Who am I?

In a worldwide devotional for young adults, President Russell M. Nelson taught about the importance of understanding who we are. He said: “If the Lord were speaking to you directly … , the first thing He would make sure you understand is your true identity. My dear friends, you are literally spirit children of God” (“Choices for Eternity” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022], ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Throughout our lives, we have many labels that help to identify who we are. We might be short or tall; blonde, brunette, or even bald. Labels can describe who we are, what we believe, where we come from, and what we do. “Labels can be fun and indicate your support for any number of positive things,” President Nelson taught. “Many labels will change for you with the passage of time. And not all labels are of equal value” (Russell M. Nelson, “Choices for Eternity”). The following video clip shares his important counsel and reminders.

“Who are you?

“First and foremost, you are a child of God.

“Second, as a member of the Church, you are a child of the covenant. And third, you are a disciple of Jesus Christ. …

“I plead with you not to replace these three paramount and unchanging identifiers with any others, because doing so could stymie your progress or pigeonhole you in a stereotype that could potentially thwart your eternal progression. …

“There are various labels that may be very important to you, of course. Please do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that other designations and identifiers are not significant. I am simply saying that no identifier should displace, replace, or take priority over these three enduring designations: ‘child of God,’ ‘child of the covenant,’ and “disciple of Jesus Christ.’

“Any identifier that is not compatible with these three basic designations will ultimately let you down. Other labels will disappoint you in time because they do not have the power to lead you toward eternal life in the celestial kingdom of God.

“Worldly identifiers will never give you a vision of who you can ultimately become. They will never affirm your divine DNA or your unlimited, divine potential.

“Because there is a grand plan of salvation authored by Heavenly Father, does it not stand to reason that you also have a divine destiny?

“Make no mistake about it: Your potential is divine. With your diligent seeking, God will give you glimpses of who you may become.

“So who are you? First and foremost, you are a child of God, a child of the covenant, and a disciple of Jesus Christ. As you embrace these truths, our Heavenly Father will help you reach your ultimate goal of living eternally in His holy presence” (Nelson, “Choices for Eternity”).