Children of Heavenly Parents

By Sister Lisa L. Harkness

First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency

Adapted from Aubrey Eyre, “Sister Cordon and Sister Harkness Say African Women Are a Powerful Force for Change,” Church News, June 11, 2019.

Even though we each have different experiences here on earth, we all have one thing in common. We are all children of heavenly parents!

Once I was speaking to a group of women in South Africa. I started humming the hymn “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet.” After just a few notes, these sisters burst out singing! Their music filled my soul. We all felt God’s love.

During the same trip, I visited DR Congo and spoke to women and girls at a Sunday devotional. They rode buses from all over the city to come. There were so many people that we had to put extra chairs in the aisles, and people were leaning out of the windows so everyone could fit in the room! I was so impressed by these women. They are changing their communities in powerful ways. They are sharing God’s love.

I met lots of Primary children in Africa. Many of them are the only members of the Church in their families. But they keep coming to church on their own each week. Primary helps them feel God’s love.

The people of Africa come from different countries and cultures. They speak many languages. They are rich in faith and in their love of God. When I looked into their eyes, I could feel that they knew the truth and had testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. They knew that they are children of heavenly parents.

The same is true for you. You are a child of heavenly parents. They love you!