Hard to Believe

In May 1977, the first Star Wars movie was released.
Less than a year later, when I was in sixth grade, one of my classmates came back from spring break bursting with news. He had visited his uncle, who worked in Hollywood for a major movie studio. During the visit, his uncle had revealed a startling plot twist about the Star Wars sequel -- on condition he keep it a secret. But he was eager to share it:

“Luke and Leia are twins, and Darth Vader is their father!”

Clearly, to our all-knowing 12-year-old minds, this was not possible. We were sure this wasn't true and that this boy was lying. (He was not among the jet set of the sixth grade, and I suspected then, and I still suspect that he broke his uncle's confidence in order to gain some respect from his classmates.) Instead, we laughed at him. He was mocked and scorned.

Two years later, The Empire Strikes Back was released. In a memorable moment toward the end of the film, the evil Darth Vader confronted Luke with something hard to believe: 

Darth Vader: told  Luke Skywalker that  he was his father.

My memory stirred: Hey, I knew this; someone told me this two years ago! And Princess Leia is his twin sister!

After the movie, I told my friends and family that I had known about Luke and had additional information about the identity of his sister. It seemed impossible to them that I had known this and ridiculous to think that Luke and Leia were siblings. (This fact wasn't revealed until Return of the Jedi was released, another three years later).

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As I think about this experience, I am reminded of the story of another young man, just a few years older than I was, who also told about a personal experience that wasn't generally believed.

"... there was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion . . . so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong . . ."

Prompted by a scripture, young Joseph decided to ask God. 

"So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. . . 

 ". . . I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air.  One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son.  Hear Him!"

". . . I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution . . . However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision . . . I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth?  I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen?  For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it."

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It was hard to believe in 1978 that Darth Vader, Luke and Leia were one big happy family. But millions of movie goers now believe that it is true. (Well, in a galaxy far, far away it's true.)

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And millions of people around the world have learned that the First Vision is true, that Joseph Smith did indeed see a pillar of light above his head, that he did speak to God and his Son, Jesus Christ, and that he was led by God from that time to change the world. 

Maybe some of us still aren't sure; it is hard to believe. 

But I know it to be true.

And you can, too.

Although Darth Vader was a bad guy, he gave some good advice:

"Search your feelings. You know it to be true."

There is a way to know.  There is a Source of light, truth, and knowledge. We can access that truth by studying and pondering God's word in our hearts and minds and coming to God in prayer.

"And by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10:5)

 

So search your heart  Be a believer. You have everything you reed to do it.

 

Happy believing to you.ppy   

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1 Pearl of Great Price | JS-History 1:5

2 Pearl of Great Price | JS-History 1:8,14,17, 22, 25)