Converted

We had regional stake conference where this thought originated. Elder Clayton said that it was not enough to be converted to the church, as good as the church may be. We had to be converted to the Lord.

That rang true. To convert, means to change or exchange. Sure, if you look it up in the dictionary it will include religious affiliation, but why did we start using the word convert to mean that?

One of our baptismal covenants is to "take His name upon you." To change or exchange ourselves to better represent the Lord. We do this by always remembering Him, and keeping His commandments. We aren't told to change or exchange ourselves into an organization, a culture, or a building, because we couldn't if we tried. For our conversion to really matter, it has to be a continual change in us, putting off the natural man to become more like Christ.

I've always disliked the term "convert" the way it is used in church settings. It is often used to separate believers, those that were born into these beliefs, and those that came to it later in life. I find it to belittle both parties. Like those that were born into LDS families didn't have to make a decision to believe what they do, or those that came to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints later than birth are some how deficient. We should believe that true conversion (the kind that leads to eternal life) is a continual process. That is why we believe in repentance. That is why we take the sacrament. That is why we are told to read and study and pray. It's not done when we go under the water and come back up. It is done as we keep our covenant and utilize the blessing associated with it.