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Continuous Conversion
I can't do this Mormon thing, a friend told Brad Wilcox. "I've tried, and the expectations are just way too high." And she's not alone in her thinking. Many people, as they feel themselves falling short of perfection, are tempted to quit trying.
But are there only two options? Think of it this way: When a person is learning to play the piano, are the only two options performing at Carnegie Hall or quitting? Similarly, in mortality, are the only two choices being perfect or giving up?
"No," writes Brad Wilcox. "Growth and development take time. Learning takes practice. Discipleship is a journey, and true conversion is a continuous process."
In this hope-filled book, Brad shares his keen understanding and testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ as it relates to our own conversion. Conversion occurs, he says, "when we stop trying to earn heaven and start trying to learn it...As we take each little step to show faith, repent, make and live covenants, seek the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end, we are not paying our way into heaven. We are practicing for it."
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2013
65 people are currently reading
1221 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
March 16, 2013
This is one of those books that needs to be read and then re-read over and over again.
Packed with so much information and guidance it will help someone seeking to truly convert to the gospel of Jesus Christ...not only to the gospel, but convert to Jesus Christ.
I love all the examples and stories within these pages.
I also love the way Brother Wilcox teaches and the little phrases he uses; for example:
"Heaven is not a prize for the perfect, but the future home of all who are willing to be perfected."
"We send missionaries to the Missionary Training Center, God has sent us to the Exaltation Training Center"
"True conversion is not instantaneous, it is continuous."
"Some Latter-day Saints go through all the right motions without feeling any of the emotions. They settle for rule following instead of religion, for obedience and sacrifice instead of consecration, for testimony instead of conversion, and for cultural Mormonism instead of the soul-transforming fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is time for a little zeal with our knowledge."
My very favorite section is where Brother Wilcox writes about "I'm afraid that when all the lessons on simplifying, prioritizing, and balancing are over I am left with only one option--juggling."
And as we juggle all we have been asked to do, if we go about doing God's work, and continue on the path to conversion, He will let us know which balls to keep in the air and which balls to let drop to the ground.
"The journey of conversion can seem daunting unless we remember that we are not alone."
Packed with so much information and guidance it will help someone seeking to truly convert to the gospel of Jesus Christ...not only to the gospel, but convert to Jesus Christ.
I love all the examples and stories within these pages.
I also love the way Brother Wilcox teaches and the little phrases he uses; for example:
"Heaven is not a prize for the perfect, but the future home of all who are willing to be perfected."
"We send missionaries to the Missionary Training Center, God has sent us to the Exaltation Training Center"
"True conversion is not instantaneous, it is continuous."
"Some Latter-day Saints go through all the right motions without feeling any of the emotions. They settle for rule following instead of religion, for obedience and sacrifice instead of consecration, for testimony instead of conversion, and for cultural Mormonism instead of the soul-transforming fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is time for a little zeal with our knowledge."
My very favorite section is where Brother Wilcox writes about "I'm afraid that when all the lessons on simplifying, prioritizing, and balancing are over I am left with only one option--juggling."
And as we juggle all we have been asked to do, if we go about doing God's work, and continue on the path to conversion, He will let us know which balls to keep in the air and which balls to let drop to the ground.
"The journey of conversion can seem daunting unless we remember that we are not alone."
July 14, 2018
I have difficulty understanding symbols and their meanings and I appreciated Brad Wilcox's sensitive and sacred explanations. A lot of what he teaches are things that I have come to learn as I have aged, namely, how Heavenly Father wants us to succeed and isn't ready to beat us down when we fail, but to help put us upright again and encourage us to continue along the covenant path.
August 26, 2021
This is Nonfiction/Religious/Inspiration. The author understands kids. He also understands people and what makes them tick. His messages are always thoughtful and they resonate with me and my children. He has a way of teaching others and inspiring people to do better and not to get frustrated with their own imperfections, faults and hiccups.
I liked this one a lot. This author's The Continuous Atonement was maybe a 3 star book for me which made me a little hesitant to start this one. I'm glad that I didn't let that stop me from getting to The Continuous Conversion: God Isn't Just Proving Us, He's Improving Us. Now I think I'll have to reread that other one since I liked this one so much more.
I liked this one a lot. This author's The Continuous Atonement was maybe a 3 star book for me which made me a little hesitant to start this one. I'm glad that I didn't let that stop me from getting to The Continuous Conversion: God Isn't Just Proving Us, He's Improving Us. Now I think I'll have to reread that other one since I liked this one so much more.
July 12, 2016
The Continuous Conversion is a sequel, of sorts, to The Continuous Atonement, though they need not be read in order. There is little new here, but that is not why I read these books -- there is nothing fundamentally new in the gospel, either, but like most people, I need frequent reminders, refocusing, redirection, and a broadening of my vision and understanding. Reading books and articles by thoughtful people helps me in that way.
Wilcox points out that we should never think there are just two options when faced with God's expectations for our growth and development. Too often, we feel that we must either be perfect, or give up, and of course that is false. He rightfully points out that there are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going. Malcolm Gladwell, discussing the now well-known idea that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become expert at any skill, also pointed out that one seeking to develop that way better be willing to be imperfect a lot, because 10,000 hours is a long time to be imperfect. Perhaps we are sometimes too hard on ourselves, and need to see our own eternal potential, just as God does.
In a descriptive turn of phrase, Wilcox points out that some of our detractors claim that we believe we are earning our way into heaven. Not so, he says. Rather, "we are not earning heaven, we are learning heaven." That is one reason we feel it is so important to obey the commandments...not to be good enough to get in, but to learn to fit in.
When we seek answers to prayer, we must remember that when God delays, it is not necessarily a denial. As S. Michael Wilcox has said, our God is a God of the fourth watch. Being impatient as I am with my own progress and development, I need to remember that God tests our faith, but with a purpose, not capriciously. He wants us to pray, fast, study, ponder, work, and learn, and in so doing He not only tests our faith, He educates it. I am beginning to realize that, in a broader sense than I normally think of it, education is a central purpose of this mortal existence.
