Converted

The first person in the Book of Mormon who is described as “converted” is Abish, the servant of the Lamanite queen. Her conversion is attributed to “a remarkable vision of her father” which had occurred many years earlier. (See Alma 19:16.) In the following chapters, the word appears many times as Mormon describes the miraculous acceptance of the gospel among the Lamanites. In Alma 23 alone, the word appears 7 times, including this expresson of amazement by Mormon:

As sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away.

Alma 23:6

Elder David A. Bednar explained that conversion is more than merely accepting the truths of the gospel. It is “a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through the Savior’s Atonement.” Even though the conversion of the Lamanites appears to occur quickly in the Book of Mormon, Elder Bednar explained that it usually happens more gradually:

For many of us, conversion is an ongoing process and not a onetime event that results from a powerful or dramatic experience. Line upon line and precept upon precept, gradually and almost imperceptibly, our motives, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds become aligned with the will of God. Conversion unto the Lord requires both persistence and patience.

“Converted unto the Lord,” General Conference, October 2012

I’m grateful for the reminder that my conversion is a work in progress. I’ve had many experiences in which I have felt close to God and learned important principles, but I’m still in the process of learning to implement those principles in my life and “[partake] of the divine nature” through His grace (2 Peter 1:4). I am grateful for God’s patience with me and for the reminder to be patient with myself as I experience this gradual transformation.

Today, I will be grateful for the ongoing process of conversion. I will follow the example of the Lamanites who listened to the sons of Mosiah, opening my heart to the messages God has for me and striving to incorporate those truths into my heart and into my character.