The post I am a Child of God (Soy un hijo de Dios) appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Answer by Heidi**

I had the opportunity to answer this question in a high school sociology class.  The discussion of the day centered around organized religion, and it wasn’t long before Mormons became the subject of conversation.  Suddenly the misconceptions and half-truths I had heard all of my life started cropping up all over the classroom.  When someone piped up with “Mormons believe that Jesus Christ and Satan are brothers!” the electricity crackled from person to person like fire sweeping down a field of dry cornhusks.  Everyone began to babble.

Tears sprang to my eyes and my heart began such a strong and insistent thumping that I thought it would break out of my chest.  I knew that what I was feeling was my strong belief in the truthfulness and pure precepts of the gospel as well as my gratitude for the direction it gave me in my life. I wanted to defend my religion but, like most teenagers, I was afraid of ridicule and rejection.

Finally, a friend who sat behind me started kicking my chair and saying my name.  She was not a member of my faith but her expectation that I stand up for my beliefs gave me the courage to speak.  Dashing the tears from my face, I spoke in a voice shaking with emotion.: “We believe that we are all children of our Heavenly Father,” I began — but the bell rang and I was not able to say anything more. If I had had the chance, I would have told them that, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we believe that we all lived as literal spirit children of our Heavenly Father in a pre-mortal existence.  This means that all the children of our Father in Heaven are brothers and sisters, including Jesus Christ and Lucifer [otherwise known as Satan or the devil].

“Jesus Christ was with the Father from the beginning.”  This statement, as well as the following, was made by Jess L. Christensen, former Institute of Religion director at Utah State University in Logan, Utah in the June 1986 issue of the Ensign.  “Lucifer, too, was an angel ‘who was in authority in the presence of God,’ a ‘son of the morning.’ (See Isa. 14:12; D&C 76:25–27.) Both Jesus and Lucifer were strong leaders with great knowledge and influence. But as the Firstborn of the Father, Jesus was Lucifer’s older brother. (See Col. 1:15; D&C 93:21.)”

However, as Elder M. Russell Ballard, a general authority of the LDS church, stated in a talk given on February 2, 2010, “. . . he {Satan} chose to use his agency [the power to choose] in an unrighteous way.”

Jess L. Christensen adds that

. . .he was not created evil, but became Satan by his own choice.  When our Father in Heaven presented his plan of salvation, Jesus sustained the plan and his part in it, giving the glory to God, to whom it properly belonged. Lucifer, on the other hand, sought power, honor, and glory only for himself. (See Isa. 14:13–14; Moses 4:1–2.) When his modification of the Father’s plan was rejected, he rebelled against God and was subsequently cast out of heaven with those who had sided with him. (See Rev. 12:7–9; D&C 29:36–37.)

An example in the Bible of two brothers who made dramatically different choices, choices which led to evil works in one and great and righteous works in the other, is that of Cain and Abel.  There are other examples throughout the scriptures of people choosing different paths, of the contrast between good and evil. It’s been the story from before we came to earth.

Mormons worship Jesus Christ as our Lord and Redeemer who rose above all things, who died on the cross for our sins and whose power and glory will reign forever.  We regard Satan as someone who is real and who still wants all the power and glory to be his alone.  Unlike our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ, both of whom we worship with all our hearts, Satan has no body, and can earn no glory. We strive to avoid the devil and his evil influence at all costs.

Knowing that we who live on this earth are all brothers and sisters and are potential heirs to a royal heritage is a testimony to me that our Heavenly Father has a plan for each one of us to return to live with Him again one day.  They love us and I love Them as real personages who fill powerful roles in my life.  As long as I seek to follow Christ, repent when I make mistakes, and obey the commandments, I can be with Them again.  This is what gives me the strength and the power to endure great adversity as well as the desire to be more like Jesus Christ . . . my Brother, my Savior.

– – – – – – –

**Please note: The answers in “Ask a Mormon Woman” reflect the thoughts, perspectives, and experiences of individuals. Although here at Mormon Women: Who We Are, we strive to have our content consistent with the Church’s doctrine and teachings, we do not speak officially for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For official information about or from the Church, please visit www.mormon.org or www.lds.org.

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The post Ask A Mormon Woman: Do Mormons Believe Jesus Christ and Satan Are Brothers? appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

It’s late on a Monday night when my husband hangs up the phone and says, “Will you go to the hospital with me? A member of the church was traveling through our area and was in a car accident. They are releasing her from the hospital, she is injured, alone, and doesn’t have anywhere to go.”

When we arrive at the hospital I ask the nurse at the desk if she could help me find Susan*. “We’re giving her a ride, but I’ve never met her before,” I explain.

The nurse looks at me strangely and then tells me that Susan is waiting in her room. We follow another nurse through a maze of curtains, automatic doors and miscellaneous hospital equipment until we are standing near a large nurse’s station. She points to a curtained area next to us and says, “She should be back in a minute.”

