If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15)
During the Sunday afternoon session of the weekend General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve provided meaningful spiritual insight regarding the relationship of our personal testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ to our true conversion.
According to Elder Bednar, we typically treat the subjects of testimony and conversion independently and separately; however, we gain precious perspective and greater spiritual conviction when we consider these important subjects together. A testimony is spiritual knowledge gained from God and is a gift received through personal revelation. Testimony is a point of change, but it is not a destination. Any honest seeker of truth can gain a testimony that Jesus is the Christ, because this knowledge is available to all of God's children. To obtain a testimony, one must ask with a sincere heart and to seek with faith in Jesus Christ. Gaining a testimony, however, brings increased personal accountability.
True conversion, on the other hand, brings about a real change in a person's life. Heavenly Father desires that all who obtain a testimony of Jesus Christ as the Son of God become converted to Him and His gospel. When we are converted, we become new creatures. Conversion is an offering of self, love, and loyalty. Conversion requires all of our heart and might. For most of us, conversion is an ongoing process. Conversion unto the Lord requires persistence and patience.
When the Savior was with His disciples at the last supper, He told Peter,
. . . Simon, Simon, behold, 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. (Luke 22:31-32)
As full time missionaries, we testify that every one who professes to be a disciple of Christ must act upon his testimony by living the truth that he knows. To be converted, we must desire to become more like the Savior by forsaking our sins and following His teachings and example. A true Christian seeks to live out the days of his mortal life by humbly seeking to emulate the Lord by keeping the commandments and serving his fellowman with simple acts of love and kindness.
When the Savior was with His disciples at the last supper, He told Peter,
. . . Simon, Simon, behold, 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. (Luke 22:31-32)
As full time missionaries, we testify that every one who professes to be a disciple of Christ must act upon his testimony by living the truth that he knows. To be converted, we must desire to become more like the Savior by forsaking our sins and following His teachings and example. A true Christian seeks to live out the days of his mortal life by humbly seeking to emulate the Lord by keeping the commandments and serving his fellowman with simple acts of love and kindness.
The essence of a testimony is to know that the gospel is true, while the essence of one's conversion is for us to remain true to the gospel.
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