Chapter 12

Principles of Zion, Part XII

Repentance, Baptism, Conversion, Strengthening One's Testimony

Heavenly Father, I am not pure and holy like Thee. How do I become clean from my sins
to enter into Thy presence in the eternal world?

Answer: Repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide you.

I do believe––the simple words spoken by one who is humble before God and ready to be
baptized.

Something happened, something fantastic in my life. I love the restored gospel. I love
Jesus Christ. I live for Thee.

Repentance––out with the old life and in with the new (JRE Link, 2017-0616 (Fri), WSE-MAIN).

It is a great day when you repent (JRE Link, 2018-0928 (Fri), COM-STR2).

Repentance is the pursuit of greater things in life. The future for you will be bright (JRE Link, 2017-0524 (Wed), COM-STR2).

Stop and feel the truth. Wade a second in the waters of baptism (JRE Link, 2018-0514 (Mon), COM-STR2).

There is clean water in the baptismal font. You need to pass through it. It's required (JRE Link, 2021-0501 (Sat), COM-STR2).

The waters of baptism, the waters of purity (JRE Link, 2017-1018 (Wed), COM-STR2).

You don't need to understand all things in order to be baptized. The peace of God will
follow you more and more as you embrace this work.

Be gracious and grateful to the missionaries when the truth is presented. God will smile
upon you from on high (JRE Link, 2019-0125 (Fri), COM-STR2).

Hold the light of the gospel for me. I'm discovering truth.

Show me the truth and I will believe (JRE Link, 2019-0125 (Fri), COM-STR2).

I want the truth in my life. I want the truth for my family (JRE Link, 2018-0615 (Fri), COM-STR2).

That's it—truth! We see it now.

The joy of truth! The marvelous feeling of living in truth.

Being righteous before God requires that you seek out the truth of religion and then live
true to that important knowledge once it is found.

A general belief in Christianity only gets you halfway there. You need a fulness of the
Spirit and a fulness of the truth to guide you––the gift of the Holy Ghost (JRE Link, 2018-0802 (Thu), COM-STR2).

If the Holy Ghost is with you, you'll have signs and signs and signs that the restored
Church of Jesus Christ is the correct one (JRE Link, 2020-0715 (Wed), COM-STR2).

The restored gospel will correct the pathway you are currently on and make it more
straight (JRE Link, 2019-0121 (Mon), COM-STR2).

Here's one thing about the restored gospel you will like––joy and happiness. Oh wait,
that's two things. Sorry! (JRE Link, 2018-0928 (Fri), COM-STR2)

You will enjoy being a member. Love in the Church will be all around you (JRE Link, 2019-0425 (Thu), COM-STR2).

If we get involved with this Church, what will happen to our family life?

Our family will be carried to greater heights. The blessings will be innumerable. The joy
to befall us through obedience to gospel principles will be off the charts (JRE Link, 2018-1207 (Fri), COM-STR2).

Everything you are looking for in the gospel of Jesus Christ is right here before your eyes
in this great and wonderful Church. It is time for you to stand up and commit yourself. Come
forth and be baptized.

Mere acceptance of truth is not enough. Obedience to God is required. Follow the
example of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, into the waters of baptism (JRE Link, 2019-0927 (Fri), COM-STR2).

Wow! Sensational things here in the restored gospel. So, why have I not already
scheduled my baptismal date with the missionaries?

Repent and be baptized. Don't wait around for doubt to set in (JRE Link, 2020-1004 (Sun), COM-STR2).

You've got the green light from the Spirit to get baptized.

Being baptized is being successful (JRE Link, 2018-0906 (Thu), COM-STR2).

You've found good here with the missionaries. So, keep the momentum going, get
baptized, and enjoy a happier and more peaceful life.

The truth is coming into focus. My search is at an end (JRE Link, 2018-0716 (Mon), COM-STR2).

Hesitant at first, but then happily ever after. You have no idea what great things are ahead
of you.

You have a chance to believe, a chance to become great (JRE Link, 2019-0420 (Sat), COM-STR2).

The moment has come. It's time to open your heart. The words you are hearing are true (JRE Link, 2019-0116 (Wed), COM-STR2).

You live a normal life, but then an opportunity comes along for you to move closer to
God and become a role model for others. You take that opportunity every time (JRE Link, 2018-1227 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Once you have received a witness of the Holy Ghost, never change your mind and go
backwards. Get baptized and move forward proudly in life with a firmness in faith, doubting
nothing.

Catch the vision of the restored gospel and stay with it. Don't stop believing (JRE Link, 2019-0101 (Tue), COM-STR2).

