Merrill J. Bateman

Few mortals share with Alma the Younger or Paul the Apostle the dramatic experiences that resulted in their spiritual rebirths over short periods of time. In fact, I believe those experiences are recorded in the scriptures not to define the time frame during which one may be reborn but to provide a vivid picture of what the accumulated, subtle changes are that take place in a faithful person over a lifetime.  For most of us, trying to be Christlike is a lifelong process and comes “line upon line, precept upon precept”. Most of us, if faithful, are baptized “with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites … were baptized … and they knew it not”. In other words, spiritual rebirth is a gradual process for most individuals. At any point in time the changes are almost imperceptible; indeed, many of us worry we are not becoming more Christlike even though we are.

Merrill J. Bateman, “Living a Christ-Centered Life,” Liahona, Dec 1999, 13