June 1 in Reforma, Veracruz City

Wow so this week was crazy. First off we've been having a ton of success here. But I don't want to talk about that. I want to talk about conversion and what it really is. This ties into the gospel a lot. Conversion is when our desires change, and we become more like Christ, desiring to do good and not evil.

In a nutshell, conversion in the only way we can be saved. We must be converted and become clean from all sin, because nothing impure can dwell with God. So then Christ taught us his gospel, which is how we can do these things.

The gospel is composed of 5 principles and ordinances (an ordinance is just a promise we make with God, like signing a contract).

They are: First, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That means we believe that He is the Son of God, and that he atoned (paid) for our sins. We must believe that only in and through his teaching and sacrifice for us can we be saved.

Second, repentance. Repentance is one of the principle ways that we become converted. Faith brings us to realize that in order to have any hope to be saved, we must keep God's commandments. And when we don't, we must repent, or change. That means we recognize that what we've done is wrong. (That's why pride is bad, because then we cannot recognize that.) We confess to God and we make restitution for what we have done. Then, we don't do it again, and we keep God's commandments.

Third, baptism. This is the first ordinance of the gospel, and the third principle. In baptism, we promise to keep God's commandments, remember Jesus always, and be representatives of Him. God, in turn, promises us that we will be made clean and sanctified by His Spirit and have the same to guide us. Repentance converts us, and baptism prepares us for purification, which comes in the following.

Fourth, the Holy Ghost. This is like the key to everything. If you pull out this pin then the whole gospel falls apart. it is the 4th principle and 2nd ordinance. The Holy Ghost is a personage of Spirit and can communicate to us the will of God. He is also the third member of the Godhead. The Holy Ghost is both what cleans us and converts us. Repentance allows Him to enter our hearts and to change them from the natural man to a spiritual man, and thereby be saved. His touch is also sanctifying and purifying, and can bring to us, through the atonement of Christ, the remission of our sins. We have the right to receive this prized gift from God only after baptism, though we may feel His presence occasionally before, as He may visit us to witness to us.

The 5th and last principle is persevere to the end. This also embodies the first two, continually repenting daily and growing in our faith and knowledge of Christ. Basically, keeping ourselves clean after baptism and the reception of the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

This is all made possible through the atonement of Christ. Were it not for Him, there could be no forgiveness, and thus no redemption, and repentance would be in vain. There would be no change of heart, and all mankind would remain fallen, unhappy, cut off from the presence of God.

Adam fell that men might be, and man is, that he might have joy. And the messiah cometh in the fullness of times, to redeem men from the fall.....2 Nephi2:25-26. I testify that Christ came to save us from death and sin and that through His perfect gospel, all mankind may be saved.

Until next week!

Elder Thompson