Be strong. Be a good example. Be a leader.... bringing more converts with you to fill the
empty seats at church.

Our faith in God is forever linked to the restored gospel. They are one and the same (JRE Link, 2020-0110 (Fri), COM-STR2).

And what is the restored gospel? The answer—the plainness and fulness of the gospel of
Jesus Christ that was held back by the Savior, for purposes of His own, until these latter days.

If you already love the gospel of Jesus Christ with all your heart, you're in for a great
surprise. The restored gospel will astound you (JRE Link, 2021-0724 (Sat), COM-STR2).

Restoring the gospel to earth outside of mainstream Christianity was the best way for the
Lord to get the job done... new wine in new bottles (JRE Link, 2021-0724 (Sat), COM-STR2).

Lo and behold, the Word is leading, watching over the world today and forever. This
beautiful, reestablished Church is His creation (JRE Link, 2021-0922 (Wed), COM-STR2).

The restored Church of Jesus Christ easily takes the first-place prize... the grand
champion of all religion.

I kid you not. The truth of religion is found in this small, but highly-successful Utah-
based Church.

When people say that you are good, that means a lot. Latter-day Saints are good.

Latter-day Saints—Living the gospel is their specialty. Faithfulness to God is there
trademark (JRE Link, 2020-0517 (Sun), COM-STR2).

Align yourself with the power of God (priesthood authority), and the truth of God. The
Latter-day Saints have both (JRE Link, 2020-0622 (Mon), COM-STR2).

To Peterson, and to all the great minds of the world—your search for truth ends here with
the restored gospel. The truth of religion encompasses all other truths of mankind (JRE Link, 2020-0806 (Thu), COM-STR2).

In favor of Peterson as long as he embodies the truth in his life, not just discovers it (JRE Link, 2020-0806 (Thu), WSE-MAIN).

Discover truth. Obey truth. A happier and more satisfying life is yours for the taking.

Make room in your heart for these beautiful restored truths from heaven.

The restored gospel is stunning and beyond... if you have eyes to see (JRE Link, 2020-0913 (Sun), COM-STR2).

The restored gospel provides an inspired understanding of the scriptures and of life itself (JRE Link, 2019-0319 (Tue), COM-STR2).

The restored gospel shines light upon those fundamental truths of humanity that have
been around for thousands of years and then enlightens the hearts and minds of men by the Holy
Ghost today with the greater truths.

There is not always an immediate trophy given for being good and having the truth.
Sometimes it takes years, decades or more for the world to catch up. And that is the case here
with the restored gospel being mostly unknown to the world all these years (JRE Link, 2017-0405 (Wed), COM-STR2).

"As to the Catholic Church and the original Church administered by Peter," says the
Lord, "I have optimized Church operations with a new restored gospel vision.

"I asked Notre Dame, but they couldn't give a correct answer about what the Book of
Mormon is and where it came from."

Reformation is not restoration. There's a difference. The great apostasy over many
centuries required a restoration of the gospel in modern times, not a reformation of the gospel by
acts of men from the apostasy's remains.

Generations of men interpreting the Bible has led to just that––the doctrines of men (JRE Link, 2019-0130 (Wed), WSE-MAIN).

The gospel of Jesus Christ was twisted and contorted over many centuries by men into
something it was not. So, when the simple truths of the gospel were newly restored by God in the
latter days, they became strange and unrecognizable to the world.

You don't take scripture that is many centuries old and then try to use that by itself to
construct a perfect understanding of God and our purpose here on earth. A continuous flow of

scripture, both ancient and modern, is required to know the full truth of God and His glorious
plan of salvation for mankind.

"I've got a real problem," says the Lord. "The world doesn't want the restored gospel
unless I water it down to something that better suits them."

Marriage is for keeps. Families are forever. Mainstream Christianity has never come to
grips with this important principle of eternal marriage and eternal families that is so essential to
the gospel. It's a principle that everyone believes and knows in their hearts to be true... everyone
except biblical scholars.

Celestial marriage: To be in love and enjoy eternal paradise—that sounds like a pretty
good plan of our Heavenly Father. We need biblical scholars to come on board. The Savior will
feel you in on the details through modern revelation (JRE Link, 2022-0404 (Mon), COM-STR2).

The nature of God, the plan of salvation, modern scriptures, modern prophets and
apostles, priesthood authority—mainstream Christianity has dropped the ball on many other
fundamental doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ, not just on celestial marriage. So when we
use the word "apostasy," that's exactly what we mean.

