The spirit of God gives itself to everyone; the power of God is delivered to all. Whosoever will, may come. As persons become aware that stability of possessions is advantageous to each individually, they also realize that stability is not possible unless everyone refrains from disturbing others’ possessions. As this awareness becomes more widespread and effective in people’s behaviors, there arises a convention to respect the possessions of others. This redirection of self-interest, assisted by our natural tendency to sympathize with the feelings of others who benefit from stability of possession, gives rise to our approval of justice. In this way, the virtue of obeying laws arises naturally from our feelings and desires. No matter what the mistakes of our yesterdays may have been, we may transcend both the mistakes and its consequences through imbibing the spirit of truth, which is the power of God. This does not mean that we may continue living in the mistake without suffering from it. We must transcend it. That is, we must transmute hate into love, fear into faith, and a sense of separation into conscious union with God. When we have done this, the entire record of the past is healed and we are again free—free with that freedom which the Almighty God has ordained, and which we may claim as out own. #RandolphHarris 1 of 8

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Natural virtues consisting of courage, magnanimity, ambition, and truth are based on, or may even be a form of, self-esteem. Whatever we call heroic virtue, and admire under the character of greatness and elevation of mind, is either nothing but a steady and well-established pride and self-esteem, or partakes largely of that passion. Courage and all the other shining virtues of that kind, have plainly a strong mixture of self-esteem in them, and derive a great part of their merit from that origin. Yet these virtues based on self-esteem must be tempered by a second group that includes generosity, compassion, fidelity, and friendship; otherwise traits like courage are fit only to make a tyrant and public robber. “Now, if a person desired to serve God, it is his privilege; or rather, if one believes in God it is one’s privilege to serve him; but if one does not believe in God there is no law to punish that individual (Alma 30.9).” However, keep in mind, all things whatsoever you do to others, you do unto yourself. Give, and it shall be given. It is like the concept of reflections in which a reflection is isometry, which means the original and image are congruent. The same law which, wrongly used, brings poverty, sickness, and death, rightly used will bring peace, wholeness, prosperity, and life. #RandolphHarris 2 of 8

We believe in our own soul, spirit, and destiny; for we understand that the life of human beings is God. The virtuous person ought to be concerned with the welfare of all human beings, whether they be intimate or stranger; that we will achieve a kind of inner calm and self-esteem. Virtues are based on friendly feelings and good will. We develop self-esteem from what we do well, if what we do well expresses something distinctive and durable about us, and deliberative abilities are among the most durable features of ourselves. As we gain a facility at deliberation, we come to develop self-esteem and enjoy who we are. A virtuous person who enjoys most the exercise of one’s developed deliberative powers. We also recognize that self-esteem must be tempered by benevolence as it will help with the development and preservation of proper self-love that requires friendships in which persons come to care of others for others’ own sake. This is the great challenge of spiritual faith. We also should not look with doleful introspection on previous errors; but, come daily to the fountain of life to be renewed in bodily conditions and in physical affairs. The Scriptures boldly declares the triumph of the spirit of God over all evil. We show our trust in God when we listen and repent and then go and do whatever he asks. #RandolphHarris 3 of 8

Being blessed with life is an honor, it is a preparation for a sacred opportunity of eternal life. We are all unique children of God and he knows us individually. God sends messages of encouragement, correction, and direction which are tailored to us and our needs. Many of us wish that we were Angels and could have the delights of our heart. And that is why the Lord does counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true. God loves us and wants our happiness. And he knows how a lack of trust in him brings sadness. Humans are not only a center of God consciousness; humans are an immortal being, forever expanding, forever spiraling upward, forever growing in spiritual stature. Not some people, but all people are immortal, for everyone will finally overcome or transcend any misuse of the law which one has made in one’s ignorance. Complete redemption at last must come, alike, to all. That trust comes from knowing God. More than any other people on Earth, we have, through the glorious events of the restoration of the gospel, felt the peace that the Lord offered his people with the words, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Our hearts are filled with gratitude for what God has revealed about himself that we might trust him. #RandolphHarris 4 of 8

