How Much Are You Worth?

My seminary teacher started his lesson bu holding up a 50 dollar bill.
"Who wants this?" Of course everyone in the class raised his/her hand. My teacher then proceeded to crumpled up the bill.

"Who wants this now?" Same as before, all hands were raised. So my teacher dropped it on the ground, stomped all over it, said he would spit on it.

"Who wants this now?" Still.... every hand was raised.
"Why would you want this bill after all that has been done to it?"
- Because the 50 dollar bill still is 50 dollars worth.

We may see ourselves as the crumpled up, stomped on mess (heavy, not beautiful, no popular clothes, sinful); But, our Father in heaven sees us for our worth, our potential "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." Doctrine and Covenants 18:10

What are we worth? What is our potential? Every single person has the potential to be like Christ, to become a Heavenly Parent. Our soul is worth as much as Jesus.
You, me, your friend, your brother- we are all worth a lot- Way beyond a 50 dollar bill.
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"But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good- to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted." Jacob 2: 18,19

My seminary told us this story today. He met this man, Paull, who is a Washington Senator. This man grew up in Korea during the Korea war. His mother died when he was 4; his father also abandoned him. He was a 4 year old kid, living on the streets. Paull often saw the soldiers and loved when we shared their chocolate. The soldiers took him in to share their tent and a cot. One day, at fourteen, he went off alone and cried. One of the soldiers came and comforted- telling him he had three kids of his own and just as this fourteen year old cried, when his children cried he felt their pain. Later, the soldier brought Paull to the states and he and his wife adopted him.

Paul was taught english fromt he soldier's wife. He became very successful; got a scholarship to Harvard but decided to go to UW instead.

One day, he decided to look for his father. He went to Korea and found him- remarried and with several kids of his own. Paull was heartbroken. But because his father and new famil was so poor, he took all of his children to the states and put them through school. He promised his father that he would bring him and his wife to the states if he told him why he would ever abandon a four year old boy.
His father said that he was sold as a slave and could not support himself let alone a little son. (still no excuse)
Later, Paull held his father's hand as his father asked for forgiveness and died.

Paull had riches. He used his riches for good. Paull helped the needy, the less fortunate.
Paull did not desire riches, but God knew Paull would seek to do good with what he was given.

(Some information my teacher is ify about because it was "lost in translation"- Paull's accent, crying. Paull is not his original name- Paull is the soldier's last name and he changed his name in honor of/ respect for the family. The soldier was LDS and Paull was baptized. Both the soldier (and his family) and Paull are heros. Let us all do what is good.)