Mainstream Christianity provides partial truths and thoughtful commentary (JRE Link, 2019-0920 (Fri), COM-STR2).

The Holy Ghost provides a fullness of truth and inspired commentary (JRE Link, 2019-0920 (Fri), COM-STR2).

There is no standard of beliefs and doctrine in mainstream Christianity. Instead, there are
competing interests and competing visions of the truth everywhere (JRE Link, 2018-1230 (Sun), COM-STR2).

Mainstream Christianity is only a loosely affiliated group of church organizations with no
central command and control and no direct authority from God of its own to preach the gospel, to
administer sacred ordinances, or to define the requirements for eternal life.

Ordinances performed in the name of Jesus Christ without the proper authority fill the
earth. They avail nothing for mankind.

It is required to have the proper priesthood keys and authority from God to administer
ordinances. It is required to administer ordinances in the proper manner. And the ordinances
must be performed for all mankind, both the living and the dead, that all may have the
opportunity to receive salvation. Hence the need for the restoration of the gospel in modern times
to do this work in meetinghouses and temples.

The world went from zero to everything in 1830. The priesthood authority of God—lost
from the earth during the great apostasy—was restored once again to man (JRE Link, 2021-0718 (Sun), COM-STR2).

Trust the Savior to guide you in your beliefs.

Listen to the Savior speak. The Holy Ghost will share His words with you, even today,
even now.

The authoritative voice in matters of truth is the Holy Ghost––the Comforter promised by
the Savior to lead and guide us.

The sharpness of the word of God must be experienced personally. The Holy Ghost will
penetrate your inner most feelings. There will be no doubt in your mind as to what is true and
what is not (JRE Link, 2019-0608 (Sat), COM-STR2).

The Holy Ghost—the voice of impact in your life (JRE Link, 2019-0902 (Mon), WSE-MAIN).

The Holy Ghost easily trumps the knowledge and wisdom of the great Christian
philosophers and scholars of the world, past and present. Direct knowledge from heaven, without
additional filters applied to it by man, always wins out in the end.

The Holy Ghost knows the teachings and doctrines of all Christian churches and all world
religions. He surely knows which of all of these is true. Ask Him (JRE Link, 2020-0217 (Mon), COM-STR2).

The Holy Ghost knows what is literal and what is figurative in all verses of the Bible.
D&C Section 77 is a good example of how precise the Spirit of the Lord can be in that respect.
D&C Section 76 is a good example of taking a verse from the Bible and then having the Lord
expound through vision its glorious, fuller meaning far beyond anything man would otherwise
comprehend by just reading it.

The Holy Ghost provides the hints we need to know Paul's intent throughout all of his
great apostolic writings. Indeed, the epistles of Paul provide shadows of the greater truths to
come many centuries later in the restored Church.

A certainty in secular knowledge will be less valuable to you in life. A certainty in
spiritual knowledge—with the Holy Ghost as your personal tutor and the love of God filling your
heart—is what you want.

The mind and will of our Heavenly Father is presented to us through the scriptures and
more directly through the Holy Ghost (JRE Link, 2019-0321 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Heavenly Father, I ask Thee for the Holy Ghost, to have Him in my heart. My soul is laid
bare, ready to receive.

Father, Thy will be done. I will obey the voice of Thy Spirit and keep Thy
commandments.

One Holy Ghost. One true Church. One pathway to eternal life (JRE Link, 2018-0906 (Thu), COM-STR2).

This is the Lord's Church. There is no other. The Savior doesn't need two of them on
earth.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—Yes, that one.

A holy Church with the keys of the priesthood bestowed upon it by angels from heaven.

Take a look at the truth of God in operation. Take a look at this Church (JRE Link, 2022-1009 (Sun), WSE-MAIN).

There are other churches and religions in the world, but this is the one you are
commanded to follow. Please believe and act according to the words spoken here.

The most important thing we can do is embrace this wonderful message brought to us by
the missionaries. No other course in life will bring us greater joy (JRE Link, 2017-1019 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Be a good listener. Be a good host for the missionaries in your home.

Hear and believe––that's what the Lord wants from you (JRE Link, 2019-0808 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Hearing the message of the restored gospel––the chance of a lifetime.

Your best opportunity for salvation––this is it. What the missionaries are teaching you
right now (JRE Link, 2018-0825 (Sat), COM-STR2).

The Spirit speaks to you through the missionaries, trying your ears to see if you will
listen to their inspired message (JRE Link, 2020-0924 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Hear the word of God taught in its pure form. Hear the missionaries. Enjoy learning the
gospel, line upon line.

