Lesson 176: For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices

Our Divine Identity and Purpose

We Have a Divine Nature and Destiny

little children with Jesus

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.

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.

• 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:

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

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.

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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:

Sister Michelle D. Craig

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.

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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:

Susan H. Porter

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)

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4. Read this statement by President Russell M. Nelson, looking for what He taught about our Heavenly Father’s hopes for each of us:

President Russell M. Nelson

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.

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.

• What thoughts or feelings did you have as you studied about your divine identity and purpose as a child of God?

• How do you think this knowledge could impact decisions you make or the way you treat others?

• 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.

Additional Resources

How is it possible to obtain my eternal destiny?

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

I invite you to come unto Christ (see Moroni 10:32). Nothing in God’s eternal plan is possible without Him, and with Him, every good thing is within reach. …

… Through Jesus Christ and His atoning grace, you can have joy in this life and in the next. You can realize your divine destiny of receiving all He has and living the kind of life He leads, which is “eternal life, … the greatest of all the gifts of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 14:7). (Gary E. Stevenson, “Your Divine Destiny,” For the Strength of Youth, Jan. 2022, 5)

For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices explains:

You are a beloved spirit child of God. His great plan of happiness makes it possible for you to grow spiritually and develop your divine potential. This is why He sent Jesus Christ to be your Savior. (For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices [2022], 4)

What is my divine nature?

“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” declares:

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Elder Dale G. Renlund

We have “a divine nature.” This is intrinsic to who we are. It is spiritually “genetic,” inherited from our heavenly parents, and requires no effort on our part. This is our most important identity, regardless of how else we choose to identify ourselves. Understanding this profound truth is important for everyone but especially for individuals belonging to groups who have been historically marginalized, oppressed, or subjugated. Remember that your most important identity relates to your divine nature as a child of God. (Dale G. Renlund, “Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny,” Liahona, May 2022, 75)

What can help me discover my divine nature and eternal destiny?

President Russell M. Nelson invited:

President Russell M. Nelson

Learn who you really are.

Take time to think prayerfully about these facts:

• You are an elect son or daughter of God.

• You are created in His image.

• You were taught in the spirit world to prepare you for anything and everything you would encounter during this latter part of these latter days. That teaching endures within you!

(Russell M. Nelson, “Becoming True Millennials” [worldwide devotional for young adults, Jan. 10, 2016], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Students’ questions and concerns

Toward the beginning of class, it may be helpful to invite students to anonymously write down questions or concerns that they or someone they know has about their divine identity and purpose. You could collect the papers and select a couple of questions to address during the lesson.

Sensing the love of God

Some students may benefit from learning how they can better feel God’s love for them. Students could identify what they learn about God’s love from the following statement by Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Elder Dale G. Renlund

You are a beloved [child of God]. Nothing you do—or do not do—can change that. God loves you because you are His spirit [child]. Sometimes we may not feel His love, but it is always there. God’s love is perfect. Our ability to sense that love is not. (Dale G. Renlund, “Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny,” Liahona, May 2022, 70)

You could ask students a question like this:

• What can you do that can help you feel God’s love for you?

You could then show the segment of his talk that immediately follows this statement. As you do, students could list things they can do to feel God’s love and what they should avoid. Students could then select one thing from their list that they desire to start or stop doing.

Videos

The following videos could help students understand and feel the importance of their divine identity and purpose.

The video “Our Divine Destiny” (3:42) includes youth sharing how knowing their divine destiny helps their lives.

The video “Running toward the Light” (17:35) can help students feel the significance of knowing their divine identity and destiny. You could discuss how Peter Johnson was able to change the course of his life by learning about Jesus Christ and about his own divine nature and identity.

The video “Our Eternal Potential” (2:53) can help students discuss what distracts us from our eternal potential and what we can do to keep our focus on the Savior and what He offers us.

The following video segments can show the impact of remembering our divine nature and identity: “Am I a Child of God?” (10:24) from time code 2:22 to 5:23 and “The Choice Generation” (11:23) from time code 5:41 to 7:13.

My Divine Identity and Purpose