Recently, a Sunday School lesson in our Mormon Church was on a Book of Mormon prophet named Enos. His account is very short in the Book of Mormon, but it is a very important chapter in the Book.
In short, he describes a long prayer and process he goes through to receive forgiveness from his sins through Jesus Christ. His description could be described as what is commonly known in Christian circles as a “born again” experience because he prays and confesses Jesus as his Savior and asks Him to take away his sins. He then is filled with the Holy Spirit and prays for his fellow friends and his enemies alike.
As I reflected on Enos’ experience, it reminded me of my own.
When I was in my early teenage years, I had been already living a pretty devious life and was full of hatred and anger. Through the grace of God I picked up a Book of Mormon and read it within a few weeks. At the end of the Book of Mormon, I had a very big desire to pray and know if the concepts in the Book were true. The concepts in the book include the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which includes: faith, repentance, baptism, committing our lives to the Lord, and receiving the Holy Spirit.
According to a modern Mormon prophet, Ezra Taft Benson, for every one person who has a “born again experience” such as Enos, there are thousands of people who do not have a huge manifestation of the Holy Spirit all at once. Rather, it comes gradually as we keep the commandments of God.
I feel fortunate to have had an experience like that of Enos. Immediately after I prayed, I felt a warmth come all over me and a love and desire to share the Good News with my fellow man. From the age of 13 (when I had this experience) I had the desire to go on a mission and tell the world about the gospel. My mission was everything I dreamed it would be. Although I was in a country (Germany) whose people didn’t accept the gospel with open arms, I still grew to love the Lord and the German people. If I hadn’t had this born again experience as a younger man, I’m not sure that I would have been able to be so motivated to go on a mission, and the experience is something I reflect on almost daily that sustains my faith now.
I would be curious to see how many people out there have had a “born again” experience. If you have, please share. If not, please share how you have experienced receiving the Spirit and a testimony of Jesus.
Grace for Grace 
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April 28, 2012 at 6:52 am
Cal
I’m glad to hear a bit of your testimony, GraceforGrace.
When I read a “sinner’s prayer” and the end of a booklet by Kenneth E. Hagin, I felt peace come over me. The experience was subtle, not like thunder & lightning. After the peace came over me, I knew in my knower that I was made ready to go to heaven.
The next morning I had a sense that God loved me (of course he loves everybody), that I was now accepted by him (he doesn’t accept everyone—only those who repent), and that I was his child because he was living in me.
The sinner’s prayer led me through Bible verses such as Romans 10:9 about making Jesus my Lord. Half way through the prayer it said something like, “I thank you, Lord, that I am now saved.” THAT’S the point where the Spirit came into me!
Of course, I had to stick with my new commitment in order to preserve my new status with God. And I did. I grew slowly at first.
After I had been a Christian for a year or two, the youth pastor at the church I was attending challenged us to pray for 15 minutes day for the church leaders. The leaders were going through some especially hard times at the time. I promised I’d do it, but how was I going to fill 15 minutes praying for the church leaders when I had only been praying 1 or 2 minutes per day up to that point?
It was a struggle. Somehow I managed to get through it. Then the next day it was a little easier because I noticed that the Holy Spirit had begun to help me! . . . and so began a life-changing prayer life which continued to increase.
I’m getting carried away. You’re not asking for a whole book, are you, GraceforGrace?
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April 29, 2012 at 1:24 pm
graceforgrace
Hi Cal,
Thank you for your testimony.
What you described is what I think most people describe when they relay feeling the Holy Spirit. It also is outlined in the Bible where the voice of God comes not in a Thunder, but like a whisper on the wind.
For those of us who have been living a sinful life, that little whisper is drowned out, but when we pause and open our hearts even just a pinch, God is waiting to touch us with His love, as you’ve outlined.
I like your idea of praying for 15 minutes for leaders….heck…15 minutes praying about anything is a good start, in my opinion!
P.S. I wasn’t asking for a whole book, but I’d imagine the Book of Cal has a lot of good insight!
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April 30, 2012 at 5:32 am
Doug
Thanks for both your testimonies! I was converted when I was 15. While I know I have disappointed the Lord at times-there has never been a moment where I regretted turning to Jesus Christ. I like the challenge your pastor made to you, Cal, to pray. We should never be too busy to spend time with God-Martin Luther once said, “I have too much to do today so I will spend 3 hours in prayer.” Most of us may not achieve Luther’s zeal for prayer but it’s a good goal to aim for! GraceforGrace-you have lived in two worlds-LDS and Evangelical! Amazing! Perhaps the Lord will use you to span the gulf between these two groups-I think He already is.
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May 1, 2012 at 7:53 am
graceforgrace
Hi Doug,
Thanks for the great comment. I love the quote you shared about Martin Luther. That one should be put up on a wall…seriously!
Like I said, I was young (13) and it looks like you were as well when you were converted. I’ve had people blow this off when I share it with them saying I was too young and have a wild imagination, but I think I was much more humble at that age and moldable than I am now…I praise God I was able to hear His voice at such a young age and recognize it.
I’d be interested in hearing about your conversion story. Care to share it?
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May 1, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Doug Dwyer
While I was in a church going family-for much of my youth God seemed very far away and not at all personal. When I was in my teens our church held a spiritual renewal weekend and a group of people came from a church in a neighboring state to provide music, teaching and testimonies. I was expected to attend and at first was pretty resistent however that weekend I met a fellow 15 year old young man who shared with me how his relationship with Jesus Christ had changed his life-even how he treated young ladies! That had my attention-and after he shared his testimony I went down to the front of our modest church and knelt down and prayed for the Lord to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart and soul. I told the Lord that I would seek to serve Him with all the strength within me. Throughout these many years I have felt His presence and His love for me. He has guided me and spoken to me in many different ways. Like you I am so thankful I heard his voice and responded to Him when He said, “Come Unto Me.”
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May 2, 2012 at 8:08 pm
graceforgrace
Hi Doug,
Thanks for sharing that experience. I think it is great to see how differently God works in our lives to touch us. I’ve experienced that when I am touched by His Spirit that I can’t help but want to “pay it forward” so to speak.
I know that’s what you are doing with your congregation and I respect you for following the Lord’s call. I pray for you and those who follow you that you may be lifted up in the Lord’s light and guided in all areas of your lives.
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May 2, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Cal
Doug, thanks for your story.
I have heard the quote of Martin Luther. It is true, isn’t it, guys, that you don’t think you have any more time to pray, but when you do, God makes up the time—and more!
I think Doug is right that GraceforGrace is being used to span the great gulf. It’s one thing that attracts me to this blog.
GraceforGrace said, “For those of us who have been living a sinful life, that little whisper [from God] is drowned out, but when we pause and open our hearts even just a pinch, God is waiting to touch us with His love”
Well said.
Then you said, “I’d imagine the Book of Cal has a lot of good insight!”
Yes, the Book of Cal is coming out this November. It’ll be the next LDS Scripture. (just kidding of course)
If I get stranded on an island, I want you guys with me. Instead of Gilligan’s Island, it’ll be GraceforGrace island. Guess what we’ll do for supper?
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May 2, 2012 at 8:05 pm
graceforgrace
Break bread?
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May 3, 2012 at 5:43 am
Cal
Well, that and a barbeque.
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May 3, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Doug
Hey-I’ll scout out an island-I’ll be down in the Gulf this summer!
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May 4, 2012 at 6:25 am
Cal
🙂
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