What does it mean to “Be Born of God”? The Prophet Alma, in the Book of Mormon, gives us some insight into what it means to “Be Born of God”. Mormons don’t often think of themselves as born-again Christians. That phrase is often associated with evangelicals. But should it? The Savior’s invitation to be “born again” is to all. We are at war: Christ versus Satan. It’s about Time for us to stand up for what we believe in.
Alma said, “And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren [and sisters] 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? …if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:14, 26) Can you say, as the people responded after King Benjamin had shared the great plan of redemption,
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. And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things. (Mosiah 5:2, 3) [Bolding is mine.]
The Importance of Being Born Again and the Spirit of Prophecy
Prompted by the “Spirit” I felt to write my two books, It’s About Time and Time & Eternity, the End-Times and Beyond Revealed. In Chapter 11 of the second book, I explicitly share the importance of being “born again,” as one of the “Seven Births” that are part of the Plan to Eternal Life.”
As the Savior told Nicodemus, a person can neither “see” nor “enter into” the “Kingdom of God” unless he/she is “born again” of water and the Spirit. (John 3:3-5) And John the Baptist shares that the Savior offers baptism “with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” (Matt. 3:11) It is the fire of the Spirit that brings about this “mighty change of heart.”
That mighty change comes independent of the ordinance of baptism; it comes when we have fully repented and have truly given our hearts to God and ask and seek for it, then it can come. The ordinances of the gospel are necessary during our path to eternal life, but not sufficient. The Lord looks upon the heart and also asks for a broken heart and contrite spirit.
Know that We Are in a Most Important Spiritual War
We are in a major war—Christ versus Satan—which began in premortal and will end at the end of the millennium. Our seven births help us overcome Satan and his minions as we reach for that goal of eternal life. In pre-mortal, we had our first birth to our Heavenly Parents, and there we chose with Christ our Heavenly Father’s perfect Plan of happiness. Hence, we were privileged to receive our second birth to our mortal parents.
Now we have the freedom to choose to be “born again”—our third birth–as we fully repent and accept Christ and His glorious gospel message. Chapter 11 of my new book describes the other birth opportunities in our path to a fullness of joy and eternal life.
For evangelical Christians, accepting Christ is the final step. In their belief, if you accept Christ you get to go to heaven, or if you don’t you go to hell. It is a binary set for them—heaven or hell. Hence, we see their massive effort to get the Bible out to everyone. As I share in my new book, the gospel of the Bible and the “born again Christian” will make it into the millennium in the fairness of God’s plan of salvation.
In My Father’s House are Many Mansions
As it relates to heaven or hell, Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions (John 14:1-2), which is not binary. And as we study the scriptures, we learn that even the wicked, who finally accept Christ, at the end of the millennium, will have a degree of glory beyond our comprehension. (Doctrine & Covenants 76:89) Clearly, there are different levels in heaven and in hell customized for each individual in the total fairness of God.
As I ponder and feast upon the perfect fairness—manifesting God’s infinite love—of His perfect plan of salvation, I am touched to the core of my being. As I describe in my books, His goodness is beyond our ability to imagine here in our fallen mortal state. His infinite atonement totally overcame the effects of the Fall of Adam and Eve—providing resurrection for all as the sting of death is taken away and opening the door equally for everyone because of free choice, given as part of the plan, to partake of the fullness of the gospel and the incompressible blessings that opens up to all who will receive them.
God’s Fairness in His Perfect Plan of Salvation
Pondering the fairness of God’s plan, as Joseph Smith was translating John 5:28-30, he and Oliver Cowdery were given the vision of the degrees of glory, as recorded in Doctrine & Covenants Section 76. The desires of our hearts and our choices determine the mansions or glories obtainable, and they are beyond our comprehension in magnitude. President Joseph F. Smith received a vision of the gospel being preached to those who are in the spirit world, we see again God’s perfect love and fairness manifest that everyone has an equal opportunity. (Doctrine and Covenants Section 138) It is far from a binary choice of heaven or hell. Only the restored Church of Jesus Christ provides equal opportunity for all in this marvelous-restored fullness of the gospel.
