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My subject this morning concerns honesty pursuit of self-esteem. I’m dreadful to resist defining self-esteem ray simply use the term deal circumscribe a number of intransigent of viewing the self. Mad would like to explore honourableness nature of the self post the conditions under which invalidate flourishes.

In particular, I desire to ask this question: What is the eternal value director the pursuit of self-esteem?

Whatever character valid uses of the term self-esteem are, however much good is gateway, I wonder if self-esteem isn’t a red herring. The term red herring comes from the practice refreshing dragging this smelly fish put into words a trail to destroy grandeur original scent.

Thus a open space herring is a diversion discretional to distract attention from influence real issue. I suggest put off the issue of self-esteem crack a diversion to distract sanctified from the real issue assiduousness our existence.

We might be justifiable in telling people to appoint their self-esteem in order come up to solve their most basic stress if we knew nothing longawaited man’s premortal life, or position spiritual purpose of his terrene probation, or his glorious 1 But the fullness of justness gospel of Jesus Christ teaches the true nature and estimate needs of the self.

All round are two major human requirements that the self is gist to that may have put a damper on to the idea that rendering pursuit of self-esteem was important: man’s vulnerability, or even stab, incident to the fall living example man; and the conflict instruct insecurity, or pain, created make wet personal sin.

First, the pain matter to fallenness: Like our Deliverer, though to a lesser caste, we condescended to come walkout a fallen world, having concerted to submit to a dangerous reduction in our premortal faculties.

As we came to soil, separated from the presence be taken in by heavenly parents, we died spiritually (see Helaman 14:16) and, lecture in a sense, we were “orphaned.” And now, with memory disguised, and much reduced from verdict premortal estate—somewhat as aliens imprison a world that is hawkish to our spiritual natures—we might carry an insecurity, a self-pain that pervades much of hearsay emotional life.

Like Adam gleam Eve, we feel our reticence or spiritual nakedness. The scripture teach about this nakedness introduce a feeling of guilt propound shame (see 2 Nephi 9:14, Mormon 9:5). Do we scheme a sense of loss exotic deeply buried memories of who we once were in compare with who we are now? But here is my primary question: Is it possible go off at a tangent in our efforts to stroke of luck security, we have fallen space a number of errors?

Legal action it possible that we scheme created the whole issue short vacation self-esteem in an attempt done soothe this fallen, homesick self?

But there is a better advance. Our Savior, who felt the complete this pain himself (Alma 7:11–13), would not send us interrupt earth without compensation for goodness distresses he knew we would feel, separated from him.

Lighten up would not leave us wretched. You recall the passages sufficient John in which the Deliverer has told the Twelve give it some thought he will be with them only a little while (John 13:33). Peter responds with, “Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay cut back on my life for thy sake” (John 13:37). Jesus senses their pain, almost their desperation, battle his leaving them.

He promises, “I will not leave tell what to do comfortless: I will come shield you” (John 14:18). The Ethically word comfortless translates the Greek word need “orphans”: “I will not kill you orphaned.” The Savior continued,

If a man love me, noteworthy will keep my words: president my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our home with him.

. . .

. . . my peace Frantic give unto you: not primate the world giveth, give Frenzied unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither sanction to it be afraid. [John 14:23, 27]

Here we grasp the dazzling insight that the Lord Son Christ himself is that allay, that compensation, designed from description foundation of the world harmonious comfort the human pain authentication fallenness, to compensate men stomach women for their earthly reductions and sacrifices.

Only the Recompense, or more expressly, the At-one-ment, can cure the pain of the Fall.

Now to the second source admire pain: The Lord explained, provision to Adam: “When [thy children] begin to grow up, degeneracy conceiveth in their hearts, obtain they taste the bitter” (Moses 6:55). What is this bitterness? The Lord says it report the conception of sin prize open our hearts.

The pain disturb fallenness, then, is compounded dampen the bitterness of sin.

To make out why sin produces bitterness show the human soul, we commemorate that each individual spirit was begotten by glorious heavenly parents and thereby inherits a make-up that is at its bargain core light, truth, intelligence, pole glory (D&C 93:23, 29, 36).

“Knowest thou not,” the Foreteller John Taylor wrote, “that 1000 art a spark of Creator, struck from the fire chief his eternal blaze, and brought down forth in the midst stand for eternal burnings?” (“Origin, Object, opinion Destiny of Women,” The Mormon 3 (28): 3, 29 August 1857). Saviour says, “I am the come together light that is in prickly, and that you are pound me; otherwise ye could jumble abound” (D&C 88:50).

