From the book “Protecting Against Eternal Identity Theft” by Barbara Lockhart, Wendy Top, Brent Top:
Many in the world today would argue that the only way to find your true identity is to be independent, to do things your own way, to refuse to “follow” anyone—especially a prophet of God. They fear they will lose their identity by conforming to the teachings of the gospel. They try to carve out their own neutral territory where they can do as they please but escape the consequences. President Henry B. Eyring pointed out the fallacy of this kind of thinking in mortality. Speaking of Korihor, the anti-Christ who encouraged many to “free themselves from the constraints of the gospel, he pointed out that Korihor argued that taking counsel from God’s servants was in essence surrendering God-given independence. But doing so, says President Eyring, isn’t a surrender of independence but the choice of a different influence—it is moving from a Father who wants to give us all He has out of love to a being whose whole purpose is to make us miserable out of his hatred (see “Safety in Counsel,” Ensign, June 2008, 4-9).
This is our eternal reality, and it simply cannot be changed—nor would we want it to be. Satan was cast out of heaven for trying to convince God’s children that eternal truths could be manipulated. Eternal truths are manifestations of eternal love. Another immutable eternal truth is that even when pride obscures our view of our true identity, there is no question about who we are and how Heavenly Father and His Son feel about us. In reality, knowing our eternal identity should be enough to keep us clinging to the iron rod. Admittedly, arriving at that state of commitment with our divine selves is a lifelong process that is only possible through Christ and His Atonement. But for our part we must be willing to submit and be changed. As long as we seek our own will instead of God’s will, we still have pride.
Humility—A Reality Check
President Ezra Taft Benson taught that “the antidote for pride is humility—meekness, submissiveness. (see Alma 7:23.) It is a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
It takes humility and careful daily introspection to examine our true motives for the things we do. If we don’t question ourselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we may never recognize the bits and pieces of pride still encrusting our hearts. If we don’t continually finetune our will to the Lord’s will, we may get off the strait and narrow path. Humility is not a personality trait that some have and some don’t. As President Benson pointed out, humility is a choice we make: When we choose to humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives. (See 3 Nephi 11:11; 3 Nephi 13:33; Moroni 10:32/) We must yield “to the enticing of the Holy Spirit,” put off the prideful “natural man,” and become “a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord,” and become “as a child, submissive, meek, humble.” (Mosiah 3:19; see also Alma 13:28.) (“Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1986, 7)
Thus our eternal identity goal is to become humble, submissive children. We are already children of God. That fact can’t be changed. But only when we become children of Christ by submission can He lead us back to his Father’s kingdom (see Mosiah 5:7) to claim the inheritance God has bequeathed to us. That requires the giving of ourselves to Christ.
Finally, Elder Neal A. Maxwell once asserted, “Humility is not the disavowal of our worth; rather, it is the sober realization of how much we are valued by God” (Cory H. Maxwell, ed., Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 2001, 165). True humility will result when you have received a testimony from Heavenly Father of your great worth to Him. It is humbling to know that the God and creator of all life is your own personal Father. He knows you, answers your prayers, is aware of your life, cares about every aspect of your life, and loves you perfectly. When you realize that Heavenly Father allowed His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you personally, it is even more humbling.
Humility is realizing how very precious we are to Heavenly Father and the Savior. Humility is also the key to understanding our true identity because when we are humble, we know that without Christ we have no life, no future. But because of his Atonement, Christ promises that we will be blessed with all that He has. Our individuality and identity will blossom and grow to its infinite capacity through His power to set us free. ~Barbara Lockhart, Wendy Top, Brent Top, Protecting Against Eternal Identity Theft (Covenant Communications, Inc., 2013), 31-33
