Beginning

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the Earth."

Alma 40:8 ". . . all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men."

2 Peter 3:8 ". . . One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."

D&C 93:21 "I was in the beginning with the father, and am the firstborn."

D&C 93:23 "Ye were also in the beginning with the Father: that which is Spirit, even the spirit of Truth."

D&C 93:29 "Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made; neither indeed can be."

D&C 138:56 "Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits. . ."

Beginnings and endings are non-existent to the Latter-Day saint. There just isn't a time when we did not exist or when we shall cease to exist. "I am" - that phrase that Jesus spoke to describe himself  -could be used to describe each of us.

I am. I was. I always will be. My identity as an individual is set. I am a child of God. I am in the likeness of God. I have the potential to become like my Heavenly Parents yet I am still a child, in the infancy of my development. Someday through the eons of time I will fulfill my potential.

I know that because my Heavenly Parents want me to become like them and to live a truly joyful life. They will keep reaching out to me and helping me through the great metamorphosis that yet lies ahead of me.

I've been watching our monarchs all summer. We have nine caterpillars in our butterfly cage right now. They range in size from about 3/4 inch to 2 &1/2 inches. We look forward to seeing them form their chrysalises and finally emerged. But we also love those caterpillars! They are beautiful. We like to watch them move around on the milkweed. We like how their heads bob as they eat. Did you know they curl up and play possum if they feel threatened?

I imagine Heavenly Father watches me in much the same way. He knows my potential and that I will someday be quite different than I am now. But he loves me now just the way I am. "I am a work in progress" is a cute saying with much behind it.

I am grateful for the simple truth - that life is eternal. I am. I always existed and shall live forever. I have divine potential but I am in my infancy - just beginning to become like Father and Mother and learning through the use of the gift of agency what is good and true.