Jeremiah 31:33 I will
put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their
hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my
people.
WHAT IS CONVERSION?
The
Apostle Paul taught that the Lord’s teachings and teachers were given that we
may all attain “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph.
4:13). This process requires far more than acquiring knowledge. It is not even
enough for us to be convinced of the gospel; we must act and think so that we
are converted by it. In contrast to the
institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of
Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.
·
Elder Marion G. Romney, “Conversion,” Conference Report, October 1963
"But
I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen
thy brethren." (Luke 22:31-32.) From this it would appear that membership
in the Church and conversion are not necessarily synonymous. Being converted,
as we are here using the term, and having a testimony are not necessarily the
same thing either. A testimony comes when the Holy Ghost gives the earnest
seeker a witness of the truth. A moving testimony vitalizes faith; that is, it
induces repentance and obedience to the commandments. Conversion, on the other
hand, is the fruit of, or the reward for, repentance and obedience. (Of course
one's testimony continues to increase as he is converted.)
·
Elder Marion G. Romney, “Conversion,” Conference Report, October 1963
Elder Marion G. Romney, “Conversion,” Conference Report, October 1963
“As used in the scriptures,
"converted" generally implies not merely mental acceptance of Jesus
and his teachings but also a motivating faith in him and in his gospel-a faith
which works a transformation, an actual change in one's understanding of life's
meaning and in his allegiance to God-in interest, in thought, and in
conduct.”
M. Russell Ballard
M. Russell Ballard
“Among other things, Elder Ballard
shared some feelings of the Brethren about conversion. He indicated that President Hinckley has
expressed concern that some people in the church have mental but not
spiritual conversion. The gospel
appeals to them, but real conversion is when they feel something in their
hearts, and not just in their minds. There is mental assent, but not spiritual conviction. They must be touched by the
power of the Holy Ghost which creates a spiritual experience. The power and deep conversion of the Spirit is
needed by our members to get into their
hearts to confirm what they agreed to in their minds. This will carry them through every storm of
adversity.”
Bruce R. McConkie, "Be Ye Converted," BYU First Stake Conference, 11 February 1968, found in Sermons and Writings of Bruce R. McConkie
Peter had a testimony. Peter had worked miracles; he had been in the ministry.
There is
a difference, as is
evident from this,
between having a testimony and being converted. It is
only fair, and it is
also essential to the story, to say that the reason Peter was not converted in
the full sense is
that the time had not then arrived when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the
people. This
came later; it was the promised
endowment that they got on the day of Pentecost.
A person may get converted in a moment, miraculously. That is
what happened to Alma the younger. But with most people, the conversion
is
a process;
and it goes step by step, degree by degree, level by level, from a lower state
to a higher, from grace to grace, until the time that the individual is
wholly turned to the cause of righteousness. Now, this
means that an individual overcomes one sin today and another sin tomorrow.
The Holy Ghost does two things in particular. On the one
hand he is a witness to truth, and
so he bears the testimony of the truth, and that is how we get a testimony,
by revelation from the Holy Ghost. But on the other hand the Holy Spirit is a sanctifier, and he has
the power to cleanse and perfect the human soul, to wash evil and iniquity out,
and to replace it with righteousness. And that is the occasion when we are
converted.
HOW DO WE BECOME TRULY CONVERTED?
“True conversion comes through the power
of the Spirit. When the Spirit touches the heart, hearts are changed. When individuals, both members and
investigators, feel the Spirit working with them, or when they see the evidence
of the Lord’s love and mercy in their lives, they are edified and strengthened
spiritually and their faith in Him increases. These experiences with the Spirit
follow naturally when a person is willing to experiment upon the word. This is
how we come to feel the gospel is true.
A
most significant evidence of our conversion and of how we feel about the gospel
in our own lives is our willingness to share it with others and to help
missionaries find someone to teach. The likelihood of lasting conversion
greatly increases when a nonmember has a friend or a relative who radiates the
joy of being a member of the Church. The influence of members of the Church is
very powerful. I believe that’s why President Hinckley asked us to see that
everyone has a friend (see “Converts and Young Men,” Ensign, May 1997,
47)
You
can learn to use faith more effectively by applying this principle taught by
Moroni: “Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute
not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your
faith.” Thus, every time you try your
faith, that is, act in worthiness on an impression, you will receive the
confirming evidence of the Spirit. Those feelings will fortify your faith.
As you repeat that pattern, your faith will become stronger. The Lord knows
your needs. When you ask with honesty and real intent, He will prompt you to do
that which will increase your ability to act in faith.
Susan W. Tanner, YW General President, “Written in the Fleshy Tables of the Heart,” Spring 2005
Here, then, is an important key to our success in accelerating the Lord’s work. As active members of the Church, and especially as priesthood and auxiliary leaders, we need to do more to assist in the process of conversion, retention, and activation. We know that faithful members desire to serve, but sometimes we lose sight of the essential outcomes that our faith and works ought to produce in strengthening the commitment of our Father’s children to the gospel. “How can we as Young Women leaders facilitate conversion, this mighty change within the hearts of the young women we serve? The scriptures reiterate again and again that the real teacher is the Holy Ghost. A closely related subject to how we teach is how young women learn, how they internalize the gospel deep into their hearts. The Holy Ghost again is the facilitator. he “carrieth it unto the hearts” (2 Nephi 33:1).
HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE HAVE BEEN TRULY CONVERTED?
· Elder Marion G.
Romney, “Conversion,” Conference Report, October 1963
In one
who is really wholly converted, desire
for things contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ has actually died. And
substituted therefore is a love of God, with a fixed and controlling
determination to keep his commandments.”
Mosiah 5:2 Because of the Spirit of the Lord which has wrought a might change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil.
Alma 13:12 Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence.
Alma 19:33 And they did all declare unto the people that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil.
Elder Marion G.
Romney, “Conversion,” Conference Report, October 1963
Somebody
recently asked how one could know when he is converted. The answer is simple.
He may be assured of it when by the power of the Holy Spirit his soul is
healed. When this occurs, he will recognize it by the way he feels, for he will
feel as the people of Benjamin felt when they received remission of sins. The
record says, . . . the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled
with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of
conscience, . . ." (Mosiah 4:3.)
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