“Lesson 176—Our Divine Identity and Purpose: We Have a Divine Nature and Destiny,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)
“Our Divine Identity and Purpose,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
Lesson 176: For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices
Our Divine Identity and Purpose
We Have a Divine Nature and Destiny
As children of heavenly parents, we can become as they are and inherit what they have. These blessings are available to each of us because of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. This lesson can help students feel that as children of God, they have a divine nature and purpose.
Possible Learning Activities
Who am I and what is my purpose?
Begin the lesson by helping students think about how easy it can be to forget our divine identity and worth. You could do this by sharing the video “Our True Identity” (3:39) from time code 0:00 to 1:14. Invite students to think about how we might see ourselves as the ugly duckling. You could then have students create a scenario like the following, in which somebody might feel like an ugly duckling when they forget about their divine identity as a child of God.
Our True Identity
Or you could begin by sharing a scenario like the following, adapting any of the details to reflect concerns your students may have.
Amelia is 15 years old. She often feels alone and unnoticed by others. She wishes she had more friends and looked different than she does. Amelia sees others doing important things but doesn’t think she is good enough to do anything important. She doubts her self-worth.
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What can make it hard to remember our identity as children of God?
Explain that during this lesson students will learn about their divine identity as daughters and sons of God. Invite them to think about some of the ways their life is impacted by knowing they are children of God. They could write their thoughts in their study journals. Invite students to listen for the Holy Ghost teaching them about their divine identity and purpose.
Divine nature and purpose
For the following activity, you could divide the class into small groups. Invite students to use the handout “My Divine Identity and Purpose” to prepare a response to Amelia. Assign a group leader who can help their group fulfill different roles. For example, one student could read, another could write a response, and another could present to the class.
Students could look up additional scriptures or statements by searching “divine nature” or “divine destiny” in the Gospel Library.
Read the scriptures and statements on the handout. Find phrases you think could help Amelia, and consider why they might be helpful.
My Divine Identity and Purpose
1. Read this statement by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, looking for the Savior’s desires for you:
I believe the Savior Jesus Christ would want you to see, feel, and know that He is your strength. That with His help, there are no limits to what you can accomplish. That your potential is limitless. He would want you to see yourself the way He sees you. And that is very different from the way the world sees you.
The Savior would declare, in no uncertain terms, that you are a daughter or son of the Almighty God. Your Heavenly Father is the most glorious being in the universe, full of love, joy, purity, holiness, light, grace, and truth. And one day He wants you to inherit all He has. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Jesus Christ Is the Strength of Youth,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 9–10)
Read Doctrine and Covenants 14:7, looking for what Heavenly Father desires to give you.
2. Read this statement by Sister Michelle D. Craig, formerly of the Young Women General Presidency, looking for her counsel to anyone who questions their divine worth:
Perhaps the most important things for us to see clearly are who God is and who we really are—sons and daughters of heavenly parents, with a “divine nature and eternal destiny” [Young Women theme, ChurchofJesusChrist.org]. Ask God to reveal these truths to you, along with how He feels about you. (Michelle D. Craig, “Eyes to See,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 15)
Read Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–13, looking for how Heavenly Father feels about you.
3. Read this statement by President Susan H. Porter, Primary General President, looking for why we each need to know how Heavenly Father feels about us:
When you know and understand how completely you are loved as a child of God, it changes everything. It changes the way you feel about yourself when you make mistakes. It changes how you feel when difficult things happen. It changes your view of God’s commandments. It changes your view of others and of your capacity to make a difference. (Susan H. Porter, “God’s Love: The Most Joyous to the Soul,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 33)
4. Read this statement by President Russell M. Nelson, looking for what He taught about our Heavenly Father’s hopes for each of us:
Heavenly Father’s plan for His children allows us to live where and how He lives and ultimately to become more and more like Him. His plan literally makes the richest blessings of all eternity available to us, including the potential for us to become “joint-heirs with Christ” [Romans 8:17]. (Russell M. Nelson, “Choices for Eternity” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
If beneficial for students, you could show the rest of the video “Our True Identity” (3:39) from time code 1:15 to 3:39. Students could pause their group discussions to watch the video. Then invite students to add to what they might share with Amelia.
Our True Identity
When students have concluded their group discussions, invite them to report on what they studied to the class. To encourage class discussion, you could invite students to share what they found meaningful about others’ comments.
The significance of who I am and can become
Journal writing can help students deepen their understanding and be more aware of their feelings. It can also help students invite the Holy Ghost to teach them. Invite students to answer the following questions in their study journals.
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What thoughts or feelings did you have as you studied about your divine identity and purpose as a child of God?
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How do you think this knowledge could impact decisions you make or the way you treat others?
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What experiences have you had that have helped you feel that you are a child of God with a divine destiny?
Invite willing students to share their feelings and experiences about the importance of their divine nature and destiny.
Consider bearing your testimony about the divine identity and purpose of each child of God.