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Born Again According to Mormon Doctrine
It is practically indisputable, that the watery birth here referred to as essential to entrance into the kingdom is baptism.
James E. Talmage, The Articles of Faith
Through baptism and confirmation they are born again and thus come back into spiritual life, and through their continued obedience to the end, they shall be made partakers of the blessings of eternal life in the celestial kingdom of God.
Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, p 356
At the age of eight, Mormons boys and girls are typically baptized and confirmed. Thus, Mormon doctrine teaches that young people are born of water and spirit simply because they reached the age of eight years.
What does it mean to be “born of water”? (John 3:5; to be baptized). How is baptism a symbol of rebirth? (Being immersed in water symbolizes the death or burial of our past sins; when we rise out of the water, we start a new life.) What does it mean to be “born . . . of the Spirit”? (John 3:5; to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost).
New Testament, Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, p 19
This Mormon definition is especially meaningful to me. It matters because I was the Gospel Doctrine instructor for the LDS adults. Consequently, I taught trusting people from this LDS manual excerpt.
As a Mormon, I was born again according to the LDS understanding. As an eight-year old boy, I had a great expectations. I expected a miraculous transformation as a result of baptism and confirmation. Yet, after my Mormon rebirth, I was the same old Lance. I wasn’t necessarily a horrible child. Still, I fought with my younger brothers, lied to my parents, and stole penny candy from the 7-Eleven. Yes, I am old enough to remember penny candy!
Pause and Ponder
If Mormon rebirth is such a life-changing event, why did I detect no change?
- If Mormon rebirth is such a life-changing event, why did I detect no change?
- If I am the exception to the rule, why do other Mormons fail to speak frequently of their rebirth?
Born Again, Per the Bible
Context adds clarity to the words John 3:3-5. Verse six removes confusion from our understanding.
John 3.6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3.6, KJV
Jesus spoke of that which is born of flesh. From the beginning, God’s pattern was that all life would be fruitful and multiply after its own kind.
Genesis 1.11
And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
Genesis 1:11, KJV
And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:21, KJV
And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 1:24, KJV
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:28, KJV
Therefore, flesh is born of flesh, after its own kind. This is the fleshly birth of which Jesus spoke. Nicodemus understood Jesus as evidenced by his question about reentering mother’s womb.
Born of water points to the watery womb where we developed until the day our mother’s water broke and we were born. On that day, we were each born of water, as Jesus described.
Likewise, spirit is born of spirit after its own kind.
Why do you suppose Jesus used the image of fleshly birth to help us understand the miracle of being born of spirit? I can answer that question.
Try to remember, if you are able, the day you were born of water. Most of us can’t recall that day, but we can imagine it. Until that day, we could only comprehend the world we had always known. It was wet, warm, muffled, and muted by the protective cocoon of mother’s womb.
In the instant of your fleshly birth, everything became new. You experienced an explosion of sensations that reverberated in every part of your body. It began with your first gulp of life-giving air that tasted like nothing you had known before. It filled your lungs and, when it was expelled, it came out as a cry. Perhaps you paused to hear, for the first time, the sound of your own voice. The familiar but different sound of your mother’s gentle voice washed over you.
Opening your eyes, light poured in, dazzling your senses. Your mother held, caressed, and swaddled you. Every touch came as a cascade of new and comforting sensations. You nursed at her breast, and discovered the sense of taste. And when your stomach was full, that too was a wondrous thing.
I can’t remember that day. But if I could, I would never tire of remembering and sharing the miracle I experienced. I could never find words equal to the task of describing the awe that accompanies such a miracle.
Jesus used the miracle of born of water to help us comprehend the wonder of born of spirit.
I remember the old Lance. I recall the world he lived in. I recall the darkness, the anger, the judgement, and so much more. I knew nothing but the dreary sameness of the world I lived in for sixty long years. And, I vividly remember the day I was born of spirit.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
— 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
I remember the old version of myself. I don’t much like the man I was. I rejoice in the death of that ugly man and in the miracle of the new creation.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And that which I now live in the flesh, I live in faith of the Son of God, the One having loved me and having given up Himself for me.
Galatians 2.20, BSB
I never tire of remembering the miracle of being born again. I live to speak of it. Sadly, I can’t find words equal to the task. Only those who have known this wonder know of what I speak. Others look on me as if I had lost my mind. Tragically, there are some who believe they have been born again. Their assurance is based on a flawed definition. Thinking they know, there is no urgency to look beyond that mark.
Pause and Ponder
Have you been born again?
- Was your rebirth was according to the LDS or Biblical definition?
- Was your rebirth was according to the LDS or Biblical definition?
- Did Jesus intend you and Nicodemus to experience more?
Contrast and Compare
The Mormon Way
New birth, according to the LDS understanding, has a foundation of corrupt human works. These works are baptism and conformation. Isaiah likens his best deeds to filthy menstrual rags (Isaiah 64:6). Paul describes his best accomplishments as dung (Philippians 3:8). In what way will our best efforts impress a Holy, Holy, Holy God?
The Biblical Way
According to the Bible, new birth is a supernatural act of pure grace. It is a gift of God to weak and flawed men such as I.
21But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; 22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, 23for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 24being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance; 26to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time, that he might himself be just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:21-26, WEB, emphasis added
Pause and Ponder
The Anchor of Your Soul.
- Will you trust in filthy menstrual rags and dung?
- Or, will you rest in the righteousness of God?
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