Who am I and Who can I become? Your Fairytale Who am I and Who can I become?

Who Am I? We are beloved spirit daughters of heavenly parents. We have a divine nature and destiny. We have unique gifts and talents that will help us fulfill our destiny as daughters of God. Knowing who we are gives our lives purpose and helps us make the right decisions.

You Are A Daughter of God I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. Psalms 82:6 Your Heavenly Father is a King and that makes you a Princess!

President Uchtdorf “Sisters, we love you. We pray for you. Be strong and of good courage. You are truly royal spirit daughters of Almighty God. You are princesses, destined to become queens. Your own wondrous story has already begun. Your “once upon a time” is now.”

Who does the world say I am? Who do they tell me to become? Photo illustrations by Nate Gines and Christina Smith

The problem with these messages is that they’re not true. Truth, Lies, and Your Self-Worth By Mindy Rae Freidman – Church Magazines, January 2014 New Era A new year brings feelings of a fresh start and new hopes, but it also brings a wave of worldly messages telling you that a new year requires a new you. These messages say that you can only be happy if you lose weight, get new clothes, find more friends, and so on. You hear these messages in the media, at school, and sometimes from those closest to you. The problem with these messages is that they’re not true.

World’s Lies vs. Gospel Truths Lie: Your Worth is determined by how you look. Truth: Following the Lord builds a sense of Eternal worth Elder Dallin Oaks has warned: “When we choose to define ourselves by some characteristic that is trivial in eternal terms...[we lose sight of what is really important] This can lead us down the wrong path and hinder our eternal progress” If you follow the Lord & keep the Holy Ghost with you, it can help you feel good about yourself more deeply & consistently than anything the world has to offer. Instead of trying to be what the world wants you to be, try living your life by the standards the Lord has set. His ways never change, and you will never be unpopular to Him.

World’s Lies vs. Gospel Truths Lie: Your worth comes from how you compare to others. Truth: Everyone has different gifts. You can feel good about yourself no matter what your talents are. As a teenager, you’re probably well aware of how you compare to your peers. You want to fit in and be your best, which often means you want to be like someone else. When someone seems better at something than you, you may feel like you’re not good enough...One problem with this lie is that by tying your self-worth to other people, you’re often comparing another person’s strength to one of your weaknesses The Lord wants you to be yourself, not someone else. He knows that you & everyone on this earth have strengths & weaknesses. Comparing yourself to someone else doesn’t help you be better. Of course, it’s important to improve yourself & to make goals, but they should be based on doing your best, not someone else’s.

World’s Lies vs. Gospel Truths Lie: I can’t be happy unless I’m popular. Truth: Following the Lord’s standards brings true happiness on an eternal scale. Everywhere you look today, you will find promises of happiness. Ads in magazines promise total bliss if you will only buy a certain outfit, shampoo, or makeup. Certain media productions glamorize those who embrace evil or who give in to base instincts. Often these same people are portrayed as models of success & accomplishment. In this world evil is portrayed as good & good as evil. (President Uchtdorf) : Live the standards in “For the Strength of Youth.” These standards guide & direct you to your “happily ever after.” “Happily ever after” is not something found only in fairy tales. You can have it! It is available for you! But you must follow your Heavenly Father’s [plan].

Your True Self In the end, loving yourself is not bragging or conforming to the world’s view of self-esteem. It’s about being who you are—a unique child of God—& knowing that who you are is a good thing. When you understand your eternal worth & you live in a way consistent with your divine heritage, you will gain a lasting self-esteem that is better than anything the world can offer.

President Thomas S. Monson has taught: “Your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. … God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there” Changing your physical appearance or material possessions may make you feel better for a little while, but it doesn’t really do anything to change your worth or your eternal happiness. You are a child of God. You already have infinite worth, and that does not change.

Now that I know who I am and Whose I am, Who can I become?

Who can I become? Read: D&C 84:37-38, D&C 88:107, D&C 132:20 How do these promises compare to the promises we receive from the world?

The Young Women’s Theme We recite this theme each week. Do we really pay attention to the words? Let’s say it together and make note of how it answers the two questions... Who am I and Who can I become?

Who am I? Who can I become? We are daughters of God We are loved by Him. We stand as a witness We can strengthen home & family We will be prepared to make and keep covenants We will receive the temple ordinances We will enjoy exaltation

Your life has a great purpose Knowing you are a beloved daughter of God blesses you and influences the decisions you make.

What choices can we make now that will determine our “Happily Ever After?” Friends Modesty Standards Chastity Church activity Repentance Scripture reading Mission Prayers College Temple attendance Marriage Seminary School work/Grades Whether or not to have a steady boyfriend

All fairytales are different No two people are the same. Our fairytales will all be different. No matter how our story plays out, we must always strive to follow the Lord’s path. We must never forget how much we are loved.

...The day will come when you turn the final pages of your own glorious story; there you will read and experience the fulfillment of those blessed and wonderful words: “And they lived happily ever after.” Of this I testify in the holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Each week as we repeat the Young Women’s theme, may it remind us of who we are & what we can become. May we always remember we are important & of great worth to our Heavenly Father & our Savior. As we journey through our personal fairytale, may we confront our challenges with courage & faith. May we be strong & stand up for what is right. With each correct choice we make, we are one step closer to our “Happily Ever After”

Video: Be Strong I know who I am.