The missionaries are coming here and we listen to them. Their testimonies are gold (JRE Link, 2018-0906 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Let's sit down and talk together about the new life in the gospel that's there waiting for
you—a new life and a better life than you currently have.

As missionaries, we have no other desire than to see you grow happier by the day in the
path of truth and light. That's the pay we receive.

The truth of religion is a great foundation to build upon (JRE Link, 2022-1025 (Tue), WSE-MAIN).

The truth of the restored gospel is just perfect for us. If we follow and obey it, we can
walk happily in the summer sun forever (JRE Link, 2021-1118 (Thu), COM-STR2).

The plan of salvation—see the restored gospel for clarity on this issue (JRE Link, 2021-0914 (Mon), COM-STR2).

A sincere believer in Christ asks these three simple questions of the Christian world:
Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where do I go after this life? (JRE Link, 2019-0126 (Sat), COM-STR2)

The young, teenage Latter-day Saint missionary responds––The answers are very
straightforward. The restored gospel provides you the enlightenment, the broader context, and
the fulness of understanding needed to answer important questions like these and many, many
more (JRE Link, 2019-0126 (Sat), COM-STR2).

Faithful men and women of God in the world ask themselves—Is there something in our
beliefs that we have missed?

The answer is—Yes, generation upon generation of restored truths since the year 1820 (JRE Link, 2022-0509 (Mon), COM-STR2).

"Know what's right," says the Lord. "I command you to search it out."

Find out who you are and where your soul comes from. Find out the true nature of God
and the nature of the heavens above.

Compare all of the religions, then choose the best one. Choosing requires revelation... a
testimony of God given to you from heaven (JRE Link, 2020-0925 (Fri), COM-STR2).

If you are humble, the Holy Ghost will find a way to testify within you. A knowledge of
the truth will bring power and strength to your testimony of Jesus Christ, putting you squarely on
the road to salvation.

Cheer on the sincere investigator of the truth of religion. Oh, what joy there is in one's
soul when the truth is discovered and the Holy Ghost confirms! (JRE Link, 2020-0306 (Fri), COM-STR2)

"We know what we're looking for," say sincere investigators looking for the true church.
When the Holy Ghost comes and bears witness to our souls, then we will know that we have
found the truth.

A sincere investigator of the Church increased in knowledge suddenly. What happened?
The Spirit bore witness (JRE Link, 2018-0810 (Fri), COM-STR2).

A family kneels in prayer. The Spirit bears witness of a new testament of Jesus Christ––
The Book of Mormon (JRE Link, 2018-1020 (Sat), COM-STR2).

Having knowledge delivered to you by the Holy Ghost from the Father and Son is a great
honor. Their perfect knowledge inspires and glorifies you. They want what you want—
everlasting happiness for you and your family (JRE Link, 2021-0515 (Sat), COM-STR2).

"Listen to the two of us. We are God, Father and Son, of olden times and new."

"Come unto Christ in my Church," says the Lord.

"Accept the teachings of the missionaries I have sent to you.

"The Church operates with my authority.

"Brothers and Sisters, the Church is true. The Spirit is here among the Latter-day Saints.

"You will find no better church, and no better place to raise your children in the gospel."

Seal the blessings of eternal life and exaltation upon yourself and your family through
faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and by obedience to the laws and
ordinances of the restored gospel (JRE Link, 2021-1223 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Listen, learn, and pray together. The teaching of the restored gospel by the missionaries
in your home provides the opportunity for you to come together as a family and strengthen your
family relationships (JRE Link, 2019-0719 (Fri), COM-STR2).

A knowledge of the truth has filled our home with peace.

The restful principles of the restored gospel are being taught to you. On the road to
salvation, you and your family can sleep soundly at night (JRE Link, 2021-0605 (Sat), COM-STR2).

Let’s discuss after dinner our decision to join the Church and all that it entails for our
family (JRE Link, 2020-0821 (Fri), COM-STR2).

I think we have passed the "if it is true" point. The Holy Ghost has spoken.

The truth beckons us on, leading us forward (JRE Link, 2019-0214 (Thu), COM-STR2).

The Spirit is making progress in our hearts. We are seeing and feeling truth (JRE Link, 2018-1031 (Wed), COM-STR2).

Feel the Spirit. Be led by the Spirit. You will recognize truth by the lasting peace you feel
in your heart (JRE Link, 2018-0520 (Sun), COM-STR2).

