4 min read 

Sometimes We Forget Who We Are

There are moments when life makes us see ourselves differently.

A failure can make us feel incapable. A harsh comment can make us question our worth. Comparing ourselves with other people can make us wonder why we are not more talented, successful, confident, or attractive.

In those moments, the problem is not always what is happening around us. Sometimes, we have simply forgotten something important about ourselves.

In a 2001 Liahona article titled “Remember Who You Are,” a young woman shared how her mother would call out those words whenever she left the house. At first, she did not understand what her mother meant. Later, during one of the most painful periods of her life, those words became a reminder of her divine identity.

"Remember who you are."

Who Are You Beyond the Labels? 

We collect many identities throughout life.

We may be students, parents, friends, employees, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, or Church members. People may also describe us by our appearance, achievements, personality, or background. But none of these labels tells the whole story.

President Russell M. Nelson has taught that our most important identities are that we are children of God, children of the covenant, and disciples of Jesus Christ. Elder S. Gifford Nielsen similarly taught that knowing we are children of God gives us eternal worth that is independent of our earthly circumstances.

That understanding can change the way we see ourselves. We are not valuable only because of what we accomplish — our worth existed before our accomplishments did.

Why Does Remembering Matter?

The way we see ourselves influences the choices we make.

When someone believes they are worthless, they may give up easily. When someone believes they have no future, they may stop trying. But when we remember our divine identity, we can begin to see our challenges differently.

During a painful period in her home life, the young woman felt completely alone and struggled to recognize herself. Remembering that she was a child of God helped her find the strength to keep going.

The reminder did not immediately change her circumstances. It changed the way she understood herself within those circumstances.

What Happens When We Forget?

The world gives us many opportunities to forget who we are.

A failure can become our identity. A rejection can make us believe we are unwanted. A mistake can convince us that we will never change. Comparison can make another person's life appear more valuable than our own.

Elder S. Gifford Nielsen taught that Satan seeks to confuse people about who they really are, while prophetic teachings about our identity help us remember our eternal worth and potential.

That is why remembering our identity is more than a comforting thought. It can affect the direction of our lives.

Remember What You Were Taught

The Lord has provided ways to help us remember.

The scriptures teach us who we are. Prophets remind us of our divine nature. Prayer gives us a way to seek Heavenly Father's help. Priesthood blessings can remind us of our relationship with Him, and temple ordinances teach eternal truths. The 2001 Liahona article points to these as sources that can help us remember our divine heritage.

These reminders matter because we will not always feel confident. There may be days when we need to borrow strength from truths we already know. Sometimes remembering is the first step toward believing again.

Your Circumstances Do Not Define You

A difficult season can become so consuming that it begins to feel like the whole of our identity. But circumstances change.

Jobs change. Relationships change. Health can change. Financial situations can change. Our successes and failures change.

Our relationship with Heavenly Father does not depend on any of these temporary circumstances. Elder Nielsen taught that being a child of God means having eternal worth — intrinsic worth, independent of earthly circumstances.

That means a difficult season does not make you less valuable. Failure does not erase your potential. And weakness does not change whose child you are.

Remember Who You Are When Life Gets Hard

The young woman eventually learned to hold on to her mother's reminder during difficult years. Remembering her divine nature helped her develop an eternal perspective and move forward with faith.

We may need that same reminder in different moments of our lives.

When you fail, remember who you are.

When someone rejects you, remember who you are.

When you compare yourself with others, remember who you are.

When you feel like you are not enough, remember who you are.

You are more than what happened to you today. You are more than what other people think about you. You are more than your accomplishments or mistakes.

A Reminder Worth Carrying 

The phrase "Remember who you are" may sound simple. But sometimes the simplest truths are the ones we need most.

When we remember that we are children of God, our challenges do not necessarily become smaller. But we can become stronger as we face them.

We can make choices with greater confidence. We can see our future with greater hope. And we can remember that our identity is not something we have to earn from the world — it is something God has already given us.

So when life becomes confusing, disappointing, or difficult, perhaps we do not need to ask only, "What should I do?" Perhaps we also need to remember:

"Who am I?"

And then listen for the answer.

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