Doctrine of Christ, Testimony and Conversion

Today I read Elder Bednar’s Conference Talk (October 2012) on Testimony and Conversion and Being Converted Unto the Lord.  Then I turned to Preach My Gospel where it suggested several passages we could read with investigators wanting to gain testimony of the truth of the Gospel.  These two went very well together.

Elder Bednar talked about gaining a testimony, the steps necessary in that process and the obligation to endure to the end once that testimony is gained.  He then compared it to conversion, which is a lengthier process.  Conversion (as I understand it) is more of a process of endurance, a line-upon-line process.  As we experience or study a principle, we gain testimony of that principle, and begin to live it.  There is no shortcut to conversion - no last-minute flurry of preparation.  It is our life and what we make of it.  I like this quote that boils this down into two sentences:  “Knowing the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony  Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion.” 

2 Nephi 31 is the Doctrine of Christ.  I wrote in my margin from a class I took at Education Week in 2004, “This chapter is the Doctrine of Christ; everything else are appendages”, David A. Christensen.  So what exactly is the Doctrine of Christ?  To follow his example, i.e. repent, be baptized (a sign of humility and commitment), keep the commandments, receive the Holy Ghost, and do the things we have seen the Savior do.  That would require us to study the Savior’s life to know exactly what He did.  There is one more thing:  witnessing unto the Father that we are willing to take upon us His name.  That is done by baptism and by partaking of the sacrament each week.  This was such a fun chapter to study with Brother Christensen.   Verse 14 says that after we have done these things, then we will be able to “. . . speak with a new tongue . . . the tongue of angels. . .”.  Then he asked this question:  How do angels speak?  The answer is found in the next chapter, 2 Nephi 32:3 “Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ.  Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.”  His answer to “how do angels speak” is:  They are nice!  Why would that be?  Because they speak the words they have studied in the scriptures.  Elder Bednar’s talk is indicative of this statement.  His references to scripture were many and covered varied times and incidences in the scriptures.  I wonder how he did that?  Did he search the scriptures and then plug them into his talk?  Or did he speak the thoughts that were put into his heart by the Spirit and then go back and reference them in the scriptures?  I tend to believe it is the later choice. 

And of course, the final component of the Doctrine of Christ is enduring to the end.  What does this look like?  To endure to the end we must “. . . press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” 2 Nephi 31:20

Conversion is a component of testimony plus pressing forward in faith, line upon line learning the doctrine of the gospel and putting it into practice in our daily lives, repenting when we do things wrong and continuing to press forward.

I’m so grateful for the scriptures and the knowledge I gain from reading them.  Today I will ponder the events of my testimony and conversion.  To me it is such a miracle, yet a real process that continues even today.  I’m grateful for this time in my life that allows me the luxury of more diligent study and pondering in preparation for what I hope will be an opportunity to share my testimony with others by serving a mission.