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What Does Mean to Be Born Again

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What Does Information technology Hateful to Be "Born Again?"

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February seven, 2019

KnoWhy #501

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Still Prototype from "The Baptism of Jesus" via LDS Media Library

"And the Lord said unto me: Curiosity non that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must exist born over again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, beingness redeemed of God, condign his sons and daughters."

Mosiah 27:25

The Know

The need for Christ's followers to exist "built-in again," as famously described in John 3:3, is one of the almost well-known New Testament doctrines.1 It captures mankind'due south universal need for spiritual transformation and offers promise that such transformation tin can come up to all who seek it. Yet this doctrine has also become a thing of argue and controversy amidst some Christian believers. Thankfully, the Book of Mormon discusses being "built-in once more" or "built-in of God" on a number of occasions. These relevant passages, when correlated with other scriptures and Latter-day revelations, offer vividly engaging examples and spiritually impressive explanations that clarify and deepen any reader'southward agreement of what information technology ways to be "built-in once again."two

1 fascinating case comes from the story of Alma the Younger. After being rebuked by an angel, Alma roughshod into a weak and helpless condition where he could no longer speak and his limbs lost their force. When Alma awoke from this state, he declared,

I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit. And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must exist born over again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a country of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they tin can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. (Mosiah 27:24–26)3

Conversion of Alma the Younger by Gary L. Kapp. Image via LDS Media Library.

Conversion of Alma the Younger by Gary L. Kapp. Paradigm via LDS Media Library.

Alma'south language hearkens back to Rex Benjamin's famous speech communication where he alleged to his people,

And at present, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall exist called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his proper noun; therefore, ye are born of him and take become his sons and his daughters. … I would that ye should take upon yous the name of Christ, all you that accept entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the cease of your lives. (Mosiah five:7–viii)4

Finally, when Alma was preaching to the people of Zarahemla, he asked them a number pointed questions concerning spiritual rebirth. Alma'southward ain harrowing experience with being spiritually reborn makes these questions especially insightful:

And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? Do ye exercise organized religion in the redemption of him who created yous? … I say unto you, tin ye look up to God at that twenty-four hours with a pure heart and clean easily? (Alma five:14–15, nineteen)five

Amidst the many important points that tin exist taken from these Volume of Mormon passages are the post-obit:

  1. Being born once more is universally required of all of God'southward children (Mosiah 27:25; cf. Alma 5:49).
  2. Being born once again is needed to inherit the Kingdom of God (Mosiah 27:26; cf. Alma 5:51).
  3. Existence born again signifies "faith in the redemption of him who created you lot" (Alma 5:xv).
  4. Being born again signifies that sincere repentance has taken place (Mosiah 27:24; cf. Alma 5:49–51).
  5. Those who are born over again enter into a covenant with God to "exist obedient unto the end of [their] lives" (Mosiah v:viii).
  6. Those who are born again have upon themselves the "name of Christ" (Mosiah five:viii).
  7. Those who are born once more get the "children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters," and are "spiritually begotten" of Him (Mosiah 5:7).6
  8. The hearts of those who are built-in again are "changed through faith on [Christ's] name" (Mosiah five:vii; Alma 5:12–14).
  9. Those who are born again receive Christ's "image in [their] countenances" (Alma 5:14).7
  10. Those who are born over again take "a pure center and clean hands" (Alma five:19).

John Baptizing Jesus by Harry Anderson. Image via LDS Media Library.

John Baptizing Jesus by Harry Anderson. Image via LDS Media Library.

The Why

While the above passages don't correspond all that the Book of Mormon has to say about existence built-in again, they give a good representation of its teachings on the subject area. What should exist clear is that, rather than beingness a singular effect or occurrence, being built-in once again is a procedure of spiritual rebirth and refinement.viii It begins with a sacred covenant or commitment to change our lives, which is formally entered into at baptism,nine and then information technology requires lasting faith, repentance, and spiritual purity on our part—in both actions and intent.ten In order to facilitate the procedure of spiritual refinement, the gift of the Holy Ghost is conferred (past the laying on of hands) upon all those who are baptized (see Moroni 2; 3 Nephi 19:xx–22).

