Before I start this post, I thought it would be helpful for all of you (or just you Dr. Wiley, the one person reading this blog, haha) to understand what perspective I'm coming from as I write about the conversion process. Here is the question(s):
Post an essay describing your understanding of the conversion process and the role of people other than the individual being converted in the conversion process. Specifically answer the question, what is the proper role of a missionary?
What do we mean by conversion? To many, conversion could refer to the process by which someone becomes a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This process generally includes taking missionary lessons, reading, praying, coming to know the truth of the message of the restoration, developing faith in Christ, actually getting baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
While in some ways conversion is an "event" (usually in reference to a Baptismal date, the date an individual formally becomes a member of the LDS Church) actual "conversion" is more a process.
The Gospel Library on LDS.org defines conversion as "a change in behavior, but it goes beyond behavior; it is a change in our very nature. It is such a significant change that the Lord and His prophets refer to it as a rebirth, a change of heart, and a baptism of fire. The Lord said:
'Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;
'And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God' (Mosiah 27:25–26)"
True the Faith, a publication by the LDS Church continues on that idea of conversion:
Conversion comes as a result of righteous efforts to follow the Savior. These efforts include exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting of sin, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end in faith.
Although conversion is miraculous and life changing, it is a quiet miracle. Angelic visitations and other spectacular occurrences do not bring conversion. Even Alma, who saw an angel, became converted only after he "fasted and prayed many days" for a witness of the truth (Alma 5:46). And Paul, who saw the resurrected Savior, taught that "no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost" (1 Corinthians 12:3).
The Book of Mormon provides descriptions of people who are converted to the Lord:
They desire to do good. King Benjamin's people declared, "The Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, 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" (Mosiah 5:2). Alma spoke of people who "could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence" (Alma 13:12).
They do not rebel against the Lord. Mormon told of a group of Lamanites who had been wicked and bloodthirsty but who were "converted unto the Lord" (Alma 23:6). These people changed their name to the Anti-Nephi-Lehies and "became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren" (Alma 23:7).
They share the gospel. Enos, Alma the Elder, Alma the Younger, the sons of Mosiah, Amulek, and Zeezrom dedicated themselves to preaching the gospel after they became converted to the Lord (see Enos 1:26; Mosiah 18:1; 27:32-37; Alma 10:1–12; 15:12).
They are filled with love. After the resurrected Savior visited the people in the Americas, "the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another. . . .
"And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
"And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.
"There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God" (4 Nephi 1:2, 15–17).
In a very real sense, being converted to the Gospel of Christ means progressing towards the measure and stature of the fullness of Christ, becoming like Him in attribute, motive, and method. Hence conversion is an event in the sense our commitment to "convert" to the cause of Christ formally happens at Baptism but is a process because we continue grace for grace until we obtain a fullness in Christ. While one can't obtain conversion on their merits alone, such conversion is enabled through the power of the Atonement of Christ facilitated by the companionship of the Spirit, conversion does require our willingness to turn from error towards truth, to keep covenants, and use our agency in accordance to God's righteousness. Most importantly, conversion requires a confirmation by the Spirit to an individual that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the World and that Joseph Smith was called as His prophet in these last days.
Because the formal process of conversion or the "event" (meeting with the missionaries and such) is pretty well understood, I'd like to comment on how members can help others along the "process" of conversion and obtain that crucial Spiritual confirmation.
Individual conversion starts with a desire to know the Truth. Truth in this sense is things as they really are, really were, or really will be. In a sense being converted involves "converting" from error or part truths to truth or a fuller truth. As Latter-Day Saints believe that the ultimate source of truth is God. Because we believe that we are the offspring of God, that He is our Father, we also believe (like with any loving father) we can go to God in prayer for guidance. When seeking to know the truth of something important, we eventually pray to God in Christ's name and ask with a sincere heart, having faith in Christ that we will receive an answer, really intending to follow any answer given.
God will communicate truth to us as answers to our prayers through our feelings, thoughts, or some other way by the power of the Holy Ghost. For most people these answers come as peace to the mind or heart, enlightenment, or a warm feeling in ones' heart, that something specific is true. When we have such feelings we know that God is teaching us that something is, in fact true.
During the process of conversion, we eventually seek to know the truth through prayer about the existence of God, the mission of Jesus at the Christ, and the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith. As we come to learn the truth of these important concepts through the influence of the power of the Holy Ghost, we have begun the process of gaining a testimony or a conviction of truth of these important concepts mentioned above. As our conviction grows stronger, we gain a desire to follow God's commandments in this life and eventually be baptized.
People beginning the formal process of investigating the Church, while preparing for baptism, have the responsibility of seeking this conviction personally and individually, though the process of obtaining the witness of the Spirit of the truthfulness of these important concepts can be helped by the full-time missionaries and other baptized members.
So how can missionaries and members help?
As a worthy baptized member of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, found in the institution of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, individuals receive, by the laying on of hands, the Gift of the Holy Ghost. In keeping with the baptismal covenant, members are promised as a "gift" the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost is essential to the conversion process, because it is the only way in which someone can know for themselves the truthfulness of the existence of God, the divine role of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, and the calling of Joseph Smith as God's Prophet. While conversion is an intimate personal process, missionaries and members that have the gift of the Holy Ghost assist potential converts by participating in the teaching of truth in which the Spirit becomes present, witnessing to potential converts the truthfulness of a particular truth.
Members and missionaries alike are to seek to live and teach as to invite the Spirit into discussion so that potential converts gain a testimony of a truth the same way the said members or missionaries did--by the Holy Ghost. While teaching (in the sense of sharing truths), testifying (declaring what one knows to be true by the Spirit), and setting a good example is important in assisting converts gain their own personal conviction, the Spirit matters most! Missionaries and members should do their best to live a moral life by the teachings of Christ in which they more fully have the constant companion of the Holy Ghost (or are more fully converted) to help others come unto Christ.
In fact, it is not possible for individuals to assist in the work of Salvation, through Christ, among the children of men save they shall posses the companionship of the Spirit, the Unspeakable Gift. Man does not convert men, but the Spirit of God, nor does man speak the words of Life but such is said by the Unspeakable gift.
Thanks for your thoughtful approach to the topic of conversion. Reading your post made me think that the missionary's first responsibility is to show up, and his second is to get out of the way. Like an aquaduct, perhaps, or indoor plumbing. It has to be there for the water to flow, but you only notice the pipes when they're not working properly! "Getting the water of life to people" seems like a reasonable way of thinking about missionary work...
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