Some years ago, it occurred to me that being “born again” is a significant event, not to be missed when it happens. Just like a real birth — it’s not something that happens without you experiencing it — as the mother or as the baby, it is a real event. (I know, you don’t remember your birth, but it’s all there in your subconscious.)
When the scriptures say that you must be “born again,” it probably does not refer to a warm feeling of accepting Christ, or even a desire to do good, or a dunk in the baptismal font and conventional laying on of hands.
I suggest that born again is the complete baptism. It is the significant events where God accepts your change of heart, your baptism of water, and your continual repentance. When you are cleansed of sin by the baptism of fire and when you become a new creature in Christ. I’m aware that the whole baptism by fire has become watered down (no pun intended) to mean the ritual of being confirmed a member of the church and being told to receive the Holy Ghost.
For a few people, they may experience the baptism of fire when “confirmed.” I appreciate the Holy Ghost and the guidance I receive when I choose to listen and conform my life to a higher level. But I believe we must experience a significant event to receive the Holy Ghost as a constant companion. We “receive” it from the Lord, not man. And usually after a long process of years of trials and repenting.
John the Baptist is quite clear about these two baptisms. John, a mortal man with the priesthood, has the authority to baptize with water (physical) “unto repentance” — meaning you must continue to repent to receive the further baptism of fire (spirit) from the Lord:
John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Luke 3: 16)
The water baptism is a witness to God that you are willing to keep His commandments and take upon you His name – your new name.
I would say that most often, we receive ordinances before we’re actually ready for the blessings. This is not that weird of an idea. We believe in proxy baptisms, not knowing when and if the person we are doing the baptism will accept it or be ready for it. Still, we do the work — we perform the ordinance by proxy for them. Still, they must have some born again experience in the spirit world. It would be the same for us while living on earth — we must have an actual born again experience. There are two baptisms by immersion – one in water, one in the spirit. That’s why we’re here on earth — to have these experiences and learn to overcome trials by repenting and listening to the Spirit.
The Lord may require a passage of time after we are baptized by water before He actually bestows the baptism of fire. We may not be ready when we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. This is especially true at the age of eight.
I don’t remember anything special on my baptism day. I don’t recall the blessing and bestowal of the gift of the Holy Ghost. I was eight years old. In comparison, when I gave birth to my five children, I remember that. The birth pains of natural childbirth and delivery are not something to be overlooked. Even the one C-section I had was not to be missed. Women share their birthing experiences because they are so significant and transcendent. And nothing like they’ve ever experienced.
Women go through pregnancy, labor, pain, and ultimately a great joy. I can’t really explain the feeling — but when my children were born, I felt like I had gone to the depths of struggling and suffering. And then I was changed — I even received a “new name” — “mother.” And the baby received a new name too. I became a new creature, so-to-speak.
The baptism of fire should be equal to this birth experience. It is an event.
Women relate to this better than men. But at least the father gets to be part of the birth process today. In the past, fathers used to sit around in the waiting room smoking cigars, completely ignorant of the birthing process.
The scriptures explain that we must be born of water and of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. When Jesus explains this concept, Nicodemus is confused and says — “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus makes a comparison that we should take more seriously. The baptism of water and fire is comparable to birth — real birth, where you receive a new name. I believe that after the ritual baptism and laying on of hands, we must seek a complete remission of our sins and receive the baptism of fire from the Lord.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. (3 Nephi 11)
Born again is a significant event, as extraordinary as birth into this world. There will be a process, such as pregnancy and labor — but it must culminate in birth to be “born again.” The process of repenting and overcoming trials is like the process of pregnancy, labor, delivery. You will be able to pinpoint your baptism of fire when you are truly born again. And it will be a specific event, specific for you.
