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| Source Testimony is the beginning of and a prerequisite to continuing conversion.... 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.... 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. |
My message focuses upon the relationship between receiving a
testimony that Jesus is the Christ and becoming converted to Him and His
gospel. Typically, we treat the topics of testimony and conversion separately and
independently. However, we gain precious perspective and greater spiritual
conviction as we consider these two important subjects together.
I pray the Holy Ghost will instruct and edify each of us.
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.
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 fulness of the
gospel has been restored to the earth in these latter days.
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.
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.
Book of Mormon Examples of Conversion
The Book of Mormon is filled with inspiring accounts of
conversion. Amaleki, a descendant of Jacob, declared: “I would that ye should
come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation,
and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls
as an offering unto him” (Omni 1:26).
Knowing by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the
Christ is important and necessary. But earnestly coming unto Him and giving our
whole souls as an offering requires much more than merely knowing. Conversion
requires all of our heart, all of our might, and all of our mind and strength
(see D&C 4:2).
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.
Converted Lamanites in the book of Helaman are described as
being “in the path of their duty, and they do walk circumspectly before God,
and they do observe to keep his commandments and his statutes and his
judgments. …
“… And they are striving with unwearied diligence that they
may bring the remainder of their brethren to the knowledge of the truth”
(Helaman 15:5–6).
As these examples highlight, 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.
Becoming Converted
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.
Samuel the Lamanite identified five basic elements in
becoming converted unto the Lord: (1) believing in the teachings and prophecies
of the holy prophets as they are recorded in the scriptures, (2) exercising
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, (3) repenting, (4) experiencing a mighty change
of heart, and (5) becoming “firm and steadfast in the faith” (see Helaman
15:7–8). This is the pattern that leads to conversion.
Testimony and Conversion
Testimony is the beginning of and a prerequisite to
continuing conversion. Testimony is a point of departure; it is not an ultimate
destination. Strong testimony is the foundation upon which conversion is
established.
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.
An important lesson about the connection between testimony
and conversion is evident in the missionary labors of the sons of Mosiah.
“As many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth,
through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of
revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them—yea,
… as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching,
and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away.
“For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the
weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more. …
“Now, these are they who were converted unto the Lord” (Alma
23:6–8).
Two major elements are described in these verses: (1) the
knowledge of the truth, which may be interpreted as a testimony, and (2)
converted unto the Lord, which I understand to be conversion to the Savior and
His gospel. Thus, the powerful combination of both testimony and conversion
unto the Lord produced firmness and steadfastness and provided spiritual
protection.
They never did fall away and surrendered “the weapons of
their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more.” To set aside
cherished “weapons of rebellion” such as selfishness, pride, and disobedience
requires more than merely believing and knowing. Conviction, humility,
repentance, and submissiveness precede the abandonment of our weapons of
rebellion. Do you and I still possess weapons of rebellion that keep us from
becoming converted unto the Lord? If so, then we need to repent now.
Note that the Lamanites were not converted to the
missionaries who taught them or to the excellent programs of the Church. They
were not converted to the personalities of their leaders or to preserving a
cultural heritage or the traditions of their fathers. They were converted unto
the Lord—to Him as the Savior and to His divinity and doctrine—and they never
did fall away.
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.
Testimony, Conversion, and the Parable of the Ten Virgins
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.
As the wise virgins emphasized properly, each of us must
“buy for ourselves.” These inspired women were not describing a business
transaction; rather, they were emphasizing our individual responsibility to
keep our lamp of testimony burning and to obtain an ample supply of the oil of
conversion. This precious oil is acquired one drop at a time—“line upon line
[and] precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30), patiently and persistently. No
shortcut is available; no last-minute flurry of preparation is possible.
“Wherefore, be faithful, praying always, having your lamps
trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of
the Bridegroom” (D&C 33:17).
Testimony
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. Of these truths I testify in the
sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.
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