Divine Worth
As humans, many of us are plagued by self-doubt, insecurities, lack of confidence, and low self-esteem. In essence, we suffer from feelings of worthlessness; however, we are taught that we have a loving Heavenly Father who sees far beyond our shortcomings and weaknesses. While He is well aware of our imperfections, He sees our potential to rise above these flawed characteristics, and in fact, from the book of Ether, we learn that such imperfections serve a divine purpose for us (Ether 12:27). In the Lord’s eyes, the worth of our souls is Great (D&C 18:10), and we are His work. Max Lucado in his book You Are Special echoes the worth of each soul. As the main character Punchinello comes to know Eli in the big house on the hill, we see that he starts on a path in which what the world thinks matters less and what Eli thinks matters more. Doing so helps him to recognize his divine worth. Like Punchinello, we often pay more attention to negative thoughts concerning ourselves. However, as we come to know the Savior, those thoughts disappear and are replaced with knowledge of and confidence in our divine worth. When we understand our divine worth, we are able to help others see theirs as well.
1. Your Heavenly Father knows you. Even when no one else hears you, He hears you. – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Your Wonderful Journey Home,” General Young Women Meting, March 2013 (http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2013/03/your-wonderful-journey-home?lang=eng)
2. Perhaps it is true that we are weak. Perhaps we are not wise or mighty. But when God works through us, no one and nothing can stand against us. – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Four Titles,” General Priesthood Session, April 2013 (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/four-titles?lang=eng)
3. As you remember that you are an eternal being, with latent capacities derived divine parentage, you will not allow yourself to be limited by the confining world that Satan would have you believe is all that exists. – Elder Richard G. Scott, “Finding Happiness,” Campus Education Week, Devotional, 19 August 1997
4. But even though man is nothing, it fills me with wonder and awe to think that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/you-matter-to-him?lang=eng)
5. Her [a woman’s] self-esteem cannot be based on physical features, possession or lack of a particular talent, or comparative quantities of anything. Her self-esteem is earned by individual righteousness and a close relationship with God. – Elder Russell M. Nelson (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/10/woman-of-infinite-worth?lang=eng)
6. Feelings of worth come when a woman follows the example of the Master. Her sense of infinite worth comes from her own Christlike yearning to reach out with love, as He does. – Elder Russell M. Nelson (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/10/woman-of-infinite-worth?lang=eng)
7. Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time! President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-relief-society-meeting/2011/09/forget-me-not?lang=eng)
8. Each one of us is precious to the point of bringing the Lord God Almighty to a fulness of joy if we are faithful, or to tears if we are not. – Elder M. Russell Ballard (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/04/the-atonement-and-the-value-of-one-soul?lang=eng)
9. Yet, in the eyes of the Lord, there may be only one size of audience that is of lasting importance—and that is just one, each one, you and me, and each one of the children of God. The irony of the Atonement is that it is infinite and eternal, yet it is applied individually, one person at a time. - Elder M. Russell Ballard (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/04/the-atonement-and-the-value-of-one-soul?lang=eng)
10. No member of the Church is esteemed by the Lord as more or less than any other. It just does not work that way! Remember, He is a father—our Father. The Lord is “no respecter of persons.” – Elder Boyd K. Packer (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/the-weak-and-the-simple-of-the-church?lang=eng)
11. The pure love of Christ can remove the scales of resentment. . . from our eyes, allowing us to see others the way our Heavenly Father sees us: as flawed and imperfect mortals who have potential and worth far beyond our capacity to imagine. – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Merciful Obtain Mercy,” General Conference, April 2012
2. Perhaps it is true that we are weak. Perhaps we are not wise or mighty. But when God works through us, no one and nothing can stand against us. – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Four Titles,” General Priesthood Session, April 2013 (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/four-titles?lang=eng)
3. As you remember that you are an eternal being, with latent capacities derived divine parentage, you will not allow yourself to be limited by the confining world that Satan would have you believe is all that exists. – Elder Richard G. Scott, “Finding Happiness,” Campus Education Week, Devotional, 19 August 1997
4. But even though man is nothing, it fills me with wonder and awe to think that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/you-matter-to-him?lang=eng)
5. Her [a woman’s] self-esteem cannot be based on physical features, possession or lack of a particular talent, or comparative quantities of anything. Her self-esteem is earned by individual righteousness and a close relationship with God. – Elder Russell M. Nelson (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/10/woman-of-infinite-worth?lang=eng)
6. Feelings of worth come when a woman follows the example of the Master. Her sense of infinite worth comes from her own Christlike yearning to reach out with love, as He does. – Elder Russell M. Nelson (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/10/woman-of-infinite-worth?lang=eng)
7. Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time! President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-relief-society-meeting/2011/09/forget-me-not?lang=eng)
8. Each one of us is precious to the point of bringing the Lord God Almighty to a fulness of joy if we are faithful, or to tears if we are not. – Elder M. Russell Ballard (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/04/the-atonement-and-the-value-of-one-soul?lang=eng)
9. Yet, in the eyes of the Lord, there may be only one size of audience that is of lasting importance—and that is just one, each one, you and me, and each one of the children of God. The irony of the Atonement is that it is infinite and eternal, yet it is applied individually, one person at a time. - Elder M. Russell Ballard (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/04/the-atonement-and-the-value-of-one-soul?lang=eng)
10. No member of the Church is esteemed by the Lord as more or less than any other. It just does not work that way! Remember, He is a father—our Father. The Lord is “no respecter of persons.” – Elder Boyd K. Packer (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/the-weak-and-the-simple-of-the-church?lang=eng)
11. The pure love of Christ can remove the scales of resentment. . . from our eyes, allowing us to see others the way our Heavenly Father sees us: as flawed and imperfect mortals who have potential and worth far beyond our capacity to imagine. – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Merciful Obtain Mercy,” General Conference, April 2012