Precious in His Sight
By Vickey Pahnke-Taylor

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Each of us comes into this world as an individual. One at the time. One by one, we left our premortal life, venturing forth to gain a body and earthly experience — as an individual. You twins out there (or triplets, or more), though you share the same birth day, you took your first breath by yourself — one at a time.

President David O. McKay taught that this is a symbolic representation of how we are saved: “not as congregations, nor as groups… but as individuals, each being precious in the Lord's sight” (Conference Report, April 1957).

When I first read President McKay's words, I was reminded of a song I loved as a little child:

Jesus loves the little children —
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children
Of the world.

Jesus knows our possibilities and potential better than do we. He appreciates our innate differences, tending us and loving us individually. Life becomes more positive, beautiful and meaningful when we begin to more fully see our potential and our unique qualities as a child of God. It offers us one of those longed-for “Phew!” mortal moments.

A type of freedom grows within us as we more clearly understand that the only competition here is “with our old selves” (Elder Neal A. Maxwell). It grows when we realize that talents, gifts, and strengths are imparted individually, allowing us to lean upon the Savior in our weaknesses to gain more strength, and lean on Him in our strengths lest we allow them to “become our downfall” (as Elder Dallin Oaks has taught).

Little babies are precious. Newlywed couples are precious. Gracious elderly ladies and men are precious. Gestures of kind thoughtfulness are precious. Gospel truths are precious. Lessons learned are precious.

We are precious.

Given a vision of this truth, we can:

1. Make wiser decisions about what we will and will not do.
2. Be more aware of the necessity of having both strengths and weaknesses in our personalities.
3. Express more gratitude for the learning curves of our mortal existence.
4. Destroy hostile or jealous feelings toward anyone who does something or has something better.
5. Relax a bit, knowing that with the ups and downs of mortality will come the personalized tending from heaven that is needed.
6. Decide to follow our own path to our Father in heaven, taking the Holy Spirit as our Guide and the Savior as our model.

Individually, we must define our identity, our mission, and our worth. Elder Marvin J. Ashton counseled these words: “I am certain our Heavenly Father is displeased when we refer to ourselves as “nobody”… We do ourselves a great injustice when we allow ourselves, through tragedy, misfortune, challenge, discouragements, or whatever the earthly situation, to so identify ourselves. No matter how or where we find ourselves, we cannot with any justification label ourselves ‘Nobody'” (April 1973 Conference Report).

Though the adversary would delight in our doing so, it is counter to the very plan of Salvation for any one of us to think of ourselves as less than treasured in our Father's sight. Not one of us is less treasured than another. Each one of us may find ourselves “encircled in the arms of the Lord's love” (2 Nephi 1:15) as we “shake off the awful chains by which [we] are bound” (2 Nephi 1:13) and, awaking, “put on the armor of righteousness.” (2 Nephi 1:23.)

Contemplating more deeply and fully, Christ's Atonement was offered for us individually. Personally, as a child of God, each one of us awakens to our real and inherent sense of worth because of our divine heritage. That “at- one-ment” Christ offers is for each of us, one by one, as we individually come to accept and keep the covenants that will bring us safely home. He gave his life so that we might gain ours eternally.

He loves us. He delights to bless us (see D&C 41:1). He claims us by His saving grace and our acceptance of all He offers. We are precious in His sight!

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Vickey is a songwriter/producer, vocalist, and professional speaker, and has performed and/or taught in numerous venues. Her compositions include the theme songs for the Special Olympics program (state by state selection), the Make A Wish Foundation, the Especially For Youth program of the Church, and the Families In Focus program. She is a Billboard award winning songwriter, with hundreds of songs to her credit.

She has enjoyed participation in the Church Education System’s youth and family programs for almost two decades, having taught for Know Your Religion, Campus Education Week at BYU-Provo, BYU-Hawaii, and BYU- Idaho, Especially for Youth, Best of Especially for Youth, and BYU Conferences and Workshops.

Studying musical theater at BYU, she has used that learning experience in the music field as a way of enhancing the teaching of correct principles. Her latest gospel works include the collaborative projects "Women at the Well" with Kenneth Cope and "My Beloved Christ" with Randy Kartchner. Vickey has contributed to numerous EFY albums over the years and as a chapter contributor for many yearly EFY books; and as contributor the best selling LDS compilation, Sunshine for the Latter Day Saint Teenage Soul. She authored the book K.I.S.S.: Gospel Guidelines for Better Relationships for Bookcraft Publishing Company. For two years she was editor and columnist for "Gems for Youth" on the web at LDSWorld.com, formerly the Church’s electronic arm.

Vickey’s performance/teaching experience includes venues from participation with a nationally touring Repertory Theater Company to Symphony Halls to corporate conventions throughout the U.S. She has been commissioned to write scripts for the Faith & Values Channel; and created and directed the Bi-Centennial celebration for the Hampton Roads, Virginia area.

She holds a masters degree in interpersonal communications and currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is married to Dean Taylor and together they have eight children and two grandchildren.