Conversion

Below is a recap of a recent lesson from Elders Quorum secretary, Robert Brown.

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"You may ask, Why doesn’t this mighty change happen more quickly with me? You should remember that the remarkable [conversions] of King Benjamin’s people, Alma, and some others in scripture are just that—remarkable and not typical. For most of us, the changes are more gradual and occur over time. Being born again, unlike our physical birth, is more a process than an event. And engaging in that process is the central purpose of mortality."
-Elder D. Todd Christofferson, 2008 General Conference, Born Again

When I read this talk in anticipation of my lesson it reminded me of our last stake conference when we talked about Alma the Younger's change. The speakers at stake conference often emphasized his swift conversion, how he was living life in one direction and then afterwards he changed—started living it in another direction—and it bothered me all conference because I see Alma as someone who had always lived his beliefs to the fullest, same as Paul from the New Testament. To me that doesn't seem so much like a "change" as much as a "redirection," and I think the semantic difference is important. I don't know much about the specific past history of King Benjamin's people, but Peter seems to me a better example of someone who experiences a gradual "mighty change," and so is a more useful example for people who believe but struggle to live up to their beliefs.

Alma and Paul's conversion vs. Peter's

Peter hastily jumping out of the boat to greet the resurrected Lord (John 21)

Paul and Alma are testaments to obedience—whichever side of the Gospel they were on, they were true to their convictions. Peter, though, was a derelict fisherman who regardless of his beliefs, followed his impulse at all times: He jumps off a boat to walk on water and almost drowns, cuts off a guy's ear in front of the a Prince of Peace, tells Jesus over and over again how much he loves him without catching on that he needs to feed His sheep. This was his strength and his weakness, and as convictions grow they begin to inform his impulses, his forthrightness, and lack of guile, and this allows the reader of the New Testament to watch the manifestation of his conversion and convictions. When his testimony is strong, not adequate yet to his responsibilities, but still developing (like many members of the church), he denies Christ three times, but only a little while later he defended Christ so fiercely and with so little reservation that he was crucified for both his convictions and his fierce unwielding defense of it. His testimony, conviction, and understanding actually change him into a new creature, the rock and foundation of Christ's organization.

If we want a mighty change in our life, like the people of King Benjamin, or Paul, or Alma the Younger, and we don't want to wait for an angel or a great talk, we can relate Peter's life to ours, and study his change. If we are as brave and devoted as Peter the idiot who almost drowns, maybe we, too, can end up being so devoted and converted as Peter, the rock of Christ.