Nevertheless, the Father is said to be a Personage of Spirit, or possessing a body of "spirit": a "body" of matter more pure and refined, even energized, than we "naturally" enjoy; whereas the Son (while mortal) was said to be a Personage of Tabernacle, having a mortal, physical body.
You could say, I suppose, that the Father's body -- and now the Son's, He having been resurrected from the dead -- operates "at a higher frequency" or is "more full of light" than ours -- even a "fulness" of light. The Father, as well as the Son, is full of light and truth.
I've been told that, were we to stand in the Father's presence as we are now, we would melt -- or be destroyed in the flesh, unless we were prepared to endure it -- not unlike how gamma radiation would destroy us. This makes sense to me. The Father is a very "high energy" Personality, or "Personage of Spirit".
There are many degrees and kinds of resurrections, each having its own glory. (Every mortal experience is a kind of telestial glory or "resurrection".) The Son, Jesus Christ -- known as "Jehovah" prior to His mortal birth -- already possessed a "spirit" body before He came here. (In other words, He had previously been resurrected somewhere.) His pre-mortal spirit body -- what we call the "Holy Spirit of God" -- was a glorified, previously resurrected "body" operating at a higher frequency than our mortal, "natural" bodies do.
I've been told that, were we to stand in the Father's presence as we are now, we would melt -- or be destroyed in the flesh, unless we were prepared to endure it -- not unlike how gamma radiation would destroy us. This makes sense to me. The Father is a very "high energy" Personality, or "Personage of Spirit".
There are many degrees and kinds of resurrections, each having its own glory. (Every mortal experience is a kind of telestial glory or "resurrection".) The Son, Jesus Christ -- known as "Jehovah" prior to His mortal birth -- already possessed a "spirit" body before He came here. (In other words, He had previously been resurrected somewhere.) His pre-mortal spirit body -- what we call the "Holy Spirit of God" -- was a glorified, previously resurrected "body" operating at a higher frequency than our mortal, "natural" bodies do.
Jesus is, indeed, the same yesterday, today and forever! Quite literally! He was "spirit" before He came here and He is "spirit" now. (His formerly "physical" body now operates at a "higher frequency", what we call "spirit".)
In Jesus is a fulness of all light and truth (or organized intelligence) able to be appreciated in this sphere. He gained this fulness, one step at a time, advancing from glory to glory and from grace to grace, as we must, if we wish to be like Him.
He is now "God" to us. He shares that same glory He had with His Father prior to coming to this earth, "in the beginning". He is "one" with God. Jesus is, indeed, now, to us, our Father who art in heaven, our Creator and our God. He is "God among us", Immanuel. He (with the Gods) made this world and everything that was created in it. With the Gods, even Elohim, Jesus' creations are innumerable to man. They are Endless.
Once Jesus became flesh -- once He took upon Himself another physical tabernacle, or tent -- His body (that "temple" seen and handled by men) was perceived as "matter" rather than "spirit". (He condescended to live among us in flesh.) Of course, Jesus retained His "spiritual" body, too, otherwise known as the Holy Spirit of God, or His Holy Ghost, that intelligence He had previously organized in and with God.
Once Jesus became flesh -- once He took upon Himself another physical tabernacle, or tent -- His body (that "temple" seen and handled by men) was perceived as "matter" rather than "spirit". (He condescended to live among us in flesh.) Of course, Jesus retained His "spiritual" body, too, otherwise known as the Holy Spirit of God, or His Holy Ghost, that intelligence He had previously organized in and with God.
It is that Holy Spirit, that light and truth, that is in Christ that must be in us if we are to abide in Him.
Contrary to what we may suppose (in LDS circles), while having a body of flesh is an advancement over a body of spirit, a body of flesh operates at a lower frequency (or glory) than spirit does.
The spiritual "body" of knowledge, experience and glory (or intelligence) we attain to in this life rises with us in our next iteration, or resurrection. "Spiritual glory" is added to (or subtracted from) us by mere fact of us living, experiencing and overcoming (or being overcome by) opposition in this world, either augmenting or detracting from that spiritual, or glorified, "body" of knowledge or intelligence we have previously obtained.
