Individual

 I hope this post comes out the way that I am thinking it so bear with me! I have been thinking a lot lately about individual worth and how important it is for each of us to come to understand who we are, especially as children of God. Ether 12:27 comes to mind about weaknesses and the Lord helping to make our weaknesses strengths. I could spend so much time talking about that but I would rather focus on how we can uses those strengths and weaknesses to allow the Lord help us turn those weaknesses into strengths and how that truly does make us so individual. It all goes back to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Actually farther back than that. When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden they had two commandments, don't eat of the forbidden fruit and multiply and replenish the earth. They were given their agency to choose what they wanted to do and eventually they partook of the fruit, opening the way for each of us to come to Earth and learn and grow from experiences that we would have. What a blessing it is that they did partake of the fruit. Could you imagine where we would be without that? God knowing that because of the fall we would all be in a fallen state provided a Savior for each of us, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins and provide a way for us to learn from our mistakes rather than to be condemned by them. We could use this time to grow and learn about what a physical body can do for us. We could experience joy and pain, sorrow and happiness.

I had an experience this last week that taught me so much about this principle. As a missionary there is some sort of image that missionaries have and sometimes it even seems like a mold that a missionary should fit. Before I left of my mission I wanted so badly to fit that perfect missionary mold. I spent so much of my time striving for it and doing all that I could to become that missionary mold. Then something happened. As I was praying to know how I could "fit the mold" better I received distinct instruction to spend time understanding who God wanted me to be. I had always assumed that the perfect missionary was what God had wanted me to be.  I came to understand that I had been given very specific gifts and talents that are uniquely me. They make up who I am and everyone else on the Earth has their own unique gifts that make them uniquely them. Heavenly Fathers goal is to help us to magnify our talents and strengths and to help us make them the best they can be then to do the same with our weaknesses. We cant be some one we aren't and will never become who we think we should be because that it not what the Lord has in mind for us. But his plan for us is so much better than anything that we could ever want. I am reminded of a story from C.S. Lewis. He talks about a cute little cottage that would represent each of us. A carpenter comes to the cottage and begins to make changes. At first it is alright but eventually the cottage notices that he is knocking down walls and making a lot of changes, some that hurt. When the carpenter is done he has made a mansion! The Lord is the carpenter and we are the house. He is making something great of us, something much better than we can make of ourselves! I testify that God lives!! He loves us and has our best interest in mind! I am so grateful for the challenges and opportunities he gives to each of us to grow and to learn the essential skills that will make us so much better! The Atonement of Jesus Christ is real! He knows what we go through on a daily basis and desires to help us! We need to open the door and allow him too!!