Form = Power

I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'

-Muhammad Ali

  Anyone who has competed in sports knows how important training is. What turns an athlete into a champion is the amount of hard work and dedication they put into their sport. I love boxing, so that's the example I'm going to use today, and then we'll see how that applies to our spirituality. 

  Boxing is all about form. A misconception people have about boxing is that you have to be a big muscular guy to punch someone really hard, however the smaller boxers have some incredible power. But how is that possible? Shouldn't you have to be big to hit hard? NO! It's all about the way you throw your punch, the way you line up your arm and the way you shift your hips and feet. If you punch with perfect form there will be power there no matter how big you are. And how do you learn perfect form? You train hard, every day, until your body knows instinctively how to move the correct way.

  How does this apply to the gospel you ask? There is a form to the gospel! There is a way that we've been asked to live our lives so that we can qualify for the blessings of heaven. You don't have to be the most spiritual person in the world to live up to this standard. It just takes practice, the more you choose to follow Jesus Christ and his teachings the easier it gets. If you follow the commandments and live worthily then you will have spiritual power. You just have to train hard, every day, until your spirit knows instinctively how to choose the correct way. There is a hymn that I love that says it best:

School thy feelings, O my brother; Train thy warm, impulsive soul.

Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control.

School thy feelings; there is power In the cool, collected mind.

Passion shatters reason's tower, Makes the clearest vision blind.

As we make choices that bring us closer to God, we become his disciples. The difference between the casual christian and the disciple of Jesus Christ is the amount of hard work and determination they put into following Him. With proper training we can all be celestial champs! 

One armed Judo Fighter

  Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your strength. Take, for example, the story of one 10-year-old boy who who decided to study judo despite the fact that he lost his left arm in a car accident. This boy began lessons with a old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move.

 "Sensei." the boy finally said, "shouldn't I be learning more moves?"
"This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know." the sensei replied.
 Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.

 Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.

  This time, the opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared over matched. Concerned the the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened.
  "No." the sensei insisted "let him continue."
Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his one move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.

  On the way home, the boy and the sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.
  "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?"
  "You won for two reasons," the sensei answered, "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
The boys biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.*

  Jesus Christ once said "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27) Everyone has a weakness, but if we trust in our Master, or our Savior, that weakness can become a strength. Who knows what we can accomplish when our weak things become strong! I know that personal challenges have strengthened me, and made me better than I have ever been. And I know Jesus Christ loves all of you just as much as he loves me. Trust in him, and see what you can achieve!

*I got this story from Mike Alford