The “Rocky” movies that spanned my childhood were a favorite for my family.  We all cheered for and saw ourselves in the story of an underdog fighter taking on the undisputed champion without the help of premier coaching, facilities or talent that would indicate success.  He grew through determination, effort and grit. On one occasion, our family rented an executive meeting space in a Salt Lake hotel where we met our cousins, hunkered down in front of a television wheeled in on a cart, and watched Rocky I, II, and III in succession cheering for every gain together.  

Training in a dimly lit ring with seasoned but unheralded coaches, running the streets of Philadelphia and hitting sides of beef in a warehouse, “Rocky” gained endurance and strength while the music plays, “Trying hard now, It’s so hard now,…Getting strong now, Won’t be long now, Getting strong now.”  “Getting strong” wasn’t easy or conventional and the frames show the time lapse of his increasing capacity as he consistently pushes his body beyond its ability until his opportunity in the ring comes.  That opportunity is not the end of the effort, pain or endurance and in the first movie fifteen rounds in the ring does not result in the defeat of his opponent, but we cheered as though it was a victory. He did what no one thought he could do, he had become more than he had ever been.  

We too can be changed step by step, effort after effort when we consistently and continuously exercise our faith that the Lord can and will guide us, tutor us, coach us and strengthen us.   “The Lord understands our mortal weakness…He also knows of our great potential…. Through your faith, Jesus Christ will increase your ability to move the mountains in your life…[and] will help you turn challenges into unparalleled growth and opportunity.”  (President Russell M. Nelson, April 2021)

We can be changed, we can become so much more, we can become like Him.