Dear brothers and sisters, it is an honor to be asked to address you today at this devotional. A few years ago, when Sister Call and I brought our family to Rexburg to begin our experience on the faculty at BYU-Idaho, we were not certain of what to expect as we came. I had spent the previous 23 years of my teaching career at various Institutes of Religion in Virginia, Utah, and Idaho teaching and loving the young adults of the Church that attended the various institutes where I was asked to teach.
My first day at the university was the day that the First Presidency announced that Kim B. Clark would serve as the new president of BYU-Idaho. As these past five years have quickly passed by, it has been my privilege to have had thousands of students participate in classes I have been assigned to teach and I have found that these students are so very much like the wonderful young adults that I had taught in the Institute classes. You are wonderful young people with a great and prophesied future, I congratulate you on the position you now have as students at this place. I have watched as the university, under the leadership of President Clark, has instituted several programs designed to increase enrollments and improve teaching at this university. I have been a witness of the hand of the Lord directing the affairs of this great university. It has been a wonderful thing to watch and participate in the great things that have happened here in our tenure. Sister Call and I are grateful to be here and to be a part of Brigham Young University-Idaho.
I have listened carefully over the years to several devotional talks by apostles and prophets, President Clark and others teaching us and admonishing us to improve ourselves and to become the disciples of Christ that our Heavenly Father would want us to be. The counsel given was always accompanied with the feeling of love and concern that helped us all to know that it was for our best good. In all of the pleading and persuasion that was used, I always felt a need to improve my own life as I tried to help others to live up to the high standards expected of BYU-Idaho students, faculty and other employees. To improve and become what I had been asked to become by our leaders, I needed improvement in my testimony and greater conversion to the gospel needed to occur. Though I was not rebellious, my desire was to become completely converted and live up to my commitments to the Lord and to my employer. I knew that if I was completely converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ that all other commitments and promises I have made would be fulfilled because I would have become the disciple that God would have me be.
Conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ is an ongoing process that we have been striving to perfect all of our pre-mortal and mortal lives. We all participated in the war in heaven, defending, testifying, and battling the adversary in the cause of Christ. In that skirmish, with eternal consequences hanging in the balance for each of us, we stood firm as witnesses of the plan of the great Elohim and defended our moral agency with our might. It was a difficult time, but our faith prevailed. President Hinckley talked of that time and our current situation. He stated:
"What a perilous time that must have been. The Almighty Himself was pitted against the son of the morning. We were there while that was going on. That must have been a desperate difficult struggle, with a grand triumphal victory. Concerning those desperate times the Lord spoke to Job out of the whirlwind and said: 'Where wast thou when I laid the foundations for the earth? ...When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?' (Job 38:4,7).
Why were we then happy? I think it was because good had triumphed over evil and the whole human family was on the Lord's side. We turned our backs on the adversary and aligned ourselves with the forces of God, and those forces were victorious. But having made that decision, why should we have to make it again and again after our birth into mortality? I cannot understand why so many have betrayed in life the decision they once made when the great war occurred in heaven."[1]
All of you fought valiantly in those pre-mortal battles because of your "exceeding faith and good works."[2] Many became "noble and great ones"[3] who were "chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God...and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men."[4] Our valiancy in the pre-mortal sphere was a determining factor as to when we would come here to this earth and perform our work in the kingdom to bring about salvation for ourselves and many other of God's children. Based on the degree of our pre-mortal valiancy, God foreordained his righteous spirit children, those who were converted before the foundations of this earth to do, to say and to become what the Lord would have them become. Though foreordained by a loving and omniscient God, we come to this earth as the Lord said to Abraham, that "we might prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them."[5] Conversion in the pre-mortal life was a necessary component for our gaining a mortal body. Only those converted to the Plan of Salvation, to one degree of valiancy or another, were permitted to have the blessing of a mortal body.