For some of us here (who are overcome by this world), it would have been better that we had not been born. Nevertheless, if it is possible for us to repent, it is always preferable that we do so rather than leave this world "unprepared" and unrepentant, having thus been overcome.
For the same spirit that possess us here will have power to possess us in the next life (for that is the only spirit we have to work with).
Christ's atonement allows for "life" to continue (to steal a phrase from Star Wars) "bringing balance to the Force".
Quite literally, we are what we think and do! And, because of Christ (and what He did on our behalf) our existence hereafter will continue (for good or evil). He will continue to be God and thus He can raise us from the dead, both physically and spiritually, building new worlds (and bodies) and opportunities for us. He has gone to prepare a place for us. There are many "mansions" (or bodies) that must be occupied to attain His Father's house. We must be born again. Because Christ quite literally overcame this world (and the sins thereof, vanquishing both death and hell), we ought to be of good cheer! We shall live again! And see the Son of Man in our flesh. For He is our God and our Redeemer!
That's why it's important for us not to sin. When we sin, we disorganize (or disrupt) the light and truth we have received (and previously organized), even "losing" some of it (to one degree or another) to "disorder" (sometimes causing others to do likewise). We need this light and truth to recognize our Savior, to "hear" His voice and "perceive" His light! His light and truth, His "voice", "resonate" with us within our souls. We "vibrate" at the same "frequency" He does -- because His light and truth are found in us. Otherwise, we walk in darkness and are as "dead". Unless we follow Him, we (in His mercy) inherit the deaths: which is life like we enjoy now, worlds without end, receiving what we were willing to receive, because we would not receive what we might have received, if we were faithful.
Just as Jesus' kingdom (or Holy Spirit, or Light of Truth that pervades and perceives all things, giving life to all things) could not be taken from Him by force, His mortal life could not be taken from Him involuntarily. (He was too "smart" for that.) Jesus "spiritual" intelligence controlled His "physical" body, not the other way around. His "Holy Spirit" operated independent of His physical body and could overcome and manipulate crude matter in this world (including His physical body). He could thus give life to others. Not just physical life, but the knowledge (or "organized intelligence") that enables spiritual life.
When Jesus "condescended" (in His pre-mortal "spiritual" body) to appear to the brother of Jared, He literally had to slow down (operate at a "lower frequency" -- much like an adult stoops down and speaks slowly to a child) -- so that the brother of Jared could see, hear, feel and understand Jesus! (This is what I understand.) Spiritual beings are around us everywhere. They operate at frequencies normally beyond our "natural" ability to detect. When we focus on this world and the "things" thereof, we ignore and overlook spiritual entities completely (even though they still influence us).
Those who are not of God do not hear His voice or perceive His light. They are "children" of the evil one. Christ is not their father, neither is His Father their father. By disobedience, they have made themselves "bastards", cutting themselves off from God, worlds without end.
Nevertheless, God still loves them...and gives them a place in His house, even a kingdom of glory, in which to dwell -- rewarding good for evil, perchance that they might repent and feel after Him, even come unto Him.
For charity never fails.
Gaining knowledge in this fallen world (in other words, organizing intelligence) is a messy business, involving disorder! "Sin" is the inevitable and unavoidable consequence of learning to follow God. (If we already knew Him and His ways, we'd have nothing to learn here! What would be the point of enrolling in this "class" if we already knew and mastered all the material?)
Making "mistakes" and learning not to repeat them was the whole point of coming to this world (for us). For Jesus the point was to avoid making mistakes and obtain the prize of eternal life (again) to show us the way. We are all and always will be indebted to Him, to Jesus, for giving us this opportunity to advance and become like Him. We are "saved" by His grace, after all we can do.
Once we know who God is (and isn't), we don't need to sin anymore! To "know God" is to possess the "instruction manual" to build an "engine" revealed to us (and in us)...with all the parts provided (but scattered around the garage)! We could try to put an engine together without God. (And He has supplied many of the parts for us to do so!)