In response to our sincere and persistent efforts to exercise faith and repent, our hearts will exist spiritually transformed through the power of Christ so that "we take no more than disposition to do evil, but to benefit continually" (Mosiah 5:two). As S. Michael Wilcox has noted, "Whenever the Volume of Mormon speaks of being born once again, the heart is the middle of the altered country."eleven This internal transformation so acts as a precursor to a more than eternal and permanent external transformation of our physical bodies, which will be facilitated through the power of Christ's resurrection.12

This dual procedure of transformation, first spiritual so physical,thirteen is aptly represented by the ordinance of baptism, which in various ways symbolizes birth, death, and resurrection.14 While baptism is indeed an event, the process of spiritual rebirth which it symbolically initiates is a lifelong endeavor.xv Although individuals may sometimes experience dramatic and rapid spiritual transformations, like the Apostle Paul and Alma the Younger did, they even so must "be obedient unto the end of [their] lives" (Mosiah 5:eight). Otherwise, the positive spiritual transformation which they experienced volition be reversed. Every bit Mormon warned, they will "become more hardened, and thus their state becomes worse than though they had never known [or experienced] these things" (Alma 24:thirty).16

Boy Being Baptized via LDS Media Library.

Male child Existence Baptized via LDS Media Library.

With these principles in mind, readers may wonder where they stand up personally in this process of spiritual rebirth. Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that the answer can be plant in the Book of Mormon:

Read the 5th chapter of Alma for the recitation of the tests that tell a person whether he has been born again and how he knows. You know if yous have been born again, or you know the degree to which you have been born again; it is the mensurate to which you lot go along the commandments and feed the Lord's sheep and strengthen your brethren. In other words, it is the measure of your interest in the things of the Spirit, in the things of the Church building.17

While what we practise outwardly is certainly important, the Book of Mormon demonstrates that what we become inwardly is of fifty-fifty greater significance.18 Eventually, every bit nosotros truly come unto Christ, the inward transformation that nosotros and so want will be permanently "engraven" upon us (Alma v:19). We will "go new creatures" in Christ (Mosiah 27:26), who will "seal [us] his" through the space power of His Atonement and resurrection (Mosiah 5:xv). Meliorate than whatsoever other volume of scripture, the Book of Mormon outlines this process of deep spiritual transformation, providing readers a articulate path toward eternal life.

This KnoWhy was fabricated possible by the generous support of The Welch Family unit Trust.

Further Reading

D. Todd Christofferson, "Built-in Again," Ensign, May 2008, online at lds.org.

Jerome Thou. Perkins, "Alma the Younger: A Disciple'south Quest to Become," in Living the Book of Mormon: Abiding past Its Precepts, ed. Gaye Strathearn and Charles Swift (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Middle, Brigham Young University, 2007), 151–162.

Brent L. Top, "Spiritual Rebirth: Take Ye Been Born of God?" in The Volume of Mormon and the Message of The Iv Gospels, ed. Ray L. Huntington and Terry B. Brawl (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Centre, Brigham Immature University, 2001), 201–217.

James E. Faust, "Born Once again," Ensign, May 2001, online at lds.org.

S. Michael Wilcox, "Spiritual Rebirth," in Mosiah, Salvation Merely Through Christ, Book of Mormon Symposium Series, Book 5, ed. Monte Due south. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr. (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Immature University, 1991), 247–260.

