Introduction

On a quest to discover what main ideas inspired the creation of Star Wars, a link between several different Mormon beliefs and the spectacular Star Wars saga has become apparent. George Lucas was influenced by Mormon beliefs in his creation of Star Wars. Lucas had a Latter-day Saint as his producer and assistant director, Gary Kurtz, for what are referred to now as episodes IV(A New Hope) and V(The Empire Strikes Back). Allowing for a stable connection between Mormon beliefs/theology and things like the Force, Jedi and their council, and overall messages within the movie saga. There is much more to the influence of these films that must not be overlooked, the Flash Gordon from the 1930's and 40's which Lucas "was inspired to make this movie [Star Wars] from"(IMDb), as well as many others that have been discovered. Though they are out there this blog will focus on Mormonism and Star Wars.

Fear

Fear, and the principle thereof is very much portrayed the same in Star Wars as well as in Mormon culture and belief.

“Fear is the devil's first and chief tool.” said John A. Widtsoe of the quorum of the twelve apostles. As we can see, fear is the power that Darth Sidious, who is easily comparative to the Devil, used to capture Anakin Skywalker to use as his powerful apprentice, it is the same power he chose to use against Luke, though Sidious failed due to Luke's compassion. Fear, it seems, is what fills the boy Joseph Smith here in his description of the first vision.

"After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak." Joseph Smith history 1:15.

This principle of fear is known all too well by the members of the LDS church, as time and time again they are reminded of its powerful negative effects. And the even greater power that comes from faith and love. 

A Restoration & A Returning

The Return of the Jedi that takes place through a young boy on Tatooine (Luke Skywalker), matches up right along with the restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith in the LDS church history. Doubts on the boys and their abilities and the seemingly natural line upon line, precept upon precept learning that the boys go through to fully restore or bring back the true ways of The Force/Priesthood are incredibly similar. Joseph came from a small family farm and was mocked and persecuted by many, long before he actually restored the gospel, and Luke from nearly the same situation was mocked and questioned too, until he proved himself to be a true Jedi.

Originally there were twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, like unto the Jedi Council, they were all killed off, yet as resurrected beings "the ancient Apostles Peter, James, and John conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon Joseph Smith." (See D&C 128:20.)This brought back the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Just like how all the Jedi were killed off, but Obi-Wan and Yoda, though thought to be dead, trained Luke Skywalker in the ways of The Force. This brought back the true teachings of the Jedi to the universe.

Good vs Evil

As we see the Star Wars saga now, good has the best seat throughout the first three episodes until evil's plan is complete. Hope seems lost only when the Jedi have all been killed, even when Luke is receiving training throughout episodes four, five, and six. Until, for not completely known reasons and against the odds circumstance, good defeats evil when Darth Vader sacrifices himself for his son, Luke. Episode seven reintroduces evil and its mass schemes but nonetheless the message is reasonably clear that good will triumph. In the Mormon teachings we learn that the Devil rules over all those that follow his lies, and he has many "followers" through deceit and lies. But it is taught that after a return of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, a "battle" will be waged good vs evil and that good will triumph in the end.

One of the overall messages of Star Wars and Mormons, that though evil may have victories that last for years, "the overarching similarity to Christianity is the most powerful gospel connection—a battle between good and evil where good will, eventually, triumph." (lds living) It's often a message of movies and literature that good defeats evil, and so that connection could be simply to Christianity itself rather than specifically Mormon beliefs.

The Force, The Priesthood, & Organizations

The Jedi Council "12 of the wisest Jedi Masters formed the highest governing body of the Jedi Order", and is very similar to The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The same number of members called and experienced in “The Force”. One of them called as grand master or president of the quorum/council. As leaders of the organizations each group visit different temples, meet together on pressing matters, and make crucial decisions for many lives. A great amount of respect is received by both Jedi and Apostles from many, while still there are those who have hatred or distasteful feelings for them.

The Force has vast similarities to the priesthood. In Star Wars: episode IV Obi-Wan Kenobi said “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." In a talk entitled The Cornerstones of Our Faith Gordon B. Hinckley(who was President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995-2008) said, in reference to the Priesthood "There is no power on the earth like it. Its authority extends beyond life, through the veil of death, to the eternities ahead. It is everlasting in its consequences." The Priesthood is a name for the authority to act in God's name. The same authority the Peter, James, John and the other disciples healed the sick, and preformed many miracles.

  

The actual Jedi as a group have a good amount of similarities to the Knights Templar, and only a few noticeable resemblances to Mormon missionaries. They all have one or more of the following attributes: a moral code of conduct, a specific type of dress, a good amount of training, they are the elite of all "knights", and they live in a type of poverty. The robes Jedi wear with the hoods and whatnot look a lot like the robes that the Knights Templar wore, and Mormon missionaries similarly have a strict dress code. Jedi, missionaries, and Knights alike live on limited resources and obey a law of chaste actions that includes no romance. Overall the three are working toward peace in their own ways through an organization that sees potential and magnifies as best as possible.