Our Divine Heritage

In today’s world people really either don’t know who they truly are, or have forgotten amid the turmoil of life. We are the literal children of God our Eternal Father, created in his image, glorious and eternal, and the future Kings and Queens of the Eternities.

           

In my life, the knowledge that I am a daughter of God, that I have purpose, that He loves and knows me personally, and that He is my Father and not just some presents out in the universe; is what has given me the strength that I need, and the will to rise above the trials and hardship in my life.

God is our Father. He loves us, and wants us to return to live with Him once more. Voices in the world will try to convince you that you have no worth and don’t matter. But that is simply not true, because you matter to him.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Love of God, General Conference October 2009 

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Reflection In The Water, BYU CES Fireside November 2009

President Spencer W. Kimball, Hold Fast to the Iron Rod, General Conference October 1978

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Love of God, General Conference October 2009 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, The Ministry of Angels, General Conference October 2008

Elder M. Russell Ballard, “This Is My Work and Glory”, General Conference April 2013

Elder Henry B. Erying, To Draw Closer to God, Ensign May 1991

President Ezra Taft Benson, “Jesus Christ—Gifts and Expectations,” in Speeches of the Year, 1974, Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 1975, p. 313

Elder M. Russell Ballard, God's Love for His Children, General Conference April 1988 

Elder M. Russell Ballard, God's Love for His Children, General Conference April 1988

Agency

Our agency (the ability to choose) is a gift from our loving Heavenly Father and the reason why we are here. “And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;” (Abraham 3:25).  We came here to receive a body, and to learn how to use our agency.

Often people misuse their agency to harm and disappoint us, and we usually wonder why God didn’t prevent them from making those choices. The answer to that is to quote Alma, “Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.” (Alma 42:13). It simply goes against the nature of our Heavenly Father to take away the very gift that he gave us to use on this earth to learn from.

Let us each resolve in our hearts to use our agency for good, and to seek our Heavenly Father in prayer, so that we will know His will for us in the choices we make.  

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Moral Discipline, General Conference October 2009

Elder Robert D. Hales, To Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency, General Conference April 2006 

Elder Robert D. Hales, To Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency, General Conference April 2006 

Elder Quentin L. Cook, Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness, General Conference April 2013

Elder Neal A. Maxwell, The Seventh Commandment: A Shield, General Conference October 2001

Elder M. Russell Ballard, O that Cunning Plan of the Evil One, General Conference October 2010

Elder Richard G. Scott, Finding Joy in Life, General Conference April 1996

President David O. McKay, Chapter 22: Agency and Responsibility, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay, (2011), 204–13

Elder Henry B. Eyring, Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady, General Conference October 2005 

Elder Henry B. Eyring, Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady, General Conference October 2005