I was taught that I am not to love everyone, that love is precious, and while you can respect people you meet and be civil, I do not have to love them. Because love is precious, it is something that is special and only reserved for people who have meaning in your life. If you gave love away, like you say “Hello,” it would be worthless. The hidden religious element accounts for the degradation of the material World, of humans, and of civil lifestyles. To comprehend human action and thought one must take account of human’s capacity to transcend the limited responses of the lower animals to their environment. Which basically means people have to learn to respect other people and not try to force their opinions or lifestyles on others. In fact, in a being which awakes to consciousness, there takes place a qualitative change, a differentiation of the entire nature. Yet this qualitative change in no way justifies the idealist contention that humans are consciousness alone, for as humans belong to the essence of Nature—in opposition to common materialism; so Nature belongs to the essence of humanity—in opposition to subjective idealism. We do not believe in God as a fire escape from Hell, but we believe in God because the power of the gospel. The love of God does not supersede his laws and his commandments, and the effect of God’s laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of his love. #RandolphHarris 1 of 12

In recognizing that our essence reveals itself quintessentially in the impulse toward union with other people: The essence of humanity is contained only in community, in the unity of human beings—a unity which however is founded only on the reality of the differences between I an thou. Among these responses will be found the passions, especially the emotion of love, the impulse toward union with the other that is peculiar to human beings. The capacity to create communities of shared emotive contents is the secret of human beings and therefore the secret of al thought and action; for what people are really seeking in every imagined absolute is nothing but the unity of you and thou. Religion is a form of the projective spirit of human beings, the means by which a person projects one’s being into objectivity, and then again makes oneself an object to this projected image of oneself thus converted into a subject; one thinks of oneself not as an object to oneself but as an object of an object, of another being than oneself. Thus, religion is the dream of the human mind; properly understood, it is a dream of human, not divine, development: it is and can be nothing else than the consciousness which a person has of one’s own—not finite and limited—but infinite with nature. “Hearts of rich are upon their treasure, which is their God,” 2 Nephi 9.30. #RandolphHarris 2 of 12

Humans, then, unlike the animal, is self-transcending, and religion is one of people’s means of objectifying their own essence in ideal terms, of spinning out visions of what one might be. For example, the Christian idea of the Incarnation is nothing but a reflection of the dream of humanity to become God and the realization that this can be achieved only through a transcendent love of one’s fellow being. Religious feelings thus depend on an alienation of human beings from oneself. Religion generates belief in an objective other in which all of human’s best qualities are vested, their worst qualities being designated as the true human essence. Philosophy must therefore destroy an illusion that deprives humans of the power of a free life as well as a genuine sense of truth and virtue, for even love, in itself the deepest, truest emotion, becomes by means of religiousness merely ostensible, illusory, since religious love gibes itself to humans only for God’s sake, so that it is given only in appearance to human beings, but in reality to God. Religion is the uncontrolled and unconscious exercise of a human faculty that with the assistance of the sciences of anthropology, physiology, and psychology can be controlled, raised to consciousness, and turned toward the attainment of genuine healthy, well-being, and community here on Earth. For the consciousness of God is nothing but the consciousness of the species. #RandolphHarris 3 of 12

The doctrine of food is of great ethical and political significance. Food becomes blood, blood becomes heart and brain, thoughts and mind-stuff. Human fare is the foundation of human culture and thought. Would you improve a nation? Give it, instead of declamations against sin, better food. Humans are what they eat. Religion is the imperative supremacy of the moral law. Belief in God is essentially a recognition of the fundamental and sovereign moral dynamic in reality. You funny thing. Did you never stop to think that perhaps I worried about the same “what-ifs”? Avoiding a face-to-face meeting was to my advantage. You would not see how big my feet are or how clumsy I am when off the dance floor. I think you have a good opinion of me now (aside from my taste in jackets, I suppose). After all, I am devilishly handsome. Wickedly clever. Witty and utterly brilliant. Why would I want to jeopardize that? All those illusions could vanish the moment we said hello. However, for the elusive chance to meet you…all of those apprehensions pale in comparison. We have been dating for two years now? (I say that with a bit of nonchalance, as though I have not saved every letter you ever sent.) Really, after all of this time, can there still be mystery? We have told our deepest fears, confessed our secret longings. I know you, and I think you know me, too. If I were sitting in front of you, saying this right now, I should hope my words would not mean less just because you disliked the sound of my Midwestern accent. #RandolphHarris 4 of 12