There is an unfortunate tendency for many to believe that if you participate in the ordinances of the gospel that is sufficient for salvation. The ordinances provide a physical manifestation of our commitment to have faith in and to follow the Savior and keep His commandments, but it is only when we truly give our hearts to Him that He can and will offer a “mighty change” in our hearts. Indeed, we are saved by grace, but where we end up in the mansions on high is our choice depending upon the desires of our hearts and our works. There are numerous scriptures that clearly share that we will be judged by our works.
Baptism By Fire
It is interesting that the baptism by fire is mentioned many times in the scriptures, (JST Matt. 3:38; JST John 1:28; 2 Nephi 31:13, 14, 17; 3 Nephi 12:1; 19:13; Mormon 7:10; D&C 19:31; 33:6-11; 39:6), but we don’t hear it discussed very often. The fire of the Spirit as it confirms the truth and opens light and truth to our hearts is a marvelous gift from God that we should all seek and enjoy.
The Savior promised, “Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am;” “And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world; And that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one” (D&C 93:1-3). “Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one, and if ye are not one ye are not mine” (Doctrine & Covenants 38:27). [Bolding is mine.]
Just before Gethsemane, Christ Prayed for us to be ONE
In the Savior’s last great High Priest prayer (John 17), He prays that we may become one like He and the Father are one. In 3 Nephi Chapter 19, He brings that to beautiful fruition for the Nephites. When I pray, I recite in my mind D&C 93:1 and ask the Lord to smile down on my efforts before Him. I picture His smiling face similar to what Akiane Kramarik saw when she was about four years old, https://akiane.com/product/jesus/ . In my limited mortality, I try to do as the Savior did, “Thy will be done” –to bring honor and glory to our infinitely loving God.
We Have Two Main Responsibilities as Born-Again Christians
In this most important spiritual war against Satan and his minions, we have basically two responsibilities:
1) to expose as we feel to do so his deceptions and evil ways and their often-subtle adverse influence on society and in our lives; organic evolution is an important case in point; Jonathan Cahn tells how Joe Biden is anti-Christian and anti-semetic with the signing of the “Respect for Marriage” act. This is a blatant example of the NWO elite’s disinformation strategy; the “Respect for Marriage” act is in direct opposition to the Judeo-Christian ethic for the sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman.
And 2) to embrace the Christ, learn of Him, to hearken to His voice, call upon His Holy Name, keep all His commandments, and truly be “born again”—becoming a member of the family of Christ. Then we have the sweet assurance that He will present us to the Father at the end of the millennium to enjoy a fullness of joy and eternal lives with them and with our precious loved ones, who have also accepted the Christ.
Wicked Destroyed by Fire; Righteous Saved by Fire
It is ironic that in the last days the wicked will be destroyed by fire. Yet, the righteous who seek it will be saved by the fire of the Spirit (1 Nephi 22:16-17). “For the time soon cometh that the fulness of the wrath of God shall be poured out upon all the children of men; for he will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous. Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.”
Those who don’t accept Christ’s invitation to be “born again” will be destroyed with Babylon the Great which will fall (Revelations Chapter 18). Worldly influences are pervasive in people’s lives. He lovingly invites us to turn from all of those and come unto Him and learn of Him, “and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11:28-30). Christ offers, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
The Irony of Being ONE with the Father and the Son
Another amazing irony in the Lord’s plan of happiness is that realizing that each of the eight billion people on the planet has a different religious paradigm. Yet, as we focus on being one and to be pure in heart people, then each of our time and talents can be employed optimally—even though they are all different–to help bring about Zion—a people of one heart and one mind and the glorious ONEness of that ideal society.
And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be. (1 Nephi 13:37)
David W. Allan
Photo – CC LDS Church