In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul encouraged the people to “put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).
With similar language, the Book of Mormon prophet Benjamin told his people, “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord” (Mosiah 3:19).
Dana Mario Wood is an American artist whose mother is from Mexico. In depicting Alma’s conversion in this small painting, he drew on artwork he had seen in ancient ruins in Latin America.
In some ways, Alma’s experience is representative of every person’s journey of turning away from the natural man and turning toward God. In this painting, Alma reaches toward the heavenly messenger with open and humble hands. His exhaled breath may symbolize the death of his old self and his rebirth (or change of heart) in Christ. As Paul said to the Ephesians, “YOU hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).
What does it mean to you to “put on the new man”?
-Jenny Champoux, Director