Alma repeats uses the theme of being born again here in Gideon just as he did in Zarahemla:
Alma 5:14
14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
For Alma, this process of being born again is intimately connected to the acceptance of the Atoning Messiah. When Alma was recounting his conversion experience, he explains this process of change, of rebirth:
Mosiah 27:25
25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;
Mosiah 27:26
26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
For Alma, this is a “new creature” who has new parents. This change entails becoming “sons and daughters” of the Atoning Messiah. It is precisely this transformation that Benjamin described for the new covenant of his people during his famous discourse:
“Mosiah 5:7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.”