Children of the Most High – August 18, 2002
Oftentimes the most profound truths are revealed in the most ordinary settings. Two brothers were playing on the floor when their father cautioned, “Hey there, you monkeys, you’d better settle down.” The four-year-old boy, with surprising seriousness, stopped his father and said, “I not a monkey, Daddy; I a person.”1 Knowing there was more to him than his playfulness might reveal, the little boy expressed a timeless reality: he was a person, a child of God.
Perhaps no understanding is more basic or vital to our happiness than remembering our divine origin. Thousands of years ago the Psalmist declared, “All of you are children of the most High.”2
The knowledge that we are, indeed, children of God not only changes the way we look at ourselves but also how we interact with others. It’s the basis for recognizing that every person is deserving of respect, patience, and love. Each is a unique and marvelous creation.
None of us was meant to be just like the person sitting next to us. We all are one of a kind; and we’re all a work in progress. Part of becoming our best self is allowing others to be their best selves. Of course, we cannot be tolerant of evil or harmful behavior. But we can and must respect differences of personality, taste, or interest. We all have the inalienable right to live, learn, and develop the best within us.
The Lord invites His children—in all their variety—to remember their divine birthright. Like the distant sun on the horizon, He showers us with warmth and love as we remember who we really are.
Program #3809
1. Boyd K. Packer, in Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 26; or Ensign, May 1994, 21.
2. Psalm 82:6.