My Divine Identity and Destiny

 My Divine Identity and Destiny

The Family: A Proclamation to the World states: “the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children”. What does the Creator have in store for me? What is my destiny?  I have thought about this final blog and, I have to be honest, have procrastinated writing it because I really didn’t to what I wanted to say until now.

I came to this earth as a daughter of God with a purpose. One to gain a body and two, become like God. I have disregarded the body as nothing, with regards to just having it here on earth. Ok, so that part is done. I’ve got one. Taking this class, has really opened my eyes to understanding what this body is and how it plays into my destiny here and in the eternities.

My body is a gift. Elder Bednar stated “Have we ever really considered why having a physical body is so important? … Do we really understand why a body is so central to the Father’s plan of happiness? Do we perhaps recite this answer so frequently and routinely that we fail to recognize its true importance? (“Ye Are the Temple of God,” Ensign, Sept. 2001, 14). In terms of destiny, my body plays a role in understanding who created it, who I am in this body, and why the temptations are so strong to destroy it. First, scriptures teach us that God created us in his image. This body is the same as God’s. In D&C 130: 22 it states “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s”. He sent us to this earth to experience life in a body like his. Experiences have shown me that, in this body, I am his daughter. I have unique talents and qualities that I can use and develop here. I have seen him allow me to grow in ways I never would have chosen for myself. Mine would have been a much easier path. I have also been tempted so many times to hate this body and have thought that it wasn’t good enough. Elder Bednar shared his thoughts on this matter in a talk entitled “Things as they really are”. He states, “The very tool he does not have and cannot use is thus the primary target of his attempts to lure us to physical and spiritual destruction. When any of Heavenly Father’s children misuse their physical tabernacles by violating the law of chastity, by using drugs and addictive substances, by disfiguring or defacing themselves, or by worshiping the false idol of body image, whether their own or that of others, Satan is delighted. To those of us who know and understand the plan of salvation, any defiling of the body is rebellion and a denial of our true identity as sons and daughters of God (see Mosiah 2:36–37; D&C 64:34–35).” I am beginning to understand the body’s importance to my destiny here and on an eternal scale.

My destiny is to become like God. How do I do this? The scriptures share that we came to earth to experience things “in the flesh” to help us become like Him. So what things am I experiencing to fulfill my destiny? I have had the chance to experience love, kindness, forgiveness, service to others, family, peace, pain, and fear. All of these are so important to become like Him. Another important aspect is to overcome our “natural man”. The one part of us that is selfish. Our bodies have this desire to fulfill our own wants. God has asked us to “becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him...” (Mosiah 3:19) He is allowing us to be shaped here, to learn here, to have faith here, and to change here. This is what my destiny is. To take these experiences and ask him for his guidance. He didn’t leave me here alone. I have the gift of the Holy Ghost to protect, guide, testify, and be a comfort to me.

When I realize this, my destiny becomes clearer. There are days that I have to still take that step into the midst of darkness, relying on Him to help me see his path for me. “His plan by which his children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life… The plan of happiness”. (Hawkins, p.337). I look forward to each new day and a deeper understanding of my destiny!


References:
Hawkins, A., Dollahite, D., & Draper, T. (2016), Successful Marriages and Families Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives, Provo,Utah, BYU Studies

Bednar, David A., (2010,June) "Things as They Really are", Ensign , Retreived from www.churchofjesuschrist.org