Last night I was watching the movie The Lion King. It's been a long time since I've watched this movie. I know it's Disney which means it's pretty cheesy, but I got a lot of Insight from watching it. Anyway, this is my disclaimer: I feel there are some correlations between parts of The Lion King and the gospel. If you think that's ridiculous, you can stop here. I'm not offended one bit. ;)

OK, here we go. I wanted to add this clip from YouTube and then I thought I'd share some of my thoughts after wards. If you want to watch the full scene, you can go here.



I think many of us know the story here so I don't need to explain. But here are some things that got me thinking:

"Look harder"

Too often I don't look hard enough. I doubt too much and I don't listen to my heart nearly as much as I should. I've posted recently about love. Particularly about God's love for me. I know there have been times in my life where I knew He loves me, but then I forget. And then there are times when I feel His love again, but then I discount it with my list of reasons why He couldn't possibly love me! Lately, I've been trying to feel God's love and I realize that it's always been there. I just needed to look harder and then I could see it. (by looking harder, I think regular prayer and scripture study are a key to that process) I know I'm not perfect and I know God knows I'm not perfect, but I think He loves me anyway. So that's the point here. God has not stopped loving me and He hasn't stopped loving you. If we, for what ever reason, feel He doesn't love us - then let's try to look harder and maybe we'll see it.


"You have forgotten who you are"

I remember growing up, before I left for school in the morning my mom would say "A.struggler! Remember who you are!" (OK...so that's not my name, but you get the idea :) ) I'm grateful that she would always remind me to think of who I really am. Recently I have forgotten who I am. Who am I...really? Am I just a second class member of the Church because I have these same gender attractions? To be completely honest, I have felt that way a lot. Today I don't. I think I'm more than that. I am His son, a son of God.


"Look inside your self (insert name here), you are more than what you have become."

I wonder if we really knew our potential, would we be doing what we're doing? If I really knew who I could become, would I be making the same mistakes that I make every day? I think that every one of us has the potential to be someone great! Even greater than the person we are now.


"How can I go back? I'm not who I used to be?"

This one really got to me. I've said these exact same words many times before. I'm not the same person that I was on my mission, or in seminary or what ever. I could never be that person again. I've made too many mistakes. When I watched this movie, I was like..."Simba! You're fine! Go back! It wasn't your fault! They need you back at pride rock!" That sounds silly, I know. When I have friends that tell me that they just can't go back to church or the temple cause they've done too much and that they wont find happiness there I just want to shake them and help them understand how wrong that thought is. The thing is, I've had those thoughts all the time recently. "I can't go back to the temple, I'll never belong there." It's false! Absolutely false! We can do it and we must! We are needed at church and we are needed at the temple! We can go back, thanks to our Savior, Jesus Christ and His Atonement.


"Remember who you are, you are my son and the one true king"

I just feel that it's so important to remember who we are. If you're anything like me, then you probably need to hear this more often. Remember who you are, we are His children and we have the opportunity to be like Him someday.


OK, did you survive this cheesy comparison? If you did, thanks for sticking around. I know The Lion King isn't doctrine, nor is it something we should stand up in Fast and Testimony meeting and declare that this movie is true, but I feel there are some principles shared that can be applied to each of our lives. Thanks again for sticking around. Remember who you are, cause to me...you're amazing!