Meridian Magazine : : Leadership for Saints

Acknowledge the Power of True Conversion
by Rodger Dean Duncan and Ed J. Pinegar

When we have faith unto repentance and apply the atoning sacrifice of the lord to our souls we become truly converted. We have a testimony of the doctrines of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. We act differently because we are different. We are the sons and daughters of Jesus Christ (see Mosiah 5:7). Look what happened to the behavior and actions of Enos, Alma, and the sons of Mosiah. Help your people understand that conversion is a continuous process, not a momentary event. Your teaching for influence can play a valuable role.

Understand the Worth of Souls

Heavenly Father and our Savior care about us. Their purpose is our immortality and eternal life. The Savior describes his joy when we change and repent: “And how great is [my] joy in the soul that repenteth” (D&C 18:13).

This is the joy that we can feel when we realize the precious worth of souls. The three-fold mission of the Church is to proclaim the gospel, redeem the dead and perfect the saints. By helping in the proclaiming, redeeming and perfecting, the children of God are blessed and many souls are saved. When we truly understand the worth of souls we do the Lord’s work more gladly and more effectively. We bless the lives of our eternal brothers and sisters . . . for this is of most worth unto us (see D&C 15:6).

Help your people understand the worth of souls, especially their own. Then they will be even more receptive to your teaching.

Recognize the Power of Self-Image

When people truly know who they are and their potential, they can do the will of God. They can excel in their own lives. They can become . . . even as He is (3 Nephi 27:27).

Leaders who can teach and inspire people to come to this realization will empower all they serve. Heavenly Father has created us in his image. He has promised us a life like his life if only we keep the commandments and honor our covenants. He has given us principles and commandments to live by that continually build us up to become as he is. All of the doctrines of the gospel and Kingdom of God increase our self-esteem, self-worth, self-image and help us gain self-confidence as we apply them to our lives.

As leaders, we should do all we can to help people come to this knowledge. They need to accept this information not just intellectually or academically, but they must feel it and act upon it.

As leaders, we need to encourage those we serve to have eyes to see and hearts to feel this tender teaching of their divine birth, their eternal destiny and their capacity not only to return to God, but to live Godlike lives.

Increase Their Faith in the Savior

All things can be done through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (see Moroni 7:33). Faith is belief and hope, the moving cause of all action. The early apostles pleaded for more faith as described in Luke 17:5—“And the apostles said unto the Lord, increase our faith,” and the power to do all things.

Faith increases by hearing the word of God (see Romans 10:17) and through prayer (see Heleman 3:35) and works through love, the motivating cause of all righteous deeds (see Galatians 5:6). Not only is love the great commandment (see Matthew 22:36-40), it motivates faith, which is a gift from God through righteousness (see 1 Corinthians 12:9). Faith is the power to act, the power to do our best.

How does this happen? The Prophet Joseph Smith said that faith is exercised through mental exertion. In mentally thinking on these things, exerting the power of our minds, acting with every fiber of our being, we exert so much power that when we speak, things come to pass. The power of God is exercised by our words. We literally are at a high lever of performance due to our faith.

A critical part of your teaching is your work to increase your people’s faith in the Savior.

Improve Their Prayer Habits

Is there anything too hard for the Lord to do? As we seek to help others improve and do better, are we not praying in mighty prayer for them – individually – to be instruments in the hands of the Lord? Are not these following phrases heartfelt and offered throughout the world to Heavenly Father:

Please help them catch the vision.
Bless them to be obedient.
Help them change so they will want to do better.
Bless the missionaries to find the honest in heart.
Bless our children so they will . . .

The list goes on. One might ask, is this part of teaching, nurturing and influence? The scriptures would answer a resounding, yes! “Ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” (see D&C 4:7) Words similar to these occur throughout our standard works.

Prayer is a power to bless, strengthen and change lives. This is what we try to do as we attempt to nurture and inspire others. We seek to bless, strengthen and change lives through the grace and power of God through prayer.

Teach your people to pray. Work to increase their faith and confidence that righteous prayers are answered. Teaching for influence is always more powerful in an atmosphere of prayer.

Righteous teaching—leading your people to partake of the Spirit—is more about character than curriculum. It is more a matter of tone than of technique. It is borne of your love for the Lord and for the people you serve. Naturally, you want to help your people develop a passion for the Gospel and for keeping commandments and honoring covenants. To do so, you must honor their agency. You must avoid even a hint of manipulation. You must love them unconditionally. You must nurture their confidence patiently. You must “let virtue garnish [your] thoughts unceasingly” (see D&C 121: 45).

Teaching to influence could be the most difficult thing you’ll do as a leader. But it is completely possible with the enabling powers of the Atonement. And it certainly has the highest reward.

Quotes Worth Remembering

Oh, my brothers and sisters, do not be weary in well-doing. If we feel that our contribution is small or insignificant, remember that the worth of souls is precious in the sight of God. – Thomas S. Monson

One of the root social problems of our day concerns the lack of self-esteem. A shallow self-image is not reinforced by always letting others establish our standards or by habitually succumbing to peer pressure. Young people too often depend upon someone else's image rather than their own. – James E. Faust

All members and leaders must come to the realization that the greatest force multiplier within the Church is the converted and motivated member. So long as only a few serve and share with all their "heart, might, mind and strength"(D&C 4:2), the productivity of the group is limited. But when all increase their faith and labor with throbs in the heart, the power of the missionary force of the Church is multiplied many, many times over. – Carlos E. Asay

Prayer has been the great undergirding strength of my life. On many occasions the Lord has answered my prayers, and I bear testimony that nothing brings us more strength and more peace and more answers to today's vexing problems than to speak with the Lord humbly in sacred prayer. – Joseph B. Wirthlin

[Speaking of Moriancumer] his knowledge of the things of God must have given him wonderful power and influence in teaching his people the righteous truths which are fundamental and universal. This confidence and strength must also have been imparted to others, for certain it is that the Jaredites had prophets of great power sent to them from time to time to teach and reprove them; and even some of their monarchs were shining examples of spiritual power and righteousness. – B. H. Roberts

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