When Thou Art Converted

"It is when we are fully converted, that we are able to help others. It is when we are fully converted, that our confidence will wax strong in the presence of the Father. It is when we are fully converted, that we will be allowed in to the wedding feast when the bridegroom comes. And He will come."

By Elder Brent H. Nielson

Second Counselor, Pacific Area Presidency

June 2011 Message

Prior to the Savior's crucifixion he had a conversation with his senior apostle Peter. What the Savior said shocked Peter. Peter knew who the Savior was. In Matthew 16:13-16 Peter had strongly stated:

"Though art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Peter had a testimony. He had been at Jesus Christ's side since he left his net straightway and followed. What was it that the Savior said that caused such great concern to Peter? In Luke 22:31-32. We read:

"Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."

Peter is concerned that Jesus does not believe Peter is yet converted and Peter replies in verse 33:

"Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death."

The Savior then tells him in verse 34:

"Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me."

Peter learns a sobering lesson. He learns that there is difference between testimony and conversion, and he learns that conversion is a process that requires us to pay a price.

As the Savior visits the American Continent in 3 Nephi 9:13, He teaches similar doctrine to the righteous people who have been spared from the destruction that has just taken place. As He appears to them, He states:

"O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?"

Weren't these the righteous people? These are the ones who believed that the Savior would come. It is clear from the Savior's words to them that they still need to repent and be converted.

In Matthew 25, the Savior teaches us the parable of the ten virgins. As we read that parable, if we understand that the Savior is the bridegroom, the wedding feast is his second coming, the ten virgins, are members of the Church, the lamps are testimony and the oil is conversion; we can learn a very important lesson.

As the bridegroom approaches, the ten virgins wait to meet him. Five of them have been converted and have oil in their lamps. Five of them have a testimony. They have a lamp, but they have not paid the price for oil. When the bridegroom comes the five without oil are desperately searching for oil and try to get oil from the five who have it. They are refused and go out and try to purchase oil, but they are shut out from the wedding feast. Because conversion is an individual process for each of us, I would submit that the five virgins with oil could not give to the five without, because the five without had to pay the price for themselves. We cannot give conversion to another.

So, my question is what does conversion look like?

In Matthew 19 a young man approaches the Savior and asks him a probing question in verse 16:

"Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"

The Savior teaches him that he should keep all of the ten commandments. The young man replies in verse 20:

"All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?"

The Savior responds in verse 21:

"If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

In verse 22, we learn that the young man "went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."

The Savior's Apostles watched this exchange. They were concerned about the doctrine the Savior had taught and in verse 25 they ask an important question: "Who then can be saved?"

The Savior answers the question when He says in verse 29 of Matthew 19:

"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life."

It appears that the Lord is teaching us that after we receive a testimony, and strive to be converted, it requires that we submit our will to him. It requires that we are willing to forsake everything if called upon.

Another scripture that defines what conversion looks like, is Doctrine and Covenants 97:8 where it states:

"Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me."

The Savior is teaching us the same thing he taught his Apostles. We need to be willing to observe all the covenants that we have made and be willing to accept every sacrifice which the Lord shall command of us.

As the Savior was in the Garden of Gethsemane we witness a very sacred experience as he kneels and speaks to his father. Perhaps the most tender words ever spoken in all of scripture are found in Luke 22 verse 42 when the Savior says:

"Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me"

What is the Savior saying? He is asking if there is any other way. He is searching, at the time he is about to surrender all, to see if there are any other options. The most poignant words ever spoken in the scriptures, follow when the Savior says:

"Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."

Abinadi shares with us in Mosiah 15:7 what happens at the very moment the Savior submits His will. In verse 7 Abinadi teaches us:

"Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father."

When the Savior teaches us that we should be willing to do the things we have seen him do he is not asking us to perform the Atonement or to be crucified, he is asking us to submit our will. He is asking us to allow our will to be swallowed up in the will of the Father.

Is that what conversion looks like? Once we have obtained a testimony and once we understand that Jesus is the Christ, that His gospel has been restored in its fullness on the earth today, that there is a living prophet on the earth, and that all of the keys for all of the ordinances are available to us, then we begin the process of conversion. Then we make every effort to follow the Savior's pattern in allowing our will to be swallowed up in the will of the Father. It is when we are fully converted, that we are able to help others. It is when we are fully converted, that our confidence will wax strong in the presence of the Father. It is when we are fully converted, that we will be allowed in to the wedding feast when the bridegroom comes. And He will come.

It is my hope and prayer that each of us will take the testimonies that we have of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and become converted. On our road to discipleship may we allow our will to be swallowed up in the will of the Father as we become converted.