Since coming to this earth we are challenged to gain control over the mortal tabernacle through obedience to the spiritual dimension we all come with or the light of Christ. As the spirit gains more and more control over our mortal appetites, passions and addictions, the ability to follow the teachings of Jesus become more fully embedded in our lives. This control comes as we follow the process of conversion established by our Father in Heaven as we came to this earth. Conversion as defined in the Bible Dictionary "denotes changing one's views, in a conscious acceptance of the will of God." The Bible Dictionary continues: "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 the natural man in to a sanctified, born again, purified person - a new creature in Christ Jesus. Complete conversion comes after many trials and much testing."[6]
The true convert to the gospel must go through a process or patterns which appear to have a least three elements of spiritual development. They are 1) conscious acceptance of the Lord's will; 2) be a sanctified, purified person who has been born again; and 3) experience much trial and tribulation.
First, as in all circumstances, the Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect example of doing the Lord's will in all things. As Christ approached the wondrous, but agonizing atonement, his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane included these words, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."[7] In describing the depth of pain that the Savior experienced, Joseph Smith was taught in Doctrine and Covenants 19 about the suffering. We read, "Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit - and would that I might not drink the bitter cup and shrink."[8] In the most critical and important moment in eternity, the Lord Jesus Christ did not turn away from doing the will of the Father. As in every other requirement given him of the Father, Jesus of Nazareth obeyed. His conversion was complete and endless.
Next, the true convert will become sanctified, purified, and born again. The sanctification process requires our willingness to yield our hearts to God.[9] As we do so, we change in our desires from the natural, carnal state to one where we become truly desirous of being pure in all our thoughts and actions. Alma the Younger had a wonderful and great manifestation in his life at a time he was leading many others to follow after false and wicked teachings. Now, most of us will not necessarily be involved in such visions of angels sent from God, however each of us must go through the "born again" experience as we proceed through the conversion process. Alma recites, in part, his experience and some of what he learned. Please turn with me to Mosiah 27:24-26:
"For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit. And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God."
This concept of being born again is taught repeatedly through the scriptures as a necessary change for those seeking to come unto Christ. The Savior taught Nicodemus, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."[10] This change of being born again results, as Alma just wrote, in one becoming a "new creature." Becoming a new creature entails truly giving up all things in our lives which are contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Elder Richard G. Scott has taught us, quoting President Marion G. Romney, that:
"Converted implies not merely mental acceptance of Jesus and his teachings but also a motivating faith in him and his gospel. A faith which works a transformation, and actual change in one's understanding of life's meaning and his allegiance to God in interest, in thought, and in conduct. In one who is really wholly converted, desire for things contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ has actually died. And substituted therefore is a love of God, with a fixed and controlling determination to keep his commandments."[11]
Conversion then is the process of becoming a sanctified, purified, born again disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The third and last element of conversion teaches us that trial, adversity, and testing are part of the process for our needed conversion. It was only after such testing and trial of Peter, that Peter was able to fulfill the Savior's injunction to him at the Last Supper to strengthen his brethren after his own conversion.[12] Elder Dallin H. Oaks has taught that:
"Our needed conversions are often achieved more readily by suffering and adversity than by comfort and tranquility...Father Lehi promised his son Jacob that God would 'consecrate [his] afflictions for [his] gain (2 Nephi 2:2). The Prophet Joseph was promised that 'thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high' (D&C 121:7-8).