Think about when you first meet a person. You have to get past all the superficial nonsense, the appraisals of accents and the checked jackets. An interrogation of appearance. After you have deemed each other worthy, then you can actually settle down to get acquainted, to begin those first tentative probes of the mind. Find out what sort of thing fuels the other—what makes them scream, what makes them laugh, what makes them tremble on the rug. You and I are lucky. We never had to worry about the first part, the visual sizing up.  We got to go directly to the interesting bit. The getting to know the depths and breadths of each other’s soul. I do not know about you, but I find it refreshing. I am sick to death of having to worry whether people think I look old enough or respectable enough or whatnot. Always having to be polite and look interested. When I write to you, I do not have to think about any of that nonsense. I do not have to worry about my big feet. I can peel away the husk (if you will forgive a corn metaphor) and reveal the shiny kernels of my dreams and passions and fears. They are yours, babe, yours to gnaw on as you will! Marvelous with a sprinkle of salt. “The power to do good is in each person,” reports Doctrine and Covenants 58.27-28. #RandolphHarris 5 of 12

Now, after all that, you must tell me your new secret. I promise I will not laugh. At least not loud enough that you can hear me from Rocklin. I am starting to nod off and so pulled out my watch. I am not going to admit to how early in the morning it is, but the streets have long been quiet. I hope you are sleeping a bit more soundly than I am right now. Also, you must hear from God. That is why you can tarry and tarry and not receive your miracle. When you seek God about your situation, and if you are really in faith, you will hear from him. God is faithful. You can hear from God through the Word of God or by the Spirit of God speaking to your spirit. However, you have to come to believing. When you need healing, you can know that it is God’s will for you because it is in the Word of God. The Saviour paid a lot for us to be healed. Think about it. He did not have to go to the whipping post to go to the Cross. However, he did so that by his stripes we were healed. Every time the scourge hit him, something spiritual happened because every infirmary and malady was laid on him. The Saviour was hit with the cause and source of that infirmary. He took it all. That is why you do not even have to get the right diagnosis before you can be healed because you already know the Saviour personally took the source of every infirmary. Believing you can be healed if the first to recovery. “You are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation,” reports 1 Peter 1.3-5. #RandolphHarris 6 of 12

When we heal, it is in the Word of God, and we can know that it is his will to perform a healing miracle in our body, but we need to still hear personally from God about our specific situation. Whether it is revelation from the Word of God or a direct speaking to your spirit, wait until you hear from God. It is important that we participate in activities that will help us build spiritual strength and learn and fulfill our Earthly duties. We have to learn about a gospel principle. We discover that Heavenly Father wants us to do, and we strive to gain a spiritual witness about why it is important. Next, we have to make plans to act on what we have learned. We are encouraged to base our plans on our own needs, circumstances, and opportunities to serve others. This is a wonderful chance to take responsibility for our own growth and develop spiritual self-reliance. Then we share what we learn and experience with others. As we do so, we will strengthen our testimony and build faith in those around us. We will increase our ability to talk about the gospel with others. “God is my strength and power,” reports 2 Samuel 22.33. In the scriptures, power is often connected with the power of God or the power of Heaven. It is often closely related to priesthood authority, which is the permission or right to act for God. “I am filled with the power of God,” reports 1 Nephi 17.48. #RandolphHarris 7 of 12

We have so many laws and rules and regulations and are not free do to what we want to do. Everything in the Universe, and the Universe itself is organized by a divine Creator, is governed by laws, known as the laws of nature; and we must have laws of nature; and we must have laws of the land so that we might have order and protect the rights of humanity and punish those who infringe on the rights of others. Speaking of the laws of nature, have you ever stopped to think what would happen if we could not depend on the Sun rising at a certain time each morning? Of if the Earth failed to rotate on its axis for only one day, or for just a few minutes? Or if the law of gravity were suspended? In a very short time, the Earth and all humankind would be destroyed. All those bodies of the Universe are controlled in space and move according to law. If iron, when heated, were to expand one day and contract the next, it would be impossible for anyone in the World to operate a machine shop or produce implements of any kind. These laws are immutable and must be such that we can depend upon them at all times and under all circumstances. It would be interesting to review in our minds all the things we do every day and see how totally we depend on the laws of nature and how they must be followed to the very letter in order to accomplish our purposes. “There is no power but of God,” reports Romans 13.1 #RandolphHarris 8 of 12

