I had the opportunity to teach a Sunday School lesson today. I am assigned to work with about 15 young men, between the ages of 12-14. About once a month I get the opportunity to teach the lesson, and today’s lesson was how to recognize when we are being converted.
Now to be clear, conversion is a life-long pursuit. It gets stronger with time and effort, with practice and with study. So the question is, how do we know we are being converted?
I started the lesson with a map. Here I’ll link to a Google map of Boise:
Now, if I was near, say the intersection of Franklin and Eagle, and I wanted to get to Pie Hole Pizza near downtown, there are certain landmarks I could look for to know I am on my way. I could, of course, follow my GPS, but I’d still have to look for signs to know exactly what I am looking for. Knowing it is near BSU helps, and that it is one of the ugliest, most dilapidated building in Boise, and that it is painted like a bunch of pot heads got ahold of some paint and went to town. But they have good, cheap pizza, so…
Knowing where we are going, and what some of the landmarks are on the way helps us know which way to go. The same is true in every aspect of life, including conversion.
In the Book of Mormon, there is a story of a group of people who had started on the path to conversion:
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? Mosiah 18:8-10
So being converted seems to mean that we are willing to be called the people of God, willing to help others with their trials, are compassionate with others, try to comfort those that need comforting (which is everyone at some point), and are willing to be a witness of God. As the saying goes “I can’t hear what you’re saying, because what you’re doing is speaking so loudly.”
Conversion seems to mean, as Christ said, that we “Love God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves.” So how do we know we are being converted?
All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church. Doctrine and Covenants 20:37
It’s clear to me that having a greater desire to do good, to repent of sins, and to learn more of Christ is a good sign that we are on the path of conversion. While some days may be easier than others, and there are days it feels like we are moving backwards, the desire to keep moving forward towards Christ and the promises He gives us will help us on our way to conversion.
Don’t forget to look at the landmarks along the journey- have we repented? Do we continue to repent? Have we been baptized? Do we strive to help our neighbors (that means everyone, not just the ones we like…)? If so, it is my belief that we are on our way towards conversion.
DaveGrigsby.com 