Mosiah 5 – Born Again – "Yup, That's my Kid!"

Let’s see if I can articulate this well enough to share it.

I read Mosiah 5 this morning and saw something in a light I have not seen it before – as a parent!  Whenever our children do something that thrills us to the core, why are we so pleased?  Usually, at the least because it is a really good thing.  Also, sometimes we see ourselves as having done a similar thing.  Or is it because that’s what they were taught to do as a child and we see them picking up that torch and our own passion, and embracing it as their own?  What do we jokingly and with just a little pride say?  How about, “Yup, that’s my kid!”  I’m guilty of that more than a few times.  When I’m busting buttons, it’s because they’ve done something well that we’ve taught them when they lived in our home.

Well, in Mosiah 5:15, King Benjamin says, “Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works (Acts 10:38 says Christ went about doing good),  that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, (Yup, that’s my kid!), that you may be brought to heaven, (He’ll want to have us around Him because we'll be like Him.), that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all (our Father).  Amen."

And we mustn’t forget Mosiah 5:7, “And now, because of the covenant which ye have made (we covenant to do good things), ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; (Yup, that’s my kid!) for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.” 

In Mosiah 27:25-26, we are told that all men (v25)  “. . . 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; (v26) And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.”

As a parent, I see why this is necessary.  It is very difficult indeed to be around those of our children who have embraced a lifestyle that is conflicting to our beliefs.  It hurts to watch them live beneath their privileges and potential and be content with the lesser portion.  It is especially hurtful to see their children be raised without the knowledge of their Savior or even given the choice to know Him.  Although we do love being around them and choose the pain over having them elsewhere, the Lord has made it quite clear that it’s not an option for Him.