Ezra Taft Benson,
“Born of God,” Ensign, Nov. 1985, 5
“What think ye of Christ?” (Matt. 22:42.) That question,
posed by our Lord, has challenged the world for centuries.
Fortunately for us, God has provided modern scripture, another
testament, even the Book of Mormon, for the convincing of
the world that Jesus is the Christ. Anyone who will read the Book of
Mormon and put it to the divine test that Moroni proposes (see Moro.
10:3-5) can be convinced that Jesus is the Christ.
Once that conviction is gained, then comes the question “Will we choose to
follow Him?” The devils believe that Jesus is the Christ, but they choose to
follow Lucifer. (See James 2:19; Mark
5:7.)
Throughout the ages prophets have exhorted the people to make up their
minds. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve,” pled Joshua (Josh.
24:15.)
Elijah thundered, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God,
follow him.” (1 Kgs. 18:21.)
When you choose to follow Christ, you choose the Way, the Truth, the
Life—the right way, the saving truth, the abundant life. (See John
14:6.)
“I would commend you to seek this Jesus,” states Moroni. (Ether
12:41.)
When you choose to follow Christ, you choose to be changed.
“No man,” said President David O. McKay, “can sincerely resolve to apply in
his daily life the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth without
sensing a change in his own nature. The phrase ‘born again’ has a
deeper significance than many people attach to it. This changed feeling
may be indescribable, but it is real.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1962,
p. 7.)
Can human hearts be changed? Why, of course! It happens
every day in the great missionary work of the Church. It is
one of the most widespread of Christ’s modern miracles. If it
hasn’t happened to you—it should.
Our Lord told Nicodemus that “except a man be born again, he cannot
see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3.) Of these words
President Kimball said, “This is the simple total answer to the weightiest of
all questions. … To gain eternal life there must be a rebirth, a
transformation.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1958, p. 14.)
President McKay said that 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.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1960, p. 26.)
Besides the physical ordinance of baptism and the laying on of
hands, one must be spiritually born again to gain exaltation and
eternal life.
Alma states: “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
27:25-26.)
The “change of heart” and “born again” processes are best described in
the keystone of our religion, the Book of Mormon.
Those who had been born of God after hearing
King Benjamin’s address had a mighty change in their hearts. They had “no more
disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” (See Mosiah
5:2, 7.)
The fourth chapter of Alma describes a period in Nephite history
when “the church began to fail in its progress.” (Alma
4:10.) Alma met this challenge by resigning his seat
as chief judge in government “and confined himself wholly to the high
priesthood” responsibility which was his. (Alma
4:20.)
He bore “down in pure testimony” against the people (see Alma
4:19), and in the fifth chapter of Alma he asks over
forty crucial questions.
Speaking frankly to the members of the Church, he declared, “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.)
He continued, “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
5:26.)
Would not the progress of the Church increase dramatically today
with an increasing number of those who are spiritually reborn? Can you
imagine what would happen in our homes? Can you imagine what would happen with
an increasing number of copies of the Book of
Mormon in the hands of an increasing number of missionaries who
know how to use it and who have been born of God? When this
happens, we will get the harvest President Kimball envisions. It was the “born
of
God”
Alma who as a missionary was so able to impart the word that many others were
also born of God. (See Alma 36:23-26.)
The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The
world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of
people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The
world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who
then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ
can change human nature.
“Human nature can be changed, here and now,” said President McKay,
and then he quoted the following:
“ ‘You can change human nature. No man who has felt in him the Spirit of
Christ even for half a minute can deny this truth. …
“ ‘You do change human nature, your own human nature, if you surrender it to
Christ. Human nature can be changed here and now. Human nature has been changed
in the past. Human nature must be changed on an enormous scale in the future,
unless the world is to be drowned in its own blood. And only Christ can change
it.
“ ‘Twelve men did quite a lot to change the world [nineteen hundred] years
ago. Twelve simple men.’ ” (Quoting Beverly Nichols, in Stepping Stones to
an Abundant Life, comp. Llewelyn R. McKay, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book,
1971, pp. 23, 127.)
Yes, Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world.
Men changed for Christ will be captained by Christ. Like Paul they will be
asking, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts
9:6.) Peter stated, they will “follow his steps.” (1
Pet. 2:21.) John said they will “walk, even as he
walked.” (1
Jn. 2:6.)
Finally, men captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ. To paraphrase
President Harold B. Lee, they set fire in others because they are on fire. (Stand
Ye in Holy Places, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1974, p. 192.)
Their will is swallowed up in His will. (See John
5:30.)
They do always those things that please the Lord. (See John
8:29.)
Not only would they die for the Lord, but more important they want to live
for Him.
Enter their homes, and the pictures on their walls, the books on their
shelves, the music in the air, their words and acts reveal them as Christians.
They stand as witnesses of God at all times, and
in all things, and in all places. (See Mosiah
18:9.)
They have Christ on their minds, as they look unto Him in every thought.
(See D&C
6:36.)
They have Christ in their hearts as their affections are placed on Him
forever. (See Alma 37:36.)
Almost every week they partake of the sacrament and witness anew to
their Eternal Father that they are willing to take upon them the name of
His Son, always remember Him, and keep His commandments. (See Moro.
4:3.)
In Book of Mormon language, they “feast upon the words of Christ” (2
Ne. 32:3), “talk of Christ” (2
Ne. 25:26), “rejoice in Christ” (2
Ne. 25:26), “are made alive in Christ” (2
Ne. 25:25), and “glory in [their] Jesus” (2
Ne. 33:6.)
In short, they lose themselves in the Lord, and find eternal life. (See Luke
17:33.)
President David O. McKay tells of a singular event that happened to
him. After falling asleep, he said he “beheld in vision something infinitely
sublime.” He saw a beautiful city, a great concourse of people dressed in
white, and the Savior.
“The city, I understood, was his. It was the City Eternal; and the people
following him were to abide there in peace and eternal happiness.
“But who were they?
“As if the Savior read my thoughts, he answered by pointing to a semicircle
that then appeared above them, and on which were written in gold the words:
“These Are They Who Have Overcome the World—Who Have Truly Been Born
Again!
“When I awoke, it was breaking day.” (Cherished Experiences from the
Writings of President David O. McKay, comp. Clare Middlemiss, Salt Lake
City: Deseret Book Co., 1976, pp. 59-60.)
When we awake and are born of God, a new day will
break and Zion will be redeemed.
May we be convinced that Jesus is the Christ, choose to follow Him, be
changed for Him, captained by Him, consumed in Him, and born again I pray in
the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Gospel topics: Jesus Christ, repentance
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