I’ve had so many people ask me how they can show the young people they work with how much they are loved and how precious they are. That’s hard to do if the feedback they are getting elsewhere is completely opposite to that. But I have thought about it, and in fact, do a fireside that touches on that very topic.
The brethren have been more than prolific in discussing the value of each one of us, regardless of what cultures, race or country we are born in.
“To be a [son or] daughter of God means that you are the offspring of Deity, literal descendants of a Divine Father, inheriting godly attributes and potential. To be a [son or] daughter of God also means that you have been born again, changed from a ‘carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness’ [Mosiah 27:25]. … Being a [son or] daughter of God means that if you seek it, you can find your true identity. You will know who you are.” James E. Faust
But how to teach this so that the youth believe it? You must help them internalize a complete understanding of who they really are. Help them to understand that they earned the right to come to this earth. Meaning that they worked hard enough, progressed enough that they earned the right to come to this earth at this time. Never has our Father and Savior had more need of valiant people to stand for truth, righteous and the kingdom of God. How do you teach this?
There is only one way. You must cultivate within yourself the ability to speak and teach with the spirit. That means getting down on your knees and praying earnestly, even constantly, that you are able to reach these young people you work with. That means never giving up on them. Gear the activities around 100% inclusion. Have firesides with people who can speak with the spirit and whose messages uplift and encourage. If you ask your Heavenly Father to put the words in your mouth, He will. You only have to ask. Many of you know what I am talking about – trust that you are not alone and were never meant to be alone in helping Heavenly Father’s precious children.
Here are a few good talks to help you in this direction which you can find on www.lds.org.:
Ezra Taft Benson, “Godly Characteristics of the Master,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 45
Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Light within You,” Ensign, May 1995, 99
Margaret D. Nadauld, “The Joy of Womanhood,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 14
“Understanding Our Divine Nature,” Ensign, Jan. 2002, 67