I came across this video when I was looking for the "Obama National Anthem" video someone had told me about (don't waste your time) when I remembered that Glenn is a convert to the church. So I went looking through his website looking for his conversion story or anything about the church and found great little video entitled "Tribute to LDS President Hinckley". Some time has past now since the passing of our beloved prophet but, as I watched this touching tribute, my emotions were as strong as the day of his passing. In the video you can truly see a convert whose life has been redirected and forever changed by the spirit and just one of millions lives that has been touched by President Hinckley. If you look at Glenn's bio on Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Beck you'll see that his personal life was filled with tragedy, alcohol, and drugs. Now, as I watched this video I was not only taken by the tribute itself but, also by what I call the "spirit-of-the-converted”, let me explain... All my life, I have sat through many a testimony meeting and listened to great people bare powerful testimonies (and where they went on vacation.) but, I have always felt more edified by the testimony of a convert. I don’t mean to say that someone born into the church would have any less of a testimony than a convert would but, for me, I can always tell the difference. I think there is something to say for someone having walked a different path in life, then coming to the proverbial fork-in-the-road and changing direction, as opposed to people having been place on that path and guided along the way. These converts have lived the life the world sees as “normal” and chose to do what I’ve been doing (trying to do) all along. To me, their testimonies are more of a confirmation that what I’m doing is right. Listening to testimonies of people who grew up in the church to me, is like putting gas in your car…you need to fill up the “tank” every now and then to get where you want to go and you can’t do it without it. On the other hand, listening to a convert’s testimony to me can be like getting a lube, oil, and filter and sometimes a free car wash to boot! I know that I should pray more for the spirit to be with me to help me listen more with my heart to all testimonies but, it’s nice to feel the “spirit-of-the-converted” (every 3 months or 3,000 miles) to help keep me going. I am however very thankful that I was placed on this path at birth by loving parents and was guided along the way by many great people in my life. If it had not been like this, I fear I may have been a person that would have never opened my door to two dorks in white shirts with bicycles handing out free books. I’m thankful I never had to choose whether or not to open the door but, had the opportunity to choose to knock on them instead. So, as you watch this video (all politics aside) I hope you are reminded again of the impact of President Hinckley on the world and I hope you can feel the spirit-of-the-converted in Glenn Beck. Go to http://www.glennbeck.com/ and on the right hand side you’ll see Featured Videos, scroll down the list of videos until you find "Tribute to LDS President Hinckley"
