One Response to “What can I expect after I convert?”
Webmaster
2010-01-04 07:02:07
Hi brother. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught that every new member needs a friend, a calling, and to be nurtured by the word of God. Hopefully following your baptism the members of your congregation with reach out to you and help integrate you into your ward or branch.
You may also receive a calling, which is a responsibility in the church. New members are usually given callings that will help them grow spiritually but that will not be overwhelming. Serving others in the Church brings great spiritual blessings. It helps us grow closer to God and to our fellow church members. Feel free to talk to your Bishop or Branch President if you have any concerns or questions.
After your baptism, you can also begin to prepare yourself for temple worship after a year of membership. As you may know, there are two common ways to worship God. One way is through study and preaching, the kind of study and preaching that happens in Church every Sunday. A second way of worshiping God is through the performance of sacred ceremonies. Mormons perform most of their sacred ceremonies in temples. Temple worship is in some ways similar to the form of worship seen in the ceremonial liturgies of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, though the ceremonies and teachings of the temple obviously differ in some ways from those of other faiths.
Much of your spiritual development following your baptism depends on you. Getting the most out of your new religion requires a lot of dedication. If you take a passive approach, the spiritual return on your investment will be modest. If you are passionate about your new faith, reading the scriptures frequently, praying often, and studying Church history and doctrine, your new faith can provide you with spiritual strength and peace that will serve as an anchor for the rest of your life.
May God bless you as you begin this exciting new spiritual journey!
You may also receive a calling, which is a responsibility in the church. New members are usually given callings that will help them grow spiritually but that will not be overwhelming. Serving others in the Church brings great spiritual blessings. It helps us grow closer to God and to our fellow church members. Feel free to talk to your Bishop or Branch President if you have any concerns or questions.
After your baptism, you can also begin to prepare yourself for temple worship after a year of membership. As you may know, there are two common ways to worship God. One way is through study and preaching, the kind of study and preaching that happens in Church every Sunday. A second way of worshiping God is through the performance of sacred ceremonies. Mormons perform most of their sacred ceremonies in temples. Temple worship is in some ways similar to the form of worship seen in the ceremonial liturgies of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, though the ceremonies and teachings of the temple obviously differ in some ways from those of other faiths.
Much of your spiritual development following your baptism depends on you. Getting the most out of your new religion requires a lot of dedication. If you take a passive approach, the spiritual return on your investment will be modest. If you are passionate about your new faith, reading the scriptures frequently, praying often, and studying Church history and doctrine, your new faith can provide you with spiritual strength and peace that will serve as an anchor for the rest of your life.
May God bless you as you begin this exciting new spiritual journey!