Moroni 10:3

Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

The first steps to conversion are to recognize, remember, and ponder. Conversion starts in the head with a conscious decision to consider the possibility that God is real and that he has been at work among mankind for our entire history. When I ponder that thought, it makes God alive and relevant to me. When I recognize how he has blessed others, I begin to see those same blessings in my own life, and I know the Lord has been at work in me all along. Remember and ponder -- we cannot come to God without these two essential habits.

Moroni 7:44

If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

Our conversion is not complete without charity. Faith and hope are of no value if they are not guided by charity. The natural outcome of faith and hope is charity, but charitable behavior works against our mortal nature. The natural man says he never has enough, and whatever he gives away diminishes him. Charity, however, operates on the economy of abundance. One who has charity believes he has enough and to spare, because he has faith that God is the source of all things, and he has the hope (expectation) that God will always provide from his infinite source of abundance. Thus, charity is the ultimate victory over the natural man and is the infallible consummation of our conversion.

3 Nephi 17:25

And the multitude did see and hear and bear record; and they know that their record is true for they all of them did see and hear, every man for himself; and they were in number about two thousand and five hundred souls; and they did consist of men, women, and children.

Thus must our testimonies be, each for himself. Just as Christ knows us individually and not as a collective, so we must come to know him individually. We meet together in congregations and classes and quorums to teach each other, strengthen each other, and serve each other, but at the last day the judgment will not be about our group participation, but about our individual conversion. We can share faith, but in the final analysis we must each have our own faith. I cannot be punished for another's sins, but I also cannot come unto Christ through another's repentance and humility.

3 Nephi 9:17

And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.

Like so much else in the gospel of Christ, becoming a son or daughter of God is a gift -- one for which we must qualify, but a gift nonetheless. When we come unto Christ through faith and ordinances, he begins the redemption process in us. As we repent, our redemption becomes more complete. We learn to sing the song of redeeming love. Our nature changes from carnal to spiritual. When we are truly converted, we are begotten unto God, born again in Christ, and thus he makes us a son or daughter. We are still not perfected, but we are on the path, through the gate, and in the fold. We recognize our Shepherd's voice, and we accept our relationship to him. We are past the servant stage and are on our way to being his friend.

3 Nephi 1:22

And it came to pass that from this time forth there began to be lyings sent forth among the people, by Satan, to harden their hearts, to the intent that they might not believe in those signs and wonders which they had seen; but notwithstanding these lyings and deceivings the more part of the people did believe, and were converted unto the Lord.

The sign of a night without darkness at the Savior's birth was dramatic enough to get people's attention so they would listen to the message of the gospel and the Messiah. Many were converted, or at least they joined the church. But conversion cannot be dependent on a sign. Just a few years later, this skin-deep conversion would slip away for many, and the people for the most part would return to apostasy. There are many ways to plant the seed of faith in people's hearts, but the seed must be nurtured and carefully cultivated, or it will not bear fruit.

Helaman 11:15

Yea, O Lord, and thou seest that they have repented, because of the famine and the pestilence and destruction which has come unto them.

Repentance is not the same as conversion. Repentance is a prerequisite and a first step toward conversion, but conversion requires more. The people repented because they wanted the famine to end. They had enough faith to believe that God would stop the famine if they would stop their iniquities. They changed their actions, but they did not truly change their hearts. As we read on, we quickly see that it would not be long before they return to their old ways. As soon as the Lord lets up on them, they lose their humility and return to their former sins. When we change just to stop bad things from happening, we leave ourselves in a precarious position. We must go forward from our good start and deepen our conversion. True, lasting change must be more than skin deep. It is a gift, for which we need to work and pray. God will change our hearts if we sincerely desire it.

Alma 32:37

And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

We do not manufacture our conversion, but we must cultivate it. If we are careless in how we treat the gifts we have received and treat lightly the tender feelings the Spirit has planted in us -- in other words if we take this marvelous interaction with the Holy Ghost for granted -- it can be withdrawn. Or rather, we draw ourselves away from the source of our new joy. Choices and decisions are at the heart of conversion. It is not something that just happens to us. It is something we choose, seek, invite, and nourish.

