Conference Analysis I: "When Thou Art Converted"

Now that my General Conference Ensign has arrived, let's discuss some of the individual talks more in-depth. First up, Elder D. Todd Christofferson's Saturday morning talk "When Thou Art Converted".

An excerpt:

Years ago when I served as a stake president, a man came to confess a transgression. His confession surprised me. He had been an active member of the Church for years. I wondered how a person with his experience could have committed the sin that he did. After some pondering, it came to me that this brother had never become truly converted. Despite his Church activity, the gospel had not penetrated his heart. It was only an external influence in his life. When he was in wholesome environments, he kept the commandments, but in a different environment, other influences might control his actions.

How can you become converted? How can you make the gospel of Jesus Christ not just an influence in your life but the controlling influence and, indeed, the very core of what you are? The ancient prophet Jeremiah spoke of the law of God, the gospel, being written in our hearts. He quotes the Lord speaking about us, His people in the latter days: "I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 31:33)

Do you want this for yourself? I can tell you how that can happen, but it must be something you want. The gospel cannot be written in your heart unless your heart is open. Without a heartfelt desire, you can participate in sacrament meetings, classes, and Church activities and do the things I will tell you, but it won't make much difference.

Dr. Robert Millet, Dean of Religious Education at BYU, had a parable of sorts he shared with us in a talk once (I don't remember if it was his creation or he obtained from another source). Imagine you have a world where there's two kinds of people: those that have the ability to hear sounds and those that can't. A mix of both groups of people live together in an apartment. One day after classes, one guy (one of those who can hear) comes home and finds all his roommates have left. Since he's the only one home, he decides to put on some music. He picks out a good CD, starts it playing and relaxes on the couch. Soon, a good song comes on and he starts tapping his foot rhythmically along with the music. After a little while, his head and body join in to the rhythm and soon his whole body is moving along to the beat. About this time, one of his roommates comes home. The roommate (who is one of those who can't hear things) notices the first guy grooving out on the couch and thinks 'Wow, my roommate really seems to be having fun. Maybe I can join in!' Sitting himself down on the couch beside the first guy, the second guy studies his movements closely--"Hmmm, he's moving his feet like this...and his head like this..." Soon the second guy has copied the movements of the first guy exactly, although he thinks to himself, "Boy, this sure is a lot of work...but my roommate seems to be having such a great time...maybe I'll keep doing it a little while longer." At this time, a third roommate comes home. Upon entering, he notices that two of his roommates are sitting on the couch both moving in frenetic patterns. What's the third guy think? That both of his roommates are having exactly the same experience. But they're not, are they? One of them is having a significantly better experience than the other, even though you can't tell by just looking at them. What's the fundamental difference? The movements are the same, but only one of them can hear the music.

Just like in dancing, 'hearing the music' is vital to active Church service. Having a knowledge of a higher purpose and direction for Church activity helps create motivation and enthusiasm, whereas viewing Church as just a bunch of "have to's" or "Thou shalt not's" (We 'have to' go to church every week, We 'have to' hold Family Home Evening, We 'have to' do our home teaching, We 'can't' do this or that on Sundays, we 'can't' watch this, drink that, wear this....) will eventually lead to the thought that 'This is a waste of time...I don't feel like doing this anymore'. Much like the difference in motivation between those that believe doing homework and going to school helps you learn and grow versus those that believe homework is pointless and just a means of making kids suffer.

Sometimes the reason people fall inactive and/or into sinful behavior isn't because they 'don't know it's true' but because they don't fully understand what it is.

Let's suppose one day in testimony meeting we have a guy who stands up and says:
"Brothers and sisters, I want you to know...that I know...that the capital of North Dakota is Bismarck. I know...without a shadow of a doubt...that the first Battle of Manassas took place on July 21, 1861. And I want to testify to you...with every fiber of my being...that a mile equals exactly 5,280 feet."

Underwhelmed? It's not that what this sincere brother shared isn't true...it's that those truths aren't very significant. Lot's of things are 'true', but not every truth is worth changing your life over. Not hearing the music for some members means not that they don’t believe the gospel is true, but that they don’t fully understand what the gospel is—why it’s significant and meaningful for them and why they should spend any effort in following it. Oftentimes, less active members hear other sincere members whose hearts are in the right place tell them over and over in essence: “Brother So-and-So, the capital of North Dakota is Bismarck. I know it!” and then wonder why Brother So-and-So still doesn’t come back to church. It’s not that Brother So-and-So doesn’t believe them, he just doesn’t understand why he should care. (I mean, who goes to North Dakota, anyway?)

Elder Christofferson again: “For the gospel to be written in your heart, you need to know what it is, and grow to understand it more fully.”

Is there a way to help yourself or others ‘hear the music’? Elder Christofferson lists desire, submissiveness to God, study, prayer, service, repentance, and obedience and keys to gaining a personal testimony. What about helping other people? True, conversion is a personal responsibility, but there are some basic things others can do. One is emphasize the “why’s” instead of just the “what’s”: going beyond telling other people “You need to be doing this/You need to stop doing that” and instead talking about what the higher purpose behind it is. Why should we attend church meetings and do our home teaching? Why should we avoid gambling and pornography? In most cases, the answers are simple and easy to understand—just don’t get talked about as frequently.

Elder Christofferson in closing says after gaining a testimony and personal conversion “the gospel won’t be just an influence on your life—it will be what you are. Plead with God in the name of Christ to write the gospel in your mind that you may have understanding and in your heart that you may love to do His will. Pursue this blessing diligently and patiently, and you will receive it…”