One of life’s important questions is “Who am I?” But even more important is “Who am I becoming?” to answer that question satisfactorily, we must keep one eye on where we are and the other eye on where we will be. Most people don’t do that. They have one eye on where they have been and one eye on where they are now…If you are determined to change and to live a life above and beyond average, know that you need to do things differently as you look ahead…(John C Maxwell, pg 192-193 Sometimes you Win, Sometimes you Learn)
I like this quote. The other day, I was with a friend who is struggling with some set-backs in life and we had a conversation surrounding not comparing ourselves to other people-including who we once were. Rather, looking at where we are now and then looking forward to who God wants us to become.
There is a great scripture in Doctrine and Covenants that teaches this principle. It reads:
And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. (D&C 88:67)
According to this, looking ahead means looking towards God’s glory. If our focus is single to His glory, then we’ll be filled with light and be able to comprehend all things-including who we are and who we can become.
There is another scripture that discusses what God’s glory is. It is in the book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price and reads:
For behold, this is my work and my glory–to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39)
If God’s glory is man’s eternal life, what do you think it means to have our eyes single to His glory, and what are the blessings for doing so?
Grace for Grace 
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September 26, 2014 at 10:02 pm
vivian
As I reflect upon who I once was, and some of the ugly choices I have made in the past, I need to be able to forgive myself in order to move forward and be the new creation I am through Christ Jesus. When I fully accept Christ’s forgiveness with a humble heart, I am better able to forgive myself for the pain I may have caused others as well as myself in the past…..
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 NIV
There is also an awesome song by Casting Crowns taken from the above scripture entitled, ‘East to West.’
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October 1, 2014 at 10:02 am
graceforgrace
Hi Vivian,
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts and testimony. Forgiveness is huge and sometimes forgiving ourselves is the hardest thing to do. How have you been able to do that in your life?
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October 10, 2014 at 7:08 am
Doug
Hi graceforgrace!
Maybe this wasn’t where you were going with this brother but here it is!
I believe every Christian should strive to be like Jesus-no question about that! I think where I really take issue is the LDS view that we are of the same essence as God-the whole eternal progression doctrine. I believe I am made in the likeness of God but likeness is not essence. I don’t see this doctrine really being emphasized that much in church publications (at least not the ones I read) however I know it is out there. That is one of the areas we really see things differently-what are the thoughts of my LDS friends on this?
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October 20, 2014 at 6:19 pm
Cal
Doug,
Since ten days have come and gone without anyone responding, I have a question for you: Do you mean of the same essence before we’re born again or after?
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October 23, 2014 at 5:43 pm
Doug
The LDS teaches (as I understand it) that we pre-existed with our Heavenly Father and we are of the same essence as He is. Evangelical Christians believe that we (body, mind and spirit) are created by our Heavenly Father. We are spiritually regenerated at conversion but we are not God and never will become a god. We do not believe in pre-existed.
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October 24, 2014 at 11:29 pm
graceforgrace
Hi Doug,
Sorry for the very late reply.
Yes there are quotes out there from LDS prophets stating that as man is, God once was. As God is, man may become. There were some prophets who have gone as far to say that we’ll create worlds and I think that train of thinking is very prevalent with LDS people. There is also thought of having a Heavenly Mother and they created Spirit children before the world and the spirits exist and need bodies to progress.
Personally, I believe that we did exist prior to our physical creation. I’ve felt the Spirit testify of that to me. I can’t say what exactly we were and really don’t know how the creation took place, but I believe that we existed somehow prior to coming here.
Also, I probably differ from most of my LDS friends in that I don’t think I’ll ever be on the same level as God is. He will always be superior to me. Also, it stresses me out to think I would be in charge of creating a world and all of that! That wouldn’t be heaven for me!
In temples during a ceremony we are promised we can become kings and priests and Queens and priestesses unto the Most High. This is something I can totally get behind. I’ll be with Him, doing what He wants-whatever that is.
I hope this clarifies some things. Let me know if you have any other questions.
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October 26, 2014 at 5:10 pm
Doug
If one can be an evangelical and a Latter-day Saint-you are! Thanks for responding! I realized after I sent it that you really did not intend to go there but rather you were focused on being like Christ.
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October 28, 2014 at 9:18 am
graceforgrace
Hi Doug,
I think there are a lot of Mormons who mostly fall in line with what evangelicals believe in regards to the atonement of Christ, etc. Where we (and I include myself in this) differ is that we feel Heavenly Father is supreme and Jesus is a separate being from Him. We believe that Jesus is truly his Son. Where I differ in my thinking with probably most LDS is that I’ll be on the same level as Jesus and that I’ll be on the same level as God the Father. Maybe I’m wrong, but in my mind it just doesn’t make sense.
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