Flynn and Skyler, Don't Read This.

Seriously. Don't.

Flynn and Skyler are the two guys I play D&D with, and this morning, I'd like to blog about D&D. This blog post will contain spoilers for the adventure we're currently playing, which is why I don't want them to read it.

If it wasn't important to make sure Flynn and Skyler don't read this blog post, or even to find out what I'm actually blogging about, this blog post would have a different title: Free Resurrection.

In D&D, there are spells that can bring people back from the dead. However, for whatever reason, spells like these always require expensive materials to perform the spell. For example, to cast Reincarnate, the caster must treat the body (or what's left of it) with "rare oils and unguents worth at least 1000gp, which the spell consumes." The cheapest life-restoring spell is Revivify, which can revive a creature that died no more than a minute ago by channelling magical energy through "diamonds worth 300gp, which the spell consumes." 300gp is a lot of money, especially to anyone who isn't a noble, an adventurer, or a remarkably successful merchant. In most cases, resurrection spells are prohibitively expensive.

However, I believe I've found a one-time-only loophole that could allow a person to cast a certain resurrection spell for free. If Flynn and Skyler search a certain area, they may find a Scroll of Revivify. In D&D, scrolls are used to store spells for later use. If you find a scroll hidden in a chest or book somewhere, you can try to read it. "If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can use an action to read the scroll and cast its spell without having to provide any of the spell's components." That means you don't have to provide the spell's material component(s), which means that casting the spell from the scroll is free. The material cost of the spell still needs to be paid, but it's paid by whomever makes the scroll when they make it. Essentially, the maker of the scroll casts the spell (providing all of its components to do so), but instead of having the spell take effect immediately, it goes into the scroll, to be withdrawn later, perhaps by another caster.

In real life, resurrection works in a strangely similar way. Jesus Christ paid the cost of resurrection by completing the Atonement with His own resurrection, which made resurrection free for all of us. We don't need to provide hundreds or thousands of gold pieces worth of oils or diamonds to be resurrected. Jesus already paid the cost. Everyone, from the wealthiest noble to the poorest commoner, will be resurrected for free.

I'm grateful for Christ's Atonement and Resurrection, which makes it possible for us to have a better life and to be restored to life when we die. I'm thankful that Jesus paid the price, not just for my resurrection, but for my sins as well. The blessings He offers us are incredible, and far beyond our ability to repay Him, but He doesn't ask for repayment. At least, not in the traditional sense. What He wants in return for these blessings isn't oils or diamonds, but our hearts. He wants us to serve Him and each other, to love Him and one another, and to be righteous.

But even if we're not righteous, even if we curse God and everyone we meet, even if we sin as badly as we possibly can, we will still be resurrected. Resurrection is a free gift from Jesus. We don't need to earn it. We don't need to pay for it. No matter what we do or what we've done, Jesus Christ will grant each of us the gift of resurrection for free. I don't know about you, but that sounds like an incredibly good deal to me.