Value beyond Measure - Joy D. Jones

(The words in red are my thoughts on the the talk given and are my opinion only. The highlights are mine as well. Take your thoughts and impression to the Lord for confirmation. The Holy Spirit is the real teacher.)

We can frequently savor the sweet whisperings of the Holy Ghost verifying the truth of our spiritual worth.

While visiting the country of Sierra Leone in West Africa, I participated in a meeting conducted by a stake Primary leader. Mariama led with such love, grace, and confidence that it was easy to assume she had long been a member of the Church. Mariama, however, was a fairly recent convert. I am a longtime member. Would you assume that if you met me?...do I lead with love, grace and confidence?


Her younger sister joined the Church and invited Mariama to attend a Church class with her. Mariama was deeply impressed by the message. The lesson was on the law of chastity. She asked to have the missionaries teach her more and soon received a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. She was baptized in 2014, and her daughter was baptized last month. Imagine, the two fundamental teachings that led to Mariama’s conversion were the law of chastity and the Prophet Joseph Smith, two points the world often sees as irrelevant, outdated, or inconvenient.I'm assuming Joseph Smith is the "irrelevant" one... But Mariama testified that she was like a moth attracted to the light. She said, “When I found the gospel, I found myself.” She discovered her worth through divine principles. Such as - Her value as a daughter of God was revealed to her through the Holy Ghost.Someone may have taught her the truth, but the Holy Ghost witnessed it was true. 

Now let’s meet the Singh sisters from India. Renu, on the far right, the first of five sisters to join the Church, shared these thoughts:

“Before I started investigating the Church, I didn’t really feel that I was very special. I was just one of many people, and my society and culture didn’t really teach me What has your society and culture taught you? These are the "inherited lies" that "the whole world groans under the weight of its iniquity..." (D&C 123:7) that I had any value as an individual. When I learned the gospel and learned that I was a daughter of our Heavenly Father, it changed me. Suddenly I felt so special—God had actually created me and had created my soul and my life with value and purpose. 


“Before I had the gospel in my life, I was always trying to prove to others that I was someone special. Hmmm.....we have the gospel in our lives, yet do we still try to prove to others that we are someone special? Has our knowledge not changed us?  But when I learned the truth, that I am a daughter of God, I didn’t have to prove anything to anyone. I knew that I was special. … Don’t ever think that you are nothing.” The gospel is the 'good news' and it should be changing us daily....


President Thomas S. Monson said it perfectly when he quoted these words: “The worth of a soul is its capacity to become as God.”1  That capacity began in the pre-existence and continues here in mortality...

I was recently blessed to meet another young woman who understands this same truth. Her name is Taiana. I met her at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Taiana was a junior in high school when she was diagnosed with cancer. She fought a brave battle for 18 months before passing away a few short weeks ago. Taiana was full of light and love. She was known for her contagious smile and her trademark “double thumbs-up.” When others asked, “Why you, Taiana?” her response was, “Why not me?” Taiana sought to become like her Savior, whom she so dearly loved. During our visits, I learned that Taiana understood her divine worth. Knowing she was a daughter of God gave her peace and courage to face her overwhelming trial in the positive way she did. We are no different. Our knowledge should give us the same peace and courage to face our trials in a positive way. 
Mariama, Renu, and Taiana teach us that the Spirit will confirm to each of us individually our divine worth.If this hasn't been confirmed to you...keep praying until it comes. Truly knowing meaning you've had it confirmed by the Holy Spirit...that you are a daughter of God will affect every aspect of your life and guide you in the service you render each day. If you don't have to prove your worth or get it confirmed by others, you can spend your energy in confirming others worth and lifting and building them. President Spencer W. Kimball explained in these glorious words:

“God is your Father. He loves you. He and your mother in heaven value you beyond any measure. … You are unique. One of a kind, made of the eternal intelligence which gives you claim upon eternal life. "This is life eternal - to know God" - so you have claim upon this knowledge. You can claim the privilege of knowing God! Remember you have a Mother in Heaven too! Can you know Her too?
“Let there be no question in your mind about your value as an individual. The whole intent of the gospel plan is to provide an opportunity for each of you to reach your fullest potential, which is eternal progression and the possibility of godhood.”2 Doubt not. Fear not. 
Let me point out the need to differentiate between two critical words: worth and worthiness. They are not the same. Spiritual worth means to value ourselves the way Heavenly Father values us, not as the world values us. Our worth was determined before we ever came to this earth. “God’s love is infinite and it will endure forever.”3

