Some notes from Elder Bednars talk at Regional conference on 10/23/2011;
The world will get darker and more chaotic. We must have more than a testimony....we must become converted and seek to emulate the unselfish character of Christ through the power and application of the Atonement.
We must set an example. The world may criticize, the world may mock, but being a worthy example drowns them out.
Testimony is being brought to the knowledge of the truth through the Holy Ghost. Conversion is consistently being true to what we know. Experiencing a mighty change of heart is conversion which is not a one time event but, rather a process of line upon line precept upon precept while being obedient to that which we've received.
Alma 23:6-7 we learn that as many who gained a testimony and were converted unto the Lord "never did fall away. For they 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." Do we lay aside our own weapons of rebellion? What are my weapons of rebellion? Hmm thought provoking ...(pride comes to mind...)
A testimony is what we know to be true by the witness of the Holy Ghost. Although a strong testimony is a wonderful thing, It is not enough without conversion. In the book of Matthew, the parable of the Ten Virgins shows the difference between testimony and conversion. The lamps were the lamps of Testimony. The oil was the oil of Conversion. The wise virgins didn't withhold oil from the foolish virgins because they were stingy -- Conversion is something that cannot be shared in a moment of adversity or crisis. It comes to us "line upon line, precept upon precept." All of them had testimony, however the wise also had conversion.
Even to Peter, strong and valiant as he was, the Savior said, "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.." We need to experience a mighty change of heart. Those who heard King Benjamin's speech had "no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2).
Elder Maxwell once said to Elder Bednar, "Except for the character of Christ there would have been no atoning sacrifice." In the New Testament, Matthew, Chapter 4:11 says, "Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him..."
However, Joseph Smith Translation says, "and now Jesus knew that John was cast into prison, and he sent angels, and, behold, they came and ministered unto him (John) …"
This sheds light on the character of Christ. At this time the Savior was spiritually hungry and in need of assistance and suffering more than John. But, He was aware of John and sent angels to John, even in the midst of His own affliction.
In study of the the New Testament and 3rd Nephi for more stories of the character of Christ. Here are some examples:
1) When the Savior institutes the sacrament, He prays for the peace of others, not for Himself.
2) In the Garden of Gethsemane the Savior asks the apostles to stay awake for him, and several times they sleep anyway. When He left the Garden where he had suffered so greatly that He bled from every pore, he was betrayed by Judas. He had been through much in that moment, and yet, he healed the ear of the guard.
3) On the cross, the Savior's concern was on His mother, and the thieves beside Him.
These examples show the character of Christ to be one that turns outward instead of inward even when He wass suffering. Moving toward this should be our ultimate objective. "As we continue to conversion...a mighty change of heart is a turn to looking outward, not inward. " -- Elder Bednar. We can't do it alone, however, we can't accomplish it under our own strength.
Our capacity to achieve this mighty change of heart is enlarged through the Holy Ghost and the Atonement. It is impossible to achieve it simply with goal setting. Mosiah 3:19 says, "For the natural man is an enemy to God... and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint..."
How is this done? The first part "putteth off the natural man" is accomplished through the Atonement when we repent. The second part, "becometh a saint" is accomplished as we overcome the things we have previously repented for and repent for less and less serious sins. As we do this, we become more and more sanctified.
Elder Maxwell gave a talk at BYU Idaho and apologized to Elder Bednar, feeling his talk was sub-par. Elder Bednar believed it had been one of the best talks he'd ever heard. So, Elder Maxwell still repented of things, but even the bad stuff he repented of, was really good stuff.
Do all we can do in the strength of the Lord. When the people of Alma were oppressed, the Lord said, "I will … ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that … you cannot feel them, … that ye may know … that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions....And … the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord" (Mosiah 24:12, 14–15).
This is how I accomplish my conversion, my mighty change of heart, my process to turn outward and not inward, to get oil for my lamp and emulate the character of Christ. We ask the Lord to ease the burdens of our weaknesses, our trials, the obstacles in our way...not that they may disappear, but that they may be light upon our shoulders and we may bear them with ease so we may cheerfully and patiently submit to all the will of the Lord.
"In the world in which we live, testimony will not be enough." -- Elder Bednar. We must give rise to a deepening and ongoing conversion.
