Area Leadership Message 

Europe Central Area Seventy

In the New Testament book of Matthew, when the Savior invites Peter to walk on the water, Peter, with his intense desire to follow Him, renounces all the protection the boat offered him and quickly goes down into the water. For a few moments, in a miraculous way, he walks towards the Savior on the water, but as the storm rages, with its strong winds, his faith weakens, he begins to sink and cries out to the Lord: “Lord, save me!.” The Savior, at that very moment, extends his hand and, holding him, says: “O man of little faith! Why did you hesitate?” (1).

This great lesson received by Peter teaches us that conversion does not arise from an event in itself, but from a process that lasts throughout our earthly journey. The conversion process includes exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting daily, being baptized, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. The covenant path is part of this journey of enduring to the end. When we continue on this path, we strive to become more like Christ and give up our “natural man.” King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon perfectly described part of this process when he invited us to put off the natural man, thus teaching a clear doctrine on conversion:

“For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, 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 through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father” (2).

This verse of scripture makes a clear description of the conversion process: due to our fallen state, our natural tendency is to go against the things of the Spirit, so true conversion begins when we submit to the promptings of the Holy Spirit; then comes the process of sanctification through the Atonement of Christ. The attributes described by the prophet Benjamin, such as submission, meekness, humility, patience, and being full of love, are the fruits of a true conversion.

Elder Bednar taught regarding meekness: “Meekness is a defining attribute of the Redeemer and is distinguished by righteous responsiveness, willing submissiveness, and strong self-restraint” (3).

When we are truly converted, we quickly lend ourselves to doing the will of our Heavenly Father. Although at many times this may mean throwing yourself into an unknown and turbulent sea, the trials and challenges of life help us increase our faith in Jesus Christ when we are on the covenant path. Keeping covenants and increasing our knowledge through study and receiving personal revelation are key to this process.

President Russell M. Nelson has taught us that “Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost” (4).

Just like the experience of Peter and the other apostles on the boat, we can experience the power of following Jesus Christ with faith by throwing ourselves into His waters without fear, without any fear of sinking, because His waters are the source of eternal life. As the Psalmist stated: “[…] [H]e leadeth me beside the still waters” (5).

I invite you to make your personal lives a daily process of conversion to the Savior and to Our Heavenly Father.

2. Mosiah 3:19

3. David A. Bednar, Meek and Lowly of Heart, General Conference, April 2018.

4. Pres. Russel M. Nelson, Revelation for the Church, revelation for our lives, General Conference, April 2018.

5. Psalms 23: 2