I remember my mission experience fondly, but like every missionary I had some challenges. Cold showers, antagonistic people, occasionally apathetic members, strange food, illness (yes, related) difficulties with companions, and so forth. My daughter is serving a mission now in a place where it rains just about every day, she washes her own clothes in a cement trough with cold water, and undoubtedly faces many of the same challenges I did with people. Under such circumstances, it is good to keep in mind the following thoughtful exchange. When asked by a missionary "Why does it have to be so hard," Elder Jeffrey R. Holland responded thusly: "We are the Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever, easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary." I'm glad that my moments hiking Calvary were relatively few and short...thinking about it makes my heart swell with gratitude for the Atonement.
So, if we are to endure on our journey toward perfection, we must remember the importance of trying again...and again, and again. As C.S Lewis said in Mere Christianity, "You must ask for God's help. Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help, or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again." This, then, is a model for our eternal progression...part and parcel of never giving up, is understanding that we honor God, and show our love for Him, when we try again. "Sometimes true courage is," as President Thomas S. Monson is fond of quoting, "the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'"
We must also remember that a life of service and accomplishment should not be put off because we think we are not accomplished enough. As Wilcox wrote, "Life in the Church means experiencing leaders or teachers who are not always wise, mature, or deft...Callings are not prizes or awards. They are part of God's plan for our growth and development. And our weaknesses and imperfections and inadequacies are also unworthy excuses for avoiding service or declining callings. Wilcox again..."When Moroni came to Joseph Smith, he didn't say, "Congratulations! You prayed so hard, worked so diligently, and lived so well, you earned a visitation." On the contrary, at that very moment Joseph actually "felt condemned for [his] weakness and imperfections" and was praying for "forgiveness of all [his] sins and follies." Moroni came to inform Joseph that, despite his weaknesses, "God had a work for [him] to do."
This was a good read, one that made me think and ponder on the things of eternity and helped me attain a measure of increased understanding.
Wilcox points out that we should never think there are just two options when faced with God's expectations for our growth and development. Too often, we feel that we must either be perfect, or give up, and of course that is false. He rightfully points out that there are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going. Malcolm Gladwell, discussing the now well-known idea that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become expert at any skill, also pointed out that one seeking to develop that way better be willing to be imperfect a lot, because 10,000 hours is a long time to be imperfect. Perhaps we are sometimes too hard on ourselves, and need to see our own eternal potential, just as God does.
In a descriptive turn of phrase, Wilcox points out that some of our detractors claim that we believe we are earning our way into heaven. Not so, he says. Rather, "we are not earning heaven, we are learning heaven." That is one reason we feel it is so important to obey the commandments...not to be good enough to get in, but to learn to fit in.
When we seek answers to prayer, we must remember that when God delays, it is not necessarily a denial. As S. Michael Wilcox has said, our God is a God of the fourth watch. Being impatient as I am with my own progress and development, I need to remember that God tests our faith, but with a purpose, not capriciously. He wants us to pray, fast, study, ponder, work, and learn, and in so doing He not only tests our faith, He educates it. I am beginning to realize that, in a broader sense than I normally think of it, education is a central purpose of this mortal existence.
I remember my mission experience fondly, but like every missionary I had some challenges. Cold showers, antagonistic people, occasionally apathetic members, strange food, illness (yes, related) difficulties with companions, and so forth. My daughter is serving a mission now in a place where it rains just about every day, she washes her own clothes in a cement trough with cold water, and undoubtedly faces many of the same challenges I did with people. Under such circumstances, it is good to keep in mind the following thoughtful exchange. When asked by a missionary "Why does it have to be so hard," Elder Jeffrey R. Holland responded thusly: "We are the Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever, easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary." I'm glad that my moments hiking Calvary were relatively few and short...thinking about it makes my heart swell with gratitude for the Atonement.
So, if we are to endure on our journey toward perfection, we must remember the importance of trying again...and again, and again. As C.S Lewis said in Mere Christianity, "You must ask for God's help. Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help, or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again." This, then, is a model for our eternal progression...part and parcel of never giving up, is understanding that we honor God, and show our love for Him, when we try again. "Sometimes true courage is," as President Thomas S. Monson is fond of quoting, "the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'"
We must also remember that a life of service and accomplishment should not be put off because we think we are not accomplished enough. As Wilcox wrote, "Life in the Church means experiencing leaders or teachers who are not always wise, mature, or deft...Callings are not prizes or awards. They are part of God's plan for our growth and development. And our weaknesses and imperfections and inadequacies are also unworthy excuses for avoiding service or declining callings. Wilcox again..."When Moroni came to Joseph Smith, he didn't say, "Congratulations! You prayed so hard, worked so diligently, and lived so well, you earned a visitation." On the contrary, at that very moment Joseph actually "felt condemned for [his] weakness and imperfections" and was praying for "forgiveness of all [his] sins and follies." Moroni came to inform Joseph that, despite his weaknesses, "God had a work for [him] to do."
This was a good read, one that made me think and ponder on the things of eternity and helped me attain a measure of increased understanding.
July 3, 2018
Wow. This book is amazing! I honestly thought this book would have a lot of the same ideas that were in Brad Wilcox’s famous talk “His Grace is Sufficient” (which is also amazing) but it definitely stands alone. It has so many wonderful insights and doctrine. It took me about double the amount of time it would normally take to read this length of book because I was marking my scriptures, writing down quotes, and having great discussions with my husband. Overall Brother Wilcox coveys that conversion is a process we will be going through our entire lives but we do not have to do it alone. Christ is not our goal- He is the One that helps us get to our eternal goal.
January 16, 2020
I absolutely loved The Continuous Atonement so I thought I would give this a try. I was not dissappointed. This book is just more inspiriational stories, analogies, quotes and wisdom that I have come to expect from Br Wilcox. I love his writing style. He's very easy to understand. He's not writing to impress, he genuinely wants to bring people to christ.
The things that he included in chapters 7 and 8 about the temple really stood out to me and sent me on a quest to learn more. Fortunately, he cited his sources so it was easy for me to find some good books.
I highly recommend this book - two thumbs way up!!!