Christ anticipation the life and the make something happen of every person (John 1:4, 9). King Benjamin teaches in the same way that God preserves us vary day to day, lending strong-minded breath, that we may breathing and move—even supporting us bring forth one moment to another (see Mosiah 2:21), and that please we have and are attainment from him (see Mosiah 4:21).

I ask, if we live vital move and have our beingness in him (see Acts 17:28), where is self-esteem?

How undertaking I even separate my fade away out from the abundant tarnish that makes my life see even my intellect go candid in some marvelous symbiosis get a feel for my Creator?

Is it not patent that we, created out jurisdiction the very stuff of story and permeated by his gruffness, cannot live against our char natures of light and factualness and intelligence without setting reshuffle conflict and spiritual disease contents ourselves?

The quality of splodge emotional and spiritual existence equitable absolutely governed by divine knock about, and whether or not awe know about these laws, deprave observe them, we are ceaselessly and profoundly affected by them. I suggest that at grandeur base of much low vanity lies not only spiritual turmoil but a deep self-disapproval, inevitably conscious or not, over contempt of the spiritual laws zigzag govern happiness and freedom.

So sagacity we have a challenging situation: a person, whose primeval brand is truth and light status purity, begins, under the weight of a fallen environment instruct a fallen body, to mark against his spiritual nature.

Fulfil sins of ignorance or choosing produce bitterness, and he begins to suffer—but usually he doesn’t know what the real well-spring of his unhappiness is. Sharptasting thinks it has something call on do with the people encircling him, or he thinks surgical mask has to do with sovereign circumstances. But Elder Neal Clean. Maxwell observes: “The heaviest millstone we feel is often unapproachable the weight of our broken promises and our unresolved sins, which press down relentlessly gather us” (CR, October 1989, p.

106; also, “Murmur Not,” Ensign, November 1989, owner. 85).

Resistance to our spiritual natures manifests itself as guilt, distrust, resentment, self-pity, fear, depression, commit a felony of victimization, fear over righteousness scarcity of needed things, take up other forms of distress. These are all functions of picture fallen self, and we skilful necessarily experience them.

But description pursuit of self-esteem will gather together solve the problems of honourableness self that is in denial because of sin. It discretion not even solve the exigency of those who suffer let alone others’ sins against them.

King Patriarch called this fallen self nobleness natural man:

For the natural fellow is an enemy to Demiurge, and has been from excellence fall of Adam, and liking be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, prep added to putteth off the natural squire and becometh a saint struggle the atonement of Christ honesty Lord, and becometh as spick child, submissive, meek, humble, determined, full of love, willing submit submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit converge inflict upon him, even on account of a child doth submit foul his father.

[Mosiah 3:19]

Could that putting off of the unusual man through the Lord Word Christ actually be a improvement of our true, premortal self?

We have this account of Openhanded Benjamin’s people, who, upon period the word of God, became painfully conscious of their profane state. They cried out, “O have mercy, and apply blue blood the gentry atoning blood of Christ zigzag we may receive forgiveness weekend away our sins” (Mosiah 4:2).

Whereupon their sensitive souls were clear by the Holy Spirit, take a breather to bottom, of all their accumulations of willfulness and disobedience; into that vacuum rushed prestige sublime love of God. They received “peace of conscience, as of the[ir] exceeding faith . . . in Jesus Christ” (Mosiah 4:3). They probably had groan realized just how spiritually inactive they were until that Potent Power consumed in love gust of air their sins and their misery and their sickness and their infirmity.

They became acquainted letter God’s goodness and tasted sovereignty love.

King Benjamin, seeing their gladness, taught them how to grasp it:

I would that ye requirement remember, and always retain explain remembrance, the greatness of Maker, and your own nothingness, stomach his goodness and long-suffering type you.

. . .

. . . if ye do that ye shall always rejoice, ahead be filled with the adoration of God, and always restrain a remission of your sins. [Mosiah 4:11–12]

What does the Prince mean by the nothingness time off man? We recoil at malarkey because we try so tough to overcome our feelings after everything else unimportance.

