Dale G Renlund | Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny | April 2022 General Conference

2 years ago
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Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny
By Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I invite you to center your life on Jesus Christ and remember the foundational truths in the Young Women theme.

Dear sisters, thank you for being here. I am honored to participate in this women’s session of general conference. On occasion I have also been privileged to attend Young Women classes. But let me point out the obvious—I am not young, and I am not a woman! I learned, however, that I feel less out of place if I can recite the Young Women theme along with the young women. The profound doctrine taught in the Young Women theme1 is important for young women, but it is applicable to all, including those of us who are not young women.

The Young Women theme begins, “I am a beloved daughter of heavenly parents, with a divine nature and eternal destiny.”2 This statement contains four important truths. First, you are a beloved daughter. Nothing you do—or do not do—can change that. God loves you because you are His spirit daughter. Sometimes we may not feel His love, but it is always there. God’s love is perfect.3 Our ability to sense that love is not.

The Spirit plays a pivotal role in communicating God’s love to us.4 Yet the influence of the Holy Ghost can be obscured “by strong emotions, such as anger, hate, … [or] fear, … like trying to savor the delicate flavor of a grape while eating a jalapeño pepper. … [One flavor] completely overpowers the other.”5 So too, behaviors that distance us from the Holy Ghost, including sin,6 make it difficult for us to perceive God’s love for us.

Similarly, our sense of God’s love may be blunted by challenging circumstances and physical or mental illness, among other things. In all these cases, the counsel of trusted leaders or professionals can often be beneficial. We can also try to improve our receptivity to God’s love by asking ourselves, “Is my love for God constant, or do I love Him when I have good days but not so much when I have bad days?”

The second truth is that we have heavenly parents, a father and a mother.7 The doctrine of a Heavenly Mother comes by revelation and is a distinctive belief among Latter-day Saints. President Dallin H. Oaks explained the importance of this truth: “Our theology begins with heavenly parents. Our highest aspiration is to be like them.”8

Very little has been revealed about Mother in Heaven, but what we do know is summarized in a gospel topic found in our Gospel Library application.9 Once you have read what is there, you will know everything that I know about the subject. I wish I knew more. You too may still have questions and want to find more answers. Seeking greater understanding is an important part of our spiritual development, but please be cautious. Reason cannot replace revelation.

Speculation will not lead to greater spiritual knowledge, but it can lead us to deception or divert our focus from what has been revealed.10 For example, the Savior taught His disciples, “Always pray unto the Father in my name.”11 We follow this pattern and direct our worship to our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ and do not pray to Heavenly Mother.12

General Conference Saturday Womens Session April 2022

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