Secular Music Related to Gospel Topics
Selena Gomez is an American singer, actress, and producer who released her hit single “Who Says” on March 10, 2011. Selena shared what the message of the song means for her: "I feel that girls my age tend to question themselves a lot. They tend to dress and be what other people want them to be. I feel that everyone wants to follow the trends and what's 'cool' and eventually, at the end of the day when you strip all of that down, are you really proud of yourself and comfortable in your skin?" Selena adds, "Basically, it's to the haters; it's to the people who try to bring you down."
Now let's take a look into the lyrics of the song and relate it to the Gospel Topic of knowing your Worth as a Son or Daughter of Heavenly Father.
You made me insecure
Told me I wasn't good enough
But who are you to judge
When you're a diamond in the rough
I'm sure you got some things
You'd like to change about yourself
But when it comes to me
I wouldn't want to be anybody else
It's such a funny thing
How nothing's funny when it's you
You tell 'em what you mean
But they keep whiting out the truth
It's like a work of art
That never gets to see the light
Keep you beneath the stars
Won't let you touch the sky
Who says you're not star potential
Who says you're not presidential
Who says you can't be in movies
Listen to me, listen to me
Who says you don't pass the test
Who says you can't be the best
Who said, who said
Would you tell me who said that
We are all sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father. We were created in His image, meaning we are precious to Him. Before coming to this earth, we knew that we were going to encounter temptations and hear lies from Satan, “The father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will…” (Moses 4:4) Satan will try to tell us lies that make us question our identity as a true child of God. When we listen and heed those lies, we begin to doubt our self-worth and try to conform our spirit and body to the world's standards. In the September 2018 edition of the Ensign, Maryssa Dennis shares 4 points with us about how our worth is not conditional. These 4 points are that “your worth is not determined by outside influences, your body is beautiful—even if it doesn’t conform to the world’s standards when you follow the Savior, the beauty of your spirit shines, and you have infinite worth exactly as you are.” In Doctrine and Covenants 18:10, we learn that “The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” Our Heavenly Father encourages us not to heed Satan's attempt to doubt our true identity.
I'm no beauty queen
I'm just beautiful me
You've got every rightTo a beautiful lifeC'mon
Who saysWho says you're not perfectWho says you're not worth itWho says you're the only one that's hurtingTrust meThat's the price of beautyWho says you're not prettyWho says you're not beautifulWho says
This chorus is like encouragement from our Heavenly Father. We may not be perfect right now in this earthly life. But, Our Heavenly Father does not make mistakes; we are created in His image, the way he wanted and needed us to be, to grow and return to Him. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf shared with us a beautiful statement about our self-worth.
“Do you suppose it matters to our Heavenly Father whether your makeup, clothes, hair, and nails are perfect? Do you think your value to Him changes based on how many followers you have one Instagram or Pinterest? Do you think he wants you to worry or get depressed if someone un-friends or un-follows you on Facebook or Twitter? Do you think your outward attractiveness, your dress size, or popularity makes the slightest difference in your worth to the one who created the universe? He loves you not only for who you are this very day, but also for the person of glory and light you have the potential and the desire to become.”
I have struggled a lot in my life with accepting and loving myself for who I am, my personality, body, and all. Several times in High School, I would try to change who I was to please others and the world, or I would allow Satan's discouragement and lies to get the best of me. Anytime I left or went somewhere, my parents would always tell me “Remember who you are.” There is so much safety, protection, and freedom in knowing who we truly are, what our worth really is, and who Our Maker is, as well as knowing that we are sons and daughters of Him. Once I learned this truth, it did not matter what the world thought of me or what lies Satan tried to knock me down with. I know that I have a Heavenly Father who sees and loves me for who I am and who I can become.
I hope that through this post, you were able to see God’s hand in even the smallest and simple everyday things. Heavenly Father loves you, and is talking to you, in more ways than you know!
Have a safe and blessed week!
