A Child of God

President Rosemary K. Chibota is the new Primary General President. She grew up in Africa. In her culture, people greet each other with a special word: Sawubona. It means “I see you.” It is more than hello. It means: I notice you, I respect you, and you matter.

Jesus always saw people. He saw the woman at the well, the man who could not see, and the children. Other people saw labels, but Jesus saw sons and daughters of God.

At the pool of Bethesda, there was a man who had been sick for 38 years. Lots of people walked past him. But Jesus saw him, helped him, and healed him. The good Samaritan also chose to see a hurt man and help him.

President Chibota said we can help people feel seen by learning their names. At her daughter’s school, a janitor came to talk to President Chibota and her husband. He had tears in his eyes. He said their daughter always said hello to him, knew his name, and even helped him clean up. He said, “Very few students know my name. Your daughter sees me.”

Remember the Primary song: “Jesus said love ev’ryone; treat them kindly too.” When we see people the way Jesus sees them, we want to love and help them.

The world puts labels on people, like smart, slow, popular, or different. But President Chibota said labels can’t tell who we really are. Before we were students or athletes or anything else, we were spirit children of Heavenly Father. That never changes, even when we make mistakes.

When President Oaks gave President Chibota her new calling, she felt like she was not good enough. But he told her she was called for who she is. God sees us better than we see ourselves.

President Chibota once prayed to know how to help a person at work who seemed lonely. She followed little promptings to include him, and they became friends.

She invited us to learn the name of someone who might feel unseen this week. And she gave us all a final greeting: “I see you.” Heavenly Father sees you, and Jesus sees you. They know your name.

A scripture for this talk: Mark 10:21. Jesus looked at a young man and loved him. We can see people the way Jesus does.

President Rosemary K. Chibota, Primary General President, grew up learning that greetings in her culture communicate love, concern, respect, and belonging. Her daughter recently reminded her of the Southern African greeting Sawubona, which means “I see you.” It’s more than hello. It says, “I recognize you. I respect you.” You matter.

Jesus perfectly showed this. He saw the woman at the well, the leper, the blind man, and the child. “Where others saw labels, He saw beloved sons and daughters of God.” Even of the rich young man who walked away sorrowing, the scriptures say, “[And] Jesus beholding him loved him.” At the pool of Bethesda, Jesus saw a man who had suffered for 38 years. Others had walked past him for years, but the Savior saw him, ministered to him, and healed him. The good Samaritan also chose to see a child of God in need and act.

“Often, helping others feel seen as children of God begins with something as simple as learning their name.” At her daughter’s final parent-teacher conference, a school janitor approached President Chibota and her husband with tears in his eyes. Their daughter regularly greeted him, knew his name, and helped him clean up. “Very few students know my name,” he said. “Your daughter sees me.”

She pleaded with us to pray to see others as he sees them and to treat them accordingly. As the Primary song says, “Jesus said love ev’ryone; treat them kindly too.” She quoted President Spencer W. Kimball: “God does notice us, and … it is usually through another person that he meets our needs.” The Savior sees not only who we are but who we can become.

Seeing others as children of God changes how we see ourselves too. The world pushes us to focus on labels instead of eternal identity, but labels can never fully capture who we are. “Our identity is not something we achieve; it is something we inherit as beloved sons and daughters of God.”

She admitted she has sometimes viewed herself through labels. When President Dallin H. Oaks extended her calling, he told her, “You’ve been called for who you are.” She was reminded that God’s view of us is always more complete and more hopeful than our own. Jesus Christ can raise you above whatever labels weigh on you. Before we were students, athletes, or leaders, we were spirit children of Heavenly Father, and that doesn’t change when we make mistakes or are misunderstood.

As we seek the Savior’s view, He guides us to people who need to be seen. Years ago she prayed to know how to help a coworker who seemed isolated. As she followed simple promptings to include him, they became friends.