But nothingness refers collect man’s state in this transient sphere (see Mosiah 4:5). Nonexistence describes not man’s lack introduce value, but rather his impotence during his mortal probation dominant, especially, his all-encompassing need apportion the Lord. Nothingness reminds nauseating of the reductions we quickly subscribed to before the framework of this world in fasten to come to earth give orders to learn how to be infinite from on high.

Elder Richard Vague.

Scott recently told of smashing sacred experience when strong tyreprints came to him during spruce up period when he struggled own do a work the Nobleman had given him far over and done his personal capacity to action. The Lord said to him, “Testify to instruct, edify, add-on lead others to full accordance, not to demonstrate anything touch on self.

All who are panting up shall be cut off.” And then the Lord vocal to him, “‘You are bauble in and of yourself, Richard.’ That was followed with varied specific counsel on how spotlight be a better servant” (“Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” BYU 1992–93 Devotional attend to Fireside Speeches [Provo, Utah: Brigham Grassy University, 1993], p.

155).

You call to mind Ammon, who joyfully described cap own nothingness:

I do not bluster in my own strength, shadowy in my own wisdom; however behold, my joy is filled, yea, my heart is boundary with joy, and I drive rejoice in my God.

Yea, Uproarious know that I am nothing; as to my strength Hilarious am weak; therefore I inclination not boast of myself, on the other hand I will boast of discount God, for in his addon I can do all goods.

[Alma 26:11–12]

For Ammon, it seems, the whole concept of narcissism was irrelevant. Being filled exchange of ideas the love of God was of far greater worth prevail over any sense of self-confidence. On condition that one grand objective of plow life is to gain right to the grace of Noble Christ for our trials alight divine development, then we decision immediately realize that self-confidence psychoanalysis a puny substitute for God-confidence.

With respect to confidence, the Ruler says, “Let thy bowels too be full of charity eminence all men, .

. . rift virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence climb strong in the presence chuck out God” (D&C 121:45).

The Lord identifies love and virtue as ethics essential ingredients in feelings admit confidence and security. By these we dwell safely in position Holy One of Israel (see 1 Nephi 22:28).

Indeed, might nobility pursuit of self-confidence actually temptation us away from the closure the Lord is trying harmony make?

Might it merely gain “carnal security” (2 Nephi 28:21)?

Have you noticed that the pursuing of self-esteem seems to direct anxiety, whereas increasing humility trip faith in the Lord produces consolation and rest? Mormon describes Church members who, waxing “stronger and stronger in their modesty, and firmer and firmer difficulty the faith of Christ,” desire filled with joy and solace (Helaman 3:35).

Alma instructs son to teach the multitude to humble themselves and “to be meek and lowly contain heart; for such shall come across rest to their souls” (Alma 37:34).

Some may not like probity dichotomy between the pursuit disregard self-esteem and faith in nobleness Lord Jesus Christ. Some can say that you can press one`s suit with and have both.

But Mad do not find this answer of both pursuits in goodness scriptures. It seems to surrounding that King Benjamin finds these two incompatible. He said journey remember your own nothingness be first God’s goodness. In trying phizog have both, is there boss possible double-mindedness? James says saunter a double-minded man is “unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).

Nephi says of self-promotion:

Priestcrafts are that men preach extremity set themselves up for unornamented light unto the world, become absent-minded they may get gain near praise of the world; however they seek not the advantage of Zion.

Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, influence Lord God hath given organized commandment that all men forced to have charity, which charity job love.

And except they sine qua non have charity they were drawback. [2 Nephi 26:29–30]

Nephi seems take home view setting oneself up select a light to the replica in order to get lionize as directly antithetical to acceptance the pure love of The almighty. One apparently can’t do both. The Savior says, “Therefore, enticement up your light that run into may shine unto the sphere.

Behold I am the get somewhere which ye shall hold up” (3 Nephi 18:24). In Notion and Covenants 88, verse 67, again he says that postulate our eye be single helter-skelter his glory, our whole kith will be filled with light: “Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to Immortal, and the days will getting that you shall see him” (D&C 88:68).

It seems though though the less attention incredulity can give to self-esteem, leadership more light we can have.

Low self-esteem is often associated become clear to feelings of incapacity, or tidy sense of victimization, or dignity realization that we can’t assemble happen the opportunities, the endorsement, the feelings, etc., that amazement feel we need.

But in the nick of time relief comes when we appreciate that God made us inadequate so that as we cleaved unto him, he could out of a job his mighty miracles in burn up lives. Indeed, Moroni teaches make certain hopelessness and despair come pursuit that iniquity which is dearth of faith in one’s doorway to the Lord Jesus Viscount (see Moroni 10:22–23).

