Worth of Souls

In a past General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson shared a story that has impacted me and caused me to ponder what the worth of a soul—what the worth of my soul—really is.

President Monson was visiting a stake conference with Paul C. Child, a member of the General Church Welfare Committee. President Child shared one of my favorite scriptures with those gathered: "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God" (D&C 18:10, 15). He then asked the question, "What is the worth of a human soul?" The answer to that question, after "what seemed like an eternity [of silence]," was this profound statement: "The worth of a human soul is its capacity to become as God" (Tears, Trials, and Testimony).

This response struck President Monson, and it strikes a clear chord with me. I know that the worth of every soul is great in the sight of God, but I never understood why. I love the quote by Elder L. Tom Perry: "Every one of our Father in Heaven’s children is great in His sight. If the Lord sees greatness in you, how then should you see yourself?" (Youth of the Noble Birthright).

We should see ourselves as great, and we should nurture the spark of the divine that we have within us.