Ep 2 Divine Worth Podcast: Little Moments Over Time with guest Erin Ropelato

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Welcome to the divine worth podcast, where we are letting go of our self doubt anxiety, fear, and limiting beliefs so that we can step into the divine roles that God has for us. I am your host life coach, Karen Papin, and together we are embracing our divine worth.

Karen Papin:

All right. Erin Ropelato is a wife, a mother of three daughters, a former teacher, and a follower of Jesus Christ.

She loves teaching women about small and simple ways to love scripture study using learning styles. She firmly believes that we can all build a relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in ways we enjoy. Erin is the owner of seek this Jesus study and a certified creation coach. So Erin, welcome.

Thank you so much for being on the divine worth podcast with me today. I look forward to hearing what you have to say and to start out. I, I would like to ask you, , Question, in preparation, [00:01:00] you mentioned that there were a lot of smaller experiences that kind of led you to be able to develop your divine identity and divine worth.

And I would love to hear more about that and also why you feel it’s important for our listeners to know that as well.

Erin Ropelato: Well, good. Well, thanks, Karen. Thank you so much for having me. And as in preparation also for this, I started writing down little notes when you had sent me the different questions. And the one thing I realized as I was writing things down is that my divine identity has been built in small and simple ways.

I go back to a general conference talk in April, 2024 with Alexander, he had this talk called pillars and race. And in that, he talks about all these little tiny experiences that we have, in our lives that build up these little rays of experiences that make our big pillar of light. [00:02:00] And so that’s kind of what I was thinking a lot about, in preparation for this, that most of my experiences are small.

There are a few that are a lot, that are bigger to me personally, but that dive divine identity has kind of been built, you know, in small little ways. And I go back to what one experience I want. Well, there’s a few experiences, but I’m going to start with. With one experience that I was called to serve a mission in Ecuador many years ago, and I was very, very fearful of.

This mission call. I knew before I put my mission papers in that I was going to be called to South America. I had that feeling in my gut that was going to happen. And I was scared to death. Third world country and learning a language and culture and all the things. I was set apart as a missionary.

I had not shared with anyone, actually these fears that I had. I didn’t even share it with my parents. I mean, it was just something I kind of held in my [00:03:00] heart. And as I went to be set apart as a missionary. My mission president, I mean, I had met with him you know, for during the process of submitting my papers, but I never did share.

Like I said, with anyone, these fears that I had in my heart. And I remember as I went there to that setting apart that. My mission president reminded me that the Lord knew me and he knew exactly how I felt and he knew of my fears and he like totally like spelled everything out like that. I was so fearful of, and he basically said that the Lord would take care of, would take care of all that.

And that was one experience that helped me know that heavenly father truly knew who I was. And that he cared because before that I had gotten my patriarchal blessing and in my patriarchal blessing, it talks a lot about my [00:04:00] divine identity. That was established way before I came to this earth. And so it was.

And was also in that patriarchal blessing, there’s a line in there, and I’m not going to share it, but there’s a line that in subsequent blessings after that, while I was on my mission and many years after, and even. Up to now, there is a line that is repeated in blessings that I receive from, you know, from my husband, from my dad, my brother, my grandpa blessings from priesthood leaders.

When I’m set apart for a calling that there is always one line that is a thread through all of that. And so I think that’s just one way that heavenly father lets me know who I am and helps me know of my divine identity. So I guess it’s all those little teeny. Blessings line up online that create this bigger experience, but that [00:05:00] mission experience was a little bit larger experience for me personally, just because it just helped me really know that Heavenly Father knew me, that he cared and that I had great worth in his, in his eyes and had a specific part in his plan.

I don’t know if that is the answer. I care if there was another question with that, but I think that,

Karen Papin: yeah, that’s awesome. I think the Lord. He helps us to be able to see our divine worth and identity step by step, and that experience that you had to like, how cool is that, that he understands our fears, like he understands that and he helps us to, he lets us know, Hey, I understand.

I know this is what you’re going through. And so just that one experience is. is a way that he is showing you are of worth because he’s like, I know. What you’re going through and he’s letting you know that, so that, that is beautiful. And I love [00:06:00] that you do mention that there’s been like multiple priesthood blessings where, where it’s like, there’s this thread through that you’ve been able to really see that he knows you.

