From a talk by Brother Larson at the Korean branch
A testimony is an event of feeling, by the power of the Holy Ghost. It is powerful but not life changing. to gain a testimony one needs to be an earnest seeker of truth, asking, seeking, and knocking with a sincere heart, really intent, and faith in the Savior. It is not in all, but merely a launching point. I have met many strong members, return missionaries who fall under the pressures of life and fall away. Ward missionaries, full-time jobs working with the practice. How and why does this happen?
Testimony alone is not a change of heart. Consider Peter in Matthew 16:15-17
He said unto them, "but who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered and said, "you are the Christ, the son of the living God."
Jesus answered and said unto him, "Blessed are you, Simon bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my father who is in heaven."
Luke 22:32, just hours before the garden.
"But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not and when thou art converted, strengthen my brother." Notice that he did not say "now that thou art converted"; he said "when thou art converted".
So what is conversion? Elder Bednar says:
The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature a possible through the Savior's atonement. True conversion brings a change in one's beliefs, heart, and life to accept and conform to the will of God and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ.
Conversion as an enlarging, a deepening, and a broadening of the undergirding base of testimony. It is the result of revelation from God, accompanied by individual repentance, obedience, and diligence. Any honest seeker of truth can become converted by experiencing the mighty change of heart and be spiritually born of God.
Conversion is an ongoing process. It is a long, quiet and seamless process without any clear and. This makes it difficult to measure, until we are put under what the Scriptures describe as "life's furnace".
Elder Oaks stated that conversion is accomplished through suffering and afflictions rather than through comfort and tranquility.
It is in these times of testing that are conversion takes place. when you are suffering don't ask, "why me?" But ask "what can I learn from this?"
Much of the suffering that we go through is a big part of conversion. Line upon line-brick upon brick. Until we are strong enough to weather life's challenges.
In Alma 23:6-8, starting with the end of verse 6:
"... As many of the Lamanites has believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord never did fall away.
For they became a righteous people; they did lay down their weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God anymore, neither against any of their brother and.
Now, these are they who were converted unto the Lord..."
Note: they were not converted to missionaries, or personalities, or to some of the wonderful programs of the church. They were not converted to a heritage or tradition, but they were converted unto the Lord.
Brother Larson talked about his son he was a little bit less than fully developed when he went on a mission. He prayed and prayed that he will succeed, and come back a more capable man. He did not return a fully capable man, but he returned with an immense testimony of Jesus Christ as if he had seen the Savior himself.
Elder Oaks stated that the world will ask, "What have you learned?" God will ask, "What have you become?"
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