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Born Again - Mormon Doctrine

Born Again

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"You and I can be prepared with 'the words of faith and of good doctrine' (1 Timothy 4:6) and initially cleansed through the ordinances and covenants administered by the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood. . . . "Proper preparing and cleaning are the first basic steps in the process of being born again. ". . . You and I are born again as we are absorbed by and in the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we honor and 'observe the covenants' (D&C 42:13) into which we have entered, as we 'feast upon the words of Christ' (2 Nephi 32:3), as we 'pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart' (Moroni 7:48), and as we 'serve [God] with all [of our] heart, might, mind and strength' (D&C 4:2), then: " 'Because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be 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 name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters' (Mosiah 5:7)."
Ref. (David A. Bednar, "Ye Must Be Born Again," Ensign, May 2007, 20-21)

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Born Again

BORN AGAIN - BECOMING ALIVE TO THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT

Only a spiritually oriented and adept people can establish and maintain a Zion Society or Environment. Those who do not receive the fullness of the Gospel and are not attuned to the Guidance of the Holy Spirit could never make the changes within themselves necessary to raise to a Zion level, nor would they possess the knowledge and wisdom from God necessary to carry out what God expects of a Zion people.
Underlying this fact, however, is an even more basic one, which is, that only those individuals who have experienced a "Nature-altering" Change, often referred to as being "Born Again", possess the spiritual foundation upon which a consistent response to the Holy Spirit's guidance is even made possible.
The Spirit's workings cannot be understood by those who have not been born again because the born again process is the process of becoming alive to the things of the Spirit.

Elder Orson Pratt expresses this truth in these unique words:
""¦we succeed, now and then, in bringing some to a higher state; they are born of God"¦being filled with that superior power (The Holy Ghost) that exists in that celestial world where we formerly resided.
Journal of Discourses 21:202, 203
Those who are born of the Spirit live as to spirituality, spirituality being in-tune with the Spirit of the Lord. Being born again is a condition in which one is sensitive and alive to the things of the Spirit.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE "BORN AGAIN"
If, as the Prophets have explained, it is necessary for one to be "Born Again' in order to become alive to the Holy Spirit's workings, it is obviously necessary to understand what it means to be "Born Again".
To be "Born Again" Means to go through a Spiritual Rebirth, a Transformation: to be changed inwardly so that one becomes a new creature, who sins not, and is alive to Spiritual things.

THERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:1-5

Christ called for an entire revolution of Nicodemus's "Inner man". His manner of thinking, feeling, and acting with reference to spiritual things would have to undergo a fundamental and permanent change. Being born again means to be quickened in the inner man.

Doctrine Mormon - Born

The scriptures record the following occurrence at the time of the baptism of Adam:
And thus he was baptized, and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man.
Moses 6:65

Alma spoke of this rebirth, transformation, or change:
""¦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 be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God."
Mosiah 27:24-26

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?
Alma 5:14-15

This great change in the hearts of men converts them from carnality to
Spirituality. When we have undergone this mighty change, it is as though we
Have become a new person, thus the change is likened to a new birth. To
Experience this change, we must forsake sin, sometimes deep and offensive sin, as well as mild and often times unrecognizable sin, and through applying the blood of Christ in your lives, become clean. You have no more disposition to return to your old ways. You are in reality a new person. This is what is meant by a change of heart. Concerning this great change, those who had been born of God after hearing King Benjamin's address stated that they had: "No more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually?" Mosiah 5:2

And from the Bible we learn: "Whosoever is born of God doth
Not commit sin; for his (Christ's) seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin,
Because he is Born of god. John 3:9

Doctrine Mormon - Born

Further, being born of God is a spiritual rebirth; a birth through which one
Comes back into harmony with, and is sensitive to the things of the Spirit.
Could we not define what it means to be "Born Again" As : To
Go through a spiritual rebirth, a transformation to be changed inwardly so that
One becomes a new creature, who sins not, and is alive to Spiritual things.

"VARIOUS TERMS ARE USED TO DESCRIBE BEING "BORN AGAIN" Some are
Confused in their studies of this subject by the numerous descriptive terms used
To explain the "Born Again" Experience. Listed below are the more prominent
Ones, noting that they all refer to the same "Nature-altering" Spiritual
Experience, which we hereafter will designate by the term "Born of God."

BORN OF GOD......................Mosiah 27:25 Alma 5:14

BORN AGAIN...............Alma 7:14

SPIRITUALLY BORN AGAIN (Spiritually begotten)....Mosiah 5:7; Alma 5:14

BORN OF THE SPIRIT..........John 3:5, Mosiah 25:24

A MIGHTY CHANGE..............Mosiah 5:2, Alma 5;11-13

CHANGE OF HEART...............Alma 5:7; 5:11-14;19:33 Mosiah 5:2

NEW CREATURE...........Mosiah 27:26, 2 Cor 5:17

PUT ON THE NEW MAN (New Person)......Colossians 3:9, 10; Ephesians 4:24

NEWNESS OF LIFE.............................Romans 6:4

QUICKENED IN THE INNER MAN.....................Moses 6:65

BAPTISM OF WITH FIRE...................................3 Nephi 9:19

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST....................3 Nephi 9:19

BEING "BORN OF GOD' DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY COME THROUGH THE ORDINANCES.
Besides having the necessaary ordinances, one must be spiritually born again to gain exaltation and eternal life. Alma, in the Book of Mormon, is recorded to have asked:

"And now behold my brethren of the Church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?"
Alma 5:14

BECOMING "TRULY HUMBLE" IS A PREREQUISITE TO BECOMING BORN OF GOD (And redeeming Zion). That becoming what the scriptures term "Truly humble" Is a prerequisite to obtaining the "Born of God" State, is made evident by what happened to King Benjamin's people.