Erin Ropelato: So it’s like, you think about your patriarchal blessing, I mean, like my husband’s read my patriarchal blessing. He doesn’t. He’s probably read it maybe once or twice. I don’t even know how it, you know, so he wouldn’t have known that. My dad probably has read mine a long time ago. I don’t know if he’s, I mean, I haven’t ever asked him recently.

Like have you, I mean, I know he has a copy of it. But is this like those, those things that heavenly father just, he knows exactly the words that we need. And I think president Nelson has really done there’s a talk. I go back to often that he gave a few years ago that he talks about that we are.

Children of the covenant or children of God, children of the covenant and disciples of Christ. And I like to change that to give me all the D’s that I’m a daughter of God. I am a daughter of [00:07:00] the covenant and a disciple of Christ just, and that is just, I guess you just get those little reminders all the time when you’re reading scripture or hearing words of prophets or sitting in general conference and they testify your, your divine worth and the spirit comes and Witnesses again, to your heart and mind that that’s true for me too.

Sometimes we’re really good about telling other people, you know, I’m really good at telling my daughters. I know who you are and I know who you can become, but sometimes when we look at ourselves, we have a very, very hard time with that.

Karen Papin: Yeah. Yes. That, that makes sense. I remember when we had the Worldwide Relief Society broadcasts.

Fairly recently. I mean, this is a little bit before conference, the last conference. And I was sitting there listening to president Nelson in my stake center. So like all these amazing women around me and he is sitting there talking to the women of the church and I’m thinking, yeah, [00:08:00] look at all these amazing women and all the good that they’re doing.

And, and then it was like, oh, he’s talking to you too. And I was like, Oh yeah, I guess that’s true. But yeah, I’m like exactly that. I’m looking around and I’m seeing all the good that these women are doing. And, and how often do, do we take that time to actually view it, view ourselves in that spot too?

Erin Ropelato: Yes. I grew up as a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, and I went through the young woman program where we had a theme that we shared every single week, you know, that we are daughters of a heavenly father who loves us and we love him.

And we had that, that specific reminder, but sometimes I felt looking back, I’m like, I was just going through the motions sometimes of repeating that. It wasn’t, Something that I felt deep in my bones every single week, but it was, but there were experiences like when you’re in different situations, when all of a sudden, when you’re repeating that the [00:09:00] spirit comes and says, this is you, this is you.

And I, so I think, and I think we need those reminders. A lot. And I think our Heavenly Father is very willing to send those reminders if we seek for them.

Karen Papin: That’s interesting because you mentioned at the beginning Elder Dushku’s If that’s how you pronounce his name, I don’t even know about the rays on the pillars and, and in it, he talks about how most of the time it’s, it’s little rays that we get versus the big pillar of light and, and how those little rays over time, they create a pillar of light.

And just listening to what you were just saying, I, it was like, Oh, maybe we need that because we need that constant flow of rays. Versus a whole pillar to be able to continually strengthen us. So we need those [00:10:00] pillars, I mean, those rays of light in order for us to continue to be reminded that we are daughters of a loving heavenly father.

Erin Ropelato: Very much. So we need those. We need those little things. And I have found, and I’m not good at this. I do it sometimes, but just writing those little experiences down that we can go back and refer to in times of need. There, there are days when you need that little pick me up. And that reminder of, of who I need that of who I am, who am I, and what does God need me to do?

And if I go back and look at those recorded. Things I, which I, like I said, don’t write them down very diligently. Like I, I should, but it, it’s something that’s good to have to go reflect on. And I also know, I mean, like, I know I can go back to my patriarchal blessing and read it any, any time. Cause it’s there all the time.

Karen Papin: What are some of the smaller [00:11:00] experiences that you’ve had, like the smaller rays of light that have kind of helped you to, that have built you over time to believing in this?

Erin Ropelato: Well, I think it’s just those experiences, like, like I’ve kind of mentioned, just those sitting in general conference or sitting in a church meeting.

I remember, I do remember that really society meeting in March. I was sitting I was sitting with a ton of women in my stake and I was sitting actually on the stand at the time and just looking out and seeing that and then just President Nelson, he has a way of That his words, like, like you feel like you’re sitting in his living room and he’s talking directly to you and no one else is around.

