Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles: "Remember that your most important identity relates to your divine nature as a child of God." April 2022 General Conference
"Understanding our identity is key to how we view ourselves and others. But these questions can be hard to answer when voices all around us say that our identity and worth come from temporal things like our looks, social status, or success at work or school.
"The world is far too easy to listen to, and its voices can leave us feeling overwhelmed, disheartened, or lost. But when we really understand our divine nature, we can begin to see ourselves and others as God sees us."(Understanding Your Divine Identity)
Who Am I?
The Apostle Paul taught that we are more than mortal beings: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16).
President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught: “Because we are the spirit children of God, everyone has a divine origin, nature, and potential. Each of us ‘is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents.’ This is our identity! This is who we really are!”(April 2021 General Conference)
DIVINE IDENTITY
In social media posts on Facebook and Instagram on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 President Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, taught about true identity.
"Labels can be fun and indicate your support for any number of positive things. But if any label replaces your most important identifiers, the results can be spiritually suffocating," President Nelson wrote.
He continued, "I believe that if the Lord were speaking to you directly, the first thing He would make sure you understand is your true identity. My dear friends, you are literally spirit children of God."
Elder Christophe G. Giraud-Carrier of the Seventy: "French is not who I am; it is where I was born. White is not who I am; it is the color of my skin, or lack thereof. Professor is not who I am; it is what I did to support my family. General Authority Seventy is not who I am; it is where I serve in the kingdom at this time.
"'First and foremost,' as President Nelson reminded us, I am a 'child of God.' So are you, and so are all other people around us. I pray that we may come to a greater appreciation of this wonderful truth. It changes everything!
"We may have been raised in different cultures; we may come from different socioeconomic circumstances; our mortal heritage, including our nationality, skin color, food preferences, political orientation, etc., may vary greatly. But we are His children, all of us, without exception. We have the same divine origin and the same limitless potential through the grace of Jesus Christ.
"C. S. Lewis put it this way: 'It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship. … There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit.'" (October 2023 General Conference)
BELONGING & HUSTLING for ACCEPTANCE
“We all want to fit in,” explains Dr. Joanna Cannon, a British psychiatrist. “In order to achieve that, we often present slightly different versions of who we are, depending on the environment and whose company we are in. We might have numerous ‘editions’ of ourselves—for work, or at home, or even online.”2
“Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health. Our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight – one that can help us live healthier, more fulfilled, and more productive lives,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “Given the significant health consequences of loneliness and isolation, we must prioritize building social connection the same way we have prioritized other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity, and substance use disorders. Together, we can build a country that’s healthier, more resilient, less lonely, and more connected.” (HHS.GOV)
Elder John C. Pingree, Jr of the Seventy: "In the premortal life, we walked with God, heard His voice, and felt His love. We have since passed through a veil of forgetfulness into mortality. We no longer have a perfect recollection of our life before. The conditions of this mortal environment make it harder to sense our divine nature and the belonging we enjoyed in our heavenly home.
"For example, too much focus on our genetic and environmental differences can be an obstacle to our connection with God. The adversary attempts to exploit these differences to divert us from our common divine parentage. We receive labels from others and sometimes even assume them ourselves. There is nothing inherently wrong in identifying with others based on earthly characteristics; in fact, many of us find joy and support from those with similar traits and experiences. However, when we forget our core identity as God’s children, we can begin to fear, distrust, or feel superior to those different from us. These attitudes often lead to division, discrimination, and even destruction (see Moses 7:32–33, 36)." (March 2023)
Dr. Brené Brown, an American researcher and author, observed: “Fitting in and belonging are not the same thing. In fact, fitting in is one of the greatest barriers to belonging. Fitting in is about assessing a situation and becoming who you need to be in order to be accepted. Belonging, on the other hand, doesn’t require us to change who we are; it requires us to be who we are.”3
Dr. Brene Brown: "One of the greatest barriers to connection is the cultural importance we place on 'going it alone'. Somehow we've come to equate success with not needing anyone. Many of us are willing to extend a helping hand, but we're very reluctant to reach out for help when we need it ourselves. It's as if we have divided the world into 'those who offer help' and 'those who need help'. The truth is that we need both." (The Gifts of Imperfection, p. 20)
COVENANTS MATTER
“The ordinances of salvation and exaltation administered in the Lord’s restored Church are far more than rituals or symbolic performances. Rather, they constitute authorized channels through which the blessings and powers of heaven can flow into our individual lives.”
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins,” Liahona, May 2016, 60.
Elder Pingree: "To be effective in His work, we need to turn outward and learn to put God first and often place the needs of others ahead of our own. Focusing outward requires personal sacrifice (see Doctrine and Covenants 138:12–13) but also infuses more meaning into our lives and provides great joy (see Alma 36:24–26).
"As we engage in God’s work, we do not just belong as members of a group; rather, we become real partners with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. There is no greater feeling than knowing that God trusts us sufficiently to work through us to bring eternal life to others." (March 2023)
MODALITY: DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN ROLE-SELF VS. TRUE-SELF
Role-Self: The goal is to create a connection with another person by unconsciously creating a persona that you believe will benefit another's needs and/or interests. Playing a "role-self" can be exhausting. Those who live in "role-self" secretly fear being revealed as an imposter. Thoughts associated with "role-self" behavior: "I'll become so self-sacrificing that other people will praise me and love me" (positive) or "I'll make them pay attention to me one way or the other" (negative). Can lead to depression, anxiety, tension and insomnia. (Gibson)
True-Self: The source of our unique individuality and is unaffected by societal or familial pressures to adhere to a certain mold. The consciousness that speaks the truth at the center of a person's being. Focuses on solutions rather than problems. Things seem much more possible as we pay attention to our genuine needs and desires. The true-self want to be genuine with other people and sincere in its own pursuits. (Gibson)
Exercise: With a single sheet of paper and a pen, fold the paper in half. Write at the top of each half: My True-Self and My Role-Self. Orient the paper so you can only see the side that says "My True-Self".
Imagine yourself at 9 years old. Write answers to the following:
What were you interested in?
Who were your favorite people and what did you like about them?
If you had free time, what would you do?
How did you like to play?
What was your idea of a perfect day?
What were you like before you began trying to be someone else?
Before you learned to judge and criticize self, what did you enjoy doing?
What made you feel good?
If you could be the person you really are (didn't have to worry about money or time), what would your life be like right now?
Flip the paper over to the "My Role-Self" side. Write answers to the following:
What do you feel you have had to adjust to be loved and valued?
Are you involved in things that really interest you?
What do you MAKE yourself do because you THINK it will make you a good person?
What people in your life deplete your energy and make you feel drained?
What are you spending time on that is boring to you?
What is your social role with friends and family?
How do you hope others see you?
Which personality traits do you try to cover up?
What are you glad nobody knows about you?
Unfold the paper. Compare the two sides. Which side of the paper are you primarily living? What can you think, feel or do to live more aligned to your "True-Self"? What are some toward moves you can make toward your "True-Self"?
Tools to help discover True-SelF
The Gift of the Holy Ghost
Prayer & Fasting
Your Patriarchal Blessing
Comments