Becoming converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not often a result of any dramatic or fantastic circumstance. Oh, there is Saul and Alma the Younger and other similar stories, but these are the exceptions to the rule. In all reality, becoming converted takes time and energy. It takes making correct choices, over and over again. When Jesus Christ invited Simon Peter and Andrew to join him, “He said unto them, Come ye after, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17) They had a choice to make and they made it. But did they immediately become fishers of men? They certainly did not. They learned from the Saviour and through that process, they learned to become fishers of men. That choice was the beginning of becoming.
We each have choices to make in life. I like the analogy that Gordon B. Hinckley shared about his time working on the railroads. He was tasked with finding a baggage car that did not arrive with the passenger car it was assigned to. The baggage car left along with the passenger car from California. They were together in St.Louis. The passenger car arrived in New Jersey as expected, but the baggage car was found to be in Louisiana. The difference in destination between those two cars was a simple track switch, a piece of steel three inches long that was thrown at the wrong time, which sent the baggage car in the wrong direction. How many switches had the two cars passed between California and St. Louis without mistake? How many switches had the baggage car passed between St. Louis and New Orleans that might’ve aided in it’s proper delivery to New Jersey? It might’ve gotten to New Jersey through an alternate route, albeit late.
Every one of those track switches represents a choice we have made in life. Are we going where we intend to end up? Or are we at the mercy of the tracks? What I want to discuss is the process of becoming, through the choices we make in life.
How do we get from being fishermen, to fishers of men? First and foremost as indicated in the fourth Article of Faith, we need to have faith. “Having Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and keeping His commandments are and always will be the defining test of mortality.” (Quentin L. Cook) Through the process of having faith and keeping His commandments, we give ourselves room to grow. In probably the most misunderstood principle of the commandments, the world suggests that limiting ourselves to keeping the commandments actually restricts us and our agency. But, the choice to have faith and keep the commandments actually gives us more opportunities for choices going forward. If I choose to smoke or view pornography, I am dooming myself to an addiction that will will limit my growth. We cannot choose the consequences of poor choices. Smoking might result in cancers, poor health, reduced lung capacity, and less money. Pornography will result in something worse than physical cancer, but a cancer that infects the soul. Only through the love of the Saviour can we hope to overcome these addictions. If we simply choose not to indulge in these vices, we save ourselves from trials and temptations that would limit our freedom to grow.
Having faith and keeping the commandments is a good start, but we need to ‘lengthen our stride’ if we hope to become fishers of men. When Jesus spoke of becoming fishers of men, he spoke of becoming leaders. ” Harold B. Lee taught, ‘to become fishers of men is just another way of saying become leaders of men, so in today’s language we would say, If you would keep my commandments, I would make you leaders among men.'” This doesn’t mean we need to be in a position of authority in the church. Every member can be a leader. They can share their testimony in church and with friends. We can each choose to be better and to lead. We can support our church leaders, read the scriptures, minister to others and look for opportunities to serve. “By helping others come unto Him, you will find that you have come unto Him yourself.” (Henry B. Eyring)
3-4 years ago, I started getting the impression that a friend was struggling in the church. I thought to myself that they were probably doing fine, that they had their agency and that someone else would likely help. I didn’t reach out and no one else did either.
A short time later, I heard of a murder that happened in New York City in 1964 where 37 people witnessed it, but no one called the police until it was too late. The most disturbing part was it took the killer three attempts to finally kill the woman. People yelled from their windows for the man to stop and it would scare him away, but still no one came to her aid or even called the police. After the second time of being scared away, and it being obvious that no one was coming to help, the murderer returned and killed the woman. When the investigation took place, the police questioned everyone on why they didn’t intervene or call the police. The 37 witnesses all assumed someone else would step in. They didn’t want to get involved. They didn’t want the risk the safety and security of their home by helping the woman or the added work required to call the police. They simply hoped someone else would help. This story is very saddening, but it serves as a reminder for when my friend fell away from the church and I did nothing.
I had another friend who was on my mind a few months ago. I felt a strong impression to call him and let him know the difference maker he was in my life. He stood and helped me make correct choices in my life when a simple track switch might’ve altered my destination. He bore his testimony recently and spoke of several people who stepped up and reached out to him when he was struggling. I’m grateful for the learning experiences I have had in my life. I’m grateful that we have the opportunity to grow and be better. I’m grateful that I have grown enough to recognize and act on the promptings of the Spirit. I’m also grateful for other people and their willingness to act on the promptings of the Spirit.
Several years ago, when I was the Elder’s Quorum President in my Ward, I had a strong impression about who to call as a counselor and secretary. The two brethren were semi-active, but through their service, they attended more regularly, led lessons and even worked to receive their temple recommends. While they were on this spiritual high, they had opportunities for growth in their work life. One of them started his own business while the other was promoted at his job. These jobs were blessings in their life, but they also became a huge distraction and caused them to start missing Sundays and putting their relationship with Heavenly Father on the back burner. Their activity level dropped and within a few years, they weren’t coming at all. To make matters worse, neither had continued with their new career path. I struggled with this as I was seeing so much growth in the two men and couldn’t understand the drop in interest. Years later, I 
can see that just like conversion, falling away often works the same way, except the separation between man and God is much more slippery. All it takes is a few minor decisions that take you away from God, a couple track switches that take you South instead of East. Some decisions might even take you off your course by one degree. That’s not much, but after several thousand miles, you will find yourself significantly further than you wanted or in a situation that you wish you could avoid. “The choices we make are critical–they are key to our future and happiness. Remember, we are the sum total of the every decision we make. (Quentin L. Cook)
When I was in seminary, I heard a story that stuck with me. A manager was tasked with hiring drivers in the Old West to deliver mail while driving a carriage. It would be over dangerous roads on rough terrain through mountain passes with steep cliff banks. Three men applied for the job and all seemed qualified. So, with the applicants and the manager all together, the manager asked them each this final question? How close can you get to the edge of a cliff without going over? The first man said he could get the outside wheel right on the edge without going over. The second boasted that he could actually get the wheel over the edge, but by balancing the carriage, could avoid going over the edge. The third man simply shook his head and said he didn’t know, because he always stayed as far away from the edge as possible. The third man was immediately hired. The manager explained that he did not want drivers who would take risks with the cargo. He needed drivers who would take the necessary care and caution to ensure the cargo would get to its destination. Aren’t we all the driver and aren’t we all the precious cargo with a divine destination? His decision not to even get close to the edge was made well before he started driving the carriage.
Remember to combine, “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24) and “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit.” (Mosiah 3:19) Essentially, if we aren’t following the enticings of the Holy Spirit and serving God, we become enemies to God and servants of Mammon. We need to put effort into our choices every day. We must carry on and move towards God in all things. We need to reach out to others and help them come closer to God, even if it means we go outside our comfort zone. Too much is at stake. You don’t have to be perfect, but you do have to try. “Just keep Trying (Jeffrey R. Holland)
“Please know that the Lord is mindful and pleased with every effort you make.” (Russell M. Nelson) Choose the right and if you make a mistake, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and remember that the plan of salvation knew we’d all mess up so it’s okay, just try again, but really try. The more we try, and the more we include the Saviour and strive to have the Holy Spirit to be with us, the easier it will be to hit those track switches and ensure our destination. While your at it, might as well encourage your family, friends, and casual acquaintances to check out that destination as well. With every effort and invitation, we renew our efforts in beginning to become fishers of men.
~Todd Bruce
@elkvalleylatterdaysaint
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