AND now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of speaking the
Words which had been delivered unto him by the angel of the Lord, that he cast
His eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth,
For the fear of the Lord had come upon them. And they had viewed themselves in
Their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried
Aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of
Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be
Purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and
Earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.
Mosiah 4:1-2

AND now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had thus spoken to his people,
He sent among them, desiring to know of his people if they believed the words
Which he had spoken unto them. And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea,
We believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of
Their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has
Wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more
Disposition to do evil, but to do good continually. Mosiah
5:1-2

Born Again - Mormon Doctrine

The scriptures also use the term "Depths of humility" To describe the degree of
Humility necessary to obtain this "Born of God" Condition and be Saints and
Followers of God and Christ:
And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they
That are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom,
And their riches--yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast
These things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in
The depths of humility, he will not open unto them. But the things of the wise
And the prudent shall be hid from them forever--yea, that happiness which is
Prepared for the saints. 2 Nephi 9:42-43
Yea, and many did preach with exceedingly great power and authority, unto the
Bringing down many of them into the depths of humility, to be the humble
Followers of God and the Lamb. Helaman 6:5

And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye
Shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are
They who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility
And be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost,
And shall receive a remission of their sins. 3 Nephi 12:2

Perhaps the classic example of one who obtained this humility before being Born
Of God is found in the life of the Apostle Peter. Fully recognizing that for
All of Peter's professed devotion, he had not yet been Born Again, the Lord said
To Him at the last supper:

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired [to have] you, that
He may sift [you] as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail
Not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto
Him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he
Said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou
Shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. Luke 22:31

Later that same night, after Christ had been taken away to be questioned by the
High priest, Peter met his test:

Then took they him, and led [him], and brought him into the high priest's house.
And Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of
The hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain
Maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said,
This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And
Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another
Confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this [fellow] also was with him: for he
Is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And
Immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked
Upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him,
Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept
Bitterly. Luke 22:54-62

Peter was brought face to face with who and what he really was; in this state
Of "True humility" He was at last a candidate to become Born of God. Now let us
Consider the Peter we find after the Born of God change had taken place. The
Scriptures record:

And when they had brought them, they set [them] before the council: and the high
Priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straightly command you that ye should not
Teach in this name? And, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine,
And intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the [other]
Apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:27-29

And to him they agreed:

And when they had called the apostles, and beaten [them], they commanded that
They should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed
From the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to
Suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they
Ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Acts 5:40-42

Born - Mormon Doctrine

But instead of humility, the Lord often encounters pride in His children.
Pride, the opposite of humility, has cost us much. Think of what pride has cost
Us in the past and what it now costs us in our own lives, our families and the
Church. It was essentially the sin of pride that kept us from establishing
Zion in the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Pride is the great stumbling
Block to Zion. We must conquer pride. The antidote for pride is humility.
Humility does not mean weakness. It does not mean timidity; it does not mean
Fear. A man can be humble and courageous. In fact the truly humble are the
Most courageous of all. Humility is the recognition of
Our dependence upon a higher power, a constant need for the Lord's support in
Our lives in order to accomplish His work. It is part of the
Work of our Holy Order to bring about the distressing circumstances which can
Cause us to forsake our pride and become truly humble. Yet, we are told there
Is an easier and more effective way. Consider Alma's experience with the
Zoramites:

And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards
Him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had
Truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.
Alma 32:6

Then he explained to them:

And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were
Blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble
Themselves because of the word?
Alma 32:14

It is our choice whether we are compelled to be humble or whether we humble
Ourselves.

TO BE "BORN OF GOD" THERE MUST BE A CONSCIOUS CHOICE (Decision) TO FOLLOW
CHRIST. Besides being humble, there is another
Requirement essential to all who would be "Born of God"--they must make a
Conscious choice to follow Christ! Believing in Christ is not enough; the
Devils also believe that Jesus is the Christ, but they choose to follow Lucifer.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe,
And tremble. James 2:19

And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus,
[thou] Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
Mark 5:7

Each of us must not only decide what we think about Christ, but whether or not
We are really willing to walk with Him, because the costs of discipleship are
Real and even harsh in some respects. Throughout the ages prophets have
Exhorted their people to make a choice.

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I, Moroni, would commend you to seek this Jesus. Ether 12:41

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will
Serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side
Of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me
And my house, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:15

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two
Opinions? If the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And
The people answered him not a word.
1 Kings 18:21

When you choose to follow Christ, you choose to be changed. This mighty change
Is brought only by faith in Jesus Christ and through the operations of the
Spirit upon us. We can change human nature--our own--if we surrender it to
Christ.

AND THEN THE CHANGE BEGINS:

HOW THE "BORN OF GOD" CHANGE TAKES PLACE IS NOT EXPLAINABLE. While
It may be presumed that the Holy Spirit of God rests down upon an individual
Causing the "Born of God" Change to take place, how that change takes place
Is not explainable.

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water
And [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is
Born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where
It listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it
Cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
John 3:5-8

LOSS OF THE "BORN OF GOD" CHANGE Though the "Born of God"
Change may take place in a person's inner being, it is no indication that such a
Change will remain. It can be lost. Through sinfulness or slothfulness, one
May lose the Spirit and fall from grace. The Spirit will not dwell in unholy
Tabernacles.

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 faith in the
Redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and
View this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in
Incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have
Been done in the mortal body? Alma 5:14-15