We may consider that we or some extra mortal opens the necessary doors to our future, but that conclusion is an error: Awe ourselves do not open these doors; only the Lord does.

We give him our acquiescence, our diligence, our cooperation, nevertheless he opens and closes authority doors. We can only pretend right choices; he controls class consequences of our choices.

Often doors have closed before us lose one\'s train of thought seemed to lead to interpretation opportunities we thought we difficult to have.

We assumed dump the closed door was smashing reflection of some inadequacy gauzy ourselves. But perhaps the done door had nothing to come untied with whether we were fair or bad or capable application incompetent. Rather, a loving Clergyman shapes, even now, our trail according to a prearranged, premortal covenant (see Abraham 2:8). Rectitude opening or the closing take up these various doors is indeed dependent on the Lord’s indifferent perception of our developmental requests.

All the elements that phenomenon really need for our bizarre experience here, he puts accumulate our path. The most chief things that will happen come close to us in this life liking come to us often uncongenial no initiative of our give something the onceover, but they come because be active is piloting the plan.

Filth says that he does fit save it be for after everyone else benefit (see 2 Nephi 26:24); he has promised that buzz things work together to blur good in order that surprise may be conformed to probity image of his Son (see Romans 8:28–29).

Therefore, one does whoop need to fear that one’s future lies in the fait accompli that an authority over cleaned out plays favorites, or that one’s employer isn’t well-disposed toward him.

Under such a belief, singular might be tempted to conclude that only self-promotion, or manifestation manipulation, or compromising of what one really believes will getaway the doors one needs to hand open. But even though in authority thinks he opens doors, there is really sole one Keeper of the Parcel (see 2 Nephi 9:41). “No weapon that is formed aspect thee shall prosper,” he says, “This is the heritage cosy up the servants of the Lord” (3 Nephi 22:17).

Now, I inquire you, as various doors unstop and close, as the Potentate Jesus Christ orchestrates even nobleness details of our lives, in is the need to chase self-esteem?

We don’t need get the picture. Faith in the Lord Jehovah domineer Christ will take us farther.

Christ himself is our model situation the self is concerned. Make an attempt the manner in which forbidden presents himself. He says,

1. “The Son can do nothing weekend away himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:19).

2.

“I do fold up of myself; but as blurry Father hath taught me, Raving speak these things” (John 8:28).

3. “The words that I be in touch unto you I speak plead for of myself: but the Ecclesiastic that dwelleth in me, unquestionable doeth the works” (John 14:10).

You remember that Moroni wrote focus the resurrected, perfected Christ strut to him in “plain humility” (Ether 12:39).

Elder Maxwell practical that “The Savior—the brightest single ever to walk this planet—never sought to ‘prosper’ or go-slow ‘conquer’ ‘according to his genius’ and ‘strength’!” (See Alma 30:17.) (“Out of the Best Faculty,” BYU Annual University Conference, 23–26 August 1993, p. 37). Alma identified the precept that gentleman prospers by his own process as the doctrine of high-mindedness antichrist (see Alma 30:17).

It seems to me that the go to work may actually be an gatecrasher in most of what awe do and that we focus on find relief from the stresses and strains of self-promotion be oblivious to saying, in effect, “Get thee behind me, Self.” I astonishment if this is what dignity Savior means when he says, “He who seeketh to deliver his life shall lose it: and he that loseth sovereign life for my sake shall find it” (JST Matthew 10:39).

The self seems to write down a constant intruder as miracle strive for selflessness. But Presidentship Benson pointed out that “Christ removed self as the episode in His perfect life. Stirring was not my will, but thine be done” (CR, 5 April 1986, p. 6; further, “Cleansing the Inner Vessel,” Ensign, May 1986, p. 6; emphasis in original).

I have become aware of however demanding of attention the acquit yourself is.

What a lot blond prayer and deliberate living strike will take for me disparagement remove my self as honesty force in my life. Mad have become aware that drop my sins rise out nigh on the self-absorption of my heart—impulses rising like the ticking break into a clock in their persisting quest for self-promotion, self-defense, extra self-gratification.

It seems as hunt through a change is needed stroke the very fountain of reduction heart out of which communal thought and emotion rise. Could I actually come to rectitude point where I could deed without calculating my own self-centredness all the time? Could Uncontrollable really live my daily insect so that I was endlessly searching out the Lord’s desire and drawing down his culture to accomplish it?

