Understanding our worth as daughters of God is a fundamental principle that can profoundly influence our lives. This guide explores this concept, drawing inspiration from stories of faith, strength, and self-discovery around the world.
While in Sierra Leone, West Africa, I witnessed a stake Primary leader, Mariama, conduct a meeting with remarkable love, grace, and confidence. It was surprising to learn she was a recent convert.
Alt: Mariama, a Sierra Leonean woman and Church leader, stands with her daughter, both radiating joy and faith.
Mariama’s journey began when her sister, already a member, invited her to a Church class. The lesson on the law of chastity deeply resonated with Mariama. Intrigued, she sought further teachings from missionaries and soon gained a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. She was baptized in 2014, and her daughter followed just last month. It’s remarkable that the law of chastity and the Prophet Joseph Smith, often viewed as outdated by the world, were pivotal in Mariama’s conversion. She described herself as a moth drawn to the light, stating, “When I found the gospel, I found myself.” Through divine principles, her worth as a daughter of God was revealed by the Holy Ghost.
Discovering Your Worth: Insights from Around the Globe
The story of the Singh sisters from India offers another perspective on understanding one’s inherent worth. Renu, the first of five sisters to embrace the Church, shared her experience.
Alt: The Singh sisters, five Indian women, stand together, symbolizing unity and faith after joining the Church.
Renu explained, “Before I started investigating the Church, I didn’t really feel that I was very special… When I learned the gospel and learned that I was a daughter of our Heavenly Father, it changed me. Suddenly I felt so special—God had actually created me and had created my soul and my life with value and purpose… I knew that I was special. … Don’t ever think that you are nothing.” This highlights the transformative power of recognizing our divine heritage.
President Thomas S. Monson beautifully encapsulated this idea, stating, “The worth of a soul is its capacity to become as God.” Understanding our potential for growth and godliness is key to understanding our inherent value.
Finding Strength in Divine Worth: The Story of Taiana
Taiana, a young woman I met at Primary Children’s Hospital, also exemplified this truth. Diagnosed with cancer during her junior year of high school, Taiana bravely fought the disease for 18 months.
Alt: Taiana, a teenage girl battling cancer, offers a double thumbs-up, showcasing her resilience and positive spirit.
Her radiant spirit and trademark “double thumbs-up” were an inspiration to all who knew her. When asked, “Why you, Taiana?” she responded, “Why not me?” Taiana’s unwavering faith and pursuit of becoming like her Savior demonstrated a deep understanding of her divine worth, providing her with peace and courage throughout her challenging trial.
Worth vs. Worthiness: Understanding the Difference
Mariama, Renu, and Taiana exemplify how the Spirit confirms our divine worth individually. Understanding this truth impacts every aspect of life and guides our daily service. As President Spencer W. Kimball taught, “God is your Father. He loves you. He and your Mother in heaven value you beyond any measure… You are unique… The whole intent of the gospel plan is to provide an opportunity for each of you to reach your fullest potential, which is eternal progression and the possibility of godhood.”
It’s crucial to differentiate between worth and worthiness. Worth is the value Heavenly Father places on us, determined before our earthly existence. It is constant and unconditional. Worthiness, however, is achieved through obedience. While sin diminishes our worthiness, it never diminishes our worth. We can always repent and strive to be like Jesus, maintaining our inherent worth. As President Brigham Young taught, “The least, the most inferior spirit now upon the earth … is worth worlds.”
Overcoming Negative Thoughts and Embracing Our Divine Identity
Despite this truth, many struggle with negative self-perception. Satan, the father of lies, often distorts our understanding of our divine nature. Thinking small hinders our potential. We must resist comparing our worst to others’ best, remembering that “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
The Lord assures us that virtuous thoughts bring confidence, enabling us to know who we truly are. He urges us to “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and … the Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion.”
The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith, “He that receiveth of God, let him account it of God; and let him rejoice that he is accounted of God worthy to receive.” When we feel the Spirit, we recognize its divine source and rejoice in being counted worthy to receive it.
Recognizing these moments is crucial. Whether it’s a gentle whisper during scripture study or a feeling of warmth while listening to a child’s prayer, these are confirmations of our spiritual worth. These experiences may be subtle, but they frequently verify our divine worth.
The Savior’s Atonement and Our Infinite Worth
The Lord emphasized the connection between our worth and His atoning sacrifice: “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.”
Because of His sacrifice, “we are bound to him by loving ties.” He declared, “My Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me.”
King Benjamin further explained the Savior’s suffering: “And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.” This profound suffering fills our hearts with love and gratitude.
Elder Paul E. Koelliker taught, “As we remove the distractions that pull us toward the world and exercise our agency to seek Him, we open our hearts to a celestial force which draws us toward Him.” When our love for the Savior surpasses the energy we devote to weaknesses, He helps us overcome suffering. He saves us from ourselves.
If worldly influences overshadow our faith and trust in the Savior, they will prevail. Focusing on negative thoughts and doubting our worth hinders our ability to feel the Holy Ghost.
In these latter days, embracing our divine identity is crucial. Let us “be faithful in Christ; … may Christ lift [us] up, and may his sufferings and death, … and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in [our minds] forever.” As the Savior elevates us, we gain clarity about our true selves and our proximity to Him. Embrace your divine worth, and let it guide your path.
