Church Talk

My daughter, Noelle, is a child of God.  All of the wonderful Primary children are sons and daughters of God.  But not only that – we, who are no longer children in the world, as still children of God.

Moses, on top of a distant mountain, spoke face to face with God.  As a result of that miraculous visitation, and despite forty years of living in the splendour and grandeur of the ancient Egyptian kingdom, Moses realized something that he had never before supposed.

“I know” he said “that man is nothing” (Moses 1:10)

Years later, King Benjamin counselled his people and subsequently us to “always retain in remembrance the greatness of God and [our] own nothingness” (Mosiah 4:11). 

How is it that the scriptures teach us that we are both nothing and beloved children of God?

Enoch testified that “were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of [God’s] creations” (Moses 7:30).  Compared to the vast and marvellous creations of God, we are very little indeed.

There have been moments in my life where I have felt small and insignificant and uncapable.  Compared to the tasks at hand, the trials I faced, I felt as though I really were nothing.  As a young, recent convert, supposedly spanish-speaking missionary, I remember feeling this way.  When Zach and I were faced with the scary possibility of not being able to have children, I felt this way as well.  Small.  Nothing.  Even as a new primary president, I have not felt big enough for the challenges this calling brings.  I’m sure that you’ve all had moments in your life when you’ve felt this sense of nothingness compared to the greatness of God, the vastness of your responsibilities or the over-powering weight of your trials.

President Uchtdorf explains that:

“While we may look at the vast expance of the universe and say, ‘what is man in comparison to the glory of creation?’ God Himself said we are the reason He created the universe!  His work and His glory – the purpose for this magnificent universe – is to save and exalt mankind.  In other words, the vast expanse of eternity, the glories and mysteries of infinite space and time are all built for the benefit of ordinary mortals like you and me.... This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God” (You Matter to Him, Oct 2011)

Let me say that again.  Compared to God, we are nothing; yet to God, we are everything.  You are everything.  What a beautiful thing it is to be a child of God.

Brothers and Sisters, I know that we truly are children of God and that we really are everything to Him.  I know this because why else – how else – could He have sent His Only Begotten Son to us?

Doctrine and Covenants 18:10 reads:

“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”

Just how great are our souls to God?  Well an object’s value is determined by what someone is willing to pay for it.  What price was paid for your soul and for mine?

“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.  For behold, the Lord your redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto Him.” (D&C 18:10-11)

Christ performed the infinite atonement for each one of us.  He paid an infinite price.  In order to save us from our sins, our transgressions, our pains and our weaknesses, he gave his life in an infinite way in that He keeps giving as long as we keep needing.

Our Savior Jesus Christ went forth “suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind” (Alma 7:11).  He performed the atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane in order to fulfill ancient prophecies, in order to loose the bands of death that bind us, in order to blot out our transgressions, in order to truly have mercy for us, and in order to know how to succor us in our times of need.

According the Jeffrey R Holland, “ Jesus Christ knows the deepest and most personal burdens we carry.  He knows the most public and poignant pains we bear.  He descended below all such grief in order that he might lift us above it.  There is no anguish or sorrow or sadness in life that he has not suffered in our behalf” (Christ and the New Covenant 224).

Christ suffered infinitely to succor us and to save us and – here’s how I know that we truly are beloved children of God – God let him.

Heavenly Father stood back and let Christ, His Son, endure so much we will never ever be able to comprehend it.  So great is their love for us, the love of a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly brother.

But still, knowing this, knowing that we’re crowning creations of our Heavenly Father, literal spirit children of God, it’s still hard.  Even knowing of their great love and sacrifice for us, life is still hard.

Brothers and Sisters, just as we must be constantly reminded that we’re children of God (good thing there’s a song), we must also remember that we’re all still children to Him.  We’re not yet exalted.  We’re not yet finished.  To God, no matter our age, we’re all still growing up.  We’re all still children.

No, we don’t know everything yet.  No, we’re not perfect yet.  Yes, that is okay.  In fact, as it turns out, it is actually preferred.

Once we come to terms with the fact that we’re not there yet, we become humble and teachable.  We become like the little children that surround us to Heavenly Father.  It is important for us to remember that we must “yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit and [put] off the natural man and [become] a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord and [become] as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all the things which the Lord [sees] fit to inflict upon [us] even as a child doth submit to his father” (Mosiah 3:19).

Jesus Himself taught that “except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4).

While I was serving my mission, I loved it so much.  I dreaded the day when it would end.  I often wondered why I was only allowed to serve for 18 months.  Finally, at the end of my mission, I figured it out.  After 18 months, I had missionary work down.  I knew what to do and how to do it, and so they sent me home.  The Lord calls the weak things of the earth to confound the wise because they are humble - because they are humble and rely on the Lord.  And in case you’ve ever wondered why Sisters serve 18 months and Elders serve 24, I’m pretty sure it’s just because Sisters master it faster.

If we knew what we were doing in life, we wouldn’t need faith, or trust, or prayer, or patience, or humility.  And as it turns out, these are actually important characteristics for us to develop. 

You are a child of God. That simple sentence that you spend your lives singing and saying and teaching means that you matter to God.  It means that you are not invisible.  It means that you are not forgotten.  It means that you don’t know everything yet, and it means that you don’t have to.  It means you are loved.  It means you that you are loved enough for a father to sacrifice His Only Begotten Son for you.  It means that you are of infinite worth to them.  It means that the pains and trials and heartaches you are called to bear are temporal.  It means that they will end.  It means that you can make it.  Because you are a child of God.

President Uchtdorf said,

“Be assured that if you but hold on, believe in Him, and remain faithful in keeping the commandments, one day you will experience for yourselves the promises revealed to the Apostle Paul: ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.’  ....God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season – He sees you as His child.  He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become.  He wants you to know that you matter to Him.”

So, dear Brothers and Sisters, hold on.