May the Force be with You

I was hesitant to write this blog for a couple reasons: the first being that I just wrote a blog about the Priesthood yesterday, the second being I didn't want to be cliched in a post about Star Wars. But, I decided to forgo my hesitations and write it anyways. So, here's another comparison of something nerdy to the Priesthood!

The Force is awesome! Jedis can do awesome things with the force: move things, make people say what they want them to say, and have complete control over just about everything, it seems. They can see without looking, do cool acrobatics, and have lightning-fast reflexes. They've got it all! The Force is what makes them unique. Because of this power and ability, Jedis are set apart from the typical inhabitants of the galaxy. The Force can't really be explained (outside of the whole midi-chlorians living in cohabitation with your cells thing that totally ruins it). There's no deciding factor of who has the Force and who doesn't (outside of heredity). But through the force, seemingly normal people (or creatures, or whatever) can extraordinary* things. Luke Skywalker saves the entire galaxy through his mastery of the Force! Granted, it was in peril because his father misused it, but it was the Force that saved it, nonetheless!
When the evils of the world seem insurmountable, and it seems like the bad guys are the ruling force, even if there's only a handful of people willing to stand up to that evil, as long as they have the ability, the drive, and a little help from the Force, they can overcome. The Empire certainly had full control, and it seemed highly unlikely that the Rebel Alliance could defeat them, but never, ever underestimate the power of the Force!
We can take away a very important lesson from this: the bad guys will never win if we have the power, and use it correctly. We do have the power, we have the Priesthood. The Priesthood is better than the Force, or any Superpower. With it, we can help not only ourselves, but those around us. No one is exempt from the blessings and influence of the Priesthood. It doesn't matter who you are, you can benefit from it! Any worthy male, age 12 and older, has the opportunity to hold this great gift, and anyone, anywhere, of any faith, any age can receive it. So many problems, physical and spiritual, can be overcome, questions can be answered, and guidance can be given, all through your faith. A Priesthood holder is able to give blessings, and those blessings will occur in your life, dependent on your faith (yep, the Priesthood, like everything else, comes back to faith!). If we use our Priesthood well and wisely, there's no foe we can't conquer, no battle we can't win, no obstacle we can't overcome. May we always be striving to magnify our Priesthood, and using it for the betterment and advancement of the Gospel! And as always, May the Force be with you!

The (Super)Power of the Priesthood

A pretty common origin story for superheroes/villains is the "altering substance" story. Captain America is injected with superhuman serum, same with Bane; Bruce Banner is exposed to Gamma rays, in a like manner as the Fantastic Four; Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider; Doctor Connors and Norman Osbourn willingly use DNA enhancing chemicals; even rats and turtles in the New York sewers. It's see all throughout. It's a very simple way to explain how these supers got the way they were (another good way would be just "they're born with it" a la X-Men). Regular everyday people with regular everyday problems just like the ones you and I face are, because of these magical potions, turned into extraordinary people with powers to help them save the world. We can relate to their alter egos, and are enthralled by their secret identities. And all because of a little radiation? I could see that happening to me! (Disclaimer: The author of this blog in no way supports or encourages readers to expose themselves to radiation in any way, shape, or form for any reason, even to gain superpowers.) Run-of-the-mill folks, gaining amazing powers just through chance, running into something strange. Too bad it could never happen to us....
Or could it?

Recently, we've been helping a recent convert as he prepares himself to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. He's so excited to get it, and we're excited for him. It's made me really dwell on the priesthood and what, exactly, it is. I've heard it said before (because people know the best way to relate things to me is either soccer of superheroes) that the Priesthood is like a superpower. Sweet! It allows us to do so many amazing things. The Aaronic Priesthood gives us the authority to baptize and pass the sacrament, and with the Melchizedek Priesthood, we're able to confirm people and give them the Holy Ghost, as well as bless the sacrament, and give priesthood blessings. These things may not seem all that super, but if you consider the eternal significance of them, they truly are! The Priesthood is available to any worthy male member of the church, and brings great blessings to the holder and those around him. I've been blessed to have taken part in many blessings on my mission. It's amazing to feel the Spirit so strongly, or to feel the Lord working through you as you give words of comfort and counsel. The Priesthood comes the same way the Holy Ghost does, by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority. As you receive the Priesthood, you are given greater responsibilities, and people will expect more of you (hmmm... sound familiar?). We may not be able to climb walls, fly, have super strength, or anything like that, but our powers can still save the world!