Karen Papin: And

Erin Ropelato: it probably helped that he was videoed in, in a, you know, maybe in his office, you know, he wasn’t standing at the pulpit, you know, kind of thing, but, but it just felt like, you know, Your grandpa talking to you, like, and just saying, you know, this is who you are. This is who God knows [00:12:00] you are. And there’s just been a lot of experiences during meetings during release society on Sundays or during sacrament meeting.

Just in your home as you’re reading scripture, I, there’s been so many, just little, just those little tiny rays that come that aren’t big in anyone else’s standards, but your own, because they touch you. And I think they become bigger when they touch your heart and you recognize.

Karen Papin: Why do you think it’s so important for us to understand who we are as daughters of God?

Erin Ropelato: I think it’s important because then we can then go and share that with others. Think as we firmly know that ourselves, or even have a glimmer of hope that it’s true, that we can share and uplift that with others, especially with our children. own daughters in our home or with our own family members or friends, neighbors, those that we minister [00:13:00] to.

I think everyone needs those small reminders of who they are and that God has a plan specifically for them. And 1 thing is to with that is that God’s plan is for me is not the same as his plan for you. And that is okay that, you know, if we were all called to do the exact same thing, we’d have a million people doing the exact same thing and there would be parts of needs that would not be met.

So, it’s just important, I think, to realize that the way that I share my divine worth and share that with others, it’s going to be different for how other people do it, that it’s not going to be the same.

Karen Papin: That’s a good point. Yeah, we all have unique gifts and talents and a unique path. We’re story and it’s good too, because we’re able to impact others in different [00:14:00] ways because of those unique things about us.

I’m actually wearing a shirt that says it’s first Timothy 4, 14. And it says neglect, not the gift that is within me. And I love that because we all have we all have a purpose here. The Lord loves us and he knows us so well, better than we know ourselves.

And he knows what we are capable of. And he believes in us. And so the more that we turn to him and we trust him, the more that we start to see what we are capable of and we can see what he sees in us and we believe in ourselves, which then impacts others.

Erin Ropelato: Yes. And I think too, I was just, this just thought just came to mind.

I teach a lot about how to study the scriptures with learning styles, but one thing that kind of helps. Helped me realize this. There [00:15:00] was an article in the Enzyme over 10 years ago. I think I can’t I don’t remember exactly what year it was, but there was an article in the Enzyme that talked about how our children feel the spirit.

And I talked about that. Some of them feel the spirit when they’re in nature and some of it here at three music and this all is learning styles. I will have to bring that in. Sorry. I’m just for just a moment, but heavenly father is going to manifest our divine worth to us in the way that we understand best.

There’s a scripture in 2 Nephi chapter 31 verse 3 that says that the Lord speaks to us according to our understanding. The Lord, if we are a nature learner, He is going to manifest Himself and our divine worth when we’re in nature, in places that we are very familiar with and that we love and we understand.

If we are a music learner, He’s going to speak to us about our divine worth through music. [00:16:00] When we sing, I’m a child of God, He’s going to like, hit our heart, you know, and remind us, yes, you are my child. You are my daughter. You are my son. If we are a person who learns through words, which is my, one of my main learning styles, he’s going to tell us through words that people speak to us or words that we read.

You know, there is a way if we are one of very emotional or feeling wise, he’s going to speak to us in that very individual, personal way. So if you’re thinking, you know, like I’ve kind of shared experiences through patriarchal blessing and through other blessings. And those were words that were spoken to me because those are what really resonate with me as the type, the way that I learn, but I know just in my family, like my husband is a nature learner.

He feels God close to him when he’s in nature and when he’s out mowing the lawn and those different kinds of things. So I just wanted to share that there are different [00:17:00] ways that the Lord’s going to teach us about our divine worth. Through the ways that we learn best. He knows exactly how the spirit can speak to us and how he can speak to us also.

Karen Papin: And that’s one of the things that I love about the things that you share on Instagram, because you cover those different learning styles so that people can. Apply him in the ways that work best for them. And there’s multiple ways of being able to learn. And it’s amazing. It’s amazing. Remember being at time out for women.

