I've had a number of people ask me what I think of "born again Christians." While some of those who use that term are often critical of Latter-day Saints, LDS doctrine is actually all about becoming born again Christians. Here's one of my favorite passages from the Book of Mormon, a scene where a great king and prophet, King Benjamin, has been teaching his people about Christ and urging them to repent and follow Him in a covenant relationship. As we read in Mosiah chapter 5, the people accept his call:

[5] And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.

[6] And now, these are the words which king Benjamin desired of them; and therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken the words that I desired; and the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant.

[7] And now, 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.

[8] And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.

[9] And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ.

[10] And now it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ must be called by some other name; therefore, he findeth himself on the left hand of God.

[11] And I would that ye should remember also, that this is the name that I said I should give unto you that never should be blotted out, except it be through transgression; therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not blotted out of your hearts.

[12] I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you.

[13] For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?

A key element of becoming born again is entering into a covenant to follow the Savior. We begin with faith in Christ, then turn toward Him by repenting of our sins and entering into a covenant to follow Him. The cleansing and rebirth of baptism is part of that, but even those who may have already been baptized need to refresh and renew that covenant, and may need to make some major changes in their lives to truly become born again through the power of the Atonement. And then we must retain that relationship and stay close to the Lord throughout our lives, seeking to follow Him all our days, for we are just as free to walk away from the Lord as we are to listen to Him in the first place.

May we all become born again Christians.
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