Alma 19:33; Moses 6:59; Alma 5:7, 14, 26; Conference Report, Apr. 1898, pp. 65-66; refer in this text to Mosiah 27:24-26; Ensign, May 1998, pp. 55-57
“Being born again, comes by the Spirit of God through ordinances.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 162)
“Mere compliance with the formality of the ordinance of baptism does not mean that a person has been born again. No one can be born again without baptism, but the immersion of water and the laying on of hands to confer the Holy Ghost do not of themselves guarantee that a person has been or will be born again. The new birth takes place only for those who actually enjoy the Gift or companionship of the Holy Ghost, only for those who are fully converted, who have given themselves without restraint to the Lord.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 100-101)
“In addition to the physical ordinance of baptism and the laying on of hands, one must be spiritually born again to gain exaltation and eternal life.” (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, July 1989, pp. 2-3)
“(For most of us) this process is usually slow. The unusually quick ones make their way into scripture.” (Bruce R. McConkie, 1976 BYU Speeches of the Year)
“Let us recognize that to be spiritually born of God and receive the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost is, as the scriptures attest, a glorious and wonderful event that prepares us to pursue eternal life. But it does not immediately translate us into perfect beings ready for celestial glory. It does not mean that we will never make a mistake or sin again. Hence, we see the great need to apply the principle of repentance continuously as we strive daily to serve God and keep his commandments.” (David W. Hellem, Ensign, June 1992, p. 12)
“That change comes today to every son and daughter of God who repents of his or her sins, who humble themselves before the Lord, and who seek forgiveness and remission of sin by baptism … Yet many of us who have received that witness, that new birth, that change of heart, while we may have erred in judgment or have made many mistakes, and often perhaps come short of the true standard in our lives, we have repented of the evil, and we have sought from time to time forgiveness at the hand of the Lord; so that until this day the same desire and purpose which pervaded our souls when we were baptized and received a remission of our sins, still holds possession of our hearts, and is still the ruling sentiment and passion of our souls. Though at times we may be stirred to anger, and our wrath move us to say and do things which are not pleasing in the sight of God, yet instantly on regaining our sober senses and recovering from our lapse into the power of darkness, we feel humble, repentant, and to ask forgiveness for the wrong that we have done to ourselves, and per-chance to others.” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctine, pp. 96-97)