Whether your faith of God began in 1820, when you were a young boy, living on a farm in the state of New York, among a grove of trees, or you have just now come to know and build faith it God, when you kneel to pray, have complete trust that God will answer your pleading. What transformations must ensue, what change of consciousness must take place before this is finally brought about, we shall some day behold reality face-to-face. We shall be satisfied when we consciously awake in the likeness of that divinity which shapes our ends. Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when God shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. We are all in the process of spiritual evolution, but there is certainly behind us, certainty before us, and certainty with us at every moment. The eternal light will break through wherever we permit it to.  Potentially, everything that is to be exists now, but our spiritual vision has not yet become completely in tune with the infinite. That same trust in God can bless nation. We must know that we can trust God to fulfill his promises. #RandolphHarris 5 of 8

Faith may be hard to understand for people are scientific or factual. For instance, you may have worked hard all of your life and because of unfortunate circumstances, end up living around people who can barely read, adults who vandalize cars, and steal and lie. At this age, you may have seen yourself living in Manhattan, around people who work on Wall Street, and going to fancy clubs and sipping on Martinis, talking about how your friend just bought a new BMW. It might make you sad to see how much work you put into achieving your dreams, but how it looks like they have not or never will come true. However, if you pray to God, and truly believe, he can change your life and make your dreams come true. You might wonder how because you do not see any opportunities for advancement. Well, God can and does place people in positions of influence who want what is best for the people who trust in the Lord. God may place a huge reward in your life or a new friend who will help you break past any barriers you are facing, so keep the faith and know anything you imagine can still happen. Shall we not, then, with joy, go forth to meet the new day, endeavoring so to embody the spirit of God that the divine in us shall rise triumphant, resurrected, to live forever in the city of God? More cannot be asked than that which the divine has already delivered; less should not be expected. #RandolphHarris 6 of 8

Pondering, which means to weigh mentally, to deliberate, to meditate, can achieve the opening of the spiritual eyes of one’s understanding. Also, the spirit of the Lord may rest upon the ponderer. While on Earth, would you not like to know what you have helped at least one person feel better about themselves? Would it not be nice to know that you helped to save a life by being a good person, and being kind to someone else. A lot of people pretend to be nice, but are not. And we cannot always be nice to everyone, but it is nice to have people we genuinely care about and treat with great concern and compassion. How we determine what is right and wrong illuminates the role character plays. It is nice to develop an enjoyment in the activities of deliberating and reflecting and in our self-love to be enabled to size up practical situations correctly and determine correctly what it is best to do. Insight and virtue and good character are based on a self-esteem and self-confidence that arises from a satisfaction taken in the fully realized expression of the rational powers characteristic of human beings. Our Father in Heaven has generously given to all of us life, which includes free agency. With free agency comes the challenge to make right decisions and choices, including the achievement of joy and happiness. This is an art in itself and must be earned. #RandolphHarris 7 of 8

It is not possible to have a free ride on the road to joy, and there is no real joy that does not involve self-denial and self-discipline; we must ponder our actions and their results. To soundly plant good seeds in your heart requires prolonged, intense, unremitting pondering. It is a deep, ongoing, regenerating process which refines the soul. People never have ceased being interested in the nature of God, and there is nothing that gives greater satisfaction than to believe in a supreme intelligence with which we many commune, and an infinite power with which we may consciously deal. When we use the Word God or Spirit, we do not mean a tribal God, but the supreme mind and power back of all created from, the intelligence which responds to us, the intelligence which rises through the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms, and blossoms in the human mind as it approaches the conscious recognition that is one with the soul. Remember to be careful with your thoughts and words also. It used to be popular to tell kids to “Go wash your mouth out with soap!” often because they said a bad word. Now, kids are eating soap and dying as a result. That it shows how things can manifest. So, I want you to think about something that you love, something that you desire, something you want to accomplish every day, and maybe it will also manifest sooner than you realize. #RandolphHarris 8 of 8