On the other hand, worthiness is achieved through obedience. If we sin, we are less worthy, but we are never worth less! We continue to repent and strive to be like Jesus with our worth intact. As President Brigham Young taught: “The least, the most inferior spirit now upon the earth … is worth worlds.”4 No matter what, we always have worth in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. Satan will try to get you on both words. He'll either try to get you to inflate your worth and make you proud, or tell you you're worthless because you sin. 
Despite this marvelous truth, how many of us struggle, from time to time, with negative thoughts or feelings about ourselves? I do. It’s an easy trap. Satan is the father of all lies, especially when it comes to misrepresentations about our own divine nature and purpose. Thinking small about ourselves does not serve us well. Instead it holds us back. As we’ve often been taught, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”5 Take responsibility for your part in your negative feelings. Somewhere, somehow, you are giving someone permission to make you feel inferior. We can stop comparing  Just stop it! our worst to someone else’s best. “Comparison is the thief of joy.”6

In contrast, the Lord assures us that when we have virtuous thoughts, President Faust called this "right thinking"....I love that! He will bless us with confidence, even the confidence to know who we really are. There’s never been a more crucial time to heed His words. “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly,”Unceasingly, because if you stop...Satan will try to work his way in... He said. “Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and … the Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion.”7This is what we seek! 
The Lord revealed this additional truth to the Prophet Joseph Smith: “He that receiveth of God, let him account it of God; and let him rejoice that he is accounted of God worthy to receive.”8 When we feel the Spirit, as this verse explains, we recognize that what we feel comes from our Heavenly Father. We acknowledge Him and praise Him for blessing us. We then rejoice that we are counted worthy to receive. This is a wonderful thought. Instead of just noticing the Spirit, thank Heavenly Father for sending it to you and rejoice that you were counted worthy to receive it! 


Imagine that you are reading the scriptures one morning and the Spirit softly whispers to you that what you are reading is true. Can you recognize the Spirit and be happy that you felt His love and were worthy to receive?

Mothers, you might be kneeling next to your four-year-old as he says his bedtime prayer. A feeling flows over you as you listen. You feel warmth and peace. The feeling is brief, but you recognize that you, at that moment, are counted worthy to receive. We may seldom, if ever, receive huge spiritual manifestations in our lives; but we can frequently savor the sweet whisperings of the Holy Ghost verifying the truth of our spiritual worth. Joseph Smith said we should seek to have our calling and election made sure and the Second Comforter...which I am supposing will seem like huge spiritual manifestations...but until then, I will savor the sweet whisperings of the Holy Ghost, each one verifying my spiritual worth and worthiness. 
The Lord explained the relationship between our worth and His great atoning sacrifice when He said:

“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.”9
Sisters, because of what He did for us, “we are bound to him by loving ties.”10 He said, “My Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me.”11



King Benjamin also explained this binding connection with our Savior: “And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.”12 That suffering and the results of that suffering fill our hearts with love and gratitude. Elder Paul E. Koelliker taught, “As we remove the distractions that pull us toward the world and exercise our agency to seek Him, trade your distractions for time with God we open our hearts to a celestial force which draws us toward Him.”13 There's that "divine tractor beam" again:) If the love we feel for the Savior and what He did for us is greater than the energy we give to weaknesses, self-doubts, or bad habits, then He will help us overcome the things which cause suffering in our lives. He saves us from ourselves.

