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I believe conversion and baptism happens more often with people that are new to an area than with people that are native to an area. Why would that be the case? Because it seems easier to reinvent ourselves in a new situation than surrounded by people that know our history. The atonement seems easier to apply when it only has to go one way, for example us forgiving someone else instead of forgiving AND asking for forgiveness. A lot of times it is hard to believe that someone else can forgive us for something we ourselves haven’t gotten past. At the same time, it is hard to believe someone else can let you change and improve and become better, when you struggle to forgive and believe that others would want to grow and change for the better. Does that make sense? Kind of an “it’s hard for me, and I wouldn’t/couldn’t do it, so why would anyone else do it!?!” type of thought process. It’s the type of thought process and insecurity that keeps people from even approaching hard topics or issues, because they believe no one would ever make the effort to forgive them, because they aren’t capable of forgiving themselves. So they just avoid the problem instead of trying to improve anything. That lack of confidence in the power of repentance and the Atonement does not come from the spirit. Those insecurities that prevent us from trying to learn and grow and improve upon the harder situations in our lives do not come from our Heavenly Father. The adversary tries (way too often successfully) to tell us that either we aren’t worth the effort, or the other person isn’t capable/worth the effort.
Is it bad that people that immigrate to a new place are more likely to accept the gospel into their lives and make changes? Not at all. It’s just easier to become someone NEW and changed for the better when prior experience with family or friends isn’t presenting an extra obstacle. But what about those people native to an area that have a true change of heart? How many people can they influence? How many hearts can they lift? How many misunderstandings can they clear up? How many burdens are they aware of that they can make lighter? Those people native to an area that have the courage and humility to undergo a change of heart even under the watch of friends and family can have such an amazing influence! They can give courage and support to others to be humble and fully use the atonement in their own lives as well.
Far too often we look for different circumstances to run to before being brave enough to start our change. Because it will be easier to find success. There will be less obstacles. No one will remind us of how we used to be. And so we transfer schools, move to a new area or state, bide our time until transfers are here and pray for a new companion, pray for someone else to have a change of heart, avoid friends or people in our own families that seem difficult, abandon relationships that have hit a bump in the road, quit jobs and search out new ones, etc. I’m not saying that looking for a change is always bad. Sometimes it is necessary, and sometimes it is exactly what our Heavenly Father wants us to do. But I believe that most times it would have a more profound affect in our lives and in the lives of others if we were to “stand close together and lift where we stand”. (Elder Uchtdorf general conference 2008)
In my mind that means that we discuss the hard topics. We take an honest look at ourselves and our actions even if it’s hard or embarrassing. If we don’t see where the issue is with ourselves, but we still feel the tension with others, we are brave enough to ask for honest feedback. If we are told something new about ourselves, we are patient and try to make adjustments where we can. We try to improve the relationships we already have. We try to share love and improve ourselves for our own benefit as well as for those around us. Because we are worth the effort! As are those around us!
I am far from perfect at this. And many times when I have tried to improve it has blown up in my face and I’ve been called out for my past behavior. Repenting or using the atonement where we stand is difficult! And often takes multiple tries. But it is worth the effort. We are all worth the effort. And I love the feeling of accomplishment to look and see how far you have gotten WITH the ones you love most. It is amazing to stand close together and lift to raise things up and move them forward.
I don’t think there is anything I can imagine that I want more than for all of the members in my family (present and future) to have the courage, trust and humility to lift each other together. To put on the Armor of God and go to battle against the adversary together! I hope and pray that my family, friends and community will be strong enough to fight against the insecurities and lies that sneak in and hold us back from our potential. I hope that I will be able to do a better job of allowing those around me to grow and become better, and be a strength to that process, and not hold their missteps in the past against them. And I hope that I will be allowed that same room for growth… but if not, that I will remain determined to continue to grow anyway.
If we hope to unlock our potential and the potential of those around us… Let us all lift where we stand. Bloom where we are planted. Dig in, get dirty and uncomfortable. Love on a higher level. And Stomp like crazy!
https://
www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2008/10/lift-where-you-stand?lang=eng
“The Example of Helaman’s 2,000 Warriors
Individual recognition is rarely an indication of the value of our service. We do not know the names, for example, of any of the 2,000 sons of Helaman. As individuals, they are unnamed. As a group, however, their name will always be remembered for honesty, courage, and the willingness to serve. They accomplished together what none of them could have accomplished alone…
When we stand close together and lift where we stand, when we care more for the glory of the kingdom of God than for our own prestige or pleasure, we can accomplish so much more.”
