“Mortal man is more than figuratively made in the image of God. From a physical standpoint this statement is hardly true, but with reference to certain universe potentialities it is an actual fact.” 117:3.5 (1281.7)
This teaching invites us to rethink what it truly means to be “made in the image of God.” It is not a claim about physical resemblance or biological design. Rather, it points to something far deeper: the presence of divine potential within the human personality. What we share with God is not form, but capacity—capacity for truth, beauty, goodness, love, creativity, and spiritual growth.
From this perspective, humanity is a work in progress, not a finished product. We are not born fully reflecting divine likeness; we are born capable of becoming increasingly Godlike in character and consciousness. The image of God unfolds through moral choice, spiritual responsiveness, and the gradual alignment of human will with divine purpose.
This truth dignifies every person, regardless of their present condition. No life is merely accidental or meaningless. Each human being carries within them the latent possibilities of eternity. To be made in God’s image is not a static identity—it is a destiny, calling us to grow beyond what we are toward what we are meant to become.