There are several sources on the baptism of fire. Lorenzo Snow gave us one:
Lorenzo Snow’s Baptism of Fire
Lorenzo Snow
Lorenzo Snow gives us his account, but others have testified of similar born again experiences. Lorenzo Snow in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, 2011 (Chapter 3)
“I was perfectly satisfied that I had done what was wisdom for me to do under the circumstances.”2 Although he was content for a time with this understanding, he soon yearned for a special manifestation of the Holy Ghost. He said, “I had had no manifestation, but I expected one.3“This manifestation did not immediately follow my baptism, as I expected,” he recalled. “But, although the time was deferred, when I did receive it, its realization was more perfect, tangible and miraculous than even my strongest hopes had led me to anticipate. One day while engaged in my studies, some two or three weeks after I was baptized, I began to reflect upon the fact that I had not obtained a knowledge of the truth of the work—that I had not realized the fulfillment of the promise: ‘He that doeth my will shall know of the doctrine; and I began to feel very uneasy.“I laid aside my books, left the house and wandered around through the fields under the oppressive influence of a gloomy, disconsolate spirit, while an indescribable cloud of darkness seemed to envelop me. I had been accustomed, at the close of the day, to retire for secret prayer to a grove, a short distance from my lodgings, but at this time I felt no inclination to do so.“The spirit of prayer had departed, and the heavens seemed like brass over my head. At length, realizing that the usual time had come for secret prayer, I concluded I would not forego my evening service, and, as a matter of formality, knelt as I was in the habit of doing, and in my accustomed retired place, but not feeling as I was wont to feel.
“I had no sooner opened my lips in an effort to pray, than I heard a sound, just above my head, like the rustling of silken robes, and immediately the Spirit of God descended upon me, completely enveloping my whole person, filling me from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, and O, the joy and happiness I felt! No language can describe the instantaneous transition from a dense cloud of mental and spiritual darkness into a refulgence of light and knowledge, as it was at that time imparted to my understanding. I then received a perfect knowledge that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and of the restoration of the Holy Priesthood, and the fulness of the gospel.
“It was a complete baptism—a tangible immersion in the heavenly principle or element, the Holy Ghost; and even more real and physical in its effects upon every part of my system than the immersion by water; dispelling forever, so long as reason and memory last, all possibility of doubt or fear in relation to the fact handed down to us historically, that the ‘Babe of Bethlehem’ is truly the Son of God; also the fact that He is now being revealed to the children of men, and communicating knowledge, the same as in the apostolic times. I was perfectly satisfied, as well I might be, for my expectations were more than realized, I think I may safely say, in an infinite degree.“I cannot tell how long I remained in the full flow of this blissful enjoyment and divine enlightenment, but it was several minutes before the celestial element, which filled and surrounded me, began gradually to withdraw. On arising from my kneeling posture, with my heart swelling with gratitude to God beyond the power of expression, I felt—I knew that he had conferred on me what only an Omnipotent Being can confer—that which is of greater value than all the wealth and honors worlds can bestow.”4
Originally published Feb. 2015. Updated 2019 and Feb 2021.
Very nicely done. Very interesting. I know something of this subject form personal experience. The journey has been a long one, and the story is hard to tell in a few words.
As a convert in my 20’s I had the good fortune to learn some of the weightier doctrines of the kingdom; Just Men made perfect may enter the Church of the First Born, etc. Thereafter, I took it upon myself to look carefully at the path, especially looking for the milestones required as one progresses up Jacob’s ladder. All the synonyms associated with Baptism of Fire and being Born Again caught my attention. After reading everybody who’s anybody on those related subjects, I finally found many of the LDS scriptural reference grouped together in the index by Elder McConkie under Holy Ghost, Baptism of.
I studied the details of the contract, so to speak, and found the promises hidden in plain sight. One day, while kneeling on the beige carpet in my home-office, during a low-point in my career, I was praying, and… the phrase is best used to describe my experience is “overwhelming gratitude.” I was so grateful — that the Lord had showed me his power, and let a portion flow in.
