What does “divine nature” really mean?

In one sense, we already possess a measure of divine (or godly) nature, since “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” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, 129).

In another sense, however, because we have not yet fully become like Heavenly Father, divine nature is something we must “be partakers of,” as the Apostle Peter said (2 Peter 1:4). He contrasted divine nature with the “the corruption that is in the world” and said that we partake of this divine nature through the “exceeding great and precious promises” given to disciples of Christ. These include the promises of “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (D&C 59:23). Through the Atonement, we can ultimately become like our Heavenly Father if we keep our covenants. To become more like Him means to take on His nature—the divine nature. Associated with this divine nature are certain spiritual attributes, which we can pray to obtain and strive to possess. You can find them taught throughout the scriptures (for instance, see 2 Peter 1:5–7).