Let me reemphasize: if the pull of the world is stronger than the faith and trust we have in the Savior, then the pull of the world will prevail every time. If we choose to focus on our negative thoughts and doubt our worth instead of clinging to the Savior, it becomes more difficult to feel the impressions of the Holy Ghost. This is an important point. You can measure your love and faith by your works. Your works tell you where your love and faith are. Be honest about that. Work at tipping the scales in favor of faith and love. 
Sisters, let’s not be confused about who we are!  Because, man oh man, is the world confused about who they are! While it is often easier to be spiritually passive this is why we have not fulfilled the 40 year old prophecy of Pres. Kimball's...than it is to put forth the spiritual effort to remember and embrace our divine identity, we cannot afford that indulgence in these latter days. We MUST remember who we are and KNOW our worth and our purpose and ACT according to that knowledge in faith and courage! May we, as sisters, “be faithful in Christ; … may Christ lift [us] up, and may his sufferings and death, … and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in [our minds] forever.”14 This will fill us with a love that moves us and sustains us against the tide of opinion and motivates us to serve and sacrifice and count it all as a joy! As the Savior lifts us to higher ground, we can see more clearly Don't just get 'through' the mist of darkness....get above it!  not only who we are but that we are closer to Him than we ever imagined. Believe. He is in you. He is right here. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

1. Thomas S. Monson, “Our Sacred Priesthood Trust,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2006, 55.
2. Spencer W. Kimball, “Privileges and Responsibilities of Sisters,” Ensign, Nov. 1978, 105.
3. D. Todd Christofferson, “Abide in My Love,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 48.
4. Brigham Young, “Remarks,” Deseret News, Mar. 6, 1861, 2.
5. Attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt.
6. Attributed to Theodore Roosevelt.
7. Doctrine and Covenants 121:45, 46.
8. Doctrine and Covenants 50:34.
9. Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–11.
10. “Our Savior’s Love,” Hymns, no. 113.
11. 3 Nephi 27:14.
12. Mosiah 3:7.
13. Paul E. Koelliker, “He Truly Loves Us,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 18.
14. Moroni 9:25.

Related Talks
1.Opposition in All Things
2. Abiding in God and Repairing the Breach
3. Our Father's Glorious Plan

What are we being invited to do/understand/become?
 What are the promises we should hold fast?  
Talk

INVITATION

• Know my worth through divine principles and the Holy Ghost
• to have peace and courage to face trials in a positive way
• Do not question my worth
• Repent with my worth in tact
• Stop comparing
• Let virtue garnish my thoughts unceasingly - crucial!
• When I feel the Spirit, rejoice that I'm counted worthy to receive
• Feel love and gratitude for the suffering of the Savior for me
• Remove distractions that pull me toward the world
• Exercise my agency to seek Him
• Make my faith, trust and love for the Savior stronger than the pull of the world, negative thoughts or doubts.
• Put forth the spiritual effort to remember and embrace my divine identity instead of being spiritually passive.
• Be faithful in Christ
• Let His sufferings and death,...and his mercy and long-suffering and death,...and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of His glory and of eternal life, rest in my minds forever.

PROMISES

• "The Spirit will confirm to each of us individually our divine worth."
• "Truly knowing that you are a daughter of God will affect every aspect of your life and guide you in the service you render each day."
• "God's love is infinite and it will endure forever."
• "When we have virtuous thoughts, He will bless us with confidence, even the confidence to know who we really are."
• "Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly, then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and...the Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion."
• "Because of what He did for us, we are bound to Him with loving ties."
• "As we remove the distractions that pull us toward the world and exercise our agency to seek Him, we open our hearts to a celestial force which draws us toward Him."
• "If the love we feel for the Savior and what He did for us is greater than the energy we give to weaknesses, self doubts, or bad habits, then He will help us overcome the things which cause suffering in our lives."
• "As the Savior lifts us to higher ground, we can see more clearly not only who we are but also that we are closer to Him than we ever imagined."
  

SNAPSHOT:

Invitation:

• Know my worth
• Repent of comparing and negative thoughts about my worth
• Constant virtuous thoughts
• Rejoice in spiritual experiences
• Remove distractions and seek Christ
• Make a spiritual effort to make faith, trust and love for Christ stronger than the pull of the world
• Be faithful in Christ and remember Him always

Promises:

• The Spirit will confirm my worth which will affect my life
• I can trust in God's infinite and enduring love
• Virtuous thoughts will lead to knowing my worth and the companionship of the Holy Ghost
• Know that the Atonement binds me to Christ with loving ties
• Remove distractions and Seek Him and a Celestial force will draw me to Him
• Overcome suffering through greater love for Christ
• I am closer to Him than I imagined