It was like a few, well, it was a few years ago and the theme was hear him. And they asked, how do you hear him? And then they put up a screen that we could like text in the answers. And it just like pop, all the answers started popping up and there were so many different ways, [00:18:00] so many different ways that we hear him.

And sometimes we just need to stop and be still and think, Oh, how do I hear him and reflect? And like, I liked that you talked about writing down your spiritual experiences, because that is one way that we can go back and we can remind ourselves, Oh, he was here. During this time and, and see those ways that, that we do hear him.

What do you think are some of the biggest obstacles from really embracing your divine worth?

Erin Ropelato: Probably the biggest obstacle I think is comparison. And it goes kind of back to what I To that thought that we think we have that things have to be done a specific way for each of us. And we’re thinking like, well, so and so knows their divine worth because of this.

And I don’t. That doesn’t come to me that [00:19:00] way. And so we started to compare and think, well, Heavenly Father doesn’t care because he’s not doing it the same way for me as he does for somebody else. I think that is one of the biggest obstacles is comparison. And then also like, if you think about social media, everybody shares their very, very best of the best usually on social media.

And so if somebody has some grand big experience, or they share it, like, in sacrament meeting or something, and you’re sitting there thinking like, oh, I’ve never had something like that ever, you know, and you start to think like, so I think that’s comparison is the big. Is the big thing when in reality, most of us, you know, everything is just those small little simple things that build into to help us to create that feeling of divine identity within ourselves that, you know, it’s those little experiences all combined together

Karen Papin: and I feel like that,

that comparison [00:20:00] goes really well, like when you talk about comparison and we were just talking about learning styles, when we’re comparing, we’re completely missing those learning styles and the ways that it actually works for us. Oh, that makes sense. What do you, do you have any tips for, Overcoming that comparison,

the only tip I think I would say, and I think it, it was shared so much in conference in different contexts, but it’s that upward look, finding the divine worth from the divine, the one who really can send that is from our heavenly father.

Instead of looking on the out outward side and looking a lot of people talk about the ladder, you know, lateral and horizontal or vertical and horizontal looking. And it’s just finding that. And maybe a few of those that you trust the very, very most of people in your circle that, you know, have your back, those ones, you know, the people that have your back that, that are going to love you no matter what.

And they’re the ones [00:21:00] that can really truly share that with you. So I think it’s. It’s just it’s seeking for that from our Heavenly Father and our Savior and from the Holy Ghost.

What’s your favorite scripture on divine worth?

Erin Ropelato: My favorite scripture on divine worth is probably not a normal, typical scripture.

It’s one of my favorite scriptures. I have several, but it’s found in third Nephi chapter 11. And this is when the Savior appears to the Nephites in the Americas. And I’m going to read it and I have to put my little glasses on to read it, but And then I will share why it. Relates to divine worth and it’s in third Nephi chapter 11 verses 14 and 15 and it says this is right after christ appears and he says arise and come forth unto me That you may thrust your hands into my side and also that you may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet That ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

And it came to pass that the multitude [00:22:00] went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet. And this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes, and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety, and did bear record that it was he of whom it was written by the prophets that should come.

And I love this invitation from the Savior because he is inviting us into that personal one on one experience with him. And I think, like I said a little bit ago, that Our best way to know who we are and our divine worth and our divine identity is through our heavenly father and savior Jesus Christ themselves.

And this is an invitation for us to come and to know him. So that he can share with us what he knows about us. And so that is one thing I, I love that it’s just that one on one [00:23:00] he took time for each person to come and to know him. And he’s, they are the ones that are heavenly father in Jesus Christ are the ones that know us the best.

And so they are the ones that can share that experience back with us. So that is my scripture in a roundabout way of of divine identity, identity, just that personal experience.

Karen Papin: That’s such a good scripture. And I love how you related that back to divine identity because it is when we really think about it, it’s, It is an individual thing that was going on in that situation.

It’s like one by one. And I think I don’t remember, maybe I was in college at this time. One of my teachers at BYU, Idaho talking about that and how much time that would have taken, like it was a multitude of people and yet they all, they all [00:24:00] got up one by one and. We’re able to feel the Prince of the Niles in his hands and his feet.

It’s, it’s something that he would do if he was here with us too.

