One day while the Master and his disciples were on their way to Caesarea Philippi, they stopped for a rest. And the Master asked them, "Whom do men say that I the son of man am? And they said, some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets."

And then Jesus asked the disciples to bear their testimonies: "But whom say ye that I am?"

I suppose they all bore testimony, but we have only Peter�s recorded. "Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God."

Then the Master replied, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 16:13-17.)

Peter had received a revelation. He knew that Jesus was the Christ, the Savior of the world, the divine son of God. Now, it could only have been a year or so after this incident when the Master turned to Peter with a rebuke. We do not know what it was that caused him to rebuke Simon Peter, but he said:

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." (Luke 22:31-32.)

We might well ask ourselves, "What does it mean to become converted?" Is there a difference between knowing that the Chruch is true, knowing that God lives and that Jesus is our Saviour?

One is converted when he sees with his eyes what he ought to see; when he hears with his ears what he ought to hear; and when he understands with his heart what he ought to understand. And what he ought to see, hear, and understand is truth�eternal truth�and then practice it. That is conversion.

A few years ago a prominent university professor who joined the Church was challenged to explain why he joined the church, his response was "I�ll tell you why I joined this church. I came to a time in my life when my heart told me things that my mind did not know. Then it was that I knew the Spirit of the Lord was teaching me, and I knew the gospel was true." When we understand more than we know with our minds, when we understand with our hearts, then we know that the Spirit of the Lord is working upon us."

In the lives of many of our great Church leaders of this dispensation we�ve seen this process of conversion interpreted into a powerful desire to strengthen the lives of the brethren. One example that has always impressed me is the story of John Taylor.

The gospel was first introduced to Brother Taylor and his family in Toronto, Canada, by Elder Parley P. Pratt in April of 1836. At that time John Taylor was engaged as a minister and investigated very carefully the teachings of Elder Pratt. He wrote down eight sermons which Elder Pratt preached and compared them to the Bible to see if he could find anything that was contrary to the scriptures. He made his investigation of the Church a regular business for three weeks and then was satisfied and was baptized.

About a year later John Taylor visited Kirtland, Ohio. The gloom of apostasy was hanging over the city and, sadly, this dissension had affected Parley P. Pratt as he returned from his mission to Canada. Elder Pratt tried to show Brother Taylor why he thought the Prophet Joseph was in error. To this John Taylor steadfastly replied:

"I am surprised to hear you speak so Brother Parley. Before you left Canada you bore a strong testimony to Joseph Smith being a Prophet of God, and to the truth of the work he has inaugurated: and you said you knew those things by revelation, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. You gave me a strict charge to the effect that though you or an angel from Heaven was to declare anything else, I was not to believe it.

Now, Brother Parley, it is not man I am following but the Lord. The principles you taught me led me to Him; and I now have the same testimony that you then rejoiced in. If the work was true six months ago, it is true today; if Joseph was then a prophet, he is now a prophet." (B. H. Roberts, Life of John Taylor, Bookcraft, 1963, pp. 39-40.)

"When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." (Luke 22:32.)

In the words of Alma,

"And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

"Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?

"Behold, are ye stripped of pride? ...

"Is there one among you who is not stripped of envy? ...

"Is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions?

Wo unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be saved!" (Alma 5:26-31.)

Conversion does away with all such conduct and thus is the foundation of the society of God. Conversion not only indicates an awareness and acceptance of these growth principles, but also encompasses the principle of endurance. Faith unto repentance, and precise persisting in righteousness, is the saving power of the gospel. Conversion implies a change�a change from the natural man who is selfish, conceited, impatient, intemperate, disobedient, and rebellious to "a saint � , a child [who is] submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Mosiah 3:19.)

But you might ask, "How can I start to make this change if I perceive that conversion has not fully taken place within me? Where do I start?" You start with attitude.

The apostle Paul demonstrated precisely the correct attitude of the true convert�and the conversion process is, to a great extent, first begins with the proper attitude. It is a fact that any man can change his life by changing his attitude any time he wants to do it. This is in accordance with the statement that "as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Prov. 23:7.) When Paul, on the way to Damascus, saw the light and heard the voice of the Lord, his question was, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6.) Until we come to the place where we need only to know the will of the Lord in order to start to do it, we are not really converted.

