Introduction- God's Power is Selfless

These days, it seems like “power” is on everybody’s mind. Some want more of it than they have. Some see power’s inequity and want it to be equalized. For some, it is a competition and they just want more than someone else. Some spend their whole life rising to it and then use all of their remaining energies holding onto it. Some dress for it, or assert it with dominion and physical strength. While others use it as a way to manipulate.

Power can be the driving force in the workplace, on the city square, and in politics. It requires behaving in certain, prescribed ways in order to influence others, and it focuses on popularity with the right people. It can be the source of pride, greed, deference, or indifference. Worldly power is often measured by having successfully climbed over other people. It is often achieved by harshness, comparisons, disrespect or even disdain. Seeing power through a worldly lens often means that power has dividing lines by gender or race or age or education level.

One thing that I have noticed about society’s great quest for power is that is it mostly selfish. Power is generally about self-promotion-- about rising. Power is being in charge, having control, and dominance. Superiority, visibility, and prestige. Power is about getting what you want. It is a game of continually measuring how the things and the people in your life benefit and lift you.

This secular description of power is not God’s idea of power. It is the same word, but the similarities stop right there. God’s purposes are all-together, absolutely different. His power originates in His pure, perfect character and it emanates outward in order to bless and benefit others. His power is characterized by complete unselfishness. It is humble, inspired servant leadership.

In the 2020 BYU Woman’s Conference, Sister Reyna Aburto of the Relief Society General Presidency stated, “…when we talk about priesthood power, we must be careful to never compare it to the model that the world assumes about how a person gets, maintains, or loses power…God's priesthood power is distributed very differently (than worldly power). It is given, bestowed, conferred and shared based on conditions of worthiness. It operates on the principles of righteousness. The use of God's power elevates and transforms our characters to become more like the giver who is God.” (1)

I agree with Sister Aburto. When we speak of the power of God in any of its manifestations, we are standing on sacred ground. Far from the control, domination, and superiority that is characterized by worldly success and influence, God’s power works through righteousness, humility, and meekness. It hinges on great love and is completely free of comparing and competing. It is not self-serving or self-promoting, but instead, God extends men and women use when he or she is worthy and outward-focused, staring straight into the eyes of people who need help and nurturing. God’s power magnifies men and women to capacity beyond their own so that they can be tools in His work of salvation.

Read on to see God’s power illuminated.