Am I Converted, and If So, How Much?

AM I CONVERTED, AND IF SO, HOW MUCH? BY DR. JAMES X. ALLEN. "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." — (Matt. 18: 3.) This short talk is intended for the young men in Zion, for whom I have, in my heart, the very warmest regard. On them depends, in great measure, not only their personal salvation, but also that of their coming families, and, perhaps, many others yet unborn. It is customary with us to quote many and varied authorities to substantiate' the lesson presented. For my part, I consider one first-class authority to be preferable to a number of weaker ones. Not all authorities are of equal weight and force in sustaining the position taken by a teacher. Some men are more spiritually minded than are others. Some good teachers have a little too much of the earthiness in their composition; and it is questionable whether the worldly mind and the spiritual mind can each attain to anything like perfection when dwelling in one and the same habitat. "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon." Men of scientific training differ in their interpretation of the same phenomenon; so, also, do good men differ in their reading of the same passage of holy writ. Men's minds vary in constitution, and, therefore differ in their interpretation of the same divine impression on their mentality. God drops from the clouds pure snow and rain upon our mountains for our comfort and for our needs. But, although the water reaches us through the naturally ordained channels, it is not pure water when it comes to us; it is, more or less, impreg-

AM I CONVERTED? 665 nated with the minerals through which it has percolated in its downward course. Such is the case with the inspiration of the divine Spirit. The strata of rocks are not more varied in their mountain beds than are the constitutions and conditions of men's minds through whom divine truths necessarily must percolate before they reach us. Several men may be impressed with the same divine inspiratwo of them will interpret it extion, but, in all probability, no actly alike. Each interpretation will be tinctured, to some extent, with the characteristics of the mind that gives it form and expression. These thoughts have induced me to select for this lesson the dictum of the Master, whose word is yea and amen — the end of controversy. By reading over the text quoted above, you will perceive that there is no if, no but, no modification, whatever, — "except ye be converted, and become as little children," etc. Conversion is imperative. Would it not be well for each one of us to examine ourselves occasionally and try and find out how far we are converted? The most of us assent to the existence of an All Father, to che godship of his Son Jesus Christ, and to the divinity of the mission of Joseph Smith, the prophet, seer, and revelator. This much of a conversion is almost universal in our Y. M. M. I. Associations. But the vital question is, Are we exemplifying their teachings in our every- day life? We know that there are degrees in faith, degrees in repentance; and degrees in honesty, truthfulness, sobriety, honor, and in brotherly love; and there are degrees of glory in the after life, so we are told. But, let me ask you, do you want a partial salvation? Can we, in all conscience, hope for a full salvation with the Father and the Son when our conversion has been but partial? I think not. "And he shall reward every man according to his works." One brother with whom I lately conversed, is seldom seen in our meetings. When I spoke to him about his absence, on a certain occasion, he answered: "0! religion does not consist in going to meeting." The answer was true enough. But we know

that it is most natural for a man to seek the society of those having similar likings, aspirations, and interests to his own. If I am seeking "first the kingdom of God and his righteousness," shall I not find most profit and pleasure in communing with those whose aims and objects in life are the same as my own? Certainly. Therefore, we say that "a man is known by the company he keeps." Recently I heard a brother discussing the supposed uses to which tithing is put. I could not help asking him, "Are you a tithe payer?" His reply was, "No; I am not, I don't believe in paying tithing," etc., etc. This brother prefessed to be converted. Was his conversion a full or a partial one? And in this way we may, were it necessary, examine many of the laws and counsels obligatory upon the Saints, and find that many of us are but partially converted. We are converted as far as we fullv believe, and our belief is exemplified in our daily walk and conversation; and our apostasy is in proportion to our loss of conviction. One will say: "I have a mind of my own, and no man can control and tell me what I shall do, and how much I shall pay," etc. "And become as little children." Little children are teachable, leadable, not egotistic, setting themselves up as instructors of their parents and teachers. Having accepted the gospel as a system given by God for our salvation, may we not safely accept it in all its details (as little children) ? How much am I converted? May God grant us a full conversion and a full and complete salvation. Ogden, Utah.