Today we heard from special guest Mary G. from the stake relief society presidency. Her lesson was based on the talk by Elder Bednar "Converted unto The Lord."
When she was growing up, she had neighbors who were members but were not at all active. The children went to church alone, walking to the nearby building. There was substance use and abuse in the home, and so she was always a bit afraid of these parents. This family moved to an area where the parents would need to drive the children to church. They began to stay at church and regain their testimony. Years later they moved back and there was a noticeable change in their countenance, attitude, and lives. What changed? Sisters speculated that they had been loved into the church; The new way of life was a happier way; The Spirit touched them, and became part of their lives.;They could start fresh in a new location. It requires effort to maintain a testimony, such as driving children to church, and it is that effort that actually changes our heart to conversion.
How do we gain a testimony? Experiment upon the word in Alma 32. Have a spiritual witness of the truth and then you have to make a choice to believe. Elder Bednar suggest you ask, seek and knock with real intent to gain a testimony. You may have a lot of reasons to join the church. You may like the food storage program, you may like the charisma of a leader or like the social events, but that isn't a testimony that will last. The elements of a testimony include you know that Heavenly Father loves us and knows us, that Christ is our Savior and that the church has been restored.
What does it mean to have a conversion? A conversion is a change. When you are converted you change. You change to accept The Lord and become a disciple of Christ.
"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 undergirding 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." - Elder Bednar
This passage demonstrates that conversion requires us to give our all. If we are not doing this our testimony and our conversion is going to be at risk.
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 a change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do b evil, but to do good continually." (Mosiah 5:2)
The key to knowing that we are converted is when we have no more disposition to do evil but to do good continually.
1. Believe in the teachings of the prophets
2. Exercising faith in Lord
3. Repenting
4. Experiencing a might change of heart
5. becoming "firm and steadfast in the faith" (see Helaman 15:7-8)
"Testimony alone is not and will not be enough to protect us in the latter-day storm of darkness and evil in which we are living. Testimony is important and necessary but not sufficient to provide the spiritual strength and protection we need. Some members of the Church with testimonies have wavered and fallen away. Their spiritual knowledge and commitment did not measure up to the challenges they faced." - Elder Bednar
In Alma 23 we learn of the Sons of Mosiah did not fight against The Lord anymore. Those things in which we fight God are the essential barriers of conversion.
"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...Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion." - Elder Bednar
What keeps us from being truly converted to the Gospel. Mary showed a replica of an oil lamp as in the parable of the 10 Virgins. It is very small and can't hold a lot of oil.
[Begin quotation]
"I now want to use one of many possible interpretations of the parable of the ten virgins to highlight the relationship between testimony and conversion. Ten virgins, five who were wise and five who were foolish, took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Please think of the lamps used by the virgins as the lamps of testimony. The foolish virgins took their lamps of testimony but took no oil with them. Consider the oil to be the oil of conversion.
“But the wise took oil [of conversion] in their vessels with their lamps [of testimony].
“While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
“Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps [of testimony].
“And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil [even the oil of conversion]; for our lamps [of testimony are weak and] are gone out.
“But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves” (Matthew 25:4–9).
Were the five wise virgins selfish and unwilling to share, or were they indicating correctly that the oil of conversion cannot be borrowed? Can the spiritual strength that results from consistent obedience to the commandments be given to another person? Can the knowledge obtained through diligent study and pondering of the scriptures be conveyed to one who is in need? Can the peace the gospel brings to a faithful Latter-day Saint be transferred to an individual experiencing adversity or great challenge? The clear answer to each of these questions is no." - Elder Bednar
[end quotation]
We must keep our own lamp burning, obtaining oil one drop at a time, consistently and line upon line. When trials come this will save our testimony and help us to stay close to our Savior.
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