Paul, in his address to King Agrippa, preached Christ and taught the Gospel. In response Agrippa replied coldly, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Agrippa was convinced, but he was not converted. Why? Because of the hardness of his heart. He would not allow his spirit to respond to Paul’s message. …
Joseph Smith also had a message. He revealed to the world the fullness of the everlasting Gospel, never to be taken away, or changed. Yet we find within the Lord’s church those who would appear as Agrippa. If asked to respond to the original writings of the Prophet they too would have to reply, “Almost thou persuadest me to be converted.” It is not enough to be convinced of his divine mission; to know intellectually will not bring about the response of the spirit necessary to receive further light and knowledge. Someone once said that, “Knowledge without use is like a glass eye; all for show.” Knowledge once implemented becomes power. However, the motive of the man must be right, if the man is to exalted. Hell, as they say, ‘is paved with good intentions’. Might we say this also, ‘Hell is filled with inmates who have become sheer intellects. Inmates who know the truth but do not use it?”
Brigham Young commented:
I have always realized that a half-hearted “Mormon” is one of the meanest of human beings, for such are always ready to say, “How do you do, brother Devil?” and “How do you do, brother Jesus?” or, “Brother Jesus, I want to make you acquainted with brother Devil.” It is no trouble for them to turn unto Baal or unto Jesus; yet, at the same time, the Lord has a use for them. I have often heard men say they were convinced that “Mormonism” was true, and that they would cleave to it; but as for their hearts being converted, it is altogether another thing. (Journal of Discourses 6:321)
When man was given his free agency, he was given at the same time power to be master of his mind. He can, however, choose to be servant to it; the choice is his. The mind, though, is a poor master, a lowly creature with carnal desires, very open to persuasion and corruption. Led by his mind the man would be confused, tossed in the wind like a weather vane. To illustrate: There was a cholera epidemic; a scientist found the drinking water to be contaminated and warned the people to boil the water; however, he forgot, drank the water, fell victim and suffered the consequences. It would appear that our leaders have fallen victim also,, depriving many Saints of the choicest blessings of the Lord.
Lucifer for certain is a fallen intellectual, whereas the Saviour is a Glorified, Exalted Intelligence. Both knew the truth, but only one applied it. In doing so the Saviour won a Fullness of Truth, which is available to all men, should they desire it with all of their heart. As Moroni 10:5 informs us:
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
Conviction is mental assent, would not the reader agree? If so, then it would lack the power to impel; the man by his conviction would become a mental giant only. To have a firm foundation would it not take conversion also? This would make a man well balanced; therefore he would be safe, not likely to be swayed from that which he is both convinced of and converted to. If a man knows but does not do, then he is essentially intellectual and cannot be united with himself, yet alone with his God. Man, in his search for knowledge, can cultivate an ungovernable lust for knowledge, yet in the end he must admit that it was not enough. To receive the full understanding and meaning of the Lord’s designs and purposes concerning his children it is imperative that man be obedient to all that the Prophet Joseph Smith revealed. Well, if it agrees with his reasoning, he might! When a man learns to love truth it will lead on to greater truths. These can only be heard with spiritual ears and seen with spiritual eyes. As James 4:10 instructs:
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Man alone cannot yield to truth, it takes divine intervention; it takes the giving of the fruit of life, after the search for it. Why does man try to, ‘go it alone,’ when he cannot succeed? John 15:7 counsels:
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Man, without God, cannot be converted. God without man is handicapped. As a team, man can overcome the doubts and fears that flood his mind. Once converted he reaches upwards and is in a position to receive. He is able to grasp new values. He is born again, and again, and again. As Mosiah Chapter 27 informs us:
26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. 27 I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must be cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast off. 28 Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulations, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of God.
Can we say that a man who is converted will be in a position to comprehend truth without fear or compulsion? He will indeed be ‘free to choose’. Conversion being physical, it will enable him to ‘feel.’ Being mental, it will have him ‘know.’ Being moral, he will walk ’straight.’ Being spiritual, it will have man ‘aspire;’ to reach upward and outward. Man will in turn learn to love his God, he will desire to ‘worship,’ he will become ‘religious.’ It will bring him to a fulness of truth.
What then of the fruits of conversion? The convert will know truth from error, he will have the gift of discernment. He will have assurance. The convert is destined to do great works, as John 14:12 informs us:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Also, John 15:8:
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
He will be called to teach, God being his teacher. He will become sanctified; the choicest fruit of all.
Conversion usually takes a life time of hard labour. Seldom does it come as it did with Nathanael or Alma; but come it must, to every soul that desires the richest blessings. May we strive to understand the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and by doing so begin to know by the Holy Ghost who this man truly was.
It will be in obedience to truth that man will find the God-given power to aspire, and to receive the ‘mysteries of Godliness.’ The Lord is ever mindful of His children, and desires to bless them. He knows that man is weak, unyielding and blind. Yet he reaches out to them with ever extended arms. In this final dispensation He asked that His words be received for the last time, yet man has changed them. It is only by becoming converted to the fullness of the Gospel as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, on top of being convinced that ‘Mormonism’ is true, that we will be able to truly become Saints of these latter days.
