Norman 2nd Ward, Norman Oklahoma Stake
26 October 2003
I am taking the bulk of my remarks today from a talk given by President Benson in general conference and an article published in the Ensign entitled “What Think Ye of Christ?”
To the Pharisees, Christ posed the question “What think ye of Christ?” (Matthew 22:42). From the Title Page of the Book of Mormon, we learn that the Book of Mormon is given to us for the convincing of the world that Jesus is the Christ. This means that anyone who will read the Book of Mormon and put it to the divine test proposed by Moroni (see Moroni. 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?” For as we are taught in the New Testament, the devils believe that Jesus is the Christ, but they choose to follow Lucifer. (See Mark 5:7 and James 2:19.)
Throughout the ages, prophets have exhorted the people to make up their minds. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve,” pled Joshua (Joshua 24:15). Elijah thundered, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him.” (1 Kings 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.) Moroni states, “I would commend you to seek this Jesus,” (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 to 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.
The Savior told Nicodemus that “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) Of these words President Spencer W. 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)
In addition to 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 Book of Mormon.
For example, in the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Nephi speaks of his mother and father, referring to them as “goodly parents.” (1 Nephi 1:1). But the feelings of his brothers, Laman and Lemuel, were quite different. “Behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man.” They felt his visions were merely “the foolish imaginations of his heart.” (1 Nephi 2:11) Same man, same family.
What made the difference between how Nephi saw his father and how Laman and Lemuel did? Nephi “had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God” (1 Nephi 1:1) and saw the Lord’s inspiration in the actions of his father. On the other hand, Laman and Lemuel murmured against their father “because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.” (1 Nephi 2:12) In other words, what they thought of God determined to a large extent what they did and the kind of people they were.
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.” (Mosiah 5:2; see also Mosiah 5:7.)
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” preaching the gospel. (Alma 4:20).
He bore down “in pure testimony” against the people (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.)
I challenge each of you to review the questions in Alma chapter 5 and ponder your own personal response to each question. In particular, I would ask with Alma, “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).
President McKay once stated, “Human nature can be changed, here and now...No man who has felt in him the Spirit of Christ even for half a minute can deny this truth...
“You...change...your own human nature, if you surrender it to Christ. 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. (Beverly Nichols, in David O. McKay, Stepping Stones to an Abundant Life, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1971, p. 23.)
Men changed for Christ will be captained by Christ. Like Paul they will ask, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6) Peter stated they will “follow his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21) John said they will “walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 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. (See Harold B. Lee, 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 Moroni 4:3.)
In Book of Mormon language, they “feast upon the words of Christ” (2 Nephi 32:3), “talk of Christ” (2 Nephi 25:26), “rejoice in Christ” (2 Nephi 25:26), “are made alive in Christ” (2 Nephi 25:25), and “glory in [their] Jesus” (see 2 Nephi 33:6). In short, they lose themselves in the Lord and find eternal life. (See Luke 17:33)
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