Tonight Susan shared a message about what it means to be a daughter of God. She pointed out that we hear that we are a daughter of God or a daughter of Heavenly Parents in many places...conference talks, the Family Proclamation, the YW theme. It's no coincidence that we are taught this over and over.
Rosemary Wixom gave a beautiful talk about our divine nature, Discovering the Divinity Within. She talks about how Heavenly Father generously shares a portion of His divinity with us. It's a gift. It is a deep love that only a parent can feel for their child. We come here to Earth to nurture our gifts.
Sister Wixom quotes Elaine Cannon who said that there are two important days in a woman's life...the day she is born and the day she finds out why. We know why we are here...to build the kingdom of God, to prepare the world for the Second Coming.
Our divine nature has NOTHING to do with our accomplishments, our wealth, our popularity.
In 2 Peter 1 we read:
Sister Wixom said that if we look out through a window--rather than into a mirror--we are better able to see ourselves as God sees us. We need to turn to Him in prayer and study His words in scripture. As we do this we can begin to take our validation vertically (from Him) and not horizontally (from others).
Susan shared that she's had times when she didn't feel good enough or smart enough or talented enough...but when that happens it is because she was taking her validation horizontally. When you begin to doubt who you are, pray and ask Heavenly Father how He feels about you. Elder M. Russell Ballard said, “One of the sweetest messages the Spirit will relay is how the Lord feels about you.” The spirit will testify the truth of who you are.
You need Heavenly Father...but also He needs you! There are people around you that need your influence and example.
Susan shared a story of a terrible drought in Ethiopia in the 1980's. A many was walking many miles to get to a feeding station, set up to help people affected by the drought. As he was walking, he heard a baby crying. He found the baby, with its mother who had died. He picked up the baby and carried it 25 miles to the feeding station. When he arrived, his first concern was what could they do for the baby. He recognized the baby's divine nature and worth and cared more that the baby received food and care than that he did.
When we feel down, serving others helps us. Service helps those we serve and it helps us. Susan shared that a few weeks ago, after a long day at work, she stopped to buy dinner. When she went to pay, the person ahead of her in the drive through had already paid for her. It made her feel so good and made her want to "pay it forward."
Several young women shared experiences of how good it feels to serve or to be served. Susan reminded them of how good and kind and loving they are. She also reminded them that if things ever go poorly with a friend or they lose a friendship, they still have family, leaders, and especially Heavenly Parents that love them.
When her daughter Katelyn was a few months old, a woman in their ward asked if Katelyn could be the baby Jesus in a nativity play. Each night Susan would hand her baby to a cast member. The first time she handed her precious baby over, she felt a little tug...her daughter was so precious and she had to entrust her to someone else. Our Heavenly Parents must have felt that way when they sent YOU to Earth. They want the best for you, and they really, really want you to come home.
Susan encouraged us to watch the video Daughters of God.
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