For years, I had not really been able to identify any words to use to describe my experience — until recently when I heard a brother talk about his experience in a very indirect way; when he made passing reference to experiencing an “overwhelming sense of gratitude,” I knew of the experience to which he was alluding. Gratitude, almost to the consuming of one’s flesh.
In the sacred grove, Joseph Smith thought that the trees might catch on fire. I didn’t see any fire, but maybe my body would have dissolved into the spirit world if I stayed in. To tell the truth, I was just so thankful; I said “that is enough. Thank you.” I was just so thankful — to pass form belief into knowledge; it only took a few moments in my case.
I suppose I should have lingered.
Thank you for sharing your experience and feelings that overwhelmed you — the extreme gratitude seems to be a common element of being born again, or the baptism of fire.
What a wonderful article, Deila! This is such an important concept to understand. I loved the testimony of President Snow. I had a visiting teacher once whom I love dearly to this day. She has since passed on, but I have had some experiences with her since that time. She came from a pioneer family. She told me once that as a young woman of about 19 years of age, she was at college and she and her roommate both talked about how they had “borrowed” testimonies from their parents. They wished to seek a testimony of their own. So my friend began to seek her own testimony at that time. She recalled that she was reading a pioneer journal of her grandfather (can’t remember how many greats at this point) but she had been thinking a great deal about her testimony at that point and had been praying fervently regarding receiving a testimony of her own. She said that as she read, she could hear a man’s voice in her head which testified to her, “The Church is true, granddaughter. I knew the Prophet Joseph Smith and it is true.” She said the testimony filled her soul and she never again questioned the truthfulness of the church. I remember his name was James Stapleton.
I have another friend who is still living with whom I am still in contact. She grew up as a basic Christian (no particular denomination). She lived on an Indian reservation as a child as her father was a Native American man. She said that when she was young, her parents took great interest in her education and they spoke frequently about what she was learning in school. One day, she told me she came home with her history book and her mother asked her about what she was learning. My friend told her that they were reading about some pioneers who came west following a leader, Brigham Young, and who were called Mormons; they had another leader named Joseph Smith, who had died. Her mother looked at her and told her, “Your great-great grandfather was Joseph Smith. He was a good man, but you must NEVER tell anyone that you are related to him.” So Gracia put that away in her head and never mentioned it to anyone. She said as she grew into a teenager, her family moved to Oklahoma onto another reservation. There she began her babysitting career for a local family. The family was LDS and had the missionaries living in their basement. When her mother learned of this fact, she said, “Whatever you do, don’t tell THEM that you are related to Joseph Smith!” She said she became a favorite babysitter for the family. One day, as will happen in an LDS family, the mother began talking to Gracia about the church and talked about Joseph Smith. Gracia blurted out, “Joseph Smith is my great-great grandfather.” I’m sure this surprised the sister greatly. She said later that week, the sister called her and told her the missionaries had something for her. Gracia was thrilled because, of course, what 16-year-old girl doesn’t like missionaries? Well, she went straight to the family’s house and the missionaries were waiting there for her. She said one of the elders extended his hand, which had a book in it — the Book of Mormon, of course. She said he looked directly at her and said, “This is the Book of Mormon. It is the word of God and was translated by your great-great grandfather.” She said a feeling of fire or electricity ran from her head to her toes and back when he said that — the rest is history! I love these stories.
So do you have any pioneer stories from your ancestors? I found some from mine, even though I didn’t even know about them until four years ago. I am invigorated by them and their stories of faith and testimony increase my testimony. Just wondering if you have any to read. It would be fun to find out. If you don’t, you might check for ancestors’ journals with the L. Tom Perry collection at BYU to see if they have any journals lf your ancestors. =)
Great experience for Gracia — I find it interesting that she was completely immersed in the feeling of fire — from head to toe. And it is interesting that Joseph Smith found a way to reach out to the Native Americans — through his progeny.
I have had a few such experiences myself. I will have to tell you sometime in a private email about them. It is like nothing I had ever experienced before.