The things that he included in chapters 7 and 8 about the temple really stood out to me and sent me on a quest to learn more. Fortunately, he cited his sources so it was easy for me to find some good books.
I highly recommend this book - two thumbs way up!!!
March 5, 2022
2.5 stars, actually.
I adored the first book, “The Continuous Atonement”, which teaches simply and refreshingly about Grace and Christ’s sacrifice.
This one had a really excellent chapter on the temple (!) but I felt that the book mostly just countered fallacies that Latter-day Saints in Utah experience.
Basically, while the first book can be studied by anyone with or without background in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—this one cannot.
I adored the first book, “The Continuous Atonement”, which teaches simply and refreshingly about Grace and Christ’s sacrifice.
This one had a really excellent chapter on the temple (!) but I felt that the book mostly just countered fallacies that Latter-day Saints in Utah experience.
Basically, while the first book can be studied by anyone with or without background in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—this one cannot.
December 13, 2021
Easily accessible, entertaining, uplifting, and informative - this book deserves its 5 stars. Wilcox helps the reader understand Christ's Atonement better, focusing on understanding how it helps us change and transform, not just repent. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to improve themselves and learn how to access the enabling power of the Atonement and God's grace to help them change.
September 28, 2019
Where I am currently on my spiritual journey, this book has been the most insightful, helpful, and agreeable of Wilcox’s writings.
This really validated a lot of things I have thought and felt for a long time and helped contextualize them in a larger framework of belief and worship. I can admit that some of this may not work for others, but for me this was a really great book.
This really validated a lot of things I have thought and felt for a long time and helped contextualize them in a larger framework of belief and worship. I can admit that some of this may not work for others, but for me this was a really great book.
March 23, 2021
Loved both books. I really loved this second one even more than his Continuous Atonement book. Both are fantastic though.
March 1, 2013
"Inborn in every man is a strong instinct...to find God and to worship Him," (President Benson) I loved it! Didn't hear me the first time? I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! I used capslock so you know I am serious! :) Brad Wilcox is a spiritual wizard! (okay he's not a wizard....but he is like the Hogwarts of spiritual!) I always learn so much from his books! He lays out concepts so simply that they become simply profound. This book is about how we, as humans, need to be constantly progressing but at our own speed and at God's speed. What's that old saying? "Life is a race that you eventually discover you are only competing with yourself." I think that's how it goes! Brad Wilcox says in life, "We are not earning a treasure in heaven, but learning to treasure heavenly things." (23) Mainly God accepts us how we come unto Him and He makes or molds us into the best possible versions of ourselves. And that is a beautiful thing! :) "A God who asks nothing of us is making nothing of us, and that is not the case. In this symphony that is my life, God is not content to be a member of the audience or stage crew. He is not even content to be the conductor. He wants to be the composer." (17) I think that any book that encourages you to be better in life is definitely worth the read. Here's one of my many favorite quotes.
"True faith is not just knowing God can, but knowing why sometimes He doesn't. True faith is not just believing that things can work out perfectly, but trusting when sometimes they don't. True faith is not just receiving your answer, but accepting His." (39)
"True faith is not just knowing God can, but knowing why sometimes He doesn't. True faith is not just believing that things can work out perfectly, but trusting when sometimes they don't. True faith is not just receiving your answer, but accepting His." (39)
October 14, 2015
I can still hear Brad Wilcox's voice in my head. It took me some time to complete this, tho I wouldn't say that's the fault of the author.
I'm glad I stuck with it. As I read the last chapter last night, the clown of God, I double checked to make sure that wasn't a typo for crown. It wasn't. And it was a wonderful chapter to conclude with! Brad believes that life is comparable to juggling, as opposed to finding balance. I thought this was an interesting comparison, but I could totally relate. Somedays one thing is a priority, and the next another is, and so on and so forth. Day by day. There's a lot of give and take but the crucial part is being in tune enough with the spirit to know what takes priority each day. This is a current struggle, which is probably why it resonated so well with me.
Great insight and great spiritual prompts in here. I'll put it on my "to buy" list so I can re-read and mark it up.
I'm glad I stuck with it. As I read the last chapter last night, the clown of God, I double checked to make sure that wasn't a typo for crown. It wasn't. And it was a wonderful chapter to conclude with! Brad believes that life is comparable to juggling, as opposed to finding balance. I thought this was an interesting comparison, but I could totally relate. Somedays one thing is a priority, and the next another is, and so on and so forth. Day by day. There's a lot of give and take but the crucial part is being in tune enough with the spirit to know what takes priority each day. This is a current struggle, which is probably why it resonated so well with me.
Great insight and great spiritual prompts in here. I'll put it on my "to buy" list so I can re-read and mark it up.
Want to read
March 7, 2013I met with the author, Brad Wilcox, this morning and we exchanged copies of our new books (he wrote an endorsement for mine). He is truly one of the most incredible people I've ever known. This book is the companion to "The Continuous Atonement." Can't wait to read it. I hold him in the highest regard. A person of inestimable integrity and genuine caring.
March 25, 2013
A wonderful, life changing book. I have loved and appreciated both Continuous books. They have made a tremendous impact on my life and decisions. Thank you Brother Wilcox!
June 13, 2013
This is one of the best books I've read in years from a spiritual perspective. He has such an amazingly clear and consider way tot putting things. Loved it!!!!
August 5, 2015
A great follow-up to the Continuous Atonement, this offers insights into how to live the gospel and endure to the end. His thoughts about callings and church activity were especially helpful.
April 28, 2016
Again, I now look at the world differently.
April 9, 2023
I love the insights that this book gave me. A lot to think about and learn. This life is about continually learning and growing. One step at a time.
March 20, 2020
A book that I need to read over and over again. There is so much here to inspire and to learn from!
August 21, 2013
Encouraging and enlightening.
August 25, 2014
This was a good book! It teaches the importance of the Atonement and accepting this incredible gift and using it to change. I love this quote from the introduction that seems to be a theme, "Heaven is not a prize for the perfect, but the future home of all who are willing to be perfected." We need to recognize the blessing of Jesus Christ and let Him help us become His disciple, become like Him.
