Divine Nature
Although we may not be aware of our divine nature, each of us is inherently born with godly qualities. Elder Richard G. Scott perhaps states it best in his discussion of latent divine capacities explaining that our godly attributes lie in wait for opportunities to reveal themselves to us (Elder Richard G. Scott, “Finding Happiness,” Campus Education Week, Devotional, 19 August 1997). As we discover what these are, we in turn come to know the source of such attributes: God Himself. Furthermore, as we come to a better knowledge and understanding of who He is, we arrive at a better knowledge and understanding of who we are. We understand that our genders were determined before arriving here on earth, and this comprehension leads us to a clearer knowledge of our eternal destinies as men and women. Additionally, while we may be laden with imperfections during mortality, they ultimately serve to assist us in developing our divine nature if we allow them to do so. As we accept the eternal truth that we are literal spirit sons and daughters of God, our ability to see others as such increases, and this knowledge impacts our relationships with and treatment of others. Ultimately, knowing who I am helps me to better see people in a Christlike way.
1. ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. – The Family: A Proclamation to the World
2. He sees you not as the world sees you; He sees who you really are. He looks on your heart. And He loves you because you are His child. – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Your Wonderful Journey Home,” General Young Women Meeting, March 2013 (http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2013/03/your-wonderful-journey-home?lang=eng)
3. No matter what else we are or do in life, we must never forget that we are God’s literal spirit children. We were His children before we came to this world, and we will be His children forevermore. – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Four Titles,” General Conference, April 2013, (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/four-titles?lang=eng)
4. We know that we are spirit children of heavenly parents, here on earth to receive our mortal bodies and to be tested. – Elder Boyd K. Packer, “These Things I Know,” General Conference, April 2013 (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/these-things-i-know?lang=eng)
5. We are the children of God. That doctrine is not hidden away in an obscure verse. It is taught over and over again in scripture. – Elder Boyd K. Packer, “The Pattern of Our Parentage,” General Conference, October 1984 (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1984/10/the-pattern-of-our-parentage?lang=eng)
6. Each personal imperfection is an opportunity to change—to repent. Repentance, at any age, provides needed progress. – Elder Russell M. Nelson (http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-leadership-training/2012/01/the-doctrinal-importance-of-marriage-and-children?lang=eng)
7. We lived as Heavenly Father’s spirit sons and daughters before this mortal existence. – Elder M. Russell Ballard, “The Sacred Responsibilities of Parents,” Campus Education Week, Devotional, August 19, 2003 (http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=895)
8. I pray that you may grasp how comforting it is to have a fixed identity that can be counted on forever and to live in an environment where there is unchanging truth and justice tempered by mercy. – Elder Richard G. Scott, “Finding Happiness,” Campus Education Week, Devotional, 19 August 1997
9. The unique combination of spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional capacities of both males and females was needed to enact the plan of happiness. – Elder David A. Bednar (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/we-believe-in-being-chaste?lang=eng)
10. This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/you-matter-to-him?lang=eng)
2. He sees you not as the world sees you; He sees who you really are. He looks on your heart. And He loves you because you are His child. – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Your Wonderful Journey Home,” General Young Women Meeting, March 2013 (http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2013/03/your-wonderful-journey-home?lang=eng)
3. No matter what else we are or do in life, we must never forget that we are God’s literal spirit children. We were His children before we came to this world, and we will be His children forevermore. – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Four Titles,” General Conference, April 2013, (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/four-titles?lang=eng)
4. We know that we are spirit children of heavenly parents, here on earth to receive our mortal bodies and to be tested. – Elder Boyd K. Packer, “These Things I Know,” General Conference, April 2013 (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/these-things-i-know?lang=eng)
5. We are the children of God. That doctrine is not hidden away in an obscure verse. It is taught over and over again in scripture. – Elder Boyd K. Packer, “The Pattern of Our Parentage,” General Conference, October 1984 (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1984/10/the-pattern-of-our-parentage?lang=eng)
6. Each personal imperfection is an opportunity to change—to repent. Repentance, at any age, provides needed progress. – Elder Russell M. Nelson (http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-leadership-training/2012/01/the-doctrinal-importance-of-marriage-and-children?lang=eng)
7. We lived as Heavenly Father’s spirit sons and daughters before this mortal existence. – Elder M. Russell Ballard, “The Sacred Responsibilities of Parents,” Campus Education Week, Devotional, August 19, 2003 (http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=895)
8. I pray that you may grasp how comforting it is to have a fixed identity that can be counted on forever and to live in an environment where there is unchanging truth and justice tempered by mercy. – Elder Richard G. Scott, “Finding Happiness,” Campus Education Week, Devotional, 19 August 1997
9. The unique combination of spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional capacities of both males and females was needed to enact the plan of happiness. – Elder David A. Bednar (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/we-believe-in-being-chaste?lang=eng)
10. This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/you-matter-to-him?lang=eng)