"Born Again"

Right arm raised reverently, to the sacred square.
Authority granted by the King. The burden, He will bear!

Lowered gently beneath the water, the feelings sweet and pure!
Cleansed from every sin. "I'm healed! My wounds, they now are cured!"

Washed, and raised above the world, to stand on higher ground!
A precious love so priceless! An eternal gift is found!

As I promise, to follow Him, and bask within His light,
Filled with His Holy Spirit now, "I'll always choose the right!"

The Bread of Life, He feeds me! His living water quenches my thirst!
My love for Him is growing. My heart, it wants to burst!

The gateway to His kingdom, when I was born again!
Has opened up a whole new world, with joy that never ends!

POET'S COMMENTS

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. . . Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:5, 7)

"Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness." (Alma 7:14)

The ordinance of baptism is a sacred covenant between a man and God. It is the King of kings that grants priesthood authority to perform the sacred ordinance of baptism. This is rightfully so. He is the Anointed One. He was the one set apart to take upon himself the sins of all mankind. Therefore, it is his right to choose by whom and how the ordinance is performed.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

The Savior suffered that we might be healed.

The eternal gift mentioned in this poem is the gift of the Atonement. Baptism allows the Atonement to be realized. The covenant of baptism is to "follow him and keep his commandments." In return, he promises to take away our sins, and give us an eternal inheritance in his kingdom.

The Redeemer will purify us through this life by the guidance of his Spirit. With the bread of life (living his teachings and commandments) we are edified. With the living water (baptism and the sacrament) we are cleansed, and thus found worthy to dwell with him.

"For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (Revelations 7:14)

What freedom, gratitude, and joy I feel as I partake of the sacrament each week on the Sabbath day! I reflect upon His endless and matchless love! My spirit feels the healing power of the Atonement!

What a marvelous blessing it is each Sabbath day to relive our baptism, and be born again!

This blessing comes when we keep our promise is to "choose the right," and to "stand on higher ground."