True Conversion
We have 5,000 Prospective Elders in our mission, 100 in our ward alone. Our goal is to contact each one and invite them back to church. Its not about numbers, or
baptisms. Its about the lives you touch, and the eternal blessings in store for each and every person you meet. Whether they accept the
gospel or not, you have to practice what you teach everyday. We recently started visiting a less active elderly man named Brother Lyon. My heart ached when we heard he was in the hospital. We have been faithfully visiting him. Last week he told us he could not wait to bear his testimony in sacrament meeting. I have always loved the elderly, and have felt a kinship with them-- this love has only deepened while serving!
We have all
been given the gift of agency, so I plead that you use it wisely. Is
what your doing bringing you closer to Christ? Are you fulfilling your
baptism Covenants and Standing as a Witness of our Savior?
I invite you to take some time to write down your
testimony and send it to someone. Take the time to start a Spiritual Journal or Blog -- something that you can look back on to remember the times you have felt the Spirit. I can promise that there
will be a time in all of our lives when our Faith will become shaky, and having spiritual experiences to reflect on will fill our well in our days of drought.
I've been thinking a lot recently about what it is or means to be truly converted to the gospel, and HOW do we become truly converted to the gospel. You can have a testimony, but not be converted. So, what's the difference? Is it the surety of your testimony? Is it the never wavering faith someone has in the gospel? Why and how do we become converted? I believe it's a life long process. A life long process of being tried and tested and overcoming WITH Christ. Elder Bednar taught us concerning this principle in October 2012 General Conference:
Whom Say Ye That I Am?
We can learn much about testimony and conversion from the ministry of the Apostle Peter.
As Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He posed this penetrating question to His disciples: “Whom say ye that I am?”
Peter responded forthrightly:
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:15–17).
As is evidenced in Peter’s reply and the Savior’s instruction, a testimony is personal knowledge of spiritual truth obtained by revelation. 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.
When Thou Art Converted
As the Savior taught His disciples at the Last Supper, He said to Peter:
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to … sift you as wheat:
“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31–32).
Interestingly, this mighty Apostle had talked and walked with the Master, had witnessed many miracles, and had a strong testimony of the Savior’s divinity. Yet even Peter needed additional instruction from Jesus about the converting and sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost and his obligation to serve faithfully.
In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin’s people responded to his teaching by exclaiming, “Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2). Accepting the words spoken, gaining a testimony of their truthfulness, and exercising faith in Christ produced a mighty change of heart and a firm determination to improve and become better.
I promise that as we come to a knowledge of the truth and are converted unto the Lord, we will remain firm and steadfast and never fall away. Eagerly we will set aside our weapons of rebellion. We will be blessed with bright light from our lamps of testimony and an ample supply of the oil of conversion. And as each of us becomes more fully converted, we will strengthen our families, our friends, and our associates.
On March 4th Wulu was baptized!! He recently got married so now his wife is coming to church with him, as well. When I was in the MTC I received a blessing where I was told I would bring families together. Watching one person in a family come unto Christ, then fellow shipping their loved ones, has been a sacred experience in Concord. I am grateful for the opportunity to witness such love and discipleship. Rose is getting baptized April 8th, Laura is scheduled for April 22nd, and Judy is scheduled for April 15th.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is TRUE and has been restored to the earth due to the faith and courage of a young boy in New England . Jesus is the Christ. The Book of Mormon is the Word of God and President Monson is a modern day prophet. I love you all!!
Sister Scherzinger
