It can be easy to think that Alma the Younger was converted by an angel, and thus wish that we could personally have such miraculous experiences in order to become truly converted. However, a careful analysis of Alma’s story reveals that true conversion does not come from dramatic experiences external to ourselves, like seeing an angel; rather, rather it comes through the inward, personal struggle to repent and turn our hearts to Christ, allowing his atonement to cleanse of our sins and turn us into “new creatures.” Alma’s rebirth and conversion is literarily illustrated in Mosiah 27 by setting out 8 contrasting parallels between his behavior before conversion and his changed behavior after he is “born of God.” This contrast illustrates that Alma changed completely and totally, in every way, from who he was before his conversion, demonstrating that true and lasting conversion has a comprehensive impact on how we live our lives.

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