I am a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.” I joined the Church when I was just 16, the only one in my family to make that decision at the time. Now I am 66. That’s 50 years of membership, without a single week of inactivity. During my early years in the LDS Church, I struggled to find my way in life in general. My family, although cultured and educated, was highly dysfunctional, and I found myself having to make important decisions without understanding and support. I felt essentially alone, and I had not developed the solid, revelatory connection with my Savior, Jesus Christ, to feel His constant love and companionship.
Yet, He led me along, and especially guided me to the people who could be His hands in lifting me gradually to discipleship and knowledge of and trust in Him.
I can say, however, that even though I began in fits and starts, I never lost my fervor for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I was always converted, and that true conversion has kept me moving forward on the narrow path that leads to salvation and exaltation.
At this time, my husband (of 44 years) and I are serving as senior Mormon missionaries. We are very far away from most of our children and grandchildren. We are sacrificing financially, as well, in order to help Latter-day Saints in a small branch in a faraway place. We do this because we are truly converted to His gospel. We are called “member-leader support” missionaries. We don’t proselyte, but help those who are already members of the Church of Jesus Christ. Because the Church has a lay clergy, all members must step up and be ready to serve in a variety of “callings,” all of which make us stretch and use talents we didn’t know we had. We help to train and support these people.
We also try to help those who are not yet converted. They want to drop out when someone inadvertently offends them; they want the advantages of the gospel and the Church without paying any offerings, just denying themselves the blessings of sacrifice. They want to work, and are willing to break the Sabbath to do it. They are not truly converted.
In the October 2012 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ, Elder David A. Bednar gave an address on being truly converted. He said,
Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion.
A testimony is a gift from God and is available to all of His children. Any honest seeker of truth can obtain a testimony by exercising the necessary “particle of faith” in Jesus Christ to “experiment upon” (Alma 32:27) and “try the virtue of the word” (Alma 31:5), to yield “to the enticings of the Holy Spirit” (Mosiah 3:19), and to awaken unto God (see Alma 5:7). Testimony brings increased personal accountability and is a source of purpose, assurance, and joy.
Seeking for and obtaining a testimony of spiritual truth requires asking, seeking, and knocking (see Matthew 7:7; 3 Nephi 14:7) with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in the Savior (see Moroni 10:4). Fundamental components of a testimony are knowing that Heavenly Father lives and loves us, that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that the fullness of the gospel has been restored to the earth in these latter days….
The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through the Savior’s Atonement. True conversion brings a change in one’s beliefs, heart, and life to accept and conform to the will of God (see Acts 3:19; 3 Nephi 9:20) and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ.
Conversion is an enlarging, a deepening, and a broadening of the under girding base of testimony. It is the result of revelation from God, accompanied by individual repentance, obedience, and diligence. Any honest seeker of truth can become converted by experiencing the mighty change of heart and being spiritually born of God (see Alma 5:12–14). As we honor the ordinances and covenants of salvation and exaltation (see D&C 20:25), “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ” (2 Nephi 31:20), and endure in faith to the end (see D&C 14:7), we become new creatures in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). Conversion is an offering of self, of love, and of loyalty we give to God in gratitude for the gift of testimony.
… the key characteristics associated with conversion are experiencing a mighty change in our hearts, having a disposition to do good continually, going forward in the path of duty, walking circumspectly before God, keeping the commandments, and serving with unwearied diligence. Clearly, these faithful souls had become deeply devoted to the Lord and His teachings.
For many of us, conversion is an ongoing process and not a onetime event that results from a powerful or dramatic experience. Line upon line and precept upon precept, gradually and almost imperceptibly, our motives, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds become aligned with the will of God. Conversion unto the Lord requires both persistence and patience.
A testimony is spiritual knowledge of truth obtained by the power of the Holy Ghost. Continuing conversion is constant devotion to the revealed truth we have received—with a heart that is willing and for righteous reasons. Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel.
It is the truly converted who will be exalted into the presence of the Lord in heaven. These are those who seek His face, who want more than salvation. The truly converted keep on keeping on and are valiant in their loyalty to Christ. In the face of discouragement and opposition, they keep showing up.
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