Alma 5:14 And now behold, I ask of you, Young Men and Young Women of Mountain View 3rd ward, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

I only changed a few words, and Alma was speaking to the members of Christ's ancient church, but it wouldn't be here in our scriptures if it weren't for us too.

This picture doesn't do the real painting justice. It is of Christ's second coming and it hangs in the foyer of the Washington D.C. Temple. Christ seems to be looking into your eyes, with his arms outstretched to welcome those before him. These people represent all generations, ranks, and activities of man. Behind the figure of Christ, and in the shadows are the same kinds of people, but they were the rebellious, they did not accept Christ and his teachings. The obvious difference is that every one of these people on His left look very unhappy and disappointed, and those on His right seem to have his image in their countenance. This shows a very basic truth of life: Each person earns his own reward.

During the weeks before the temple was dedicated, the public was invited to tour it. Some of the personnel became aware of the effect this mural had upon the visitors. As the people in line walked slowly forward toward it, those ahead in the line seemed to blend right in with the people in the mural. And as the people in line pressed closer to the mural, an interesting thing happened. They would shift, seemingly unconsciously, toward the left. They wanted to be in the light! And on the right hand of Christ, and they avoided that other side, seeming uncomfortable even standing there.

The "mighty change" is represented by a heart and a flame. The flame represents your testimony or your conversion, and it can be a tiny spark, a series of tiny sparks over many years, or it might be a steady flame, and with some it is like a lightning bolt. Everyone has a different set a circumstances and experiences this mighty change or conversion in a different way. When Alma asked these questions of his people, he didn't just say "Have ye experienced this Mighty change?" he added "In your hearts?" We can learn something in our heads but until we feel it in our hearts there is something missing we are not truly converted.

I have asked four people from our ward who I have admired, some at a distance and some close up. They each come from different backgrounds and have different circumstances and they will share with us some of their experiences in becoming converted. They will be in this order.

Liz Beckstead, Brandon Grey, Pat Dalton, Casey Florence

Then we are pleased to have , Nancy Florence's sister. She will sing the song "His Image in Your Countenance". (which was inspired by the scripture in Alma.

After her song we are happy to have two members of our ward who are great examples to all of us, our two most recently returned missionaries. We'll first hear from Laura Simonson, and then from Jason Kirkham.

By Sally O Meservy (1990)