Not of himself, but by the Holy Spirit of God which was in him, and therein guided him into all truth, Alma emphasized, did he know these things. The old and perhaps well-known account of his father's miraculous conversion was again cited by Alma to his son, Shiblon. It was this: a dramatic change had suddenly come into Alma's life. When before he had been rebellious, had rejected the truth, and even persecuted the righteous because of their righteousness, now all was changed. There was a change without, therefore there was a change within. The things Alma before had loved, he now hated, and what he once despised he now drew close to his bosom. Alma now loved the Lord, and sought with all his might to do His bidding. He was a different man, a new man. If he had been energetic in his wrong-doing, he was yet more active in his works of restitution. He testified to Shiblon "for if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things." (See Chapter 36:5-24, Book of Alma)