A written or verbal request inviting someone to go somewhere or to do something

Rare as it is, Heavenly Father has appeared or His voice has been heard. In the scriptures where God the Father and Jesus Christ have appeared together He has always started first with, other than greeting the witness by name, "this is my beloved Son, hear Him."

He first testifies of who Jesus is and then as any loving Father would pleads with the listener, His other child(ren), to hear.

To hear is to perceive or become aware of; to gain knowledge of and from; to listen to with attention.

"Have you ever stopped to ask, “Why?” Why is our Heavenly Father so insistent—and consistent—in His plea that we should hear His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ?

 Jesus answered this question Himself. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6; emphasis added).

Our Father loves us and yearns for each one of us to choose to return to His holy presence. He pleads with us to listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, whom the Father anointed and appointed as our Mediator, Savior, and Redeemer." 

Russell M. Nelson
President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I sometimes feel we can start just going through the motions of "belief". We begin to draw near to Him with our lips but our hearts and minds are far from Him. I'm sure this happens in other denominations as well.

We are asked to put off the natural man to be one in purpose and mission with Christ and Heavenly Father. How can we do that if we are so caught up in the ways of the world?

Heavenly Father stated what his mission was from the very beginning, "to bring to pass the immortality and Eternal life of man."

This is no secret. It has been the cause of all believers or at least should be that we have the same mission.

Why then is it so hard to listen and obey?

Why then is it so hard to spread the gospel?

Peter was told by Jesus, "when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."

When thou art converted.

"What is this process of conversion that each son and daughter of God must experience if they are to help others return back into His presence?

The first seeds of conversion begin with an awareness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and a desire to know the truth...

...conversion happens over a period of time as study, prayer, experience, and faith will help us to grow in our testimony and conversion.

We come out of the world into the kingdom of God. In the conversion process, we experience repentance, which brings about humility and a broken heart and contrite spirit, preparing us for baptism, remission of sins, and receiving the Holy Ghost.

Knowing the truth and gaining a testimony strengthen us to stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life. As testimony grows, we become more and more converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we follow Him, we commit ourselves to serve Him by serving others.

We whose conversion is sufficient must reach out to those who wander. As we do, we will find great joy in gathering the Lord’s sheep.

Like Peter, many are converted and leave the things of this world to follow the Lord.

Like Peter, when we are called to be fishers of Father’s children, do we go “a fishing” (John 21:3) and forget to feed His lambs and sheep? Like Peter, when those around us are suffering or feeling fearful and need our fellowship and help, do we sleep at the garden gate? (see Matt. 26:36–46).

Brothers and sisters, do we really understand the teachings of the Savior, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren”? (Luke 22:32). Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. Feeding the lambs could well be missionary labors working with newly baptized members, who must be nurtured and given caring warmth and fellowship in the family of Saints. Feeding the sheep could well refer to the mature members of the Church, some active and some less active, who need to be cared for and brought back to the flock.

Help me reach a friend in darkness;

Help me guide him through the night.

Help me show thy path to glory

By the Spirit’s holy light. …

Help me find thy lambs who wander;

Help me bring them to thy keep.

Teach me, Lord, to be a shepherd;

Father, help me feed thy sheep."

Robert D. Hales
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

 "Who hath ears, let him hear."

I have no doubt that if we all heard the voice of God the Father we would recognize it. Why do we have a hard time recognizing it when His words are spoken through another?

The Lord has stated "whether by mine own voice or the voice of my servants it is the same." If there is anyone I trust to be that voice it is His prophets and apostles.

However, we too are His servants, His voice, His hands and we have the responsibility to reach out and spread the gospel. It is no wonder that the majority of the House of Israel that has been gathered at this moment is Ephraim. Ephraim has a charge to bring the gospel to all.

"Ephraim was given the birthright in Israel (1 Chr. 5:1–2; Jer. 31:9). In the last days their privilege and responsibility is to bear the priesthood, take the message of the restored gospel to the world, and raise an ensign to gather scattered Israel (Isa. 11:12–13; 2 Ne. 21:12–13)."

I am not a great missionary. I have ignored the spirit at times telling me to strike up a conversation with someone. I've royally screwed up when I do listen knowing the exact moment when I've lost the "listener"and it causes apprehension just to think about praying for a missionary experience. I fear. I fear rejection, lack of understanding, inability to make sense or give the listener meat before milk.

I have a strong testimony of the Savior. I can pinpoint every point in my life where little by little it brought me to a full knowledge that He is there, that He listens, that He answers prayers, that I am not forgotten.

I envy the freshly converted. So full of the brightness of hope and fire of the Gospel.

So much more I lack.

May we follow Christ's example, may we follow the Prophets and Apostles and work toward a more solid conversion. May we all be filled with a brightness of hope and Charity for all to be able to lovingly and sincerely invite all to hear Him.

Can we be what we believe?