Consider the inspired words presented here in sincerity, in love, and with great desires to
grow in knowledge of God. If you keep at it and are diligent in the search for truth, your faith
being demonstrated will be richly rewarded by a loving Heavenly Father (JRE Link, 2021-1013 (Wed), COM-STR2).

A prayerful man is ready to embrace truth and the peace therefrom (JRE Link, 2021-0920 (Mon), COM-STR2).

"I will tell you the truths of heaven," says the Spirit, "so your heart can rejoice."

Take the principles of truth and reorganize your life (JRE Link, 2018-1218 (Tue), COM-STR2).

Something wonderful has happened to me! I've been raised by the Spirit to greatness and
a new life (JRE Link, 2018-1031 (Wed), COM-STR2).

Don't ever forget that beautiful moment in time when you were baptized and given the
gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. Keep the special spirit of that day with you

forever. Keep a large picture of that event on display in your home––for you to see, and for
friends and neighbors to see.

It's a great pleasure for us to be baptized (JRE Link, 2017-1227 (Wed), COM-STR2).

Hello! I'm a new member of the Church. I want to serve (JRE Link, 2017-1227 (Wed), COM-STR2).

I'm pleased with everything I see. The gospel of Jesus Christ is more beautiful than I ever
imagined.

My eyes were made for learning. My eyes were made for the gospel.

Ride the tram of happiness to church on Sundays (JRE Link, 2017-0304 (Sat), COM-STR2).

I know where my place is. It's with the Latter-day Saints every Sunday (JRE Link, 2022-0122 (Sat), COM-STR2).

We have a really good situation here. The Church is fantastic. I'm in.

A wonderful life––I want it (JRE Link, 2017-0605 (Mon), COM-STR2).

A wonderful church––I've got it (JRE Link, 2017-0605 (Mon), COM-STR2).

Enjoy a wonderful life as a member of this wonderful Church.

Let your testimony of the Church be based first and foremost on a love of God (JRE Link, 2017-0509 (Tue), COM-STR2).

A testimony of Jesus Christ empowers you and gives you confidence.

A testimony of Jesus Christ––a forever fire that burns within you (JRE Link, 2018-0210 (Sat), COM-STR2).

Revelation received. Now I need to signal to the world through the bearing of my
testimony (JRE Link, 2020-0412 (Sun), COM-STR2).

The power of a testimony is more than what is written or spoken. It is what you feel in
your heart and what you do in the service of others (JRE Link, 2017-0405 (Wed), COM-STR2).

A testimony of the restored gospel––you have the winning hand in life.

Persevere in your testimony. Stand with your convictions. We have the church we need to
obtain salvation.

Hold to the things that are right. Hold to your religion (JRE Link, 2016-0916 (Fri), WSE-MAIN).

Stand up for truth and stare down the forces of evil in the world (JRE Link, 2017-0802 (Wed), COM-STR2).

Don't stutter in your testimony. Use your gifts of the Spirit to dispel myths (JRE Link, 2020-1004 (Sun), WSE-MAIN).

Put the truth front and center in your life (JRE Link, 2018-1130 (Fri), WSE-MAIN).

What is the truth of religion? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

What is the evidence of your testimony? All the gifts of the Spirit you can experience in
your life.

The Holy Ghost filling your soul is much more than circumstantial evidence.

The Holy Ghost is a very reliable source (JRE Link, 2017-0629 (Thu), WSE-MAIN).

Reasoning alone won’t prove a testimony. The Spirit does the convincing.

Come near to the sure––a sure knowledge (JRE Link, 2018-0514 (Mon), COM-STR2).

A testimony of the Holy Ghost is greater than every last piece of evidence you can gather
with your five senses (JRE Link, 2018-0114 (Sun), COM-STR2).

Manna is evidence you see with your eyes. The Holy Ghost is evidence you feel in your
soul. Which of these two is the greater witness from God to sustain your testimony? (JRE Link, 2017-0725 (Tue), COM-STR2)

I have experienced the power of the Holy Ghost in my life even though others of this
world may have not (JRE Link, 2017-0906 (Wed), COM-STR2).

Be a witness of truth. An upright man is a powerful witness of truth to the world.

A true witness of God doesn't equivocate (JRE Link, 2017-0821 (Mon), COM-STR2).

Corroborate the truth of your faith through study and prayer (JRE Link, 2018-0208 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Concentrate on Christ and the voice of His spirit. Feel His spirit as you bear witness.

The Spirit is our witness, so we also are witnesses (JRE Link, 2018-1106 (Tue), WSE-MAIN).

Trust that the signs that have been given to you are true and of God (JRE Link, 2017-0614 (Wed), WSE-MAIN).