"Most of us experience some measure of what the scriptures call 'the furnace of affliction' (Isa. 48:10; 1 Ne. 20:10). Some are submerged in service to a disadvantaged family member. Others suffer the death of a loved one or the loss or the postponement of a righteous goal like marriage or childbearing. Still others struggle with personal impairments or with feelings of rejection, inadequacy, or depression. Through the justice and mercy of a loving Father in Heaven, the refinement and sanctification possible through such experiences can help us achieve what God desires us to become."[13]
Overarching these three elements of conversion is the wonderful power of the Holy Ghost helping, leading, and guiding each of us to do the will of the Father and become in the sanctified and purified form what the Lord would have us be. As Elder Scott has taught, "the Holy Ghost will help identify the personal changes you need to make for full conversion."[14] What a great advocate we all have been given, that when lived for in our lives becomes such a powerful agent in our conversion process. Without the Holy Ghost the mighty change required for full conversion to the gospel plan would not be possible. For each of us, our necessary conversion is a series of deep personal, intimate experiences in which we submit and yield to the spiritual promptings of the Holy Ghost. The result of these efforts leads each of us to that level of conversion where as Alma explains that "they never did fall away."[15]
As we look within our own lives and our spiritual development especially as members of the kingdom of God on the earth, we must ask the question, "What motivates me to do the things that I do to further the kingdom and my own spiritual self?" I suppose there are many factors which cause us to act, for certainly we are "to act and not to be acted upon" as we make our way through this life. In teaching priesthood leaders, President Gordon B. Hinckley linked together what motivates us in our lives and true conversion. He taught those leaders by saying:
"[W]e should be concerned with the spiritual dimension of our people and the enlargement of this dimension...there is a tendency to impose quotas behind which usually lies imposition of pressure to achieve improved statistics. In the work of the Lord there is a more appropriate motivation than pressure. There is the motivation that comes of true conversion. When there throbs in the heart of an individual Latter-day Saint a great and vital testimony of the truth of this work, he [meaning, of course, men and women] will be found doing his duty in the Church. He will be found in his sacrament meetings. He will be found in his priesthood meetings. He will be found paying his honest tithes and offerings. He will be doing his home teaching. He will be found in attendance at the temple as frequently as his circumstances will permit. He will have with him great desire to share the gospel with others. He will be found strengthening and lifting his brethren and sisters. [in others words, he will be committed.] It is conversion that makes the difference."[16]
Consequently, the true convert of Christ has become one who is willing to do the will of the Lord through fulfillment of assignments and showing the Lord he is desirous of doing all things which the Lord shall command. When service in the kingdom and toward our fellowman is something that is sought for and eagerly accomplished and is no longer viewed as a drudgery or a burden of any kind, then we may know that a person has become what the Lord desires him to become and conversion has taken place.
Identifying the True Convert
Although there are many traits that make up the character and mindset of the true convert to the gospel of Jesus Christ, I would like to discuss six traits of conversion that seem important for each of us to develop as we proceed to the conversion process. They are: 1) the true convert desires to share the gospel of Christ with his fellowman; 2) the true convert desires to repent of their sins; 3) the true convert accepts and follows the words of living prophets and the scriptures without question; 4) the true convert sees the "power of God resting upon leaders of the Church and follows them; 5) the true convert has a feeling of healing peace upon him; and 6) the true convert loves all mankind.
First, the true convert desires to share the gospel of Christ with his fellowman. It appears that from the very moment of their conversion, the four sons of Mosiah sought to take the gospel to those who knew not of the truth.
"Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble...And it came to pass that they did plead with their father many days that they might go up to the land of Nephi."[17]
The mighty change which had occurred to them caused a conversion in their desires. It happens to us in the Church today. Elder Oaks has said, "The intensity of our desire to share the gospel is a great indicator of the extent of our personal conversion."[18] Returned missionary after returned missionary will testify of the truthfulness of this principle as they have served with dedication in their assigned fields of labor. Elder Robert D. Hales taught concerning the truly converted that: "Their minds and hearts are centered on the Savior's atoning sacrifice. From the moment of their respective conversions, Enos, Alma the Younger, Paul and others turned wholeheartedly to the task of bringing themselves and their fellowmen to God."[19]
Alma testifies that the desire of his heart was that he were a angel so that he might declare unto every soul repentance and the plan of redemption. Indeed, once one has been converted they desire to help and strengthen those who are without the gospel in their lives.
Second, the true convert desires to repent of his sins. When we begin to understand that we must be clean and pure to come into the presence of God, we start to understand our status as sinful men will not allow us to live with him. When we proceed with our personal conversions, we realize that becoming a new creature means giving up all of our sins to know God and Jesus Christ. King Lamoni's father in the Book of Mormon perhaps represents the best attitude of repentance a true convert must have toward sin. Said he, "[A]nd I will give away all my sins to know thee."[20] Though his conversion may have occurred quickly, this humble man realized that repentance was the only way to true happiness. Elder Richard G. Scott said, "[T]rue conversion is the fruit of faith, repentance, and consistent obedience."[21]
As our personal conversions become more firm our need to repent over seemingly small things becomes more intense. You will remember a tender story told by President James E. Faust:
"As a small boy on the farm...I remember my grandmother...cooking our delicious meals on a hot woodstove. When the wood box next to the stove became empty, Grandmother would silently pick up the box, go out to refill it from the pile of cedar wood outside, and bring the heavily laden box back into the house."
