Brothers and Sisters, aloha. Thank you to President and Sister Kauwe for the invitation to speak. We are honored to be here at the beloved Brigham Young University–Hawaii in this richly blessed community. Laie truly is rich in history, community, and faith. We feel this tremendous blessing daily as we walk the grounds of the Hawaii Laie Temple and visitor center. We feel it daily with hundreds of waves and alohas from the amazing people surrounding us. The true meaning of Aloha is alive and well in this, our new community.
Sisters and brothers, I know that our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, know each of us individually. What does this mean? It means they know our hearts, our minds, and our strengths. They are the only ones who truly know everything about us. Our spouse, parents, siblings, and friends sometimes compete for that honor of knowing us, but only He truly knows us, including our strivings, and the thoughts and intents of our hearts. Only God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ know us perfectly. My husband once said Heavenly Father and the Savior know us infinitely better than we know ourselves. I believe this is true.
Jesus Christ could not have performed the ultimate sacrifice of atoning for our sins and sorrows if He did not know each of us perfectly. And because He knows us personally, He is uniquely positioned to beacon us to follow as He would have us follow. He knows what we can sacrifice or devote our time to. He knows how to best apply our dedication, willingness, and devotion. And because he knows our pains, sorrows, and disappointments, he can direct our paths for good.
This is truly an amazing realization. He is our judge because He knows our deeds and our hearts. While we have those who are called to judge our earthly behavior, He is the final judge of the sum total of who we have become.
In today’s world, it is common to condemn ourselves, foster self-doubt, and underestimate our worth. Sometimes we let the world’s view dictate how we see ourselves. It truly is difficult to live in the world but not let the world live in us. Don’t let the world determine how big or how small you are. From our earliest age, we know who we are – Children of God. In a revelation given to the prophet Joseph Smith in Doctrine & Covenants 18:10, we read, “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God…” 1
President Thomas S. Monson has taught: “Your Heavenly Father loves you- each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. … God’s love is there for you whether you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.” 2
In our world today it is a constant battle to avoid the distracting and seemingly pervasive voices of the adversary. Satan uses lies about our worth to distort our views, to make the bad seem good and the good seem bad, to tell us we are not loved, and to create doubt that we are indeed a child of God.
I plead with you not to listen.
The voice of our loving Heavenly Father is different. It is that still, small voice that beacons you to follow Him. Remember, you have infinite worth, and change is possible wherever you are in the journey of life.
Many think that looking or acting like others is what is most important in life when in reality, it is hard to discover our true selves when we are not living an authentic life.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has warned: “When we choose to define ourselves or to present ourselves by some characteristic that is temporary or trivial in eternal terms, we de-emphasize what is most important about us and we overemphasize what is relatively unimportant. This can lead us down the wrong path and hinder our eternal progress.” 3
In other words, when we de-emphasize our divine parentage and overemphasize our value to the world, we are greatly underestimating our divine worth.
We can combat these feelings by remembering the Lord’s ways are higher. He will lead and guide us.
In Isaiah 55:8–9, we read:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 4
Comparing ourselves to others is harmful and causes doubt and frustration.
Many of you have heard the phrase, “That is like comparing apples to oranges……”
The term “comparing apples and oranges" is often used when a person compares two items so different there is no real way to compare them.
Why would we compare ourselves to others when we know that no two people are alike? We know that God created us individually with gifts and talents hand-tailored to fit our unique lives and personalities. Remember, He can do this because only He truly knows us. We may both play the piano, but we did not learn the same way, in the same amount of time, and most likely not the same teacher. Apples are not oranges, just as we are not the same as anyone else.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:
“He does not mercilessly measure [His children] against their neighbors. He doesn’t even compare them with each other. His gestures of compassion toward one do not require a withdrawal or denial of love for the other. … I testify that no one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions.” 5
Heavenly Father has given each of us different gifts and talents. Remember, in the world of social media, most things are altered, edited, photoshopped, and more. Let’s not compares ourselves to the edited versions of others. Let’s not compare ourselves to the unedited versions of others. We don’t need to live our lives in comparison mode. May we look for the good in ourselves and others and rejoice in the differences.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior’s example and spend the days of their lives doing good."
Let’s listen to this inspired counsel from Elder Uchtdorf. We should not use the world’s view to determine how we feel about ourselves. Heavenly Father’s view is what should matter most to us.
Elder J. Devn Cornish of the Seventy says, “The only opinion of us that matters is what our Heavenly Father thinks of us. Please sincerely ask Him what He thinks of you. He will love and correct but never discourage us.” 7
Just as Elder Cornish has said, Heavenly Father will respond to the questions we ask him. Let us turn to Him for these important answers and not let the world answer important questions. We can turn to Him and ask for encouragement when we are down, energy when we are weak, and truth when we are seeking. He is ready and waiting to pour down blessings upon us as we seek and ask of Him.
The spirit will speak truth to our hearts and minds. The spirit will testify to us of our divine worth. There are many ways the spirit speaks to us. It is different for everyone. We can ask God for testimony building experiences with regards to our self-worth. We can study the scriptures for witnesses that we are a child of God.
In Jacob 4:13 it says,
“Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.” 8
We can learn for ourselves how the spirit speaks to us. We can know when we are having truth testified to us by the feelings, revelations, and personal promptings we are receiving. In whatever way the spirit speaks to you, you can be assured it will bring with it comfort and assurance of God’s love. The spirit brings peace.
In Galatians 5:22, we read: “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” 9
I bear testimony that God lives and loves us perfectly. He knows us perfectly. Let us learn to see ourselves as He sees us. Let us learn to make His will our will. As we learn about ourselves, it is my prayer that we will help ourselves and others progress along the covenant path.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes:
1. Doctrine & Covenants 18:10.
2. Thomas S. Monson, “We Never Walk Alone,” Ensign, Nov. 2013, 123–24.
3. Dallin H. Oaks, “How to Define Yourself”, BYU–Idaho Devotional, November 7, 2006.
4. Isaiah 55:8–9.
5. Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Other Prodigal,” Ensign, May 2002, 63–64.
6. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “You Matter to Him,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 20, 22.
7. Devin Cornish, “Am I Good Enough, Will I Make It?” Ensign, November 2016.
8. Jacob 4:13.
9. Galatians 5:22.