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The Outline of the Book of Mosiah is Chiastic – check it out
You may have wondered, "Why all these flash-backs?" Once we recognize this chiastic structure,
the need for the flash-backs becomes obvious. Note the precision of this chiasmus.
Everything in Mosiah is recorded in just exactly the place where it needs to be recorded in order to create this complex structure. Why did Mormon do this?
The fullness of the message is in the structure. There is a powerful message that is emphasized by this careful organization.
The beginning of Mosiah: King Benjamin's people are born again — A righteous people
accept a message delivered by an angel of God and are born again. Even the righteous need
to be born again. The end of Mosiah: Alma is born again — a wicked and rebellious
man accepts a message delivered by an angel of God and is born again. Even the
rebellious sinner can be born again. At the center of Mosiah: Abinadi identifies Christ as the father of this rebirth — all who are born again become His seed and he becomes their father. Thus, Christ is the Father and the Son. Those who are born again, the children of Christ, these are they
whose feet are "beautiful upon the mountains."
That We Must be Born Again IS the Message of Mosiah
The message of the Book of Mosiah is a powerful affirmation and expansion of Jesus' words to
Nicodemus, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God." (See John 3:1-6.) It is interesting
that many Latter-day Saints would use "born again" as the identification of a vocal and
narrow minded subset of the Christian population.
Yes, there are a people who are very loud and
unbending in their insistence that every man and woman must be born again in order to
be saved in the kingdom of God. Latter-day Saints sometimes act embarrassed by their claim.
Yet, no place in scripture is the necessity of this rebirth more clearly taught than in the
Book of Mormon — in this Book of Mosiah.
Mormon seems to have gone to great lengths in his organization of this book to say,
"Pay attention!
I have something very important to teach you." Note again the way this message
is structured. Even the
outline of the total chapter
seems to be painstakingly organized to emphasize this central message:
all must be born again to enter the Kingdom of our Father.
In spite of Mormon's emphasis, we have allowed our Christian friends to claim this doctrine as there own.
True, what they teach is an imperfect view of the doctrine's fullness. But, how many of us are prepared to
help our friends understand that fullness. This doctrine is common ground, and the presentation of
this doctrine by Mormon and Benjamin is powerful both in content and witness. No one, fully exposed
to the structure of the Book of Mosiah is going to make the claim that Joseph Smith, or Sidney Rigdon, or
any other person living in the America of the 1820s wrote this book. Some may claim a Satanic origin,
but our response to that echoes Christ's response to the same charge.
Rebirth, Sanctification, and the Mighty Change
Alma, repented while unconscious???
How could Alma repent while unconscious? Well, he was not really unconscious. He testifies of
his thoughts during this time in a powerful chiastic expression of his pain and his joy
(Alma 36). But, of course, he physically
did nothing. Yet, he testifies, "I have
repented of my sins, and have been
redeemed of the Lord; behold I am
born of the Spirit." In his apparent
unconscious state he changed his attitude about Christ, and Christ changed him from a
fallen natural man to a "born again" Christian.
What is the Lord teaching us here in this story of
Alma. Certainly, few of us will experience the miraculous change that occurred
to Alma. In Alma's case, the speed of the process was an exception, not the
rule. But, what about the process itself? Was the nature of that process also
an exception? I think not. I see in a careful and thoughtful consideration of Alma's
experience the opportunity to better understand this born again process and its
significance to our salvation. In Alma's experience we learn that our born again status isn't something we earn by our
righteous acts and devoted service, as important as these are. To be born again is a
change in our nature
which is made by God. Alma said, "I am born of the Spirit." I think that this may be
the most important "gift of the Holy Ghost."
We have had hands laid on our heads and we have been commanded
to "receive the Holy Ghost."
For most of us it takes a while for us to prepare ourselves
to truly receive even a little bit of that Holy presence. It's a process, and
a process may run fast, as in the case of Alma, or it may, as for most of us,
be very slow. But the results can be the same.
Dr. Millet's Insight's on This New Birth
Dr. Robert Millet, Dean of the BYU Department of Religious Education, uses an eight
point outline to teach the deeper meaning of
the doctrine of the New Birth (from the FARMS video,
"The Doctrine of the New Birth").
One of the vital purposes of the plan of salvation is to renew men and women — to make of them new creatures in Christ.
Dr. Millet expands on this in these words:
"It is important to belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
what the revelations call the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.