  • 1. For other New Testament references to being "born over again" or "born of God," meet one Peter i:23; ane John 3:9–ten; 1 John 4:7; one John v:1, 4.
  • ii. For a general treatment of this topic, see Ed J. Pinegar, "Born of God," Encyclopedia of Mormonism, ed. Daniel H. Ludlow (New York, NY: Macmillan, 1992), 1:218–219.
  • 3. For further analysis of Alma's conversion, come across Volume of Mormon Central, "Why Was Alma Converted? (Alma 36:21)," KnoWhy 144 (July 15, 2016); S. Kent Brownish, "Alma's Conversion: Reminiscences in His Sermons," in Alma, The Testimony of the Discussion, Book of Mormon Symposium Series, Volume 6, ed. Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate Jr. (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Immature University, 1992), 141–156; reprinted in S. Kent Brown,From Jerusalem to Zarahemla: Literary and Historical Studies of the Volume of Mormon (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1998), 113–127; John W. Welch, "Three Accounts of Alma'due south Conversion," inReexploring the Book of Mormon: A Decade of New Research, ed. John W. Welch (Salt Lake City and Provo, UT: Deseret Volume and FARMS, 1992), 150–153; John W. Welch and J. Gregory Welch,Charting the Volume of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Written report and Teaching (Provo, UT: FARMS, 199), charts 106–107; Jerome Grand. Perkins, "Alma the Younger: A Disciple'south Quest to Become," in Living the Volume of Mormon: Abiding by Its Precepts, ed. Gaye Strathearn and Charles Swift (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Heart, Brigham Young University, 2007), 151–162.
  • 4. See Volume of Mormon Key, "Why Did King Benjamin Say That His People Would be Sons and Daughters at God'south Right Hand? (Mosiah v:7)," KnoWhy 307 (May ane, 2017); Matthew L. Bowen, "Becoming Sons and Daughters at God's Correct Paw: King Benjamin'south Rhetorical Wordplay on His Own Proper name,"Periodical of the Volume of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 21, no. two (2012): two–13; Robert Fifty. Millet, "The Ministry of the Father and the Son," in The Volume of Mormon: The Keystone Scripture, ed. Paul R. Cheesman, South. Kent Brownish, and Charles D. Tate, Jr. (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1988), 57–60.
  • 5. See Book of Mormon Primal, "Why Did Alma Ask Church Members Fifty Probing Questions? (Alma five:14–15)," KnoWhy 112 (June ane, 2016).
  • half-dozen. Conversely, those who remain in their sins and never undergo spiritual rebirth are the "the children of the kingdom of the devil" (Alma v:25; cf. Mosiah 5:10).
  • 7. Run into Book of Mormon Central, "Why Did Alma Enquire about Having God's Paradigm Engraven upon One's Countenance? (Alma 5:19)," KnoWhy 295 (April 3, 2017).
  • 8. For commentary on the diverse Christian misunderstandings of the process of spiritual rebirth, meet Robert L. Millet, "Joseph Smith Encounters Calvinism," BYU Studies Quarterly 50, no. iv (2011): 23–24: "When men and women sincerely smash their sins to the cantankerous of Christ, their identity is changed and their nature is transformed. And yet, as major Christian writers have pointed out recently, besides many professing Christians have walked an aisle, signed a carte, prayed a prayer, and still not forsaken worldliness. They talk the talk but do not walk the walk: they do not live essentially whatsoever differently than people of the world. And why is this? The consensus amid many of these recent Christian writers is that so much accent has been placed upon salvation as a free gift, upon the grace of Deity and the warning against legalistic obedience, that likewise footling emphasis has been placed upon the discipleship associated with the Savior'south invitation: 'If any human will come afterward me, let him deny himself, and accept upwards his cross daily, and follow me' (Luke nine:23), or: 'If ye dearest me, keep my commandments' (John fourteen:15). Salvation has been teased apart from discipleship. Conversion and rebirth have been separated from obedience. An unintended simply inappropriate wall has been constructed between justification and sanctification."
  • nine. Brent L. Superlative has described baptism as the "Gateway to Spiritual Rebirth." Brent L. Top, "Spiritual Rebirth: Have Ye Been Born of God?" in The Book of Mormon and the Message of The Iv Gospels, ed. Ray L. Huntington and Terry B. Ball (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young Academy, 2001), 202.
  • 10. Encounter Elderberry D. Todd Christofferson, "Born Again," Ensign, May 2008, online at lds.org: "You may ask, 'Why doesn't this mighty change happen more chop-chop with me?' Y'all should remember that the remarkable examples of Rex Benjamin'south people, Alma, and some others in scripture are just that—remarkable and not typical. For near of united states, the changes are more gradual and occur over time. Being built-in once again, different our physical birth, is more a process than an outcome. And engaging in that procedure is the central purpose of bloodshed."
  • eleven. See S. Michael Wilcox, "Spiritual Rebirth," in Mosiah, Salvation Only Through Christ, Book of Mormon Symposium Series, Volume 5, ed. Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr. (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1991), 251.
  • 12. Run across iii Nephi 28:38; Doctrine and Covenants 76:70.
  • xiii. In a passage which explains this duality in all of God's creations, the Lord declared "every bit the words take gone forth out of my rima oris even then shall they be fulfilled, that the first shall exist terminal, and that the last shall be start in all things whatsoever I have created past the word of my power, which is the power of my Spirit" (Doctrine and Covenants 29:30).
  • 14. Encounter Noel B. Reynolds, "Understanding Christian Baptism through the Book of Mormon," BYU Studies Quarterly 51, no. ii (2012): three–37.
  • xv. See Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Volume Two: Jacob through Mosiah (Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft, 1988), 174.
  • 16. See too, Doctrine and Covenants xx:32).
  • 17. Bruce R. McConkie, "Be Ye Converted," accost given at the BYU First Stake Quarterly Conference (11 Feb 1968), as cited in Larry E. Dahl, "The Doctrine of Christ: 2 Nephi 31–32," in Second Nephi, The Doctrinal Construction, Volume of Mormon Symposium Series, Volume iii, ed. Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr. (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Eye, Brigham Young University, 1989), 367.
  • 18. For case, Volume of Mormon prophets repeatedly recognized that becoming inwardly "live in Christ" held greater value than merely complying with outward performances and ordinances (run into 2 Nephi 25:25; cf. Mosiah 13:27–32).

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