This is the talk I gave today:
There were so many great talks given that I decided to share my thoughts on a few of the talks that were given. Growing up, I knew that I had a Father in Heaven. I knew that He knew who I was and he knew the desires of my heart. I also knew that Jesus is the Christ and that this is His church. As I grew my experiences with church, prayer and scripture study continued to strengthen my testimony. However, as life has progressed there have been many distractions, trials, and temptations that have challenged that testimony. Satan’s purpose is to halt our progression by any means.
We all have a testimony that the gospel is true, but now we need to recognize where we are on that continuum between having a testimony and becoming converted. It is comforting to know that this is a process for everyone. Elder Bednar cited the example in the scriptures "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.Part of the conversion process is learning to be guided by the Holy Ghost in all aspects of our lives.”
As Peter left his nets and followed the Savior while he was on the earth. We also have all felt of the Spirit prompting us to follow the Savior’s invitation to “Come Follow Me”. We have each entered the waters of baptism because of the testimony we have received and our desire to “Come unto Christ”. Our choice to be baptized echoes a previous time in our Eternal lives when we also chose to follow Christ. Before we came to this earth we rejected Satan’s plan and chose of our own free will to follow Jesus Christ and come to this earth to gain a mortal body. Your mortal body is evidence of your choice. As we entered this world, with a veil upon our minds, our test is to see if we will of our own free will continue to follow our Savior.
Elder Quentin L Cook stated in his talk: “The Prophet Joseph pointed out that before your baptism, you could be on neutral ground between good and evil. But “when you joined this Church you enlisted to serve God. When you did that you left the neutral ground, and you never can [go] back.”
Elder Bednar said, “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).
Elder Bednar also stated: "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."
I have noticed over the last couple of years that many of the talks in General Conference have been on the specific topic of learning to guided by the Holy Ghost. Elder Bednar stated: "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."
Why then, does it seem so hard at times to let go and let him guide us. We only receive that guidance when we show him we are willing to do his will. Our testimony of Christ should motivate us to give up our “weapons of rebellion” and fully follow him. Elder Bednar cited the example of the conversion of the Lamanites that were taught by the sons of Mosiah.
“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.”Elder Bednar also noted, “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.”
Becoming converted is giving ourselves to our Father who knows us better than we know ourselves and has a greater plan for us than we could imagine or orchestrate ourselves. Elder Uchtdorf stated in his talk : “Our Heavenly Father sees our real potential. He knows things about us that we do not know ourselves. He prompts us during our lifetime to fulfill the measure of our creation, to live a good life, and to return to His presence.”
Our conversion takes place line upon line, one little drop of oil at a time in our lamps like the parable of the ten virgins. "For many of us, conversion is an ongoing process and not a one-time 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." I am so thankful that we have a prophet and twelve apostles here on the earth today to give us specific counsel for our lives today. They see the things that we need today to strengthen us spiritually to be able to withstand Satan’s attacks. And just as Christ taught using parables, I know that the more we study and ponder over the talks that were given in General Conference we will continue to find a greater depth of understanding that are direct answers to our prayers and the desires of our hearts. And will continue to add those small drops of the oil of conversion into our lamps so that we will be prepared when it is time to meet our Savior. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