Erin Ropelato: Yeah. It’s an invitation that he gives. I mean, he gives it to us every day when we open our scriptures, we have the opportunity to come to know him. And yeah, there was, I mean, it was a multitude of 2, 500 people, you know, that would have taken a very, very long time for each person.

But I don’t think I, when I envision him in my mind, it’s not like he was like rushing them through either. It’s like, okay. Next, you know, next, it was that just that he loved on them just as much as they loved on him. And the Book of Mormon video show that really well, I think, so,

Karen Papin: yes, they do. What amazing [00:25:00] experience it would be, or would have been to be there.

And I like how you said, and we can come to know him through the scriptures. We have the opportunity to have our own experience. With him, when we dive into the scriptures and we read them and we learn of him and apply those teachings. So what is one thing that we can do to be able to recognize our divine worth?

What, what is one small and simple action that we can take?

Erin Ropelato: I think the thing I would say would be to ask, ask the source. Have a prayer totally dedicated, you know, to, to that question. And that, and the one thing I think with that I don’t, my best prayers are not by this side of my bed. My best prayers are [00:26:00] when I am driving in the car by myself.

Or a prayer that I start in my heart at the beginning of the day and really never ends when I’m just having those conversations with my heavenly father all throughout the day. And I think, and as president Nelson talked, he called them living discussions. That’s what I refer to as my living discussions that my, my thoughts and my prayers to him.

Don’t ever necessarily always have a beginning and an end. You know, they don’t always start in the name of Jesus Christ. They don’t always end with amen. They’re just kind of a discussion that happens within my heart and mind all day long. And just being open, you know, if you do say that prayer being open throughout the day to recognize how he’s manifesting that identity to you throughout the day.

Is, you know, having a little notebook paper that you had to carry around the house with you, whatever you’re doing, you just kind of add a thought here and there, that comes to mind. And that’s for [00:27:00] me, that’s the revelation that comes is as I’m about doing other things that he really answers those prayers.

So that’d be my invitation pray, pray and ask.

Karen Papin: That’s awesome. Yeah. It’s, he says, seek and you shall find. So let’s seek for it. It’s awesome. Yeah. I love it. Yeah. That reminds me too, like just last week we were studying in Alma and he talks about counsel with the Lord and all of I do. And we actually had that discussion as a family where, and I told them like very similar thing.

I. Yeah. Yeah. Pray all day. Like I have a prayer in my heart all the time. I’m constantly saying prayers and we can pray at any time. And sometimes it is driving in the car and it’s not always as formal as we often teach our kids to be during prayer. It’s a constant thing.

Erin Ropelato: Yeah, I think, I mean, there’s a, there is, there’s a time and a [00:28:00] place for the formal, but there’s, it’s like, if you, if you pray always, You’d be inside of your bed, like all day long, if that was the case.

And so president Nelson, I think really has taught us also that we can do prayer differently than where he talks about the living, like the living discussions. And there was a few other little phrases he said, where he like leaves the notebook by the side of his bed and writing things down in the middle of the night, you know, just.

Being open to that, you know, that prayer doesn’t have your eyes don’t have to be closed all the time during prayer. Because you can record what he’s telling you to do and so you need to open your eyes and it’s okay. And

Karen Papin: yeah, it’s a conversation.

Erin Ropelato: Mmhmm

Karen Papin: so be open to receiving what he has to say.

Erin Ropelato: So good.

Karen Papin: Yeah. Well, Erin, thank you so much for coming on here and sharing your thoughts and your story about divine worth and identity. And yeah, thank you so much. I, it’s been [00:29:00] wonderful to be able to talk to you and get your thoughts. So thank you.

Erin Ropelato: Well, thank you so much for having me and it’s been.

Fun for me also to reflect on how do I know of my divine worth? And so it was a good, it was a good opportunity to reflect and remind myself also. So thank you.

Karen Papin: If you have found this podcast to be a light, please share it with others and or label review, which helps others find the podcast as well.

To learn more about your divine worth and potential, you can download some free scripture cards focused on your worth at https://karenpapin.com/scripturecards You are of worth. You have a purpose. The Lord loves you and he believes in you and only you can make the impact on this world that you are meant to make.

Join me next time as we talk more about divine worth and potential.