That's a great privilege. But belonging is not enough. The gospel is intended not just to
get us into the Church, not even just to get us into the family, but to bring us to life.
And so, the principle of rebirth entails coming to life."
President Benson said, "When we awake and are born of God, a new day will break and Zion will be redeemed."
(Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, "Born of God")
The Lord declared it to Alma: (Mosiah 27:25-26)
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." In the scriptures, birth and death are often defined in terms of one another
We must leave our premortal existence (we die?) |
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To be born into
mortality |
We must leave our sinful nature (our natural man must die) |
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To be "born again"
into righteousness |
We must die in mortality |
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To be born into
immortality |
There is a natural birth and a spiritual birth: the natural birth gives rise to the natural man and the spiritual
birth gives rise to the spiritual man. (Baptism is the symbol: see Romans 6)
Baptism is a two step process: by water and by the Spirit .
Dr. Millet suggests a possible rewording of an Article of Faith: "We Believe the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are, first faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance,
third, rebirth, a two-step process: baptism by water and by fire."
Joseph Smith: "You might as well baptize a bag of sand as to baptize a man without giving him the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Baptism is necessary for the remission of our sins, but the sins are not washed
away by the water. Note Moroni's description of baptism among the Nephites: (Moroni 6:2-4)
"Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and
a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins.
"And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a
determination to serve him to the end.
"And after they had been received unto baptism, and were
wrought upon and cleansed by the
power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ."
(See also 2 Nephi 31:17 and John 3:5)
Rebirth consists of a personal spiritual experience plus ordinances.
Joseph Smith said:
"Being born again, comes by the Spirit of God through ordinances." (TPJS, p.162)
He also said:
"It is one thing to see the kingdom of God, and another thing to enter into it. We
must have a change of heart to see the kingdom of God, and subscribe [to] the articles of
adoption to enter therein." (TPJS, p.328)
President Ezra Taft Benson said:
"Beside the physical ordinance of baptism and the laying on of hands, one must be
spiritually born again to gain exaltation and eternal life."
(See "Born of God", ENSIGN,
November, 1985, pp. 5-7)
Dr. Millet explains:
"I've often said that people who've been touched, who've been born again, to see the
kingdom, you could tell them, 'Now Mr. and Mrs. Brown, you need to know that Joseph Smith
built the Brooklyn Bridge.' And they would say, 'Oh, yes. I know he did, If you say he did,
he did.' Now there's something that's happened to them. They're not defensive anymore,
they don't want to fight, they don't want to argue, they don't want to debate scripture;
they're teachable. The other thing that happens is that their own book of scripture, the
Bible is open to them. They now see things they've never seen before."
I don't know about that Brooklyn Bridge stuff, but the Spirit does soften hearts and
witness that the Lord's servants can be trusted (we must be trustworthy!). Yes, when
"born again" we do become teachable — but, we have not been promised an
immediate witness, that "sure knowledge" which many seek. Remember the Lord's
council:
To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,
and that he was crucified for the sins of the world. To others it is given to believe on
their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue
faithful." (D&C 46:13-14)
Nephi emphasizes the necessity of this mighty spiritual change and our dependence on the
Holy Spirit: 2 Nephi 32:1-7. He further declares
the requirement that this be a permanent change of heart:
2 Nephi 31:14-16.
The new creation is a change of attitude and a change of state — we come to see things as they really are.
In the Book of Mormon we read about a significant change in attitude that occurred to the
people of King Benjamin. The record states that the Spirit of the Lord wrought a mighty
change in their hearts and they declared that "we have no more disposition to do evil,
but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2).
Dr. Millet comments:
"Have any of you ever felt that? Are these the only people in the world
who've ever had that experience? Their change is such that they 'have no more disposition
to do evil, but to do good continually.' Has anybody here ever felt that? Of course you
have. You or I have been in meetings, or in conferences, or sessions, where we've been
so moved by what was said, by what we felt, that there came into our minds and our hearts
an honest and genuine resolve that we didn't want to do anything bad again. How long does
it last? A half-hour sometimes. Let's suppose a half-hour later you did do something wrong.
You snapped at someone, or you were uncharitable. Was it a disingenuous resolve? Was it
not a true feeling you had? Was it not born of the Spirit? Do you see what I'm driving at?
