Many of us desire a union of love and will in which the distinction between the Creator and the beings are permanently retained. We wish more than a blind acceptance of God. We need to know with scientific certainty that there is a consciousness and a power in the Universe that responds to us definitely, directly, and dynamically. Each individual must arrive at a place in one’s own consciousness where this contact is so immediate and so dynamic that if every other living soul denied it, one would know. Without this inner belief neither faith nor understanding is possible. We would be depending on a forlorn hope which might vanish in the hour of need. To be concentrated means to live fully in the present, in the here and now, and not to think of the next thing to be done, while one is doing something right now. Needless to say, that concentration must be practiced most of all by people who love each other. They must learn to be close to each other without running away in the many ways in which this is customarily done. The beginning of the practice of concentration will be difficult; it will appear as if one could never achieve the aim. Therefore, it is necessary to have patience. If one does not know that everything has its time, and wants to force things, then indeed one will never succeed in becoming concentrated—nor in the art of loving. #RandolphHarris 1 of 5

It is enough for the intelligent person to know that the entire planetary system manifests intelligence and organization; that is, it manifests intelligence plus direction, and aptitude along with focus means consciousness. It implies both will and representation; both an infinite will and an infinite manifestation. There is within each of us a deep awareness, a subjective and a spiritual consciousness which by pure intuition knows that the Universal intelligence which we call God exists. True lights every person that comes into the World.  The inner consciousness of our union with God is supreme. Not only is it the highest hope and inspiration of the human mind, but it has ever been its greatest realization. Imagine if we had the patience of a baby learning to walk. The baby falls several times, but keeps on trying, improving, until one day the baby walks without falling. This is an example of how patience and concentration in our pursuits and faith are very important. We have to become sensitive to ourselves. Some people say they are too tired to sleep. And many of us know what that is like. At that point, it is probably good to go in the room, listen to music and read a book. Isolation sometimes helps the soul regenerate. It may be that your soul is tired and needs to recharge. #RandolphHarris 2 of 5

While we teach knowledge, we also must teach what is most important for human development, how to become a mature, loving person. There are many people who have never seen a loving person, or a person with integrity, or courage, or concentration. God is sensitive and responsive to our needs much like a mother is to her baby. She notices certain bodily changes, demands, and stressed even before they are overtly expressed. A mother wakes up because of her child’s crying, where another and much louder sound would not awaken her. However, when that baby has a need, the mother is immediately “woke.” Parents are sensitive to the manifestations of the child’s life, much like God is with his children, and they are in an alert equilibrium, receptive to any significant communication coming from the child. “Cry unto God for all your support; let it be in the Lord; let all your thoughts be directed unto the Lord; let the affections of your heart be placed upon the Lord forever counsel with the Lord in all your doings, and he will direct you for good; when you lie down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when you rise in the morning let your heart be full of thanks unto God; and if you do these things, you shall be lifted up at the last day (Alma 37.36-37).” #RandolphHarris 3 of 5

Omniscience is entailed by infinity. It is self-evident that we exist because we experience existence. It is undeniable that an infinite mind exists, since we can think. It is undisputable that this mind is a unity, since as individuals we recognize each other. It is obvious that we can communicate with this infinite mine, since we can commune with each other. Things will work for us according to our faith in God, “Therefore, if we have faith to believe that God could cause the spindles to point the way they should go, and it will be done; therefore, faith in God will supply us with miracles, and many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day (Alma 37.40).” We cannot disbelieve these self-evident propositions, for we must accept that which it is impossible to deny. If we are to use spiritual power effectively, we must believe in God. The consciousness of spirit, the inner realization of the presence of perfection, the willingness to meditate upon this perfection, to understand God’s operation and to sense God’s presence, is the power back of all effective physical and psychological fitness treatment. We must also use common sense, God does not contradict common sense. It is never necessary to contradict common sense in arriving at the truth, for fact and faith need never conflict. #RandolphHarris 4 of 5

God is timeless. Evil has been traced to the fall of the World Soul. Again, it is said that perhaps there is evil in the World so we can purify our souls for eternal life, and so that all of God’s children have a chance to learn the love of God. However, no explanation is fully satisfying.  Many believe that God displays his omnipotence by overcoming evil through the scriptures. Our thoughts become creative not by well-wishing, prayer, supplication, or desire, but through necessity. “I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness into God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is one that endures to the end (Alma 38.2).” Since the Universe exists as a harmonious whole, the consciousness back of it must be perfect, indivisible unit. We are engaged in an endeavor to see how much joy we can take out of this Oversoul for ourselves and others. In addition to a natural knowledge of God, there is a supernatural knowledge revealed by God and received through faith. We become aware of God as eternal through the contingency of finite things and as holy through the demands of moral law. #RandolphHarris 5 of 5