President Faust's voice then filled with emotion as he continued:
"I was so insensitive...I sat there and let my beloved grandmother refill the kitchen wood box. I feel ashamed of myself and have regretted my [sin of] omission for all of my life. I hope someday to ask for her forgiveness."[22]
President Faust's emotional duress even many years after the event deepens our understanding of our need to repent over all thoughts, actions, words or deeds which oppose the will of God. Our conversion process continues over our lives until we have become perfect even as Christ is perfect.
A third identifying characteristic is that the true convert accepts and follows the words of living prophets and the scriptures without question. Undoubtedly, one of the greatest conversion stories in all scripture was the conversion of a group of Lamanites who later took upon themselves the name of Anti-Nephi-Lehis. This group of converts is remarkable in that their family traditions taught of hatred toward the Nephites and thus the gospel teachings. They had been taught by Ammon and his brethren "by the power and word of God, they had been converted unto the Lord."[23] Additionally, the Book of Mormon indicates that by "reading the scriptures unto the king" and then begin to "expound unto him the scriptures,"[24] Aaron and his brethren brought these thousands of Lamanites to the truth from which they "never did fall away."[25]
This conversion was so complete that these true converts of the gospel "laid down the weapons of their rebellion, yea, all their weapons of war."[26] Without question, in their lives they had become new creatures. The power of the word of God was so strong that they had chosen to become what the Lord wanted them to become. Later, the prophet Alma will testify that "the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which is just-yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them."[27]
Often, to really see the effects of true conversion on a society, we only need look at their children to see if they have accepted the truths of their parent's generation. Some of the descendants of the original Anti-Nephi-Lehis are the 2,000 stripling warriors. When their parents were about to break the sacred oath and take up weapons of war, these young men stepped forward and volunteered to go to battle to preserve their freedoms, families, and religious liberties. They had been taught by their mothers specifically to "keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him."[28] The remarkable trait that these young men exhibited was exactness in their obedience to their prophet leader, Helaman: "Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness. Yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them."[29]
The story does not end with this scripture. Because of their obedience, and "according to the goodness of God...there was not one soul of them who did perish."[30] Although each warrior was wounded in some way, and some very seriously, these young men, who believed their parents and were converted, were preserved. Perhaps we in our dispensation can learn a great lesson of conversion and obedience from these young men. Elder M. Russell Ballard taught in General Conference in April 2001: "Today I make you a promise. It's a simple one, but it is true. If you will listen to the living prophet and apostles and heed our counsel, you will not go astray."[31]
A fourth identifying characteristic is that the true convert sees the "power of God resting upon the leaders of the Church" and follows them. A seemingly consistent theme in the Church is that the only thing constant in the Church is change. So it is with our leaders, not only at the local level, but also at the general level. It becomes the responsibility of every member of the Church to receive testimony of the mantle of leadership on our current living prophets. At the death of Joseph Smith, a miraculous thing occurred in Nauvoo, which helped the Church members know that Brigham Young was to succeed Joseph in the presidency of the Church. Our Church history indicates that on Thursday, August 8, 1844 a prayer meeting was held in Nauvoo, Illinois. In the meeting, Sidney Rigdon spoke for one and a half hours concerning his desires to be guardian of the Church. After his speech, Brigham Young spoke for a short period of time and while speaking was miraculously transfigured before the people. He took on the persona of Joseph Smith in voice and appearance. As one present later wrote, "I knew in a moment the spirit and mantle of Joseph was upon him."[32]
The true convert must feel the mantle of our church leaders at all times. President Harold B. Lee spoke of what it means to be converted:
"Now I want to impress this upon you. Someone has said it this way, and I believe it to be absolutely true: 'That person is not truly converted until he sees the power of God resting upon the leaders of this church, and until it goes down into his heart like fire.' Until the members of this church have that conviction that they are being led in the right way, and they have a conviction that these men of God are men who are inspired and have been properly appointed by the hand of God, they are not truly converted."[33]
As we come to believe that our leaders speak for God, our conversion to doing the will of the Father increases as we follow carefully the teachings of the prophets. Our personal and family prayers become times of inspiration, our scripture study provides answers to our most intimate questions, family home evenings no longer are a chore but a joy, we find ways to avoid debt, feelings of entitlement leave our thinking, and we take the Church's position on all moral issues as they come along. These are just a few of the ways we acknowledge our true discipleship. It defines what we have become and our conversion to the true God of heaven and his teachings. President Ezra Taft Benson taught in this vein:
"If we are living the gospel, we will feel in our hearts that the First Presidency of the Church not only have the right, but are also duty bound under heaven to give counsel on any subject which affects the temporal and spiritual welfare of the Latter-day Saints, regardless of whether or not some men may think such counsel may have political implications.
