tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post421073680135403438..comments2024-01-07T12:38:39.465-06:00Comments on Clean Cut: Discipleship: The Ride of a LifetimeClean Cuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383123314458721660noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-63381568632119886572008-07-13T20:12:00.000-05:002008-07-13T20:12:00.000-05:00Thanks for the reminder of the Latin root of "conv...Thanks for the reminder of the Latin root of "conversion" meaning "to turn". The Hebrew word for repent is "shuv, and it also literally means "to turn". Which all makes me think of a little statement Elder Maxwell made in one of my <A HREF="http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,49-1-4-28,00.html" REL="nofollow">favorite talks</A>: "Let us remember in our age of spin, the only spin God desires is our freely turning away from sin and turning to Him".<BR/><BR/>I like Elder Nelson's quote that "conversion is a turning from the ways of the world to, and staying with, the ways of the Lord. Conversion INCLUDES repentance and obedience. Conversion brings a mighty change of heart. Thus, a true convert is “born again,” walking with a newness of life." <BR/><BR/>Which brings up another point. If anybody has the right to talk about being "born again" Christians, it is the Latter-day Saints. It’s all over our doctrine and our scriptures. Unfortunately if we started calling ourselves that, other evangelical and traditional Christians would accuse us of trying to become like them. What they don’t know is that we believe it too!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your thoughts!Clean Cuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08383123314458721660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-60127542338405023732008-07-13T20:02:00.000-05:002008-07-13T20:02:00.000-05:00The quotes from Elder Nelson were from Jesus Chris...The quotes from Elder Nelson were from <BR/><A HREF="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=318078de9441c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1#footnote21" REL="nofollow">Jesus Christ-The Master Healer</A> November Ensign 2005H-less https://www.blogger.com/profile/05337295751189209822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-84065175588927661462008-07-13T18:44:00.000-05:002008-07-13T18:44:00.000-05:00As always I appreciate your humble insight. I so m...As always I appreciate your humble insight. I so much enjoy hearing you bear testimony as you continue learning things through the spirit. The simple act of wanting to share your thoughts and learn from others is a fine testament of how you have cherished what the Lord has done for you. <BR/><BR/>Conversion comes from two Latin roots: con, meaning “with,” and vertere, meaning “to turn.”<BR/> Elder Nelson said "Conversion means 'to turn with'. Conversion is a turning from the ways of the world to, and staying with, the ways of the Lord. Conversion includes repentance and obedience. Conversion brings a mighty change of heart. Thus, a true convert is “born again,” walking with a newness of life." <BR/> <BR/>For me, I feel like I just need to keep giving. I almost always feel like I could be doing more. There's always someone who could use another meal, always someone I feel I should call and express love, always another thing I could be doing to build the kingdom. That's where I appreciate that the Lord doesn't ask us just for all our might and strength, but our mind and our hearts. He not only knows all that we do, but our willingness and desire to serve, even when our actions are lacking. I don't think we need to be as concerned with "are we giving our all?" because that could breed the wrong motivation. It's hard to judge our all when "our all" will always come up short. Our 61 cents will never sound or be good enough. Instead maybe we need to always be asking the Lord "I feel like I have done all I can but do I need to do more? What can I do?" <BR/><BR/>I've rarely tried that because I know even before I ask that I haven't done my best and already know what more I should do. Rarely have I felt him tell me I have done all I could. Maybe this is so we can feel that we are nothing without Him, that really on our own we fall far short. That we can not rely on our good works, our talents, our personal merits to save us or ever be enough. He is our only hope. <BR/><BR/> He has repeatedly, consistently, lovingly,tenderly spoken to me to let me know that He will take over, that He has the power, He knows my heart, and that I can trust in Him. Sanctifying my weak efforts by His perfection, allowing me another opportunity to Believe that He is all that I profess; My Savior, My Mediator, My Way to eternal life. <BR/><BR/>How do we know if we are giving our all, if we are truly converted? Elder Nelson says "Self-examination tests are available in the scriptures. One measures the degree of conversion prerequisite to baptism. Another measures our willingness to serve others. To His disciple Peter, the Lord said, 'I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.' Willingness to serve and strengthen others stands as a symbol of one’s readiness to be healed."<BR/><BR/>Strengthen thy brethren. Love the Lord? Feed His sheep. I can do more.H-less https://www.blogger.com/profile/05337295751189209822noreply@blogger.com