While the Lord gives the command when thou are converted strengthen thy brethren I would suggest that if you expore the elements that follow the conversion strengthening our brethren is an effect caused by true conversion. So in essence we can messure our true conversion by what we do daily to strengthen our brethren.

Again we return to the story of Peter...

" So said the Lord to Peter as he prepared himself and his apostles for his great sacrifice. This statement might have startled Peter. Certainly it pricked him, for he said, "Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death." Then the Lord told Peter that "the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." (Luke 22:32-34.)

Peter was then privileged to witness the greatest of all manifestations given by the Savior to mankind, for he witnessed the sorrow of the crucifixion and then was privileged to see the resurrected Lord. But even after witnessing the resurrection, it seemed as if Peter had still failed to catch the real significance of his conversion. After the glorious experience of seeing the resurrected Savior, when the disciples were again alone as the Savior had ascended from them, Peter�s first thoughts were to return again to the things of the world.

In the New Testament many lessons Peter, the senior Apostle, learned are shared with us because these are lessons we must also learn in our conversion process.

After the Crucifixion, Peter went fishing with the disciples. He was now the senior Apostle, but he did not realize what was expected of him. He had forgotten that he was to be a fisher of men. From the boat one of the fishermen recognized the resurrected Lord on the shore. Peter bounded ashore to greet the Savior and was met with a direct question that plumbed the depths of his conversion. Peter was still learning, as we must continue to learn. "Lovest thou me?" asked the Savior three times (John 21:15-17). "Lovest thou me?" Peter was hurt and taken aback. "Thou knowest that I love thee," he replied (John 21:17). Then counseled the Savior, "Feed my lambs. � Feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17).

And he said to those with him, "I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

"But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was [the Savior.]

"Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

"And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes." (John 21:3-6.)

Here the Savior teaches Peter a great lesson. The things of God are above those of man. The Lord has power to supply the fishes, the things of the world, but they are secondary to his work.

Then finally the great lesson of the Savior�s mission is taught to Peter as they dine together:

"Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs." (John 21:15.)

Then the question a second and third time. And finally, Peter, being grieved, replied to the Lord, "Thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." (John 21:17.)

Peter had been in the whole service of the Lord for three years. He had seen but did not seem to realize what the Lord meant by "when thou art converted."

Finally Peter understood: "when thou art converted"�a condition carries with it a responsibility to do something with that conversion, to feed the sheep of the Savior. The real value of conversion comes as a result of that commitment, the actions that follow.

Just as the message was of old to the apostles it is of us today. The action that the Lord expects from those that are converted are to feed his lambs, feed his sheep.

Ammon, the Nephite missionary, provided an example for us. He had chosen to serve the Lamanite king and was sent to watch the flocks of Lamoni. When a band of renegades attacked and scattered the sheep, Ammon�s fellow servants had fear and began to weep. What did Ammon say? "Be of good cheer and let us go in search of the flocks, and we will gather them together and bring them back unto the place of water" (Alma 17:31).

Now, we may read this as a story about some shepherds trying to round up some missing sheep, but the message is much more powerful and significant than that. Ammon was a missionary with noble intentions to bring the king and his kingdom back to the fold of righteousness, to the well of living water. The challenge looked daunting to those who could see only, in everyday terms, sheep strung out on hillsides and not enough manpower to round them up. They were discouraged and fearful that the king would discover their loss.

Ammon not only led the force to recapture the sheep, he drove away the evil men who caused the problems; and his heroic efforts persuaded the king to follow him and to follow the Savior.

Ammon teaches us that no matter our circumstances, we can be an example to others, we can lift them, we can inspire them to seek righteousness, and we can bear testimony to all of the power of Jesus Christ.

To become one in the family of Saints requires established members of the Church to warmly welcome new members with open arms. In like manner, it also requires a sincere effort on the part of new members to come to church and participate with the other members of the Church. Being one transcends gender, age, marital status, and economic standing.