My husband and I stand and wait by the empty bed, wondering if each person that passes by might be the one we’re looking for. Then a woman, whose back is to us, turns from her conversation with several nurses. She has a black eye and a cut over her nose.

“Are you Susan?” my husband asks.

“Oh! Are you here to pick me up?” Her hand goes to her face, covering the painfully swollen black and purple area. “I look horrible.” She seems to be on the verge of tears.

As we talk with Susan, trying to assess her needs and situation, it is easy to see that she needs a soft, quiet, safe place to rest her head. As we drive her to a nearby hotel she tells us about the series of traumas that have happened throughout her day, the car accident was just the most recent. Our heart goes out to her and we are happy to be in the right place at the right time to help.

“After they examined me at the hospital they asked if there was anyone they could call, anyone I knew in the area. I said, ‘No, no one’. I felt so alone, I didn’t know what to do. Then I remembered who I am!”

She looks me in the eye with a bright smile, which contradicts the painful injury on her face, and says, “I told them ‘I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!’ That’s who I am!”

After she repeated her declaration of faith to the hospital chaplain, he contacted a local leader in the church, who then called my husband because we live near the hospital.

Susan isn’t the only one grateful for her membership in the LDS church. It was a blessing to my husband and I to be of help to one of our fellow saints. It gave me the same assurance that Susan felt, that I am a loved and cared for child of God. He let Susan know that no matter where she is or the difficult circumstances she encounters that He is aware of her needs. Sometimes we are asked to endure things that are difficult, but God will send comfort and support as he asks us to bear up under our trials.

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

– Matt 10:29-31

*name has been changed

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Recently, I entered a local restaurant and was greeted by a young man named Dave. He enthusiastically opened the door for me. As I scanned his name tag and the uniform for the restaurant, I recognized he was the greeter. He said “Welcome to our restaurant — and might I add you look ravishing tonight!” He took my hand and landed a great big kiss on it. I blushed, and smiled, and laughed. I replied “Well thank you so much.” Somehow with Dave I couldn’t dismiss him. Which is what I usually do when people compliment me (it makes me feel oh, so uncomfortable!).

But Dave was sincere and he hadn’t let go of my hand. To which he replied “I really am serious, you look ravishing,” and he gently patted my hand with his other and let me go. I continued to watch him greet others while I waited to add my family to their waiting list. He gave each person that entered and exited this restaurant the same time and attention he did to me — teasing the older men by sticking his hand out to give them five then quickly pulling it away with a hearty laugh, greeting each person young and old. He took the time to make each person feel special, acknowledged, and important.

Dave has Down Syndrome. He is not bothered with the standards of the world as we often can be. And I, in this moment, was blessed by Dave and taught a very important lesson — to remember and see myself and those around me through more uncluttered eyes, more like the eyes of my Heavenly Father. To take the time to see more as He does.

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This poem was written as an exercise in self-examination — What am I? The first part is a description of what I think I am. The second part is a description of the things I have accomplished that were surprising to me. The Third question is what has amazed me about myself. The last stanza is a declaration of who I really am.

What Am I?

What am I?
daughter,
sister,
mother,
wife,
teacher,
nurse.

Am I what?
chef,
seamstress,
poet,
pupil,
friend.

I am what?
grandmother,
widow,
dreamer,
survivor.

What I am,
child of God.

For more Poetry submissions, please click here.

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Today my husband called me with some unsettling news while I was washing the dishes. Prior to that call, my mind had already been caught up in my hefty to-do list for the week. My heart began to be troubled. There were many people to worry about and lots of things to do. I was overwhelmed.

Luckily for me, my toddler was napping and the older kids were at school. So I dried my sudsy hands off and kneeled on the rug in front of my sink. With my hands clasped and head bowed I poured my feelings out to my Heavenly Father in prayer.

I rose, blinking away a tear or two, and resumed doing the dishes. After pouring the detergent and turning the knob on the dishwasher to “normal wash,” I felt a warmth wash over me. It felt like a glow had entered into my spirit and infused my heart with peace. I felt confident that I could accomplish my tasks and a resolution to the problem my husband called about would come in time.

When I was young, ages 3 – 12, I learned a song that taught me about my relationship with my Heavenly Father. It is called I am a Child of God, with words written by Naomi Ward Randall and music by Mildred Tanner Pettit:

I am a Child of God

And He has sent me here,

Has given me an earthly home

With parents kind and dear.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do

To live with Him some day.

This song frequently comes racing to my mind in times of trouble and fear. It reminds me that I have a loving Father in Heaven who listens to and answers prayers. Just as He answered mine today.

To compliment this experience, I also wanted to share this beautiful rendition of Soy un hijo de Dios (I am a Child of God) sung by Rebecca Lopez and accompanied by Mark Goldstein.

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