Divine Nature

"Divine Nature" is perhaps my favorite scriptural phrase. It is, in my mind, connected to individual worth.  It means that in my very essence, I have the qualities of Godhood.  I'm not sure that I have to develop them so much as I just have to remember them, to remember who I am so that I can exhibit those qualities.

From The Young women's Personal Progress:

I have inherited Divine qualities, 

which I will strive to develop. 

I am of infinite worth with my own Divine mission, 

which I will strive to fulfill.

Our new young women theme begins:

I am a beloved daughter of Heavenly Parents, 

with a divine nature and eternal destiny.

This truth is so essential to who we are. It should stand as the core of what we believe about ourselves. It means we literally are a child of a our Heavenly parents. We lived with them before we came to earth. We have within each of us the possibility - the ability - to become like them. My divine nature means I can become:

Loving      Kind      Patient      Forgiving      Trustworthy      Optimistic      Confident    

Filled with hope      Chaste      True      Just      Pure      Humble      Charitable

Diligent      Long suffering      Gentle      Meek      Honest      Benevolent

Capable of Learning and Doing anything

C. S. Lewis wrote:

“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, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree helping each other to one or the other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all of our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - 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 - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”

I think he was right but I am more optimistic than he.  I hope and pray with all my heart that each child of God will eventually realize who they are, and choose everlasting splendors.  The Gospel makes it possible.