Have Ye Recieved His Image in Your Countenances?

I have been home for over two months now from New York.  It is interesting to me how easily I have slipped back into the worldly things, such as movies and music.  The more I get back into the popular things of the day, the more I see the person I used to be.  This reminds me of a question that Alma asked the people of Zarahemla, after they had fallen into a bit of an apostasy,  "And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God?  Have ye received his image in your countenances?  Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? . . . And now behold, I say unto you, my beloved brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?"  (Alma 5:14, 26)


This mighty change of heart that Alma talks about is conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is a lifelong process which we must pursue in order to gain eternal life with our Father in Heaven.  It is a course that is impossible if we strive with vain ambition to travel alone.  There is only one name under Heaven whereby man can be saved, and that is the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He has told us time and time again "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  (Matthew 28-30)  So why do we shun his name or his yoke?  His is the only way that we may gain true happiness.  Let us not be "weary in well-doing, for (we) are laying the foundation of a great work!"  (Doc. & Cov. 64:33)