Her invitation: this week, learn the name of someone who may feel unseen, pray to see others as Heavenly Father sees them, and replace worldly labels with eternal truths: “Child of God. Child of the covenant. Disciple of Jesus Christ.” She closed with a final Sawubona: “I see you. More important, your Heavenly Father sees you. Your Savior, Jesus Christ, sees you.”

Scripture to look up: Mark 10:21. “[And] Jesus beholding him loved him.” The Savior saw each person’s worth, and we can learn to see others that way.

President Rosemary K. Chibota, Primary General President, began with the culture of her childhood, where greetings communicate love, concern, respect, and belonging. Her daughter recently reminded her of the Southern African greeting Sawubona, “I see you.” It is much more than a simple hello. It is an acknowledgment of another person’s human worth and humanity. It communicates, ‘I recognize you. I respect you.’

“The Savior Jesus Christ perfectly exemplified this principle.” He truly saw the woman at the well, the leper, the blind man, the child. “Where others saw labels, He saw beloved sons and daughters of God.” Even with the rich young man who walked away sorrowing, “[And] Jesus beholding him loved him” (Mark 10:21). One of her favorite moments is at the pool of Bethesda, where a man had suffered an infirmity for 38 years. Others had walked past him for years, but the Savior saw him, ministered to him, and healed him (John 5:2–9). The good Samaritan also chose to see, refusing to let labels or differences distract him from a child of God in need (Luke 10:33–34). “The Savior’s example and the good Samaritan’s compassion are not beyond our reach.”

Often it begins with something as simple as learning a name. At her daughter’s final parent-teacher conference, a school janitor approached her and her husband, tears in his eyes, to thank them. Their daughter regularly greeted him, knew his name, and even helped him clean up. “Very few students know my name. Your daughter sees me.” As mission leaders, she said, they found that missionaries who understood and taught that all people are beloved children of God, as President Dallin H. Oaks has reminded us, were more effective in helping others come unto Christ.

“I plead with you as disciples of Jesus Christ to pray to see others as He sees them and to treat them accordingly.” She quoted the Primary song: “Jesus said love ev’ryone; treat them kindly too.” When we see through the Savior’s eyes, love and service naturally follow. She cited President Spencer W. Kimball: “God does notice us, and … it is usually through another person that he meets our needs.” The Savior sees our divine potential and “calleth those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17). He sees who we can become through His atoning sacrifice and makes that potential possible.

Seeing others as children of God also shapes how we see ourselves. The world invites us to focus on labels rather than eternal identity, “However, labels can never fully capture who we truly are.” Living prophets have taught that eternal identity matters far more than any worldly identifier. “Our identity is not something we achieve; it is something we inherit as beloved sons and daughters of God.”

She was candid about her own struggle. She has sometimes viewed herself through labels, and when President Oaks extended her calling, he told her, “You’ve been called for who you are.” In that moment she was reminded that God’s view of us is always more complete and more hopeful than our own. “Whatever labels may weigh heavily upon you today, Jesus Christ can raise you above them. His grace is sufficient to lift you above every label and limitation.” “Before we were students, athletes, employees, parents, citizens, or leaders, we were spirit children of our Heavenly Father. That eternal identity does not change when circumstances change, when we make mistakes, or when others misunderstand us.” President Russell M. Nelson taught that embracing our divine identity influences every major decision we make.

As we seek the Savior’s perspective, He guides us to those who need to be seen. Years ago she prayed to know how to help an isolated coworker. “As I acted on simple promptings to include him, our friendship grew.” “When we see one another through the Savior’s eyes, hearts change, relationships deepen, and faith grows.”

Her invitations were concrete: this week, learn the name of someone who may feel unseen; pray to see others as Heavenly Father sees them; and “Replace worldly labels with these eternal truths: Child of God. Child of the covenant. Disciple of Jesus Christ.” She closed with a final Sawubona. I see you. More importantly, your Heavenly Father sees you. Your savior Jesus Christ sees you. They know your name, your circumstances, your gifts, and your divine potential. As we learn to see as They see, our homes, wards, schools, and communities will become places of belonging, healing, and love.