Divine Nature 1

Value Experience:

"What are some of the divine qualities of a daughter of God? Read 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World', 2 Peter 1, Alma 7:23-24, and Doctrine and Covenants 121:45. In your own words, list the divine qualities discussed in your reading. Think about how you can discover and develop each of these qualities. Record your thoughts in your journal."

Scriptures:

The Family: A Proclamation to the World:
"We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

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.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society."

2 Peter 1:

1 Simon Peter, a ^aservant and an ^bapostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained ^clike precious faith with us through the ^drighteousness ^eof God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the ^aknowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us ^aall things that pertain unto ^blife and ^cgodliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us ^dto glory and ^evirtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious ^apromises: that by these ye might be ^bpartakers of the ^cdivine ^dnature, having ^eescaped the ^fcorruption that is in the world through ^glust.

5 And beside this, giving all ^adiligence, add to your faith ^bvirtue; and to virtue ^cknowledge;

6 And to knowledge ^atemperance; and to temperance ^bpatience; and to patience ^cgodliness;

7 And to godliness ^abrotherly ^bkindness; and to brotherly kindness ^ccharity.

8 For if these things be in you, and ^aabound, they make you that ye shall neither be ^bbarren nor ^cunfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and ^aelection sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never ^bfall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the ^aeverlasting ^bkingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

13 Yea, I think it ^ameet, as long as I am in this ^btabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath ^ashewed me.

15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised ^afables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were ^beyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my ^abeloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this ^avoice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy ^bmount.

19 ^aWe have also a more ^bsure word of ^cprophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day ^dstar arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that ^ano ^bprophecy of the ^cscripture is of any private ^dinterpretation.

21 For the ^aprophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God ^bspake as they were ^cmoved by the ^dHoly Ghost.

Alma 7:23-24:

23 And now I would that ye should be ^ahumble, and be ^bsubmissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

24 And see that ye have ^afaith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

Doctrine and Covenants 121:45:
45 Let thy ^abowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let ^bvirtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy ^cconfidence wax strong in the ^dpresence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the ^edews from heaven.