3. The new birth brings a change of attitude and character. Those who have been born again have “crucified the old man of sin”; they who are “in Christ” represent a “new creation” of the Holy Ghost (see Romans 6:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17). One who is born again does not continue in sin (JST, 1 John 3:8), for such a one has “no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2).
To be born again is to be converted. “Membership in the church and conversion are not necessarily synonymous,” said President Maron G. Rommey. “Being converted... and having a testimony are not necessarily the same thing... A testimony comes when the Holy Ghost gives the earnest seeker a witness of the truth. A moving testimony vitalizes faith; that is, it induces repentance and obedience to the commandments. Conversion, on the other hand, is the fruit of, or the reward for, repentance and obedience ... Conversion is effected by divine forgiveness, which remits sins... Thus he is converted to a newness of life. His spirit is healed. ” (CR, October 1963, p. 24.)
“We Have No More Disposition to Do Evil”
The “mighty change” associated with the new birth results in an educated conscience, educated desires, educated and bridled passions. Alma spoke of the ancient Saints who had received the priesthood of Melchizedek, and who, through their faith and obedience, “were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.
Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were ”with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God.“ (Alma 13:11-12; italics added.)
Likewise, after Ammon had preached to King Lamoni and his subjects,”they did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing—that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil. And behold, many did declare unto the people that they had seen angels and had conversed with them; and thus they had told them things of God, and of his righteousness.“ (Alma 19:33-34; italics added.)
The Saints of God in all ages lift up their voices unto the heavens as did Nephi: ”O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?“ (2 Nephi 4:31.)”
“A Mighty Change”
Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught; “A person may get converted in a moment, miraculously. That is what happened to Alma the younger. He had been baptized in his youth, he had been promised the Holy Ghost, but he had never received it. He was too worldlywise; he went off with the sons of Mosiah to destroy the church. ... Alma was in this state, and then this occasion occurred when a new light came into his soul, when he was changed from his fallen and carnal state to a state of righteousness.
In his instance the conversion was miraculous, in the snap of a finger, almost. ... But that is not how it happens with most people. With most people conversion is a process; and it goes step by step, degree by degree, level by level, from a lower state to a higher, from grace to grace, until the time that the individual is wholly turned to the cause of righteousness. Now this means that an individual overcomes one sin today and another sin tomorrow. He perfects his life in one field now, and in another field later on. And the conversion process goes on, until it is completed, until we become, literally, as the Book of Mormon says, saints of God instead of natural men.” (From an address at BYU First Stake Conference, 11 February 1968; see also excerpts from an address at BYU in 1976, as cited in The Life Beyond, pp. 138-39; Harold B. Lee, Stand Ye in Holy Places, pp. 58-61.)