How Does The Church Define Power?

[Duncan]

in verses in the scriptures it talks about "power", I recall being in a sociology class and the prof. defined power as getting someone to do something even if they don't want to do it. I think that works in some cases but not all. How does you define power? can we do something that God will say okay you did that so i'll override person X's agency so you'll get what you want?

[Vance]

Power = Force X Velocity

[seriously honestly]

In a Biblical sense, I'd say power is having the ability do to something 

[ksfisher]

"As we do our best to fulfill our priesthood responsibilities, we can be blessed with priesthood power. The power of the priesthood is God’s power operating through men and boys like us and requires personal righteousness, faithfulness, obedience, and diligence. A boy or a man may receive priesthood authority by the laying on of hands but will have no priesthood power if he is disobedient, unworthy, or unwilling to serve."

 

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-powers-of-heaven?lang=eng

[Ahab]

The ability to do work or get something done.

And No, agency can not be taken away.

[CV75]

in verses in the scriptures it talks about "power", I recall being in a sociology class and the prof. defined power as getting someone to do something even if they don't want to do it. I think that works in some cases but not all. How does you define power? can we do something that God will say okay you did that so i'll override person X's agency so you'll get what you want?

For me, divine power is the capacity/ability to direct that which is acted upon and either to direct or influence that which acts of its own volition, and in either case, according to eternal principles of agency.

[The Nehor]

in verses in the scriptures it talks about "power", I recall being in a sociology class and the prof. defined power as getting someone to do something even if they don't want to do it. I think that works in some cases but not all. How does you define power? can we do something that God will say okay you did that so i'll override person X's agency so you'll get what you want?

 

Most scriptural references to power refer to some kind of Prieshood. This power operates under the restrictions in D&C 121 so cannot be used in that sense. That is a fair definition of many kinds of social and political power.

[Robert F. Smith]

Wookieepedia says that "the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together."  --http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/The_Force .