We have seen people walk on the Moon, and we have marveled that people and spacecraft from different countries can have rendezvous in space. We have watched the Viking leave on a mission to Mars in search of evidence of life. If any of the natural laws had been ignored or had failed to operate, the space missions would have been complete failures and lives would have been lost. We are awed when we read of the predictions of astronomers who can foretell so accurately the appearance of comets and eclipses. All of this is only because through the laws of nature, the Creator keeps creation in its course. Law is simply the application of truth. Let me draw your attention to some statements taken from the writings of great thinkers. Truth is the logic of the Universe. It is the reasoning of destiny; it is the mind of God. And nothing that humans can devise or discover can take its place. There is no progress in fundamental truth. We may grow in knowledge of its meaning, and in the modes of its application, but it is great principles will forever be the same. “You shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you,” reports Acts 1.8.  The clash of souls touches off the flashes over the Winter jasmine, and we walk hand in hand into the World of youth. You are a streak of cool water that flows into my heart. The water changes into vintage wine that will intoxicate us in happiness. #RandolphHarris 9 of 12

God gave law to all things, by which they move in their times and seasons. And their courses are fixed, even the courses of the Heavens and the Earth, which comprehend the Earth and all other planets. And they give light to each other in their times and in their seasons, in their minutes, in their hours, in their days, in their weeks, in their months, in their years. The Earth rolls upon her wings, and the Sun gives his light by day, and the Moon gives her light by night, and the Stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of power of God. “Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any person who has seen any or the least of these has seen God moving in his majesty and power. So, regardless of whether or not we know or understand the laws of nature, they always operate the same. A child, though ignorant of the law, will get burned if he touched a hot stove. If we disregard the law of gravity, we may get seriously hurt. If we know and understand the laws of nature and live by them, we benefit thereby and can be free of the hazards facing those who ignore these laws. “I am truly full of power by the spirit of the Lord,” reports Micah 3.8. When the seed of love is sown into our hearts, we have to water it with loyalty and we have to cultivate it with sincerity, and then the product it bears is sure to be happiness.  #RandolphHarris 10 of 12

It is necessary that we be governed by laws, which are made not alone to curb the evildoer, but to protect the rights of all. We believe that governments were instituted of Go for the benefit of humanity; and God holds people accountable for their acts in relation to them, bot in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society. We believe that no government can exist in peace, expect such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life. We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for an upheld by the voice of the pubic if a republic, or the will of the sovereign is to sustain peace and tranquility. Bad laws, if they exist, should be repealed as soon as possible; still, while they continue in force, the should be religious observed. In reality, the person who defies or flouts the law is like the proverbial fool who saws away the plank on which he or she sits, and disrespect or disregard for law is always the first sign of a disintegrating society. Respect for the law is the most fundamental of all social virtues, for the alternative to the rule of law is that of violence and anarchy. “Withhold not good when it is in the power of thine hand to do it,” reports Proverbs 3.27. #RandolphHarris 11 of 12

There is no reason or justification for people to disregard or break the law or try to take it into their own hands. It is the duty of citizens of any country to remember that they have individual responsibilities and that they must operate within the law of the country in which they had chosen to live. “We believe that all people are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protection in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience,” Doctrine and Covenants 134.5. Many a rainy or shiny day has passed amidst drifting leaves, but your melodious song still lingers in the woods in my memory and your enchanting figure files from time to time into my dreams that arouse my memory of the past days with gentle breezes, murmuring brooks, white clouds and Sunlight. Short as it was, our meeting has shaped my life. Please accept my lasting yearning for you. “For this cause I have raised thee up, to show in thee my power,” reports Exodus 9.16. #RandolphHarris 12 of 12