![]() Oftentimes they too must leave behind friends and even family as well as social contacts and a way of life that is not compatible with the standards of the Church.Īfter baptism, the new member of the Church must learn how to become a fellow citizen with the Saints in the kingdom of God through study, prayer, member example, and nurturing. When new members come out of the world into the kingdom of God, they leave much behind them. They traveled across an ocean and walked across a great nation to come to Zion so that they might have the fellowshipping of the Saints. Many had to leave their families and friends, their nation of birth, and many of their ways of life. I think of what the first members of the Church left behind. Then, over time and through our faithfulness, we overcome trials and tribulations and endure to the end. ![]() In the conversion process, we experience repentance, which brings about humility and a broken heart and contrite spirit, preparing us for baptism, remission of sins, and receiving the Holy Ghost. We come out of the world into the kingdom of God. The conversion of each member of the Church is not unlike that of Alma (see Mosiah 17). This change of heart strengthened his conversion with a desire to forsake his sins. Alma then had to demonstrate great faith in the words of Abinadi as he sought to bring about a mighty change of heart. When Abinadi fearlessly taught the gospel of Jesus Christ to the wicked King Noah and his priests, only Alma recognized the truth. On occasion individuals can have such experiences, but for the most part, conversion happens over a period of time as study, prayer, experience, and faith will help us to grow in our testimony and conversion. The miraculous conversion of Saul is one such example illustrated when he asked two vital questions: “Who art thou, Lord? … What wilt thou have me to do?” ( Acts 9:5–6). There have been some miraculous conversions recorded in the scriptures. ![]() A desire to know the truth is like a seed which grows in the fertile ground of faith, patience, diligence, and long-suffering (see Alma 32:27–41). “Let this desire work in you” ( Alma 32:27). The first seeds of conversion begin with an awareness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and a desire to know the truth concerning His restored Church. What is this process of conversion that each son and daughter of God must experience if they are to help others return back into His presence? “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” ( Luke 22:31–32). The Savior, as a caring friend, said to Peter, who had recently come to follow the Savior, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: ![]()
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