I was touched by the question and chapter half way through the book that asked the question, "Why do we believe in Christ?" I've believed in Christ and had faith in him as long as I can remember, so this question stopped me and helped me think about where my faith and belief in Christ comes from - the Spirit, prophets, scriptures - and the importance of strengthening that belief and knowledge and expressing it.
I also enjoyed the important point of having zeal and knowledge and being "wide-awake" disciples of Christ. Discipleship is not a spectator sport. The gospel of Jesus Christ invites us to participate, be involved, experience, and come to Him to let Him help us change.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes (without page numbers since I read the e-book):
"There should never be just two options: being perfect or giving up. When a person is learning to play the piano, are the only options performing at Carnegie Hall or quitting? No. Growth and development take time. Learning takes practice. Discipleship is a journey, and true conversion is a continuous process (Introduction)."
"Is mortality just a big test He devised to see who gets weeded out and who ends up with the grand prize? Do we see His rules and regulations as holding us back?....Do we see the Atonement as only a way to live again after we die? If so, why live?....The purpose of the plan of salvation is not to weed us out, but to offer us every possible chance to succeed. Mortality is a time of probation, but also a time of preparation....God has an even grander end in mind. He not only wants us to have all that He has but to become all that He is (Introduction)."
"True conversion occurs when we stop trying to earn heaven and start trying to learn it (Introduction)."
"We are not paying our way into heaven. We are practicing for it (Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"Going to the temple and even going to the celestial kingdom are not the ends. They are means to the real end. The ultimate goal for all of us to become more like our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. We may be content to stay the way we are, but they have a different plan in mind (Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"Sadly, much of modern Christianity does not acknowledge that God makes any real demands on those who believe in Him (Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"God requires our obedience, sacrifice, and commitment to live the gospel. He calls for self-control, self-discipline, best efforts, and hard work. He wants our time, talents, and treasure (Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"A God who asks nothing of us is making nothing of us, and that is not the case (Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"The repenting sinner must suffer for his sins, but this suffering has a different purpose than punishment or payment. Its purpose is change (President Spencer W. Kimball, Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"Scriptures make it clear that no unclean thing can dwell with God, but no unchanged thing will ever want to (Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"Heaven will not be heaven for those who have not chosen to become heavenly (Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"We are not earning a treasure in heaven, but learning to treasure heavenly things Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"Fit us for heaven to live with thee there ("Away in a Manger", Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"True faith is not just knowing why sometimes He doesn't. True faith is not just believing that things can work out perfectly, but trusting when sometimes they don't. True faith is not just receiving your answer, but accepting His (God Isn't Just Proving Us, He's Improving Us)."
"Our perfect father does not expect us to be perfect children yet. He had only one such Child. Meanwhile, therefore, sometimes with smudges on our cheeks, dirt on our hands, and shoes untied, stammeringly but smilingly we present God with a dandelion--as if it were an orchid or a rose!...[and] He receives it (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, God Isn't Just Proving Us, He's Improving Us)."
"Sacrifice is not the price we pay to earn the celestial kingdom; it is the essence of the celestial kingdom. Testimony is not the word that gets us through the gates; it is the language spoken inside. Charity is not an audition piece for the heavenly choir; it is the celestial music (God Isn't Just Proving Us, He's Improving Us)."
"Conversion is an offering of self, of love, and of loyalty we give to God in gratitude for [His] gift [to us] (Elder David A. Bednar, God Isn't Just Proving Us, He's Improving Us)."
"Have my labors in the vineyard of the Lord caused me to become something (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, God Isn't Just Proving Us, He's Improving Us)?"
"True conversion is not instantaneous. It includes making daily choices to reject the path that leads to becoming a natural man and to choose instead the path that leads to becoming a saint (A Mighty Slow Change)."
"Most repentance does not involve sensational or dramatic changes, but rather is a step-by-step, steady, and consistent movement towards godliness (President Ezra Taft Benson, A Mighty Slow Change)."
"'I always felt like I had to do my part perfectly to be worthy. I never understood that I could partners with Jesus in my imperfection and He would help me 'do my part' and progress toward perfection. I suddenly felt like everything was no longer on my shoulders. I no longer felt alone.' Marilyn had been trying to make her house immaculate to receive Christ as a special visitor instead of also thinking of Him as a backdoor friend who was willing to come help her with the chores (A Mighty Slow Change)."
"The Atonement is not just a helpful tool. It is an absolute necessity. Christ does not just open the door of opportunity. He extends His hand and helps us through it (Applying the Atonement)."
"Discipleship is not a spectator sport (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Wide-Awake Discipleship)."
"Earth's crammed with heaven. And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees, takes off his shoes--The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries (Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Wide-Awake Discipleship)."
"Temple doors are not closed to anyone. Like a great university, the temple is open to everyone who is willing to prepare to enter. Anyone can go to a university, but first you have to go to elementary school, middle school, and high school. Then you pass an entrance exam....Once a student is admitted to a university, receiving an education is not automatic. It takes great effort. Learning in the temple is similar (Receiving Our Endowments)."
"Ours is a participatory church (Receiving Our Endowments)."
"There is no place on earth where we gain a clearer and more complete understanding of the Savior, our dependence on Him, and His involvement in our lives. Indeed, our feelings about the temple are the truest indicators of our deepest feelings about Christ (Elder Robert E. Wells, Receiving Our Endowments)."
"As we learn to recognize Christ in the ordinances, signs, and symbols of the temple, we prepare ourselves to one day recognize Him (Receiving Our Endowments)."
I was touched by the question and chapter half way through the book that asked the question, "Why do we believe in Christ?" I've believed in Christ and had faith in him as long as I can remember, so this question stopped me and helped me think about where my faith and belief in Christ comes from - the Spirit, prophets, scriptures - and the importance of strengthening that belief and knowledge and expressing it.
I also enjoyed the important point of having zeal and knowledge and being "wide-awake" disciples of Christ. Discipleship is not a spectator sport. The gospel of Jesus Christ invites us to participate, be involved, experience, and come to Him to let Him help us change.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes (without page numbers since I read the e-book):
"There should never be just two options: being perfect or giving up. When a person is learning to play the piano, are the only options performing at Carnegie Hall or quitting? No. Growth and development take time. Learning takes practice. Discipleship is a journey, and true conversion is a continuous process (Introduction)."
