Convinced or converted?
We looked at the question this week of whether it is possible to be convinced that the gospel is true without being converted. What are some of the ways in which you can become convinced? The sisters mentioned fruits--by observation of the results in people's lives--and the beauty of how all the teachings fit together. You can recognize how long-asked questions are apparently answered. Such questions as why did God call prophets in ancient days but has left us to more imperfect devices. Our answer is that He loves us just as much and has given us prophets for our day. That seems good and reasonable.
But that is not conversion. That will not be sufficient to stand against all the pressures of the world or the wrenching events of life. Conversion is to change your heart and your life because you have experienced the answer to your seeking, you have received the witness of the Spirit of God. Being converted means doing something about it.
Brigham Young said:
Only that experience can heal and change a life. Observation, investigation can bring someone to want an answer, but a person must indeed seek that answer and be ready to receive it. Willing to act upon it once received, as a motivating power. Our Heavenly Father promises us joy and blessings we cannot otherwise imagine. But we can't, as Neal A. Maxwell said, try to keep one foot in paradise and one foot in Babylon--our whole heart is required. Nephi promises:
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel. (2 Nephi 31:13)
President Joseph F. Smith said that those who are sent out to teach "should teach as nearly as possible after the manner of the Master--seeking to lead by love for their fellows, by simple explanation and persuasion; not trying to convince by force." Testimony is what brings change. Testimony cannot be argued with, though you can allow yourself to be sucked into an argument. Testimony, a pure statement of witness and experience, can only be accepted or refused.
Leading by love, testifying by faith, living by hope. Promised that we can learn to speak with the tongue of angels, we can find blessings and knowledge we could never have imagined if we will truly come unto Him.
That will change our lives--that is the purpose.
But that is not conversion. That will not be sufficient to stand against all the pressures of the world or the wrenching events of life. Conversion is to change your heart and your life because you have experienced the answer to your seeking, you have received the witness of the Spirit of God. Being converted means doing something about it.
Brigham Young said:
How are we to know the voice of the Good Shepherd from the voice of a stranger? Can any person answer this question? I can. It is very easy. To every philosopher upon the earth, I say, your eye can be deceived, so can mine; your ear can be deceived, so can mine; the touch of your hand can be deceived, so can mine; but the Spirit of God filling the creature with revelation and the light of eternity, cannot be mistaken—the revelation which comes from God is never mistaken. When an individual, filled with the Spirit of God, declares the truth of heaven, the sheep hear that, the Spirit of the Lord pierces their inmost souls and sinks deep into their hearts; by the testimony of the Holy Ghost light springs up within them, and they see and understand for themselves. This is the way the Gospel should be preached by every Elder in Israel, and by this power every hearer should hear; and if we would know the voice of the Good Shepherd, we must live so that the Spirit of the Lord can find its way to our hearts.
Only that experience can heal and change a life. Observation, investigation can bring someone to want an answer, but a person must indeed seek that answer and be ready to receive it. Willing to act upon it once received, as a motivating power. Our Heavenly Father promises us joy and blessings we cannot otherwise imagine. But we can't, as Neal A. Maxwell said, try to keep one foot in paradise and one foot in Babylon--our whole heart is required. Nephi promises:
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel. (2 Nephi 31:13)
President Joseph F. Smith said that those who are sent out to teach "should teach as nearly as possible after the manner of the Master--seeking to lead by love for their fellows, by simple explanation and persuasion; not trying to convince by force." Testimony is what brings change. Testimony cannot be argued with, though you can allow yourself to be sucked into an argument. Testimony, a pure statement of witness and experience, can only be accepted or refused.
Leading by love, testifying by faith, living by hope. Promised that we can learn to speak with the tongue of angels, we can find blessings and knowledge we could never have imagined if we will truly come unto Him.
That will change our lives--that is the purpose.
Love the contrast of being convinced versus being converted. I would never have thought to put that so eloquently, so I'm glad your ward had the discussion, and that you wrote about it. Thanks!
ReplyDelete