Alma 31:5

And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was 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—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.

Disasters and destruction can sometimes awaken a people to their plight when they are too stubborn to listen to preaching, but disasters do not convert any more than miracles convert. These events may get our attention, but only the Holy Ghost converts, and then only if we are willing.

Alma 28:14

And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life.

How do we combat inequality in the world? It is not through social programs or legislation. It is the preaching of the gospel and the converting of souls unto Christ. Repentance and covenants lead to righteousness, which qualifies us for the Holy Ghost, who bestows the gift of charity. Charity is the antidote for selfishness, which is the root of inequality. Jesus is the solution.

Alma 23:6

And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away.

These people were not converted to the missionaries, or some point of doctrine, or some program of the church. They were converted first and foremost to God. That is why they never fell away. They were truly converted.

Alma 19:33

And it came to pass that when Ammon arose he also administered unto them, and also did all the servants of Lamoni; and they did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing—that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil.

This changing of the hearts and no more desire to do evil are signs of genuine conversion. They do not mean, however, that these people will never sin again. Nor do they mean that their conversion is complete. They still have a long ways to go. Repentance for them will be a lifelong pursuit, as it should be for all of us. They will be tempted by their carnal natures as are we all every day. The difference--what the Holy Ghost has done for them--is to remove the desire to sin. They don't want their sins any longer. They want something better. Though I make mistakes all the time and lose the battle with temptation daily, I do not want to sin. I want my life to be better. I fall short, but not for lack of desire. Truly the Spirit is willing but my

flesh is weak.

Alma 17:2

Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.

Keys to the complete and steadfast conversion of the sons of Mosiah were diligently searching the scriptures, fasting and praying for knowledge. It came not from seeing an angel but from doing the work. We gain testimonies the same way. And since God is no respecter of persons, he will bless our diligent efforts just as he blessed theirs.

Alma 5:7

Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them.

This verse reminds us that the people of wicked King Noah, who were converted by young Alma's father, were pretty wicked themselves. The lesson to be gained here is that they didn't change themselves. The scripture says the Lord changed their hearts, awakened them, illuminated their souls. All they had to do was repent and let him in. He will do the same for us if we let him.

Mosiah 23:9

But remember the iniquity of king Noah and his priests; and I myself was caught in a snare, and did many things which were abominable in the sight of the Lord, which caused me sore repentance;

We think of Alma's conversion as instantaneous, and that is the case--for his conversion. But not for his repentance. He had to struggle through the repentance process like everyone else. God can forgive sins instantly, but we are perhaps not so quick to forgive ourselves. Though Alma got himself turned around and facing in the right direction, he still had to walk the path, learn to heed the Spirit, and demonstrate his desire to come unto Christ and be saved. He still had wrongs to right and restitution to make. Even a miraculous conversion does not exempt us from the mortal process of healing and growing and becoming.

Mosiah 5:2

And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

One form of a testimony is a mighty (powerful) change of heart that makes evil unattractive and creates in us a desire to do only good. The natural man, the enemy to God, loses his grip on us, and the Spirit of God gets a firmer hold upon our hearts and our desires. Remember that king Benjamin's people were already believers. So this mighty change can happen to us throughout our lives in the Church. It can happen many times and any time that we try to get closer to the Lord.

Mosiah 4:9-10

Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.

If we want to be converted, we must choose to believe, and then we must align our lives with our beliefs. If we are waiting for God to force us to believe or to provide incontrovertible proof on which to base our faith, we will wait in vain. He wants us to choose him, and when we do so, then come the blessings.

Jacob 7:14

And I said unto him: What am I that I should tempt God to show unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be true? Yet thou wilt deny it, because thou art of the devil. Nevertheless, not my will be done; but if God shall smite thee, let that be a sign unto thee that he has power, both in heaven and in earth; and also, that Christ shall come. And thy will, O Lord, be done, and not mine.

Signs only confirm what we already believe. They do not convince or convert. We can always explain away a sign. Conversion comes through the heart and mind, not through the eye and ear.