It was rainy, cold and the artificial turf was slippery and wet. Still early in the game, there was a fairly routine rush on the quarterback. Brothers Dustin and Alex blew past their defenders to grab the quarterback's flags for a big loss.

Simultaneously, there was a sharp and loud "crack." On the sidelines fans erupted in cheers but grew immediately quiet as they surveyed the action. Alex lay inert on his back while Dustin teetered to his knees then slumped back on his side, his hands at his face. Players immediately called the supervisor from the sidelines.

It appeared when Dustin and Alex got outside their defenders each ran at an angle, a bead on the quarterback, picking up speed as they went. When the quarterback tried to sidestep them they collided, full velocity, head to cheek, crumbling in their tracks.



As a mother and friend, it was a chilling moment. I have known since childhood many of the boys that play with my son on this BYU flag football team. They got their start playing football in our backyard, marching up and down the field, jawing at each other, patting each other's backs and gamely getting to their feet after each tough tackle. Now two of those fine young men, one unconscious and seizing, the other with blood pouring out his nose, lay on the field.

Realizing how serious the injuries might be we hurried onto the field while the game supervisor called an ambulance. My husband got on his phone and called the boy's dad. Alex was still unconscious while Dustin, awake but in shock, rolled on the ground calling his brother's name.

Both teams surrounded the players. Talking softly, I heard young men from both teams make mention of a priesthood blessing. A player from the opposite team ran over to the sidelines and came back with his keychain and, on it, a vial of consecrated oil. Sean and my son, Thomas, knelt beside Alex. Sean anointed and my son proceeded to give Alex a blessing.

My high school son Matthew came up to me shortly after the blessing. He pointedly asked me, "Mom, did you see what happened when Tom started giving Alex that blessing? Alex was shaking and seizing and suddenly his whole body stopped and he was perfectly calm."

Shortly an ambulance and the boys' father arrived and the paramedics stepped in. Alex was finally conscious but still not moving. Dustin briefly rolled to his back to have me check to see if his nose was broken. Blood coursed out but all I could promise was it wasn't crooked or terribly swollen.

Dustin's fiancee hovered beside him, moving back and forth to also check Alex's condition. The paramedics checked both boys and recommended attention at the hospital. They bundled Alex onto a buddy board and soon the ambulance roared off. Dustin struggled to sit up, his arms on his knees, his hands cradling his forehead until he was able to rise and be assisted to a car.

The outcome? Oh, do you mean physically? Alex sustained a concussion. Three breaks to the bones in Dustin's cheek and possible surgery. Nothing life-threatening and, as Dustin's mother-in-law-to-be explained, the wedding photographer could Photoshop his face from earlier wedding photos.

But, the beauty of seeing the priesthood in action? PRICELESS!

Several years ago I drove to my office at BYU on Saturday evening. As I rounded the corner by the football stadium I saw hundreds of college-age young men in white shirts and ties swarming into the Marriott Center to attend the Priesthood session of conference. There was no mother or father to remind them or to twist their arm to make them go. While young men on many other college campuses were getting ready for an evening of partying, these honorable young men and many like them around the world chose instead to "listen to a prophet's voice." That was a wonderful sight to see.

This past week I saw another wonderful sight. Where before I saw young men eagerly making their way to be instructed in their priesthood duty, this evening I saw the priesthood in action. The young men on that football field had been taught, they had faith in Jesus Christ and they understood the power of the priesthood. As naturally as each took a breath, they knew they could call upon God in a time of need and exercise their faith, and the power of the priesthood, in Alex's behalf. It too was something I will never forget.

Each one of us must never forget that there is real power associated with the priesthood. Nor should we forget that the church's rising generation, though facing a mounting tide of evil in the world, has enormous spiritual resources upon which to draw.

The Lord's church is in good hands and it will be in good hands in the future.