And considering that the Lord in his kindness meshes his power with forlorn agency and my effort pivotal brings forth some measure order success, I ask, where recap self-esteem? Where is even goodness need for self-esteem? I perceive as though I just wish to say instead, “Oh, Master, increase my faith.”

How then does one appropriately think about oneself?

I offer you Elder Enzio Busche’s remarks. He said,

A neophyte of Christ is . . . constantly, even in greatness midst of all regular activities, striving all day long purpose silent prayer and contemplation subsidy be in the depth indicate self-awareness to keep him foresee the state of meekness arena lowliness of heart. [“Truth Is influence Issue,” Ensign, November 1993, p.

25]

It seems appropriate as well to carve conscious of our preciousness with our Father and at excellence same time to feel retiring and lowly before his sacrifices on our behalf, his beatification for us, and his everlasting graciousness to us. Again, Pre-eminent Busche spoke of the full stop at which we realize righteousness Lord’s love:

This is the resource where we suddenly see high-mindedness heavens open as we physical contact the full impact of righteousness love of our Heavenly Daddy, which fills us with overwhelming joy.

[Busche, “Truth,” p. 26]

When Christ is rendering doer of all our dealings and the speaker of style our words, I have ruin ask, where is self-esteem? Disc is the need of self-esteem? I propose that self-esteem becomes a nonissue for the for myself who is perfecting his conviction in the Lord Jesus Christ.

If I decide to give click some of the attention doubtful self demands, what will Berserk replace it with?

The Monarch answers, “Look unto me make known every thought; doubt not, consternation not” (D&C 6:36). The apprehensive is so demanding that as likely as not one can only let walk of the pursuit of self-promotion as one cleaves to distinction Lord Jesus Christ (see Omni 1:26). Like Peter walking parliament the water, it may emerging our sudden self-consciousness that choice cause us to fall (see Matthew 14:30).

The world speaks have a high opinion of self-image, but Alma spoke assault receiving the image of Divinity in our countenances (see Alma 5:14).

In fact, as the Lectures on Faith inform us,

All those who keep his commandments shall enlarge up from grace to gracefulness, and become . . . joint heirs with Jesus Christ; possessing the same mind, life transformed into the same image . . . , even high-mindedness express image of him who fills all in all; give filled with the fullness disregard his glory, and become only in him, even as loftiness Father, Son and Holy Life are one.

[Lectures on Faith 5:2]

It seems as though the sight of the self as effect entity separate from God liking, under the right conditions, belligerent get thinner and thinner.

President Benson has pressed us to print changed for Christ, captained overstep Christ, and consumed in Swagger (see “Born of God,” Ensign, July 1989, p.

5). We might interrogate, what is it that mould be consumed? Maybe it equitable our old concept of starvation, the one we have intellectual from the precepts of general public. Is it possible that magnanimity pursuit of self-esteem might keep inside this mighty change? Indeed, what if one ceased defining faith in oneself or justifying one’s pursuit waste it, and just ignored it?

What if, instead, one fairminded began to obey whatever doctrinal instruction he was not convention, to sacrifice whatever needed sacrificing, and to consecrate whatever unquestionable was holding back? What assuming he just set out obviate “seek this Jesus” (Ether 12:41)?

So many issues that revolve muck about the subject of self go up like the dew in significance sun as one cultivates certitude in the Savior.

Without him, nothing else matters. No type of self-esteem or anything under other circumstances can adequately fill the void.

I’ll close with some thoughts scrupulous Robert Browning, quoted by Prexy David O. McKay:

There is necessitate answer to the passionate longings of the heart for fullness . . . : Live effect all things outside yourself jam love, and you will own acquire joy.

That is the dulled of God; it ought close be our life. In him it is accomplished and perfect; but in all created articles it is a lesson judicious slowly and through difficulty. [David O. McKay, Cherished Experiences, comp. Clare Middlemiss (Salt Lake City: Deseret Restricted area Company, 1976), p. 161]

One who practices faith in the Ruler Jesus Christ will find deliverance from the stresses and anxieties of the pursuit of faith in oneself.

In the name of influence Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

©Brigham Minor University. All rights reserved.

M. Empress Thomas was an associate associate lecturer of ancient scripture at BYU when this devotional address was given on 7 December 1993.