“Conversion. Denotes
changing one’s views, in a conscious acceptance of the will of God. If followed
by continued faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism in water for
the remission of sins, and the reception of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of
hands, conversion will become complete, and will change a natural man into a
sanctified, born again, purified person—a new Creature in Christ Jesus.
Complete conversion comes after many trials and much testing. To labor for the
conversion of one’s self an others is a noble task.” -Bible Dictionary
The process
of conversion is a much-labored topic in the literature of the prophets and the
teachings of Christ himself. The process of conversion is a combination of
changes, little and small, which shape a person into a man of God. It is the
process by which we can “put off the natural man and become a saint” Mosiah
3:19. Becoming converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the purpose of this
life. The process of conversion brings many blessings, but requires constant
attention, patience, and determination.
Conversion is akin to
repentance. Repentance is a process of improvement following the commission of
sin. Repentance, when properly done, not only repairs damages, and obtains
forgiveness for the sinner but it changes the sinner into a saint.
Conversion is a life–long process of continual repentance.
The
hallmark of conversion is gaining a testimony of Jesus Christ. Someone who had become converted has gained
a spiritual witness that they are a child of God, that His Church has been
established in the Latter-days, and that the Plan of Salvation is real, and most
important they come to know that Christ's suffering and Atonement will cleanse
them from their sins. Gaining a testimony will lead a person to change their behavior to be more like Christ. A
hope for a better world made possible through Christ becomes their motivation
to act.
“Wherefore, whoso believeth in God
might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand
of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh and anchor to the souls to the souls
of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good
works, being led to glorify God.” –Ether 12:4
As a person feels the Spirit of the
Lord it changes them. It infuses into them a desire to be better, it provides a
vision of the Glories that await the righteous, it provides a peace that is
otherwise unattainable.
“And now, because of
the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his
sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you;
for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore,
ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters” – Mosiah 5:7
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I
give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
-St. John 14:27
As God’s children come to feel His
Spirit and allow themselves to become converted to His truth, a “might change”
is wrought in their hearts. As they act in faith they gain hope, which gives
them the motivation to change their lives. A Witness to Change’s purpose is to
investigate, record, and share individual conversion stories in an effort to
instruct, uplift, inspire, and motivate people concerning conversion to the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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