"Is mortality just a big test He devised to see who gets weeded out and who ends up with the grand prize? Do we see His rules and regulations as holding us back?....Do we see the Atonement as only a way to live again after we die? If so, why live?....The purpose of the plan of salvation is not to weed us out, but to offer us every possible chance to succeed. Mortality is a time of probation, but also a time of preparation....God has an even grander end in mind. He not only wants us to have all that He has but to become all that He is (Introduction)."
"True conversion occurs when we stop trying to earn heaven and start trying to learn it (Introduction)."
"We are not paying our way into heaven. We are practicing for it (Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"Going to the temple and even going to the celestial kingdom are not the ends. They are means to the real end. The ultimate goal for all of us to become more like our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. We may be content to stay the way we are, but they have a different plan in mind (Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"Sadly, much of modern Christianity does not acknowledge that God makes any real demands on those who believe in Him (Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"God requires our obedience, sacrifice, and commitment to live the gospel. He calls for self-control, self-discipline, best efforts, and hard work. He wants our time, talents, and treasure (Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"A God who asks nothing of us is making nothing of us, and that is not the case (Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"The repenting sinner must suffer for his sins, but this suffering has a different purpose than punishment or payment. Its purpose is change (President Spencer W. Kimball, Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"Scriptures make it clear that no unclean thing can dwell with God, but no unchanged thing will ever want to (Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"Heaven will not be heaven for those who have not chosen to become heavenly (Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"We are not earning a treasure in heaven, but learning to treasure heavenly things Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"Fit us for heaven to live with thee there ("Away in a Manger", Learning (Not Earning) Heaven)."
"True faith is not just knowing why sometimes He doesn't. True faith is not just believing that things can work out perfectly, but trusting when sometimes they don't. True faith is not just receiving your answer, but accepting His (God Isn't Just Proving Us, He's Improving Us)."
"Our perfect father does not expect us to be perfect children yet. He had only one such Child. Meanwhile, therefore, sometimes with smudges on our cheeks, dirt on our hands, and shoes untied, stammeringly but smilingly we present God with a dandelion--as if it were an orchid or a rose!...[and] He receives it (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, God Isn't Just Proving Us, He's Improving Us)."
"Sacrifice is not the price we pay to earn the celestial kingdom; it is the essence of the celestial kingdom. Testimony is not the word that gets us through the gates; it is the language spoken inside. Charity is not an audition piece for the heavenly choir; it is the celestial music (God Isn't Just Proving Us, He's Improving Us)."
"Conversion is an offering of self, of love, and of loyalty we give to God in gratitude for [His] gift [to us] (Elder David A. Bednar, God Isn't Just Proving Us, He's Improving Us)."
"Have my labors in the vineyard of the Lord caused me to become something (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, God Isn't Just Proving Us, He's Improving Us)?"
"True conversion is not instantaneous. It includes making daily choices to reject the path that leads to becoming a natural man and to choose instead the path that leads to becoming a saint (A Mighty Slow Change)."
"Most repentance does not involve sensational or dramatic changes, but rather is a step-by-step, steady, and consistent movement towards godliness (President Ezra Taft Benson, A Mighty Slow Change)."
"'I always felt like I had to do my part perfectly to be worthy. I never understood that I could partners with Jesus in my imperfection and He would help me 'do my part' and progress toward perfection. I suddenly felt like everything was no longer on my shoulders. I no longer felt alone.' Marilyn had been trying to make her house immaculate to receive Christ as a special visitor instead of also thinking of Him as a backdoor friend who was willing to come help her with the chores (A Mighty Slow Change)."
"The Atonement is not just a helpful tool. It is an absolute necessity. Christ does not just open the door of opportunity. He extends His hand and helps us through it (Applying the Atonement)."
"Discipleship is not a spectator sport (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Wide-Awake Discipleship)."
"Earth's crammed with heaven. And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees, takes off his shoes--The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries (Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Wide-Awake Discipleship)."
"Temple doors are not closed to anyone. Like a great university, the temple is open to everyone who is willing to prepare to enter. Anyone can go to a university, but first you have to go to elementary school, middle school, and high school. Then you pass an entrance exam....Once a student is admitted to a university, receiving an education is not automatic. It takes great effort. Learning in the temple is similar (Receiving Our Endowments)."
"Ours is a participatory church (Receiving Our Endowments)."
"There is no place on earth where we gain a clearer and more complete understanding of the Savior, our dependence on Him, and His involvement in our lives. Indeed, our feelings about the temple are the truest indicators of our deepest feelings about Christ (Elder Robert E. Wells, Receiving Our Endowments)."
"As we learn to recognize Christ in the ordinances, signs, and symbols of the temple, we prepare ourselves to one day recognize Him (Receiving Our Endowments)."
March 31, 2020
Seriously! This book has been a game changer! As you know, this year, I’ve had a little bit of trial of faith. But, this book has helped me refocus on the plain and precious truths of the Gospel!
Because this book is just so stock full of amazing truths, I’m going to do the same as I did with One Thousand Gifts and just list some of my favorite quotes! But, whether or not you are Mormon, I seriously suggest reading this to focus on Christ, His Grace, His love for us, and His plan for us. (He does include a few chapters on the LDS temples, but I decided to leave those quotes out and focus on ones that other Christians could relate to as well.)
“God isn’t just proving us, He’s improving us.”
“‘I can’t do this Mormon thing,’ a friend told me. ‘I’ve tried and the expectations are just too high.’ And she’s not alone in her thinking. Many people, as they feel themselves falling short of perfection, are tempted to quit trying. But are there only two options? Think of it this way: When a person is learning to play the piano, are the only two options performing at Carnegie Hall or quitting? Similarly, in mortality, are the only two choices being perfect or giving up? No. Growth and development take time. Learning takes practice. Discipleship is a journey, and true conversion is a continuous process.”
“Sometimes finding hope and motivation to keep moving forward…is as simple as going back to core doctrines and refocusing on them through new eyes.”
