Divine Nature

“Your lineage is a “blood relationship.” That makes you literally “children of the prophets” with a noble birthright. That is why we often say that you are “youth of the noble birthright” and belong to a royal, “chosen generation.”
-              Julie B. Beck, April 2006 General Conference, “You Have a Noble Birthright” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/you-have-a-noble-birthright?lang=eng&query=royal

“When you know who you are and what you should be doing with your life, you don’t want to hide your light.  For instance, you would not want to “hide your light” by wearing clothing that diminishes your royal potential. You would not use improper language or stories or mar your body with tattoos or other procedures debasing for a daughter of royal birth. You would not cheapen your birthright by taking into your body any substance that is harmful or addictive. Neither would you view or participate in any behavior which is immoral and lowers your noble stature. You seek all that is praiseworthy and virtuous and lovely and of good report because you know you have a noble heritage.  You are treasured children of the promise. If you will keep the Lord’s statutes and commandments and hearken to His voice, He has promised that He will make you high above the nations in name and honor and praise. Your patriarchal blessing should inspire you to make changes in your life when they are needed. It contains promises that you can receive only through your faithfulness. If you are not faithful, you cannot plan on your blessing being fulfilled.”
-              Julie B. Beck, April 2006 General Conference , “You Have a Noble Birthright,” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/you-have-a-noble-birthright?lang=eng&query=royal

“I have always loved the story of the son of King Louis XVI of France because he had an unshakable knowledge of his identity. As a young man, he was kidnapped by evil men who had dethroned his father, the king. These men knew that if they could destroy him morally, he would not be heir to the throne. For six months they subjected him to every vile thing life had to offer, and yet he never yielded under pressure. This puzzled his captors, and after doing everything they could think of, they asked him why he had such great moral strength. His reply was simple. He said, “I cannot do what you ask, for I was born to be a king.” Like the king’s son, each of you has inherited a royal birthright. Each of you has a divine heritage. “You are literally the royal daughters of our Father in Heaven.”   Each of you was born to be a queen.”
-              Elaine S. Dalton, April 2010 General Conference, “Remember Who You Are!” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/remember-who-you-are?lang=eng&query=royal

“You are literally a spirit daughter of heavenly parents with a divine nature and an eternal destiny. That surpassing truth should be fixed deep in your soul and be fundamental to every decision you make as you grow into mature womanhood. There could never be a greater authentication of your dignity, your worth, your privileges, and your promise. Your Father in Heaven knows your name and knows your circumstance. He hears your prayers. He knows your hopes and dreams, including your fears and frustrations. And He knows what you can become through faith in Him. Because of this divine heritage you, along with all of your spiritual sisters and brothers, have full equality in His sight and are empowered through obedience to become a rightful heir in His eternal kingdom, an “[heir] of God, and joint-[heir] with Christ.” Seek to comprehend the significance of these doctrines.”
-              Jeffrey R. Holland, October 2005 General Conference, “To Young Women” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/to-young-women?lang=eng&query=divine+nature

“All around us we see a growing desire for spiritual direction the world over as a result of increasing natural and human-caused disasters. This yearning for spiritual guidance is a consequence of our being children of a divine Heavenly Father. It is understandable that when we face difficulty we turn to our Creator for help. Our loving Heavenly Father knew that deteriorating world conditions, severe personal challenges, and disasters would lead His children to seek His spiritual nourishment. The challenge is how to properly find it.”
-              Richard G. Scott, October 2005 General Conference, “Truth Restored” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/truth-restored?lang=eng&query=divine+nature

“One title that defines all of us in the most fundamental way is son of Heavenly Father. No matter what else we are or do in life, we must never forget that we are God’s literal spirit children. We were His children before we came to this world, and we will be His children forevermore. This basic truth should change the way we look at ourselves, our brothers and sisters, and life itself.  Unfortunately, none of us quite lives up to everything that this title implies, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”  It can be discouraging at times to know what it means to be a son of God and yet come up short. The adversary likes to take advantage of these feelings. Satan would rather that you define yourself by your sins instead of your divine potential. Brethren, don’t listen to him.”
-              Dieter F. Uchtdorf, April 2013 General Conference “Four Titles” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/four-titles?lang=eng&query=divine+nature

“Brothers and sisters, as the literal spirit children of our loving Heavenly Father, we have unlimited, divine potential. But if we are not careful, we can become like the wilted tomato plant. We can drift away from the true doctrine and gospel of Christ and become spiritually undernourished and wilted, having removed ourselves from the divine light and living waters of the Savior’s eternal love and priesthood power.”
-              Elder M. Russell Ballard, April 2013 General Conference, “This Is My Work and Glory” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/this-is-my-work-and-glory?lang=eng&query=divine+nature

“To you women, I wish to issue a challenge tonight. That challenge is to rise to the stature of the divine within you. As you have been reminded, yours is a godly inheritance. “I am a child of God” is not an idle or meaningless statement. You were there “when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons [and daughters] of God shouted for joy.” (Job 38:7.) You brought some of that inheritance with you when you came “trailing clouds of glory … from God who is our home.” (William Wordsworth, “Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood,” st. 5.) You were there when “there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon.”
-              President Gordon B. Hinckley, October 1989 General Conference, “Rise to the Stature of the Divine Within You” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/10/rise-to-the-stature-of-the-divine-within-you?lang=eng&query=divine+nature

“Sisters, we, your brethren, cannot do what you were divinely designated to do from before the foundation of the world. We may try, but we cannot ever hope to replicate your unique gifts. There is nothing in this world as personal, as nurturing, or as life changing as the influence of a righteous woman.”
-              M. Russell Ballard, April 2010 General Conference, “Mothers and Daughters” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/mothers-and-daughters?lang=eng&query=divine+nature

“God truly is our Father, the Father of the spirits of all mankind. We are his literal offspring and are formed in his image. We have inherited divine characteristics from him. Knowing our relationship to our Heavenly Father helps us understand the divine nature that is in us and our potential. The doctrine of the fatherhood of God lays a solid foundation for self-esteem. The hymn titled “I Am a Child of God” (Hymns, 1985, no. 301) states this doctrine in simple terms. Can a person who understands his divine parenthood lack self-esteem? I have known people who have a deep, abiding assurance of this truth and others who understand it only superficially and intellectually. The contrast in their attitudes and the practical effect of these attitudes in their lives is remarkably apparent.”
-              Joseph B. Wirthlin, October 1991 General Conference ,“Fruits of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1991/10/fruits-of-the-restored-gospel-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng&query=divine+nature

“Each of us is a son or daughter of God, and we have a unique premortal and mortal story. Accordingly, there are very few one-size-fits-all solutions. And so I fully recognize the trial-and-error nature of life and, most importantly, the constant need of the second principle of the gospel, even repentance.”
-              Elder L. Tom Perry, April 2014 General Conference, “Obedience through Our Faithfulness” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/obedience-through-our-faithfulness?lang=eng

Position Statement:

We are literally spirit sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father.  Men and women have been given specific divine gifts to aid each other in their journey on this earth.  We must work together.  We have unlimited potential for good.  Knowing who we truly are keeps us centered and can provide greater self-confidence.  Knowing that God is my Father, instills within me a greater desire to know Him.  When we know who we truly are, our prayers become more frequent and more meaningful.  As we strengthen our relationship with our Father in Heaven, we want to make Him happy and do all we can to help Him in His work.