Sunday General President Mark L. Pace said in the afternoon session of April 2022 general conference:
For just over three years now, we have been on a journey together as members of the Lord’s Church. It was October 2018 when the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles invited us to learn of Jesus Christ by studying the scriptures in a new and inspiring fashion, with the Come, Follow Me resource as our guide.
On any journey, it’s good to pause occasionally to assess our progress and to make sure we are still moving toward our goal.
Conversion Is Our Goal
Consider this profound statement from the introduction to Come, Follow Me:
“The aim of all gospel learning and teaching is to deepen our conversion to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. …
“… The kind of gospel learning that strengthens our faith and leads to the miracle of conversion doesn’t happen all at once. It extends beyond a classroom into our hearts and homes. It requires consistent, daily efforts to understand and live the gospel. Gospel learning that leads to true conversion requires the influence of the Holy Ghost.”1
That is the miracle we seek—when one person has an experience in the scriptures2 and that experience is blessed by the influence of the Holy Ghost. Such experiences are precious foundation stones for our conversion to the Savior. And as President Russell M. Nelson recently reminded us, spiritual foundations must be constantly reinforced.3 Long-lasting conversion is a lifelong process.4 Conversion is our goal.
To be most effective, your experiences with the scriptures must be your own.5 Reading or hearing about another person’s experiences and insights can be helpful, but that won’t bring the same converting power. There is no substitute for the time you spend in the scriptures, hearing the Holy Ghost speak directly to you.
What Is the Holy Ghost Teaching Me?
Each week when I open my Come, Follow Me manual, I write this question at the top of the page: “What is the Holy Ghost teaching me this week as I read these chapters?”
As I study the scriptures, I ponder that question over and over again. And without fail, spiritual impressions come, and I make note of them in my manual. . . . .
The Prophet and the Lord’s Promises
I am impressed with the parallel between the way the Lord blessed His people in this Old Testament account and the way He is also blessing His people today.
When the Lord’s living prophet, President Nelson, introduced us to Come, Follow Me as a means of studying the scriptures, he invited us to transform our homes into sanctuaries of faith and centers of gospel learning.
Then he promised four specific blessings:
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your Sabbath days will be a delight,
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your children will be excited to learn and live the Savior’s teachings,
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the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease, and
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these changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.6
Now, we don’t have any journal entries from those who experienced the Passover with Moses in Egypt. However, we do have many testimonials from Saints who, with equal faith, are following President Nelson’s counsel today and receiving the promised blessings.
Here are a few such testimonials: see. . . . ‘Conversion is Our Goal’ .