“True conversion occurs when we stop trying to earn heaven and start trying to learn it. Conversion deepens as we understand the purposes and power of God and recognize how freely He offers His help…Conversion is refined as we nourish our testimonies and bring life to our discipleship. Conversion endures as we draw on the power of Christ’s name and His holy temple. Conversion allows us to reach outward as we serve int he kingdom and juggle life’s many responsibilities.”
To truly believe in your faith, you need to have a real conversion. It is a progress. It takes time. #mormon #lds
“I guess it would be easier if getting a body or getting baptized were our ultimate goals, but those are not the end. They are just a means to the end. Going to the temple and even going to the celestial kingdom are not the ends. They are means to the real end. The ultimate goal is for all of us to become more like our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.”
“Elder Dallin H Oaks said: ‘The Final Judgement is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts–what we have done. It is an acknowledgement of the final effects of our acts and thoughts–what we have become.”
“We accept the Atonement by faith, which includes repentance, covenants, and ordinances. Baptism and temple ordinances are not attempts to add to the finished works of Christ’s sacrifice. These and other righteous works are extensions of our faith, by-products of our acceptance of Christ, and evidence of Christ working with, in, and through us.”
“How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him?”
“Parents know that children are learning and growing. Their love is bigger than smelly diapers and temper tantrums. They see beyond such moments to the children’s great potential. God must feel the same.”
“Giving up would be rejecting the Atonement. Trying is accepting the Atonement.”
“In the command, ‘Be ye therefore perfect’ (Matthew 5:48), the Greek word that was translated as perfect is teleios, which means ‘finished’. We are finished as we place ourselves in the hands of the ‘finisher of [our] faith’ (Moroni 6:4). As we make covenants with Christ, He offers to be our tender tutor.”
“I visualize grabbing the iron rod as grasping the arm of Jesus Christ. The only way any of us can make it is by holding on to the Savior and being infused with His power.”
“Because of the necessity of agency and choice, we must be the one to grasp, figuratively or literally, the extended had. It is that outreached hand that we call grace.”
“Taking hold of His hand and allowing Him to lift us doesn’t happen automatically or quickly. It is a spiritual skill that has to be learned and relearned, and then, that learning must be continually applied.”
To truly believe in your faith, you need to have a real conversion. It is a progress. It takes time. #mormon #lds
“Occasionally I have seen a man walking near the BYU campus carrying a large cross bearing the words ‘saved by Grace’. He seems to thinks LDS are missing that message. On the contrary, we already acknowledge and agree that we are saved by grace alone. However, we also recognize that being saved by grace is only part of the purpose of Christ’s cross. Christ came to save us by bridging the abyss between humans and the divine, but then what? Salvation assures there is life after death and life after sin, but there also has to be life after salvation! Our goal must include more than returning to and making peace with God. It has to be transformed by Him.”
“When I focus too long on my inadequacies, I peter out quickly in my quest. When I focus instead on Christ, I find ‘the power of godliness’.”
“The Bible is not religion; it is a history of those who had religion. The religion of those who live within the covers of the Bible centered in living oracles and the ordinances of salvation. Theirs was a religion of prophets and apostles. That is the same religion we enjoy today.”
“My oldest son, Russell, would say, ‘We believe in the exact same Christ you do. We just know Him better.’ How could Russell make such a bold claim? Because we have additional scripture and the words of modern apostles and prophets who testify of Christ and help us come to know Him. It is one thing to believe in Jesus. It is another thing to know Him.”
“Too many LDS were zealously testifying of truth without actually knowing the gospel…Some LDS go through all the right motions without feeling any of the emotions. They settle for rule following instead of religion, for obedience and sacrifice instead of consecration, for testimony instead of conversion, and for cultural Mormonism instead of the soul-transforming fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. IT is time for a little zeal with our knowledge. It is time for a few alarm clocks to ring. ‘Awake and arise, come forth, and do not tarry.’ It’s time for wide-awake discipleship.”
“While serving his mission…my son David once wrote, ‘People need to realize that Christ’s Atonement is not just about giving us a fish, but teaching us to fish. It is not bout feeding us for a day, but rather feeding us for a lifetime–an eternal lifetime.’ If this were not true, then Christ’s suffering could be dismissed as nothing more than a kind but shortsighted act of a friend who is allowing us to turn in His homework with our names on it. Such a good deed might get us a passing grade in the moment, but it wouldn’t teach us anything in the long run.”
Because this book is just so stock full of amazing truths, I’m going to do the same as I did with One Thousand Gifts and just list some of my favorite quotes! But, whether or not you are Mormon, I seriously suggest reading this to focus on Christ, His Grace, His love for us, and His plan for us. (He does include a few chapters on the LDS temples, but I decided to leave those quotes out and focus on ones that other Christians could relate to as well.)
“God isn’t just proving us, He’s improving us.”
“‘I can’t do this Mormon thing,’ a friend told me. ‘I’ve tried and the expectations are just too high.’ And she’s not alone in her thinking. Many people, as they feel themselves falling short of perfection, are tempted to quit trying. But are there only two options? Think of it this way: When a person is learning to play the piano, are the only two options performing at Carnegie Hall or quitting? Similarly, in mortality, are the only two choices being perfect or giving up? No. Growth and development take time. Learning takes practice. Discipleship is a journey, and true conversion is a continuous process.”
“Sometimes finding hope and motivation to keep moving forward…is as simple as going back to core doctrines and refocusing on them through new eyes.”
“True conversion occurs when we stop trying to earn heaven and start trying to learn it. Conversion deepens as we understand the purposes and power of God and recognize how freely He offers His help…Conversion is refined as we nourish our testimonies and bring life to our discipleship. Conversion endures as we draw on the power of Christ’s name and His holy temple. Conversion allows us to reach outward as we serve int he kingdom and juggle life’s many responsibilities.”
To truly believe in your faith, you need to have a real conversion. It is a progress. It takes time. #mormon #lds
“I guess it would be easier if getting a body or getting baptized were our ultimate goals, but those are not the end. They are just a means to the end. Going to the temple and even going to the celestial kingdom are not the ends. They are means to the real end. The ultimate goal is for all of us to become more like our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.”