My question to you is, do we have any indication in the Book of Mormon that the people of
Benjamin never sinned again? What's your guess? That they did. But why? They didn't want
to. The principle here is, the new birth is a change in feelings and desires. It isn't that
a person becomes perfect. It isn't that a person never makes mistakes again. It's just that
they don't stay long in the darkness."
Elder Boyd K. Packer teaches us the principle and illustrates this "mighty change":
"Perhaps the greatest discovery of my life, without question the
greatest commitment, came when finally I had the confidence in God that I would loan or
yield my agency to Him — without compulsion or pressure, without any duress, as a
single individual alone, by myself, no counterfeiting, nothing expected other than the
privilege. In a sense, speaking figuratively, to take one's agency, that precious gift
which the scriptures make plain is essential to life itself, and say, 'I will do as thou
directs,' is afterward to learn that in so doing you possess it all the more."
(For the full text of this talk, go to
"I Want to Obey")
A change of attitude and a change of state. What is
this change of state? The people of King Benjamin declared:
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 5:3).
This was definitely more than a change of attitude. Their views of life and the world
underwent a major modification. Certainly this was true of Alma the younger. He was an
enemy to the Church and became a teacher, a prophet, even the High Priest and head of the Church.
President Benson makes the simple declaration: "When you choose to follow Christ,
you choose to be changed."
He goes in to give this magnificent description of the contrast between Christ's way and that of
the world:
"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."
("Born of God", ENSIGN
November, 1985, pp. 5-7)
Elder Packer makes this relevant observation as to the nature and depth of this change, and
a necessary condition:
"Obedience — that which God will never take by force — He will
accept when freely given. And He will then return to you freedom that you can hardly dream
of — the freedom to feel and to know, the freedom to do, and the freedom to be, at
least a thousand-fold more than we offer Him. Strangely enough, the key to freedom is
obedience." ("I Want to Obey") Those who are born again are received into a new family relationship — they become sons and daughters of Jesus Christ.
See Mosiah 5:4-8;
Mosiah 15; and
The Promised Messiah p. 363.
It was never intended that we remain children forever, even the children of Christ —
If we are faithful, we will become joint heirs with Christ: the sons and daughters of the
Father.
John said that when we see Christ we will be like him
(1 John 3:2) and Paul declared:
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and
joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together"
(Romans 8:16-17).
"Joint-heirs with Christ!" As the First-born
he is the natural heir and when we seek to "lay hold upon every good thing," we
are "born again" and enter into his family — he becomes
our father and we his children (Moroni 7:19).
But, we are to become more than children of
Christ, we are promised that we might become the sons and
daughters of God the Father. We are the Father's heirs, not Christ's heirs. We
are to be raised to the status of
joint-heirs with Christ. We are to be like him!
Elder McConkie describes how Saints become sons of God:
"As men pursue the goal of eternal life, they first enter in at the
gate of repentance and baptism, thereby taking upon them — selves the name of Christ.
They then gain power to become his sons and daughters, to be adopted into his family,
to be brethren and sisters in his kingdom. Baptism standing alone does not transform
them into family members, but it opens the door to such a blessed relationship; and
if men so live as to obtain the Spirit and are in fact born again, then they become
members of the Holy Family.
"Then, if they press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, keeping
the commandments and living by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God,
they qualify for celestial marriage, and this gives them power to become the sons of
God, meaning the Father. They thus become joint-heirs with Christ who is his natural heir.
Those who are sons of God in this sense are the ones who become gods in the world to
come (D&C 76:54-60). They have exaltation and
godhood because the family unit continues in eternity
(D&C 132:19-24). Celestial marriage standing
alone does not transform them into sons of God and make them joint-heirs with Christ,
but it opens the door to this greatest of all blessings; and if those involved keep their
covenants, they are assured of receiving the promised inheritance. Through Christ and his
atoning sacrifice they 'are begotten sons and daughters unto God'
(D&C 76:24), meaning the
Father. 'And all those who are begotten through me,' Christ says, 'are partakers' of his
glory (D&C 93:22)."
(Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary,
Vol.2, pp. 474-5) The new birth is most often a process.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie gives us this description of that processes:
"What you have to do is get on the straight and narrow path —
thus charting a course leading to eternal life — and then, being on that path,
pass out of this life in full fellowship . . ."
(See Elder McConkie, "The Path"
and C.S. Lewis on "Perfection")
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