What Happens at Conversion

Samuel the Lamanite is still preaching to the Nephites. He's explaining to them how the Lamanites, who have historically been a wicked and violent and bloodthirsty people, have been brought to the knowledge of the gospel. He explains some of the changes that have happened in them.

There's a lot here, but I think it's all good to show what happened to the Lamanites when they became converts:

"4 ...But behold, salvation hath come unto them through the preaching of the Nephites; and for this intent hath the Lord prolonged their days." (Helaman 15:4)

God knew that at least some of the Lamanites would be converted. This is one of the reasons they were never destroyed in their wickedness through all the earlier parts of the Book of Mormon.

"5 And I would that ye should behold that the more part of them are in the path of their duty, and they do walk circumspectly before God, and they do observe to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments according to the law of Moses." (Helaman 15:5)

Notice a few things that they are doing once they are converted. They are in the path of duty. A couple of synonyms for the word circumspectly are watchful, cautions, and prudent. So they are walking cautiously and prudently before God. They are obedient.

"6 Yea, I say unto you, that the more part of them are doing this, and they are striving with unwearied diligence that they may bring the remainder of their brethren to the knowledge of the truth; therefore there are many who do add to their numbers daily." (Helaman 15:6)

Another few things to add to the list. They are striving with unwearied diligence to be missionaries, and more and more people are being converted.

"7 And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which ​leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—" (Helaman 15:7)

Faith and repentance bring about a change of heart. This is something that really indicates conversion. It's one thing to repent, or stop doing something you know you shouldn't do. Or start doing something you know you should do. But these things you can do sort of grudgingly. Don't get me wrong, you get points for doing it anyway, even if your heart's not in it. But the reality is that you are truly converted, you have a change of heart. The people who listened to King Benjamin described it by saying they had no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually. When your nature is changed such that you really don't want to sin anymore, that is conversion.

"8 Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of yourselves are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made free.

9 And ye know also that they have buried their weapons of war, and they fear to take them up lest by any means they should sin; yea, ye can see that they fear to sin—for behold they will suffer themselves that they be trodden down and slain by their enemies, and will not lift their swords against them, and this because of their faith in Christ." (Helaman 15:8-9)

The Lamanites discovered true freedom when they surrendered their will to God. They buried their weapons and refused to do anything that could even be considered a sin.

Conversion is a funny thing. It is a real change, but it doesn't last unless you do like these Lamanites did, and stay in the right path, with unwearied diligence to do what you are supposed to be doing. I do want to be the best that I can be, and I have experienced that change of heart. I hope to do better, be more diligent, and deepen my conversion. I know it's right.