“You are the highest child of God,” says Sister Dennis – Church News

Sister J. Annette Dennis, the first counselor of the Relief Society presidency, spoke to undersigning university students on Tuesday, May 20th, urging students to be the sons and daughters of God, maintain their connection with God, and continue to engage in His purposes.

Speaking to a room full of students from different countries and cultures, Dennis, a sister from a multicultural family, shared her love for diverse backgrounds, saying that knowing people from different ethnicities, cultures and paths of life enriched her life.

“We are all different, but what unites us more than anything else is remembering who we are as daughters and sons of heavenly parents. We are spiritual sisters and brothers,” she said.

“Children of the highest god”

Sisters Dennis warned that Satan and the world are always trying to convince God’s children that they are merely male children and that what they do in life doesn’t matter.

“But that’s important,” she firmly stated. “You are the highest child of God, and you are not here by chance. You have an important mission and purpose to be on earth at this time.”

Referring to Moses 1:1-22, when Satan tried to convince Moses that Moses was not in fact a son of God, Sister Dennis instructed, “Do not convince you that Satan and the voices of the world will negatively affect you, and that you are merely a son and daughter.”

Sister Dennis shared one of the analogies she often uses when talking to young people and young adults. She asked students to think about the final round of the championship game and asks them to consider who the coach would enter in the final minutes, which is higher than they were before. He’ll put in the players he’s most confident in, she said.

Citing what President Nelson said in the 2018 Global Youth Prayer, she said:

“I’m firmly connected to God.”

She told her students that she was “the king’s son and daughter” and that she could not compare anything to what he wanted to give them. Nevertheless, they must be equipped with spiritual power and fortitude.

“You’re not the only one who fits him,” she said. “Through your covenant relationship with God, stay firmly connected to God and His promise of power and protection. Access the blessings of Tone’s sin of the Savior every day.”

She recalled President Nelson’s plea during his first general conference message after becoming president of the church.

“My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to enhance your spiritual ability to receive revelation,” President Nelson said.

Sister Dennis said to her students, “What should he see when he warns us to warn us that he will not survive spiritually without the constant influence of the Holy Spirit?”

What the Prophet said about the need for God’s power on the coming days is true, and Sister Dennis said he would invite students to deepen their relationship with the Savior through his covenant relationship with his Heavenly Father. It is crucial for them to hear his voice, receive his guidance, develop daily habits that will help them to know who they are as sons and daughters of God, she added.

“Build on the rock of our Savior.”

About a year ago, Dandy Allan, a student who moved to Utah from Heredia in Costa Rica, said the message she received from Sister Dennis’ speech was the answer to her prayers.

“This reminded me that I am the daughter of a Heavenly Father and that despite us we make mistakes and sometimes doubt, he is always there for us,” Alan said.

Spencer Hansen, a student in Saratoga Springs, Utah, said the message is exactly what he needs to hear. “To hear the messages sent to this planet at this particular time for certain reasons means that I have a mission in life,” Hansen said.

Sister Dennis said there may be great uncertainty in her students – she says she has experienced those times too – but she chose to walk with faith in Christ, trusting him despite the uncertainty, increasing her stronger and deeper relationship with him.

“We will not fall through the covenant relationship between him and his heavenly Father when we are built on the rock of our Savior Jesus Christ,” Sister Dennis said.