Dei Gratia

Dei Gratia and the equivalent translations into other languages has most commonly been known as an introductory phrase for monarchs indicating the divine role or divine gift of authority they enjoyed. For example, "Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith..." so on and so forth. All those titles now seemingly moot as the true power of the monarchy in most countries has been passed in some degree to the people.

Here's part of what I think about when I think of the phrase.
"Grace: A word that occurs frequently in the New Testament, especially in the writings of Paul. The main idea of the word is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ."

I've found most of us have some difficulty setting aside the time we want to spend studying scriptures, words or prophets, and pondering what we can do to be more effective instruments in the Lord's hands.

Here's my first thought. "It is by grace that we are saved, after all that we can do" (2 Ne. 25:23).

What if we rewrote that just a bit using the definition of grace from above. It is by the divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ that we are saved, after all that we can do.

For me, coming back to school has given the Lord ample opportunity to demonstrate the power of this principle in my life. I can't do it all, and the Lord mercifully makes up for where I fall short. Through His grace I am able to so as well as I need to to serve as His instrument doing His will.

On a broader level, it is a great reminder that I cannot save myself. I can't be good enough, I can't be smart enough, I can't be perfect enough. Ever. There is no way I can do enough to save myself. None of us can. It is by grace...the divine means of help and strength that come to us through the Atonement that any of us can be saved.

I am immensely grateful for that principle in my life. I'm am grateful to know that it is important for me to do all I can, but ultimately, the Savior's unspeakable gift will make up for the many ways I fall short and make it possible for me to be saved in His Kingdom.