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! 

In brightest day, In blackest night

In brightest day, in blackest night,

No evil shall escape my sight

Let those who worship evil's might,

Beware my power, Green Lantern's light

  The Green Lantern Corps. is a shining light in a universe full of evil and unhappiness. They police the galaxy to protect everyone from darkness and fear. But how do they overcome all that evil? Willpower! They have the will to do whats right, and help others, and that will becomes light. They have no room for fear, or doubt, because they are filled with righteous determination. They protect and serve others because they want that light to shine. They want others to enjoy peace and happiness, and they do everything in their power to give them that peace.

  My favorite scripture is; "That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you." (Doctrines and Covenants 50:24-25) I love the idea of shining brighter and brighter until we outshine our darkness. But how do we grow brighter?

  Jesus Christ taught us "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."(Matt 5:14-16) "Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do."(3 Nephi 18:24)

  Christ taught us that we should hold up our light that it might shine unto the world. And the light that we hold up is the things Jesus taught us to do. Jesus Christ taught us to serve,  to love, to be diligent, and He taught us to share that with everyone. Then we will feel our light begin to shine. Then the light we feel will shine for others too, and they can enjoy that same happiness. "Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations." (Doctrine and Covenants 115:5)

  "When you walk in the light, you will feel at that moment some of the warmth and the happiness that will finally be yours when you are welcomed home again with the hundreds and perhaps thousands of others whom you will bring with you, who have walked in the light because you did."  -Henry B. Eyring