“Elder Dallin H Oaks said: ‘The Final Judgement is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts–what we have done. It is an acknowledgement of the final effects of our acts and thoughts–what we have become.”
“We accept the Atonement by faith, which includes repentance, covenants, and ordinances. Baptism and temple ordinances are not attempts to add to the finished works of Christ’s sacrifice. These and other righteous works are extensions of our faith, by-products of our acceptance of Christ, and evidence of Christ working with, in, and through us.”
“How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him?”
“Parents know that children are learning and growing. Their love is bigger than smelly diapers and temper tantrums. They see beyond such moments to the children’s great potential. God must feel the same.”
“Giving up would be rejecting the Atonement. Trying is accepting the Atonement.”
“In the command, ‘Be ye therefore perfect’ (Matthew 5:48), the Greek word that was translated as perfect is teleios, which means ‘finished’. We are finished as we place ourselves in the hands of the ‘finisher of [our] faith’ (Moroni 6:4). As we make covenants with Christ, He offers to be our tender tutor.”
“I visualize grabbing the iron rod as grasping the arm of Jesus Christ. The only way any of us can make it is by holding on to the Savior and being infused with His power.”
“Because of the necessity of agency and choice, we must be the one to grasp, figuratively or literally, the extended had. It is that outreached hand that we call grace.”
“Taking hold of His hand and allowing Him to lift us doesn’t happen automatically or quickly. It is a spiritual skill that has to be learned and relearned, and then, that learning must be continually applied.”
To truly believe in your faith, you need to have a real conversion. It is a progress. It takes time. #mormon #lds
“Occasionally I have seen a man walking near the BYU campus carrying a large cross bearing the words ‘saved by Grace’. He seems to thinks LDS are missing that message. On the contrary, we already acknowledge and agree that we are saved by grace alone. However, we also recognize that being saved by grace is only part of the purpose of Christ’s cross. Christ came to save us by bridging the abyss between humans and the divine, but then what? Salvation assures there is life after death and life after sin, but there also has to be life after salvation! Our goal must include more than returning to and making peace with God. It has to be transformed by Him.”
“When I focus too long on my inadequacies, I peter out quickly in my quest. When I focus instead on Christ, I find ‘the power of godliness’.”
“The Bible is not religion; it is a history of those who had religion. The religion of those who live within the covers of the Bible centered in living oracles and the ordinances of salvation. Theirs was a religion of prophets and apostles. That is the same religion we enjoy today.”
“My oldest son, Russell, would say, ‘We believe in the exact same Christ you do. We just know Him better.’ How could Russell make such a bold claim? Because we have additional scripture and the words of modern apostles and prophets who testify of Christ and help us come to know Him. It is one thing to believe in Jesus. It is another thing to know Him.”
“Too many LDS were zealously testifying of truth without actually knowing the gospel…Some LDS go through all the right motions without feeling any of the emotions. They settle for rule following instead of religion, for obedience and sacrifice instead of consecration, for testimony instead of conversion, and for cultural Mormonism instead of the soul-transforming fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. IT is time for a little zeal with our knowledge. It is time for a few alarm clocks to ring. ‘Awake and arise, come forth, and do not tarry.’ It’s time for wide-awake discipleship.”
“While serving his mission…my son David once wrote, ‘People need to realize that Christ’s Atonement is not just about giving us a fish, but teaching us to fish. It is not bout feeding us for a day, but rather feeding us for a lifetime–an eternal lifetime.’ If this were not true, then Christ’s suffering could be dismissed as nothing more than a kind but shortsighted act of a friend who is allowing us to turn in His homework with our names on it. Such a good deed might get us a passing grade in the moment, but it wouldn’t teach us anything in the long run.”
October 20, 2018
Reading challenge 2018: A book my mom loves. This is the second in a series about the atonement of Christ by Wilcox. Here re some points I found powerful:
Page 20- The Savior asking us to stay with him and use His atonement to be cleansed and want to stay with him.
Page 30- God’s delays are not always denials.
Page 61- The idea that predispositions are not sins. They are part of individualized education plans. They don’t make us the natural man. The natural man is anyone who refuses to come into Christ.
Page 95- Without the Savior we would all be unchanged. His grace transforms from human to divine.
I loved the chapter about the power of names and how names are powerful. When we take the name of Christ during the sacrament, that is very powerful.
I like the idea that callings are on trains not ladders. Ladders move us up or down as in “importance.” Trains move us from place to place so that we can learn new things.
I loved the whole of the last chapter, The Clown of God. We have to juggle all the time and Jesus smiles at us because he knows that juggling is part of how we learn. We are given many challenges that we cannot handle alone because when we access the power of Christ, our strength is magnified and weaknesses overcome. I like the idea that if we live our life close to the Savior, we will know the things that need priority at the time. God manages our moments that may seem like a crisis.
Page 20- The Savior asking us to stay with him and use His atonement to be cleansed and want to stay with him.
Page 30- God’s delays are not always denials.
Page 61- The idea that predispositions are not sins. They are part of individualized education plans. They don’t make us the natural man. The natural man is anyone who refuses to come into Christ.
Page 95- Without the Savior we would all be unchanged. His grace transforms from human to divine.
I loved the chapter about the power of names and how names are powerful. When we take the name of Christ during the sacrament, that is very powerful.
I like the idea that callings are on trains not ladders. Ladders move us up or down as in “importance.” Trains move us from place to place so that we can learn new things.
I loved the whole of the last chapter, The Clown of God. We have to juggle all the time and Jesus smiles at us because he knows that juggling is part of how we learn. We are given many challenges that we cannot handle alone because when we access the power of Christ, our strength is magnified and weaknesses overcome. I like the idea that if we live our life close to the Savior, we will know the things that need priority at the time. God manages our moments that may seem like a crisis.