Conversion requires consecrating our lives to caring for and serving others who need our help and to sharing our gifts and talents. The Lord didn�t say tend my sheep when it is convenient, watch my sheep when you aren�t busy. He said feed my sheep and my lambs; help them survive this world, keep them close to you. Lead them to safety�the safety of righteous choices that will prepare them for eternal life.

What is this process of conversion that each son and daughter of God must experience if they are to help others return back into His presence?

The first seeds of conversion begin with an awareness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and a desire to know the truth concerning His restored Church. "Let this desire work in you" (Alma 32:27). A desire to know the truth is like a seed which grows in the fertile ground of faith, patience, diligence, and long-suffering (see Alma 32:27-41). There have been some miraculous conversions recorded in the scriptures. The miraculous conversion of Saul is one such example illustrated when he asked two vital questions: "Who art thou, Lord? � [and] What wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:5-6). On occasion individuals can have such experiences, but for the most part, conversion happens over a period of time as study, prayer, experience, and faith will help us to grow in our testimony and conversion.

When Abinadi fearlessly taught the gospel of Jesus Christ to the wicked King Noah and his priests, only Alma recognized the truth. Alma then had to demonstrate great faith in the words of Abinadi as he sought to bring about a mighty change of heart. This change of heart strengthened his conversion with a desire to forsake his sins. The conversion of each member of the Church is not unlike that of Alma (see Mosiah 17).

We come out of the world into the kingdom of God. In the conversion process, we experience repentance, which brings about humility and a broken heart and contrite spirit, preparing us for baptism, remission of sins, and receiving the Holy Ghost. Then, over time and through our faithfulness, we overcome trials and tribulations and endure to the end.

Our obedience to the commandments leads us to service and sacrifice in accepting callings in the priesthood quorums and the auxiliary organizations.

After we are converted how do we strengthen our brethren?

Missionary work: Missionary work was the first responsibility laid upon the Church by the Lord in this dispensation, just as it was the last commandment by the Master in the meridian of time. His parting injunction was, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15.)

There is no one in the Church today who is not either directly or indirectly the result of missionary work. Only one man (the Prophet Joseph Smith) received the message in this dispensation without a missionary, and I�m not sure Moroni would be too happy with that statement. I think Moroni considered himself a pretty fair missionary, and surely he was. But everyone else has received the message of the restoration through missionaries, either directly or indirectly. It is expected that missionaries will seek out those who will hear the message and teach the gospel in plainness and simplicity as it is found in the standard works of the Church. Also, they will "testify of the truth of the work and the doctrines revealed anew in our day." (Joseph Fielding Smith, Ensign, July 1972, p. 28.)

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

"And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!" (D&C 18:15-16).

Love Our brother: This brings us to another great evidence of conversion. You cannot be converted to Christ and his example and hate your brother, your family, your neighbor, or the stranger that is within (or without) your gate. The true convert must even love his enemies.

James significantly records,

"If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

"And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" (James 2:15-16.)

There is such joy engendered in the heart of one who has been lifted from the darkness of uncertainty and unbelief�from not knowing who he is or where he came from or why he is here or where he is going�into the marvelous light of Christ, that he feels impelled to share what he has found with others. He must tell everyone of the wondrous change that Jesus and his love have made in his life�that he has, in Alma�s words, "been born of God," experienced a "mighty change" in his heart, received the image of God in his countenance, and become a new creature in Christ. (Alma 5:14.)

In other words, we don�t get credit from the Lord for loving those who love us unless we can also love those who not only don�t love us but don�t even like us. It is this kind of conduct that really bespeaks conversion. This conduct cannot be demonstrated by passiveness or lip service. We cannot sit by and watch others struggle with great physical, mental, or spiritual burdens and do nothing but urge them on with our high-sounding words.

Buy showing your Love for the Savior: You consider him your friend and have a great appreciation for what he has done for you. You also know that not only your acts but your innermost thoughts are open to him. Nothing is hidden; therefore, honesty, fairness, and fidelity become the hallmark of all your dealings, both public and private. The true convert becomes the supreme creation of God�an honest man.

