While I was reading over President Uchtdorf's talk "The Gift of Grace" in the May 2015 Ensign I had the following thoughts on being "born again":
When we speak of being born again in a spiritual sense, I think it very closely correlates to birth in its original sense. Before we are physically born we are in an embryonic state in a mother's womb. In this state we are alive and full of potential, but unable to grow and progress beyond the limitations of the womb. It isn't until after being born that we are able to continue on our journey through mortality and reach our full potential physically and mentally. If we were to be left in the womb we would die without ever experiencing life. It takes birth to open the world and all of its possibilities to us.
It's the same way with spiritual rebirth. Before we are "born again" we are stuck in a spiritual embryonic state, alive and full of potential, but without the ability to grow beyond the bounds of our limited knowledge and spiritual experience. Without being "born again," our spirit would wither and diminish. It takes spiritual rebirth to open to us our spiritual and eternal ability. When we are "born again" our spirits are freed from our mortal limitations and we are given God's grace to help us grow and develop into mature spiritual beings. Only through Christ's atonement and the ability to be "born again" are we able to reach our full potential.
And just as physical birth is often a strenuous and painful process to go through, spiritual rebirth may also be accompanied by great pain and struggle, but is ultimately necessary and beneficial.
1 comment:
I love you and your insights, Patricia Anne! I would like to add that even before we were physically in the womb, our spirits were alive and full of potential, but unable to grow and progress beyond the limitations of the pre-mortal existence. Even then we were stuck in a spiritual embryonic state. Heavenly Father knew that we would need to leave His presence in order to fully appreciate being in it...and that we would need to experience the sorrows of life in order to fully appreciate the joys.
And, unlike physical birth, which only happens once, I think being spiritually born again is a process that happens over and over again, if we allow it to. I am spiritually "reborn" every time I allow the grace of our Savior to work in me to give me understanding and renewed commitment to more fully live the gospel.
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