For Better But Not For Worse: By David Dynes

Every member of this church is a convert to this church. Even if you were born into the church, you still had to have a conversion to the gospel and a change of heart. Without this change of heart, our participation in this church barely does any good for us. Alma the Younger gives us one of the greatest examples of showing what a change of heart can do for a person. Before Alma had a change of heart, he was “a very wicked and an idolatrous man [who] . . . led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities.” (1) This is what Alma once was, and after his change, he became one of the most influential prophets and missionaries in the Book of Mormon.

King Benjamin talks to his people about serving their Lord and about the Law of Moses. At the end of his speech, the people of King Benjamin tell him that “because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” (2) A change of heart does not just come to anyone. The change almost always requires two things to happen: a manifestation of the Holy Ghost, and a willingness to change. Ezra Taft Benson emphasizes and stresses these two points when he said that a change “is brought about only through faith in Jesus Christ and through the operation of the Spirit upon us.”(3) Nephi’s brothers, Laman and Lemuel, show us what happens when a willingness to change does not take place, the attitude adjustment and willingness to serve the Lord is not permanent. We must be willing to change and try to act more righteous; otherwise, our actions are for naught because we do not have the true spirit within us.

“When we have undergone this mighty change . . . it is as though we have become a new person.” (4) Alma the younger changes from trying to destroy the church to building it up. The Book of Mormon shows the mighty change in Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah when Mormon wrote that “thus they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth.” (5) When a person undergoes a true change, their character, mindset, and attitude changes completely. My friend from high school used to be a party girl and used to get into many terrible situations filled with drinking and sex. One day, things just didn’t go right for her, and it got her to think about why she was in the situations she was in. She decided on that day, to give up her old ways, and make more of a commitment to give service through her church. If you were to meet her today, you would never be able to tell that she used to do the things she once did. Her firm decision in creating a change, and giving service unto to others through her church allowed a mighty change to take place in her heart.

The change in Alma and the sons of Mosiah led to thousands of Lamanities and fallen Nephites to repent and be baptized unto Christ. Not all of us will have a change in our lives that leads us to convert thousands of people. This does not mean that our change was any less complete or powerful. What we do not know is how our changes in our actions and attitudes will affect people we meet. Through our actions and examples, we can lead to changes in others as well. When Alma went to preach in the city of Ammonihah, he was kicked out and told not to return. Alma felt so depressed that he felt “weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul.” (6) Alma did not believe he had even gotten through to anyone in the city. An angel came to Alma and told him to go back. It turns out that Alma’s actions and preaching got through to only one person in the city. This one person eventually helps Alma in converting thousands of people. We never know when, where, or who our actions will affect. Through mighty changes in our hearts, we can become the people that God would have us be so that we may help fulfill his will in bringing people unto salvation.

A change in heart is what our Heavenly Father desires to see in us. He wants us to be as happy as we can be; he wants to help us along and be the best people and saints we can be. Ezra Taft Benson said that “[n]o one is more anxious to see us change our lives than the Father and the Savior.” (7) Heavenly Father cares about our well being, which is why he tries his hardest to bring about changes in our hearts, so that we can reach our full potential. Our Father in Heaven cares so much, that he will do anything he can. In the case of Alma the younger, the Father sent an “angel of the Lord” to call Alma unto repentance. (8) Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that he will send angels to us make necessary changes in our lives. Ultimately, a change of heart can lead us to the Celestial Kingdom and a desire to do the will of our Father. Without a change of heart, even on little issues, we may not be able to be forgiven of our sins because of our stubbornness. Only through the Spirit and a willingness to change can we truly make a change in our heart that will last for an eternity.

(1) Mosiah 27:8

(2) Mosiah 5:2

(3) Ezra Taft Benson, “A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct 1989, 2. http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=474727cd3f37b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

(4) Ezra Taft Benson, “A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct 1989, 2.

(5) Mosiah 27:36

(6) Alma 8:14

(7) Ezra Taft Benson, “A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct 1989, 2.

(8) Mosiah 27:11