But it is unlikely -- even impossible, for worlds without end -- to correctly build any useful "engine" without Him. Why? Because He is God. He is the prototype of the perfect engine. His way is the only way to be even as He is! There is no other way than His way to be like Him: He is The Way!
Just like there's only one way to put an engine together -- the right way, so that it works, with no missing parts -- there's only one way to be full of light and truth. God is full of light and truth (the light and truth we need). Anyone who would become like Him must be full of light and truth as He is.
Only God knows how to put all light and truth together properly.
So, in effect, this statement is true: "It's not what you know, but Who you know." What you know will never be enough unless Who you know is the Source of all light and truth.
Do you know God? Who else is going to teach you the truth of all things?
"Life" is a process of learning "God's way is the right way", even the only way (if you want to be like God). However long that takes to "learn", so be it!
"Life" is a process of learning "God's way is the right way", even the only way (if you want to be like God). However long that takes to "learn", so be it!
We may construct a lot of non-functional, semi-functional, near-functional and crappy-functioning "engines" before we realize (or "discover") the "shop manual" -- the holy scriptures and the spirit and word of the Lord -- pick it up, read it, follow it and start doing things "right", like a real mechanic would! With enough knowledge and experience, we may even be able to make our own engines -- from scratch! -- the way the Master Mechanic, or God, does it. His way is the only way to do that.
Jesus' mortal body was like ours in every respect except He possessed the intelligence (or capacity) to imbue inanimate matter with life itself. (He may have been given other attributes or advantages, being sired by an immortal Father, but I don't know what those were.)
Jesus' mortal body was like ours in every respect except He possessed the intelligence (or capacity) to imbue inanimate matter with life itself. (He may have been given other attributes or advantages, being sired by an immortal Father, but I don't know what those were.)
What the Father imparted to Mary included the germ of mortal life. Nevertheless, Jesus suffered, hungered, tired and fatigued, perhaps even got sick, as we do! He was, in every way and respect, just like us, but without sin and more intelligent than us all. He possessed more light and truth than we do in His "Holy Spirit" -- that part of Him that exists "not of this world", where His "kingdom" resides, the truth of all things.
When Jesus "condescended" (in His pre-mortal "spiritual" body) to appear to the brother of Jared, He literally had to slow down (operate at a "lower frequency" -- much like an adult stoops down and speaks slowly to a child) -- so that the brother of Jared could see, hear, feel and understand Jesus! (This is what I understand.) Spiritual beings are around us everywhere. They operate at frequencies normally beyond our "natural" ability to detect. When we focus on this world and the "things" thereof, we ignore and overlook spiritual entities completely (even though they still influence us).
Those who sin are controlled by "evil" spirits -- spiritual organizations who know not and seek not God. Those who keep God's commandments, conversely, are "controlled" by Him. They come to "know" Him in their flesh and blood, taking His flesh and blood upon them (by doing His works).
Contrary to what the Bible implies, Jesus was a "spirit" after He rose from the dead, appearing to His disciples in a chamber without open doors or windows. Just as with the brother of Jared (thousands of years before), Jesus had to "slow down" (in His "resurrected" physical body, now rendered "spiritual" by higher energy and glory) so His disciples could see, hear and touch Him!
Apparently "resurrected" beings don't have to die again. They can choose to do so, if they wish, undergoing mortality like we're doing here. "Resurrected" beings incorporate a "new" body (of organized intelligence) with their "old" body (through this process called "mortality" and "resurrection"), thereby attaining greater glory, intelligence, etc. We are, in fact, putting on our spirits glorified "skins" of experience, learning, and knowledge even as we live in this sphere. This knowledge we attain here "rises" with us in the next life (or "resurrection"), when we do it again!
By becoming sufficiently intelligent, we may gain power over this world (and life itself). Like a Jedi, we may control trees, mountains, rivers, the air, even our own bodies, lifting them up from death, if necessary (or from inanimate existence) to life.
