(9/16/00)
"President Joseph Fielding Smith said, 'People are converted by their hearts being penetrated by the Spirit of the Lord when they humbly hearken to the testimonies of the Lord's servants' (Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. [1953], 1:40)." — W. Mack Lawrence, April 1996 Conference (May Ensign) pg. 75

(9/17/00)
"We need not look beyond our own hearts to experience the sweet spiritual feelings promised to those who obey God. That is why a new member in the most humble conditions can experience the gospel as deeply as a lifetime member who was raised in the shadow of Church headquarters." — M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, May 1990 (April Conference) page 6

(9/18/00)
"... consider the counsel of President Hinckley, given in a leadership training meeting: 'There is much more to be achieved than statistical improvement,' President Hinckley said. 'More importantly, we should be concerned with the spiritual dimension of our people and the enlargement of this dimension. There is a tendency in all of us to ask for better statistical performance. 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 within him a great desire to share the Gospel with others. He will be found strengthening and lifting his brethren and sisters. [In other words, he will be committed.] It is conversion that makes the difference' (Regional Representatives' seminar, 6 Apr. 1984; emphasis added). " — W. Mack Lawrence, April 1996 Conference (May Ensign) pg. 74

(9/19/00)
"The Savior understood that many of His followers would struggle under the rigors of true discipleship; consequently, He taught them how to build burning testimonies. The night before His crucifixion, Jesus shared the feast of the Passover with His twelve beloved Apostles, most of whom had been with Him throughout His ministry. At one point during this sacred evening, the Lord looked upon Peter, His senior Apostle and loyal friend. Knowing what would be required of Peter after the Ascension, the Lord 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 all converted, strengthen thy brethren' (Luke 22:31-32; italics added)." — "Spiritual Bonfires Of Testimony", Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, General Conference, October 1992

(9/20/00)
"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 32:27­41). 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 9:5­6). 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 help us to grow in our testimony and conversion." — "When Thou Are Converted, Strengthen Thy Brethren", Elder Robert D. Hales, General Conference, April 1997

(1/4/04)
"The decision to change one's life and come unto Christ is, perhaps, the most important decision of mortality. Such a dramatic change is taking place daily throughout the world." - Thomas S. Monson, "They Will Come," General Conference, April 1997

(4/29/05)
"Conversion means consecrating your life to caring for and serving others who need your help and sharing your gifts and blessings. 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.' (John 21:15-16.)

"Every unselfish act of kindness and service increases your spirituality. God would use you to bless others. Your continued spiritual growth and eternal progress are very much wrapped up in your relationships-in how you treat others. Do you indeed love others and become a blessing in their lives? Isn't the measure of the level of your conversion how you treat others? The person who does only those things in the Church that concern himself alone will never reach the goal of perfection. Service to others is what the gospel and exalted life are all about." - Robert J. Whetten, "Strengthen Thy Brethren," General Conference, April 2005

(7/7/05)
"All learning leads to nothing unless it is centered on finding the roots of truth, which cannot be received without first becoming honest. In such striving, we suddenly know how to pray. Paul says, 'For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us' (Rom. 8:26).

"Enlightened by the Spirit of truth, we will then be able to pray for the increased ability to endure truth and not to be made angry by it (see 2 Ne. 28:28). In the depth of such a prayer, we may finally be led to that lonesome place where we suddenly see ourselves naked in all soberness. Gone are all the little lies of self-defense. We see ourselves in our vanities and false hopes for carnal security. We are shocked to see our many deficiencies, our lack of gratitude for the smallest things. We are now at that sacred place that seemingly only a few have courage to enter, because this is that horrible place of unquenchable pain in fire and burning. This is that place where true repentance is born. This is that place where the conversion and the rebirth of the soul are happening. This is the place where the prophets were before they were called to serve. This is the place where converts find themselves before they can have the desire to be baptized for the remission of their sins. This is the place where sanctifications and rededications and renewal of covenants are happening. This is the place where suddenly the atonement of Christ is understood and embraced. This is the place where suddenly, when commitments have solemnly been established, the soul begins to 'sing the song of redeeming love' and indestructible faith in Christ is born (Alma 5:26). This is the place where we suddenly see the heavens open as we feel the full impact of the love of our Heavenly Father, which fills us with indescribable joy. With this fulfillment of love in our hearts, we will never be happy anymore just by being ourselves or living our own lives. We will not be satisfied until we have surrendered our lives into the arms of the loving Christ, and until He has become the doer of all our deeds and He has become the speaker of all our words." - F. Enzio Busche, "Truth is the Issue," Ensign, Nov. 1993, 25-26

1/23/06
"Our own conversion must come first. The most important conversion for any of us is our own. If we are to bring the light of the gospel into others' lives, it must shine brightly in our own. Once converted, the sons of Mosiah labored without ceasing to share the gospel with others, 'for they could not bear that any human soul should perish' (Mosiah 28:3). Only when we are converted to the Lord Jesus Christ are we in a position to strengthen others. And only then do we begin to understand that our lives truly do have meaning, purpose, and direction, and that as sisters united in our devotion to Jesus Christ our calling is to be a light to the world." - Mary Ellen Smoot, "We Are Instruments in the Hands of God," Ensign (CR), November 2000, p.89

6/11/06
"How can you become converted? How can you make the gospel of Jesus Christ not just an influence in your life but the controlling influence and, indeed, the very core of what you are? The ancient prophet Jeremiah spoke of the law of God, the gospel, being written in our hearts. He quotes the Lord speaking about us, His people in the latter days: 'I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.' (Jer. 31:33, Ezek. 11:19-20, Mosiah 5:2.)

"Do you want this for yourself? I can tell you how that can happen, but it must be something you want. The gospel cannot be written in your heart unless your heart is open. Without a heartfelt desire, you can participate in sacrament meetings, classes, and Church activities and do the things I will tell you, but it won't make much difference. But if your heart is open and willing, like the heart of a child, (See Matt. 18:3-4.) let me tell you what you can do to be converted." - D. Todd Christofferson, "When Thou Art Converted," Ensign (CR), May 2004, p.11

11/29/06
"Jesus' challenge shows that the conversion He required for those who would enter the kingdom of heaven (see Matt. 18:3) was far more than just being converted to testify to the truthfulness of the gospel. To testify is to know and to declare. The gospel challenges us to be 'converted,' which requires us to do and to become. If any of us relies solely upon our knowledge and testimony of the gospel, we are in the same position as the blessed but still unfinished Apostles whom Jesus challenged to be 'converted.'" - Dallin H. Oaks, "The Challenge to Become," Ensign (CR), November 2000