Elder Renlund’s talk

Elder Renlund told us how more than a century ago, many in Congo worshipped inanimate objects. After their conversion to Christianity, some would intentionally make a pilgrimage to throw these objects into the churning waters of a massive waterfall, where the items became unrecognizable. “These actions were a token of a new, but unwavering, commitment to Jesus Christ.”

What is Elder Renlund trying to teach us through his discussion of the Congo Falls?

‘Being converted unto the Lord starts with an unwavering commitment to God, followed by making that commitment part of who we are. Internalizing such a commitment is a lifelong process that requires patience and ongoing repentance. Eventually, this commitment becomes part of who we are, embedded in our sense of self, and ever present in our lives. Just as we never forget our own name no matter what else we are thinking about, we never forget a commitment that is etched in our hearts. ‘

How do we become converted?

Is conversion more than belief?

How do we make commitment part of who we are?

‘We have the seed of the gospel word. It is up to each of us to set the priorities and to do the things that make our soil good and our harvest plentiful. We must seek to be firmly rooted and converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ (see Colossians 2:6-7). We achieve this conversion by praying, by scripture reading, by serving, and by regularly partaking of the sacrament to always have His Spirit to be with us. We must also seek that mighty change of heart that replaces evil desires and selfish concerns with the love of God and the desire to serve Him and His children.’ (Dallin H Oaks, General Conference, April 2015)

‘Now, it would be nice if increased faith were transmitted like the flu or the common cold. Then a simple “spiritual sneeze” would build faith in others. But it does not work that way. The only way faith grows is for an individual to act in faith. These actions are often prompted by invitations extended by others, but we cannot “grow” someone else’s faith or rely solely on others to bolster our own. For our faith to grow, we must choose faith-building actions, such as praying, studying the scriptures, partaking of the sacrament, keeping the commandments, and serving others. ‘

Why do you think that increased faith is something that we have to ‘grow’ ourselves?

Can we rely on the faith of others?

‘As our faith in Jesus Christ grows, God invites us to make promises with Him. These covenants, as such promises are known, are manifestations of our conversion. Covenants also create a sure foundation for spiritual progression. As we choose to be baptized, we begin to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ and choose to identify ourselves with Him. We pledge to become like Him and to develop His attributes. ‘

What does it mean to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ?

What impressed you about Elder Renlund’s account of the early members in Zaire/DR Congo?

‘Our commitment to keep our covenants should not be conditional or vary with changing circumstances in our lives. Our constancy to God should be like the dependable Congo River that flows near the Kinshasa Temple. This river, unlike most rivers in the world, has constant flow all year and pours nearly 11 million gallons (41.5 million L) of water per second into the Atlantic Ocean. ‘

What can we learn from the metaphor of the Congo River?

‘I invite you to commit to a lifelong process of discipleship. Make and keep covenants. Throw your old ways into deep, churning waterfalls.‘

What ‘old ways’ or habits might we need to throw into the waterfalls?

(NB: Passages in italics are extracts from Elder Renlund’s talk)