and doctrine], there may be questions on which the doctrinal foundation is clear but on which tradition or custom are so strong that the Brethren are impressed not to take a firmer stand against them, trusting, as did Church leaders in New Testament times, that if the basic revealed principles are known, the Holy Ghost will eventually lead the adherents to forsake their social tradition, or academic popularity, or peer pressure, in favor of the word of God."

New Testament (Law of Christ)
Acts 15:1-35
Galatians 5:6
1 Corinthians 7:19
Galatians 6:15

Book of Mormon and Doctrine & Covenants
3 Nephi 15:4-5
D&C 74
Moroni 8:8

Intact LDS: FB.com/IntactLDS

Intact LDS Community: FB.com/groups/IntactLDS

Church of Jesus Christ Website (w/circumcision information)

CIRP.org/library/cultural/LDS/

Let Him Not Be Circumcised: http://churchofjesuschrist.net/circumcision/LetHimNotBeCircumcised.html

"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 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; and the law of circumcision is done away in me."-Moroni 8:8 

For additional information see: Should I Circumcise? The Pros and Cons of Infant Circumcision