GC Recap #20 - Individual Worth

These last couple of weeks I have been pondering individual worth quite a bit. I have been earnestly seeking to feel of my worth in my Father in Heaven's eyes. In keeping with these desires and thought, instead of focusing on one GC address, I decided to read what the prophets and apostles have counseled and spoken on this subject. I was amazed by the plethora of wonderful information and talks given on this very subject. I have spent the last hour reading through the wonderful words of our leaders. Below are a few of the things that spoke directly to me.

President Monson said, "Remember that you are entitled to our Father’s blessings in this work. He did not call you to your privileged post to walk alone, without guidance, trusting to luck. On the contrary, He knows your skill, He realizes your devotion, and He will convert your supposed inadequacies to recognized strengths. He has promised: “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up”.

Bishop H. Burke Peterson said:“One of the greatest challenges is to overcome the feeling that we are unimportant, that we are not special and unique. Do you think for a moment that Heavenly Father would have sent one of His children to this earth by accident, without the possibility of a significant work to perform?

“My dear friends, you are a royal generation. You were preserved to come to the earth in this time for a special purpose. Not just a few of you, but all of you. There are things for each of you to do that no one else can do as well as you. If you do not prepare to do them, they will not be done. Your mission is unique and distinctive for you. Please don’t make another have to take your place. He or she can’t do it as well as you can. If you will let Him, I testify that our Father in Heaven will walk with you through the journey of life and inspire you to know your special purpose here”.

President Monson said, "[Paul C. Child] quoted from the Doctrine and Covenants, including section 18 concerning the worth of a soul, indicating that we should labor all our days to bring souls unto the Lord. He then turned to one elders quorum president and asked, 'What is the worth of a soul?' "The stunned quorum president hesitated as he formulated his reply. I had a prayer in my heart that he would be able to answer the question. He finally responded, 'The worth of a soul is its capacity to become as God.' "Brother Child closed his scriptures, walked solemnly and quietly up the aisle and back to the stand. As he passed by me, he said, 'A most profound reply.'"

M. Russell Ballard said, "Only as we accept the Atonement in our lives and strive to live the gospel can we meet the challenges of life and find peace, joy, and happiness. Coming to understand this great gift is an individual pursuit for each child of God. . . .

"If we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God."

I found this in a visiting teaching message from 21 years ago. Obviously this has been a struggle for some time. "The world would like us to believe that the requirements for self-worth are beauty, youth, wealth, and success. But as Patricia Holland, former counselor in the Young Women general presidency, counseled women college students “[we are] becoming so concerned about having perfect figures, or straight A’s, or professional status, or even absolute motherly success that we are being torn from our true selves. We often worry so much about pleasing and performing for others that we lose our own uniqueness, that full and relaxed acceptance of ourselves as a person of worth and individuality.”

And finally, Elder Russell M. Nelson said, "Feelings of worth come when a woman follows the example of the Master. Her sense of infinite worth comes from her own Christlike yearning to reach out with love, as He does."