"We must stand firm for that which we know to be right, my brothers and sisters, and uphold these men who have been sustained as our leaders in modern Israel."[34]
The days ahead of us are prophesied to be some of great dilemma, a trial of our faith, where men's hearts will fail them. For those who look to the Brethren for direction and then heed the call, then they like the sons of Helaman may have some wounds and injuries, but because they are true converts will not be a casualty in the war with Satan.
The fifth characteristic that I would like to identify is that the true convert has a feeling of healing peace upon him. Christ's words to the survivors of the great devastations that occurred on the American continent at the Savior's crucifixion were these: "O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?"[35] Repentance leads to conversion, which leads to the healing hands of the Lord upon us. In testifying to his son Helaman about his own conversion, Alma the Younger explains that it was not until he did cry unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy that he did receive a remission of his sins and found that peace to his soul that he had been desperately seeking.[36]
It appears that to His disciples, the Savior's great intensity to share peace with us may be best exemplified at the Last Supper when to his apostles of that meridian dispensation he promised: "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 troubles, neither let it be afraid."[37]
This deep peace is found in the converted. Certainly three Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, had this conversion peace as they faced and experienced the fiery furnace of Babylon; Abinadi as he stands before Noah felt peace and commitment; Paul as he stands before Agrippa was full of the peace that only true conversion can offer; as Joseph Smith begins that awful trek to Carthage, he testified saying, "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am calm as a summer's morning. I have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward all men." What a great peace, borne of conversion, was with these great men. However, I think most of us would perhaps more identify with a "rank and file" member of the Church named Joseph Millett.
After serving a difficult but fulfilling mission to Canada, Brother Millett returned to his home with a strong testimony of the Lord and a peace borne of conversion in his soul. Years later, Brother Millett, now the father of a large family was suffering through very, very difficult times. In his journal he wrote:
"One of my children came in and said the Brother Newton Hall's folks was all out of bread, had none that day.
"I divided our flour in a sack to send up to Brother Hall. Just then Brother Hall came.
"Says I, 'Brother Hall, are you out of flour?'
"'Brother Millett, we have none.'"
"'Well, Brother Hall, there is some in that sack. I have divided and was going to send it to you. Your children told mine that you was out.'"
"Brother Hall began to cry. He said he had tried others, but could not get any. He went to the cedars and prayed to the Lord, and the Lord told him to go to Joseph Millett.
"'Well Brother Hall, you needn't bring this back. If the Lord sent you for it you don't owe me for it.'"
That night Joseph Millett recorded a remarkable sentence in his journal:
"You can't tell me how good it made me feel to know that the Lord knew there was such a person as Joseph Millett."[38]
This is the peace of the Savior that can and must needs be in each of us continually. Not because we are entitled to it as bespeaks our conversion from the pre-mortal life, but from what we have become in the mortality we all experience now.
A sixth and last identifying characteristic of the truly converted is the love that he has and exhibits to all mankind. To the crowd on the Mount of Beatitudes the Savior challenged the masses to "love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you."[39] What a challenge! What great self-restraint and discipline! But conversion requires us "becoming" something much greater than the natural man tendency that resides in each of us. Elder Hales has taught: "The scriptures confirm that the truly converted do more than just forsake the enticements of the world. They love God and their fellowman."[40]
This pure love forsaketh the things of the world. It lifts and edifies not only the convert of Christ but all that come into contact with him. The converted disciple of Christ desires to be obedient with exactness to the commands of God as they come from Him. The Holy Ghost magnifies the feeling of love in the converted to the point of charity. At that point the desires of the convert of Christ become as Christ's and full conversion can be complete.