March 17, 2018
This book is geared more to spiritual growth and development more than anything. Brad does a good job at motivating the reader to want to be better. He includes modern examples and situations in the text to make it easier for the readers to relate to what he is teaching and sharing. Spirituality is often hard to desire and be motivated to develop in the world we live in but with Wilcox’s “The Continuous Conversion” and his way of explaining things it makes it easier to understand why spirituality is necessary and possible for everyone. One of my favorite lines from the book is this, “Heaven in not a prize for the perfect, but the future home of all who are willing to be perfected.” I would recommend this book to anyone who wants or needs a spiritual jolt in their lives. The bible and other scriptures obviously should come as part of learning about Christ but this book is easier to relate to in our day while still teaching a lot of the same principles found in the bible.
July 17, 2020
Very encouraging.
Some thoughts and quotes:
"The purpose of the plan of salvation is not to weed us out, but to offer us every possible chance to succeed."
"While many Christians see the Atonement as a huge favor Christ did for us, Latter-day Saints also see it as a huge investment He made in us."
"Do we think we are earning heaven? No. Jesus paid our debt to justice, and He paid that debt in full. As we now do what He asks of us, we are not earning heaven. We are learning heaven. As we take each little step to show faith, repent, make and live covenants, seek the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end, we are not paying our way into heaven. We are practicing for it."
"True faith is not just knowing God can, but knowing that sometimes He doesn't. True faith is not just believing that things can work out perfectly, but trusting that sometimes they don't. True faith is not just receiving your answer, but accepting His."
Some thoughts and quotes:
"The purpose of the plan of salvation is not to weed us out, but to offer us every possible chance to succeed."
"While many Christians see the Atonement as a huge favor Christ did for us, Latter-day Saints also see it as a huge investment He made in us."
"Do we think we are earning heaven? No. Jesus paid our debt to justice, and He paid that debt in full. As we now do what He asks of us, we are not earning heaven. We are learning heaven. As we take each little step to show faith, repent, make and live covenants, seek the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end, we are not paying our way into heaven. We are practicing for it."
"True faith is not just knowing God can, but knowing that sometimes He doesn't. True faith is not just believing that things can work out perfectly, but trusting that sometimes they don't. True faith is not just receiving your answer, but accepting His."
September 16, 2024
This was the second book I've read by Brad Wilcox. The first one was the Continuous Atonement. I thought it was excellent. When I started reading this book, I didn't think I would like it as much but the more I read, the more interested I became. He says God isn't just proving us, he's trying to improve us. So many good things in it. I found myself needing to read and learn more about the atonement. Good insights the author gave. My eyes were opened to things I hadn't thought of before in the terms he described. I found Wide-Awake Discipleship, Receiving Our Endowments, and The Clown of God really hit home to me. But the chapter that really stood out to me was Ladders, Train Tracks, and Callings. There were things he said that I really needed to read. I will need to reread some of the chapters in the future to remind me of what I need to do. Times when I get down, some pages will give me an uplift.
March 4, 2024
Know, do, be
“Discipleship is not a spectator sport” -Uchtdorf
“Faithful in His service”
Power to change
Repent, learn
To be sanctified
Heal that which needs healing
“Saviors on mount Zion” -Obadiah
Inner confidence
Temple. We enter to participate
Humility, reverence, and a desire to learn
Active, instead of passive
The garment = Christ’s atonement to cover them
Girdle = apron
Willing to be God’s servant
Missed Him…because they stopped Looking for Him
Our bodies/our whole souls as an offering to Him
Power to endure is found in the temple
Chapter 8 = temple
“If you’re not enough without the (gold medal) you’ll never be enough with it”
Callings … growth and development
Our efforts matter to Him
To be “uncalled” is not to be unworthy or unable
If ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work
“Discipleship is not a spectator sport” -Uchtdorf
“Faithful in His service”
Power to change
Repent, learn
To be sanctified
Heal that which needs healing
“Saviors on mount Zion” -Obadiah
Inner confidence
Temple. We enter to participate
Humility, reverence, and a desire to learn
Active, instead of passive
The garment = Christ’s atonement to cover them
Girdle = apron
Willing to be God’s servant
Missed Him…because they stopped Looking for Him
Our bodies/our whole souls as an offering to Him
Power to endure is found in the temple
Chapter 8 = temple
“If you’re not enough without the (gold medal) you’ll never be enough with it”
Callings … growth and development
Our efforts matter to Him
To be “uncalled” is not to be unworthy or unable
If ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work
September 9, 2024
I love reading The Continuous Conversion by Brad Wilcox. Brother Wilcox wrote a great book, and here are some of the principles I love:
1. Becoming Like God: The temple and celestial kingdom are steps toward becoming like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
2. Preparation for Heaven: Christ is preparing us for heaven, not heaven for us.
3. Submission to Christ: Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is the Christ.
4. Temple Learning: Our temple experience depends on our humility, reverence, and desire to learn.
5. Receiving Christ: The temple endowment is about receiving Christ and His sacrifice for our exaltation.
6. Callings: Callings help us grow; they don’t earn us a place in heaven.”
1. Becoming Like God: The temple and celestial kingdom are steps toward becoming like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
2. Preparation for Heaven: Christ is preparing us for heaven, not heaven for us.
3. Submission to Christ: Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is the Christ.
4. Temple Learning: Our temple experience depends on our humility, reverence, and desire to learn.
5. Receiving Christ: The temple endowment is about receiving Christ and His sacrifice for our exaltation.
6. Callings: Callings help us grow; they don’t earn us a place in heaven.”
June 15, 2020
I really loved this book. I picked it up as preparation to teach a group of teenagers about being converted. I'm glad I did. Parts of it were a little repetitive, but I think intentional to drive home his points. I listened to the audio version read by the author, which brought it a little more to life for me. Well-researched and documented, I found numerous insights and personal revelations about drawing on the power of Jesus Christ's atonement and putting it to use in my life. The ideas put forth are ones everyone should know and understand. I'm excited to share what I've learned with these young women.
January 27, 2020
This one was not quite as amazing as The Continuous Atonement for me, but still a really good follow-up to the ideas presented in the first book. Here's a quote that really sums up the idea of it: "True conversion is not a onetime event, but a process that takes time. Most people accept that in theory, but we still beat ourselves up when we fall short. My message is "Be patient. You are doing better than you realize. Hang in there!" We are not paying our way into heaven. We're practicing for it!
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