Contrary to what the Bible implies, Jesus was a "spirit" after He rose from the dead, appearing to His disciples in a chamber without open doors or windows. Just as with the brother of Jared (thousands of years before), Jesus had to "slow down" (in His "resurrected" physical body, now rendered "spiritual" by higher energy and glory) so His disciples could see, hear and touch Him!
Apparently "resurrected" beings don't have to die again. They can choose to do so, if they wish, undergoing mortality like we're doing here. "Resurrected" beings incorporate a "new" body (of organized intelligence) with their "old" body (through this process called "mortality" and "resurrection"), thereby attaining greater glory, intelligence, etc. We are, in fact, putting on our spirits glorified "skins" of experience, learning, and knowledge even as we live in this sphere. This knowledge we attain here "rises" with us in the next life (or "resurrection"), when we do it again!
By becoming sufficiently intelligent, we may gain power over this world (and life itself). Like a Jedi, we may control trees, mountains, rivers, the air, even our own bodies, lifting them up from death, if necessary (or from inanimate existence) to life.
The "miracle" of Jesus' "resurrection" -- leaving the tomb empty -- was "for show": to demonstrate conclusively to the world that Jesus, even after death, had power to control and maintain life. He could "wear" even that body -- the one so abused and beaten -- speeding it up, as it were, and incorporating it into His living, eternal soul, scars and all. (Jesus, in glory, looks somewhat different than the Man who walked among us. Thus, by His appearance, He was not readily recognizable even by those who knew Him well in mortality.)
To see the Father and Son, and Adam and Seth, is to see similar Personages of Spirit, Beings who have, by experience, attained to the exact same level of light and truth available in this sphere. They "look" identical to us. To "know" One is to know Them all. To be "one" with One is to be "one" with All. Thus we seek to be "sealed" the the Fathers, for They are "one" with God.
This is life eternal: to know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.
To control matter presupposes vast intelligence and power, both in the worldly, physical, material sense and in the spiritual. The closest thing I've ever read approximating it is the fictional book Jonathan Livingston Seagull, by Richard Bach. (A short read, but full of inspiration!)
We can "stop" this "carousel" of advancement in glory (or risk of failure) at any time either by sinning, or by simply choosing to forego experiencing mortality again. Thus would end our progress and we would be "damned".
To control matter presupposes vast intelligence and power, both in the worldly, physical, material sense and in the spiritual. The closest thing I've ever read approximating it is the fictional book Jonathan Livingston Seagull, by Richard Bach. (A short read, but full of inspiration!)
We can "stop" this "carousel" of advancement in glory (or risk of failure) at any time either by sinning, or by simply choosing to forego experiencing mortality again. Thus would end our progress and we would be "damned".
We damn ourselves, and there are those who "damn" us -- who take from us blessings and impose in their place burdens upon us. Such are those who murder and rape, who lie and steal. The soul who carries this burden, who must bear fear, pain, anguish and loss, or a child unwanted, or return to this mortal sphere again to advance, repeating lessons already learned (because they were prevented from finishing their "course" the first time) will be rewarded with even greater charity, power, endurance and glory. No suffering is wasted. No effort at straining fails to produce even greater spiritual muscle! Those who are used and abused in this world, losing everything, gain the most in the world to come. The last shall be first and the first last. Having descended lower, they shall rise even higher.
Here we are made "a little lower than the angels", but in that world to come, having passed through this life, we will receive "a far greater and exceeding and eternal weight of glory", if we prove faithful here.
We're adventurous types! (That's why we came here!) We're all seeking to advance, in some way or another. By coming here, all of us -- even those already having the promise of eternal life -- are seeking greater glory, knowledge, power, light and truth, even joy.
Man is that he might have joy.
Jesus took this journey to its most bitter and joyful end, until He could say "It is finished" and sat upon His Father's throne.
So may we.
Jesus took this journey to its most bitter and joyful end, until He could say "It is finished" and sat upon His Father's throne.
So may we.
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