God — Blog — Rylee Donna

I’ve always understood that I have two identities: a human identity & an eternal identity. But I often get frustrated when the two don’t match up. I struggle to intentionally choose to believe in my innate & inherent value & goodness.

In speaking of the Pauline theology of the natural man, Brigham Young said,

“It is fully proved in all the revelations that God has ever given to mankind that they naturally love and admire righteousness, justice and truth more than they do evil. It is, however, universally received by professors of religion as a Scriptural doctrine that man is naturally opposed to God. Paul says, in his Epistle to the Corinthians, ‘But the natural man receiveth not the things of God,’ but I say it is the unnatural ‘man that receiveth not the things of God.’... The natural man is of God. We are the natural sons and daughters of our natural parents, and spiritually we are the natural children of the Father of light and natural heirs to his kingdom; and when we do an evil, we do it in opposition to the promptings of the Spirit of Truth that is within us. Man, the noblest work of God, was in his creation designed for an endless duration, for which the love of all good was incorporated in his nature. It was never designed that he should naturally do and love evil. When our first parents fell from their paradisiacal state, they were brought in contact with influences and powers of evil that are unnatural and stand in opposition to an endless life. So far as mankind yield to these influences, they are so far removed from a natural to an unnatural state—from life to death.”

— (Complete Discourses of Brigham Young Vol. 4, 2020)

It’s a tactic of the adversary to make us believe that we are bad, that we are unworthy, that it is not naturally within us to do good.

But we are innately good.

Further reading:

“Our Identity and Our Destiny” Tad R. Callister (devotional address)

“Our Identity” Mind. Body. Purpose. (podcast)

“He Will Place You on His Shoulders and Carry You Home” Dieter F. Uchtdorf (conference talk)

“Roots and Branches” Russell M. Nelson (conference talk)

With Holy Week beginning tomorrow, I’ve begun studying the actions of Jesus Christ during the last week of His life. Though His imminent death was quickly approaching, Jesus, being the perfect and selfless Savior that He is, continued teaching, ministering, and serving those around Him during this final week of His mortal life.

*Raising Lazarus From The Dead*, Carl Bloch

One of the most touching examples of this occurs in John 11. In this chapter, Jesus travels to the town of Bethany, just outside of Jerusalem. He was called by Mary and Martha, Lazarus’s sisters, who tell him that Lazarus is sick. By the time He reaches Bethany, Lazarus has been dead for four days.

The sisters desperately wanted Jesus to heal Lazarus, and the pain and sorrow of waiting for the Savior’s arrival, but ultimately losing their brother was likely near heartbreaking. In verse 20, we read:

“20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.”

Though both were grieving, they handled this grief in different ways, as we see here. One came running, the other waited.

“21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”

In this interaction, Jesus reminded Martha of doctrine, inviting her to testify, even if it was simply to herself. He spoke with Martha, providing words of peace and comfort.

He then goes to Mary.

“32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping....he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said, Lord, come and see.

35 Jesus wept.”

Jesus wept.

He didn’t try to console her like He had Martha, but still seeing her overcome with grief, He cried with Mary.

Not only does this example show that Christ has endless compassion, empathy, and love for us, it shows that He knows us and understands us. Jesus taught Martha. Jesus wept with Mary. He ministered differently to each of them, according to their needs, but both are acts of His profound love.

Similarly, He knows us, so personally, intimately, and individually that He knows how to perfectly minister and reach out to us.

For further reading:

John 11 (the chapter in it’s entirety)

Lazarus Is Raised from the Dead (video)

Rob Gardener’s I Am the Resurrection (song)