Divine nature is defined as having something to do with or having to do with God. Being aware of our heavenly heritage does not require much information.
'Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelatory and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah.'1
In Romans, we see, “ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer
with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
I treasure this verse because it gives me confidence that we have a heavenly
connection and are not alone. It also aids in our comprehension of the significance of us
standing as God's children. And for this reason, we strive to acquire Christlike attributes.
Christ is our example and a role model for how to live a faith-based life. While it is true that
human beings are prone to mistakes, it is amazing that we try to
become more like Christ and express our burning desire to do so.
In the Book of Mormon, prophet Alma taught, “For behold, this life is the time for men
to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their
labors.”2
We have come to this earth to help build His kingdom and prepare for His Son's Second coming, Jesus Christ. With every breath we take, we strive to follow Him. The
divine nature within each one of us is refined and magnified by the effort we make to draw
nearer to our Father and His Son.
It is easy to get distracted from our divine purpose. It can be life's challenges and the
choices we make based on our knowledge to get us to the situation.
Our choice to heed those who mock sacred things will distance us from the saving and
life-giving light of the Savior. John recorded: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I
am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have
the light of life.”4
Remember, those who genuinely love us can help us build our faith. I recently got the chance to study and discuss the New Testament daily with a close friend. Even though it was challenging for us to keep up with it every day, when we did it together and discussed the lessons learned, it helped to establish a safe space where we could comprehend and deepen the teachings of the Savior and how we could relate the scriptures to our living. Overall, it was an incredible experience, and we hope to continue it and encourage others to do the same.
We must also trust the Lord to develop spiritual strength within ourselves. We
cannot rely upon the light of others forever. I knew that the darkness in the tunnel would
not last if I kept pedalling beside my friend and within the group's safety. But I expected to be able to proceed on my own once I could see the light.
We all come from different walks of life and are frequently aware that we are not perfect,
but the Lord only asks that we try our best and come to him with a broken heart and
a contrite spirit. Then, in a way that is beyond anything we could ever imagine, he will assist
us in returning to the path that Heavenly Father has for us.
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”5
This scripture helps us understand how we need to act upon the invitation we have
received to decide on what we can do?
Notes:
- The Book of Mormon, Introduction
- Romans 8: 16,17
- Alma 34: 32
- John 8:12
- Acts 2:37