To me it seems that the truly converted disciple of Christ would show a wonderful attitude of appreciation for all the great things he or she has received from the Lord. Remember the true characteristics of the true convert help us look out of ourselves to God and to our fellowman and not inward to the selfishness of man.
I close with a wonderful story of what I consider to be a true convert of the Lord Jesus Christ. This story was shared by President Gordon B. Hinckley at General Conference:
"I met a naval officer from a distant nation, a brilliant young man who had been brought to the United States for advanced training. Some of his associates in the United States Navy, whose behavior had attracted him, shared with him at his request their religious beliefs. He was not a Christian, but he was interested. They told him of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, who gave his life for all mankind. They told him of the appearance of God, the Eternal Father, and the resurrected Lord to the boy Joseph Smith. They spoke of modern prophets. They taught him the gospel of the Master. The Spirit touched his heart, and he was baptized.
"He was introduced to me just before he was to return to his native land. We spoke of these things, and then I said, 'Your people are not Christians. What will happen when you return home a Christian, and more particularly, a Mormon Christian?'
"His face clouded, and he replied, 'My family will be disappointed. They may cast me out and regard me as dead. As for my future and my career, all opportunity may be foreclosed against me.'
"I asked, 'Are you willing to pay so great a price for the gospel?'
"His eyes, moistened by tears, shone from his handsome brown face as he answered, 'It's true, isn't it?'
"Ashamed at having asked the question, I responded, 'Yes, it's true.' To which he replied, "Then what else matters?'"[41]
As one who is striving to be a fully converted disciple of Jesus Christ, I declare that there is nothing else that matters but to stand boldly and nobly in defense of truth. May each of us be willing to stand as witnesses of Christ and then when we are converted strengthen those around us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Dawning of a Brighter Day", Ensign, May 2004, 81
[2] Alma 13:3
[3] Abraham 2:22-23
[4] Doctrine and Covenants 138:55-56
[5] Abraham 3:25
[6] Bible Dictionary, 650
[7] Luke 22:42
[8] Doctrine and Covenants 19:18
[9] Helaman 3:35
[10] John 3:3
[11] Richard G. Scott, "Full Conversion Brings Happiness", Ensign, May 2002, 24-26, from Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, Guatemala Area Conference 1977, 8-9
[12] Luke 22:32
[13] Dallin H. Oaks, "The Challenge to Become", Ensign, Nov. 2000, 32-34
[14] Richard G. Scott, Conference Report, Apr. 2002, 29
[15] Alma 23:6
[16] Gordon B. Hinckley, Regional Representatives' Seminar, Apr. 6, 1984, emphasis added
[17] Mosiah 28:3,5
[18] Dallin H. Oaks, Conference Report, Oct. 2001, 6
[19] Robert D. Hales, Conference Report, Oct. 2000, 6
[20] Alma 22:18
[21] Richard G. Scott, Conference Report, Apr. 2002, 27
[22] James E. Faust, "The Weightier Matters of the Law: Judgment, Mercy, and Faith", Ensign, Nov. 1997, 53
[23] Alma 53:10-11
[24] Alma 22:12-13
[25] Alma 23:6
[26] Alma 23:13
[27] Alma 31:5
[28] Alma 53:20-21
[29] Alma 57:21
[30] Alma 57:25
[31] M. Russell Ballard, Conference Report, Apr. 2001, 85
[32] Church History in the Fullness of Times, 291
[33] Harold B. Lee, "The Strength of the Priesthood", Ensign, July 1972, 102
[34] Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, Oct. 1950, 148
[35] 3 Nephi 9:13
[36] Alma 36
[37] John 14:27
[38] Quoted in Boyd K. Packer, "A Tribute to the Rank and File of the Church", Ensign, May 1980, 62
[39] Matthew 5:44
[40] Robert D. Hales, Conference Report, Oct 2000, 6
[41] Gordon B. Hinckley, "It's True, Isn't It?" Ensign, July 1993, 2