Those of the household of faith never lose their relationship with Elohim, the Eternal Father. He was and is the Father of the spirits of all men and will forever be the ultimate object of their worship and devotion. Because Jehovah became the chief advocate and proponent of the plan of the Father, because he offered himself as a ransom for the souls of his spirit brothers and sisters, and because he makes the terms and conditions of the Father’s plan operative and thus available to mankind, he becomes the Father of their spiritual rebirth, the Father of their resurrection, the Father of their salvation.
Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant, and men and women become sons and daughters of Jesus Christ by covenant. Entrance (adoption) into his family kingdom is accomplished through a solemn agreement to take the family name, live in harmony with the standards of that covenant family, and thus adhere to family obligations. Those who do so make permanent their place in the family; they are sealed to that God who loves them and thereby inherit and possess, as heirs, a fulness of the glory of their Lord (see verse 15).
“Your Hearts Are Changed Through Faith on His Name”
Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus, rather foolishly, asked: “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” Unperturbed, Jesus responded: “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,” (John 3:3-5; italics added.)
Joseph Smith explained: “It is one thing to see the kingdom of God, and another thing to enter into it. We must have a change of heart to see the kingdom of God, and subscribe the articles of adoption to enter therein. ” (Teachings, p. 328; italics added.) To see the kingdom of God is to recognize that church in one’s day which is the Lord’s Church; to sense and feel the truthfulness of its pronouncements and the authenticity of its priesthood; and to acknowledge that those who present the gospel message are true servants of God. One comes to see the kingdom, that is, to recognize the truths of salvation, as the Holy Ghost grants to him the eye of faith.
One enters the kingdom, as the Prophet explained, through subscribing to the articles of adoption, which are the first principles and ordinances of the gospel-faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and the reception of the Holy Ghost. These allow one to be legally adopted into the family of the Lord Jesus Christ and into the Church and kingdom of God on earth.