What I Believe: Postcards from Cloud #9

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God."  

-Doctrine & Covenants 18:10

 
While finishing the last few details for this month's Relief Society activity, I'm finding myself one Cloud #9.

Our night is called, "Look Good-Feel Good: A Worthwhile Workshop."  It sounds all wonderful, and it is!  But my most favorite part is one little word, halfway hidden in the title:

WORTH.

The concept of my own self-worth is something I've struggled with since my teen years.
 
Now, I KNOW that I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father.  But I need help remembering how cool that really is... and not just cool, but how magnificent!

Sometimes when I picture myself in that light, it's still a bit clouded in vision.  Sadly, I often forget the full meaning of being a daughter of God.  Instead, I see myself as a disheveled, wilted little girl off to the side, away from the bustle.  My dress is mussed and dingy from being in the dirt.  My tiara is tarnished and off kilter... barely still on my head.  Where there should be grace, I see clumsiness.  I don't FEEL like the quintessential princess most people think of when they think of royalty.

While wrapping up preparations for this activity, I've had the privilege of stumbling upon some pretty amazing quotes.  They have warmed my heart, as the Holy Ghost has said "Remember?  You learned this before, and it's still true."  The remembering has stained my cheeks with tears, and reignited my determination to remember for longer this time.  They are new-to-me-words, or familiar words just organized a little differently from one speaker to the next, but the message is always the same:
He loves me, therefore I AM of great worth.

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Interested in refueling your own self-worth tanks?  Feel free to help yourself:

"Always remember the outside of a person usually doesn't tell the whole story."

-Unknown

"All the wonders you seek are within yourself."

-Sir Thomas Brown

" Each of us comes into this world separately, one by one. This is not an accident. I think it's the Lord's way of reminding us of the infinite worth of each soul."
-Dwan. J. Young

"Our task is to become our best selves. One of God's greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final." 

-President Thomas S. Monson

"As we mature spiritually under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, our sense of personal worth, of belonging, and of identity increases."
-James E. Faust

"When you understand your worth as a daughter of God, you will have a greater desire to turn your weaknesses into strengths and radiate the light of Christ."

-Unknown

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our Light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you...As we let our Light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
-Marianne Williamson***

"You did not come to this world to get your self worth.  you brought it with you."

-Sister Ardeth Kapp

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(source: google images)

Are you feeling spiritually fed & own sense of self-worth refreshed yet?

After those inspired words, it's hard not to come away on Cloud #9!  

With that title of "Heavenly Daughter" comes more than just the mere idea of royalty.  

...::readjusting tiara::... 

Can't wait to have you join me here.  :)

Oh, and if you're a sister in the new Snake River Ward, we'd be more than delighted to share tonight's fabulousness with you!  So please come out to the Church starting at 6:30pm.  Your worth is great, and it won't be the same without you.

::hugs::

***Originally I had this credited this to Nelson Mandela.  However, thanks to my awesome blogging sleuth, Jen, it turns out that Mr. Mandela only quoted the above quote and Marianne Williamson actually penned it.  So, kudos to Marianne Williamson for being so inspired and sharing it with the world.  And super-kudos to Nelson Mandela for taking notice of magnificence and quoting Marianne Williamson!  :)