Local Pages
Eternal Conversion through Jesus Christ
Elder Wayne Maurer, of the Windaroo Ward in the Brisbane Australia Beenleigh Stake, has spent many years serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has served as a member of the ward Young Men’s presidency, a counsellor in the bishopric, a member of the stake presidency, then president of the Philippines Tacloban Mission and as president of the Philippines Missionary Training Centre. Elder Maurer is now an Area Seventy for the Pacific Area of the Church.
One lesson that has always stood out to him is the importance of focusing on Jesus Christ. He believes that this focus brings peace, hope, and joy to our lives. Elder Maurer has seen that when we centre our lives on Christ, we can experience true ‘eternal conversion’—a conversion that lasts forever.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is simple and powerful. It reminds us that all of us can receive the blessings He offers, no matter who we are. Elder Maurer says, “A focus on Jesus Christ brings peace, hope, and joy to my life.” He explains that faith in Jesus Christ, which is a belief and hope in Him, can save us and help us find relief, even when we make mistakes.
When we strengthen our faith in Christ, we feel the need to repent—to turn away from our mistakes and turn back to Him. As we do this, we find joy in the process. This joy leads us to make covenants, or sacred promises, with the Lord. These covenants connect us to Christ and help us receive His power in our daily lives. “We need this power to keep us on track during this earthly experience, with the hope of eternal life in the world to come,” Elder Maurer shares.
In the Philippines Tacloban Mission, missionaries focused on this idea of eternal conversion. They encouraged both themselves and those they taught to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ. As their faith grew, they were motivated to repent and to draw closer to the Savior. They made covenants with the Lord, which brought the Holy Spirit into their lives. This helped them stay on the path of eternal conversion.
Elder Maurer also reminds us that the joy and power of covenant-keeping are essential for our journey. Alma 37:6 teaches, “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.”
As we keep our covenants, even in small ways, we are blessed with strength and guidance.
Jesus Christ taught us the importance of faith and repentance in 3 Nephi 11:32–33: “This is my doctrine. . . .
“Whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved.”
Elder Maurer’s experiences show us that by focusing on Jesus Christ, we can stay strong on the path to eternal life. He encourages all of us to focus on Jesus Christ, to make and keep our covenants, and to find joy in the process. As we do, our conversion will not only be deep but also eternal.