Elder Ballard discusses with us our personal commitment to the gospel. He talks about the need for us to be engaged in sharing the message of the restoration with others and to deepen our personal commitment to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
He speaks about our duty as leaders in the church to assist with activation and conversion of the other members of the church. He tells us that conversion, retention, and activation are the key elements for each member.
He speaks of conversion coming from our participation in meetings and in our abilities to reach out to help others.
He concludes by sharing his testimony of the gospel. He encourages us to have greater faith and to work as a ward council to bring souls unto Christ and help retain them in fellowship afterwards. This is done by helping church members truly become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Conversion to the gospel is the ultimate way we can engage people in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. When someone feels the personal witness of the changes the gospel brings into their lives, they have a desire for others to have those same feelings. Conversion is the key retaining and reactivating members of the church. One thing I like to do with less active members is the help them reflect on the time in their life that they knew the church was true. Bringing those members to the minds and hearts can stir a desire to have those feelings again. If you are not fully converted to living the gospel, please ask yourself what you can do to become a better disciple of the Savior and join me on my journey to learning how to follow the Savior with greater purpose.
- Today we must ask ourselves: Are we ready and willing to go through thick and thin for the cause in which we are engaged? Do we reflect in our countenances the joy of living the gospel of Christ as true disciples should? If we do not understand and willingly teach others of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith, who will? We cannot place the burden of taking the gospel to all people solely on the backs of the full-time missionaries. Families will not be fortified nor will individual testimonies be strengthened, convert baptisms will not be increased, neither will the less active be welcomed back until we as members of the Church arise individually and collectively, with dedication and action, to help build the kingdom of God.
- Our duty lies in assisting others, through the power of the Spirit, to know and understand the doctrines and principles of the gospel. Everyone must come to feel that the doctrines of the Restoration are true and of great value. And everyone who accepts the message must strive to live the gospel by making and keeping sacred covenants and by participating in all of the ordinances of salvation and exaltation. We often think of conversion as applying only to investigators, but there are some members who are not yet fully converted and who have yet to experience the mighty change of heart described in the scriptures.
- Brethren and sisters, true and complete conversion is the key to accelerating the work of the Church.
He speaks about our duty as leaders in the church to assist with activation and conversion of the other members of the church. He tells us that conversion, retention, and activation are the key elements for each member.
- As active members of the Church, and especially as priesthood and auxiliary leaders, we need to do more to assist in the process of conversion, retention, and activation. We know that faithful members desire to serve, but sometimes we lose sight of the essential outcomes that our faith and works ought to produce in strengthening the commitment of our Father’s children to the gospel.
He speaks of conversion coming from our participation in meetings and in our abilities to reach out to help others.
- Imagine the power that would come if every member of the Church would reach out to help all members and investigators enjoy the companionship of the Spirit. Let all of us work harder to see that the presence of the Spirit is in all of our meetings to bring about deeper spiritual conversion.
He concludes by sharing his testimony of the gospel. He encourages us to have greater faith and to work as a ward council to bring souls unto Christ and help retain them in fellowship afterwards. This is done by helping church members truly become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- This is God’s work. He wants us to participate with Him and His Beloved Son in bringing the gospel into the lives of all of His children. The Lord has promised us that our joy will be great if we bring just one soul unto Him. Let us exercise greater faith and work together, members and missionaries, to bring many more souls unto Him. Let every family in the Church include as part of their daily family prayers a plea with the Lord to go before your family members and help them to find someone prepared to receive the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Conversion to the gospel is the ultimate way we can engage people in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. When someone feels the personal witness of the changes the gospel brings into their lives, they have a desire for others to have those same feelings. Conversion is the key retaining and reactivating members of the church. One thing I like to do with less active members is the help them reflect on the time in their life that they knew the church was true. Bringing those members to the minds and hearts can stir a desire to have those feelings again. If you are not fully converted to living the gospel, please ask yourself what you can do to become a better disciple of the Savior and join me on my journey to learning how to follow the Savior with greater purpose.
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