Conversely, those who profess to be followers of Christ or members of his church but do not love mercy or deal justly with God, man, and creatures, walking in all holiness before God and circumspectly before their fellowman, are still in need of conversion. (See Micah 6:8.) It does not matter whether you are born in the Church or joined the Church six months ago; if this description fits you, you are still unconverted. You are still a prospective convert.

And on the day of Penetcost, Peter provides yet another example of what it means to be converted by his inspiring acts. Compared to his wavering denials on the night of the arrest of the Lord. The man who stood forth on Pentecost was not the same man who had fearfully protested he "knew not the man.".

Peter believed and denied. Peter was converted and became a rock against which the power of Satan was impotent. He became determined, fearless, pushed by an inward power strong and true.

Conversion brings strength, determination to defend the work of the Lord on earth and to expand it. This conversion comes when one receives the baptism of fire, the witness of the Holy Ghost.

And now the keys of it all, given to Peter before, would have for him their true meaning. From now he would bear the burden, the full responsibility, to carry forth the work of the Lord to all the world. He would have to direct the others of the Twelve and the work of the ministry both to the gentiles and in the organized branches.

All eleven Apostles had been given the Comforter�which up until now they had not yet experienced�by which they were to teach all things, by which all things would be revealed, and without which they should not teach. (See D&C 42:14.)

From now on things were to be different.

"To have the Saints committed and converted so they will be faithful in keeping their covenants and fulfilling their callings. What is it that gives us a testimony and a desire to serve the Lord "with all [our] heart, might, mind and strength" (D&C 4:2) and to "be diligent in keeping the commandments of the Lord"? (1 Ne. 4:34).

As I have pondered this and prayed about it, I have concluded that the problem lies in a lack of conversion and commitment: conversion to Christ, His gospel, and His Church; and, subsequently, commitment to the covenants and individual callings one may have received to serve and strengthen others. In this regard, it is of interest to consider Christ�s words to Peter: "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:32). Thus, commitment seems to be an outgrowth or fruit of conversion.

In order to receive a fulness of promised blessings in our lives, and to be fully effective in our callings, we must become converted. Would any of us truly do any less than our very best in keeping a covenant or commandment, fulfilling an assignment, or in following Christ if we were truly converted in our hearts?

A truly converted follower of Christ�one who merits the designation of disciple or Saint�could not be casual or complacent in his or her approach to service in the Church nor in keeping covenants and commandments. Such a one would surely follow the Lord�s admonition to "learn his [or her] duty, and to act � in all diligence" (D&C 107:99).

What does it mean to be converted? President Harold B. Lee said, "Conversion must mean more than just being a �card carrying� member of the church with a tithing receipt � [or] a temple recommend." One who is converted "strive[s] continually to improve inward weaknesses and not merely the outward appearances" (Church News, 25 May 1974, 2).

One who is converted and committed will not simply "go through the motions" in fulfilling a Church service assignment. A converted home teacher will not be satisfied with just making a visit to one of his assigned families so he can report to his quorum leader that his home teaching is "completed" or "done." A converted Primary teacher would not be content to merely "give" a lesson but would want to teach by the Spirit, thereby making a real difference in the impressionable lives of the children entrusted to his or her care.

Truly converted Latter-day Saints do not go to the temple because of a quota they are expected to fulfill, but out of a sincere desire to perform sacred and saving ordinances in behalf of deceased ancestors�or even complete strangers�who cannot do the work for themselves. We do not serve others or fulfill assignments for statistical or reporting purposes, but in a spirit of love and a commitment to Christ and our Father in Heaven.

Let us return to Alma�s question: "Have ye spiritually been born of God?" It is noteworthy that Alma concluded his admonition to the people of his day by bearing testimony of how his personal conversion was obtained: "Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

"Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me" (Alma 5:45-46; emphasis added).

That same spirit of revelation�the spirit of conversion, if you will�is available to each of us as we diligently seek for it through fasting, prayer, obedience, and searching the scriptures (see Alma 17:2-3).