You think she is keeping secrets from you. Magic secrets, secrets you have not explained to anyone. You have resented her all these years as the doctor, the mad scientist, yes, right, the mad scientist, the keeper of the keys to the magic, coming in and out of your chamber and never really telling you what was happening. I can see these words sinking down, down into your mind, and what you sense is you cannot deny and cannot retreat from all the truths. Is God giving you the power to writhe and spit with anger? Because in the Christian religion, absolution is the act of forgiving someone for something negative that they have done or thought. The love you should feel in your heart is something one cannot know in shallow wanderings. Friendship, trust, honor, respect, admiration—this whole experience is supposed to be a revelation. Once is supposed to do all they can to protect you and watch the Sunrise in your eyes. As those who have indeed entered into a sacred covenant, we must remain true to the way, the truth, and the life. Adam, the prototypical First Man, is created perfect. He is veritably the image of God. However, for reasons that differ in interpretation by as many splinter sects as they have produced, Adam committed a disobedient act, eating a piece of forbidden fruit, and was condemned by God to work and sweat and become mortal, instead of being immortal as the original plan dictated. #RandolphHarris 1 of 10

This concept has been called the doctrine of The Fall of Man, the Depravity of Man, and other similar names. It assumes that man, originally created to be perfect, fell from that state of perfection and must go through all kinds of rituals, ordeals, trials, and tests to regain some sort of tentative perfection, or, as it is often called, Salvation. However, there is nothing in the World more deleterious or harmful to the human family than hatred, prejudice, suspicion, and the attitude that some people have toward their fellows of unkindness. In matters of politics, whenever politics cause one to speak unkindly of another person, know this, that one is on dangerous ground. The great mission of the latter-day kingdom is not to be a militant church to which we belong. This is a church that holds out peace to the World. It is not our duty to go into the World and find fault with others, neither to criticize people because they do not understand. However, it is our privilege, in kindness and love, to go among others share with them the love of God. Wherever we live in the World, we have been molded as a people to be instruments of the Lord’s peace. God has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. We cannot afford to be caught up in a World prone to give and to take offense. We must neither envy, nor be puffed up in pride. We are not easily provoked, nor do we behave unseemly. We rejoice not in iniquity, but in truth. Surely this is pure love of Jesus Christ which we represent. #RandolphHarris 2 of 10

 It seems clear to even a casual reader of the words of Jesus Christ that attaining this Salvation is a matter of a rather complete change of heart, resulting in better behavior toward one’s fellow humans. “The Lord God hath given a commandment that all men (people) should have charity,” reports 2 Nephi 26.30. Needless to say, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and all the churches since have made Salvation-searching a bit more complicated! We cannot expect all our readers to agree with this, but it is a very respectable and well-studied viewpoint. Following in the wake of a difficult period, the young Christian movement became an institution. When we turn to God and by belief accept what God reveals, the miraculous atonement by the Cross of Christ instantly places us into a right relationship with God. And as a result of the supernatural miracle of God’s grace, we stand justified. The followers of Jesus became a community of believers, and with the acceptance of Christianity by the Roman Emperior, Constantine, it became the Church. With institutionalization came the exclusive right to interpret the doctrines according to Church Law. It also brought the right to publish new doctrines. One of these, with very speculative scriptural basis, is priestly celibacy. #RandolphHarris 3 of 10

The doctrine that leaders of the Church should forsake the pleasures of sexual activity and family living did more than just make the priests a special category of people. It also elevated the idea of celibacy above the more prevalent practice of enjoying sexual pleasures. This not only made ordinary people feel that their priests were superior human beings because they could follow a vow of chastity, but also made many millions of non-celibate people feel a bit inferior, since there were not forgetting their bodies and the drive built into them. Some have even felt extreme guilt for their base, primal nature. “And now, as the preaching of the word has a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God. And again we thank thee O God, that we are a chosen and a holy people. Amen,” reports Alma 31.5 and 18. We will never know the joy of abstaining until we surrender in every detail of our lives. Yet abstaining is the most difficult thing for us to do. However, as soon as we do totally surrender, the Holy Spirit gives us a taste of his joy. “The kingdom of God is near you,” reports Luke 10.9. There are many different levels on which one’s mind can work. #RandolphHarris 4 of 10

The systematic study of human behavior must include looking objectively at such long-held and sacred doctrines as celibacy. What do such beliefs do to human beings? Examples tumble forth: St. Anthony of Padua, under a vow of celibacy, lived alone in a cave to shut out the World and make meditation more possible Being only a man, he dreamed dreams of sexual activity that woke him from his sleep. He was disgusted and disappointed at his body’s inability to see that his soul was in charge, so he punished his body for responding so naturally. He rolled himself in briar bushes, letting the thorns rip through his flesh and tear at the so weak and fragile body in which his soul was imprisoned. St. Bernard of Clairvaux dreamed even worse dreams than did St. Anthony. His sexual dreams concerned the Virgin Mary. He punished himself for such an offense. St. Francis of Assisi was a gentle and kind little man. He was convinced of the vileness of his physical body and its drives that he tried through flagellation, whipping himself, and going on long periods of fasting to force his body to give up its demands and release his soul. Martin Luther, while still a Catholic priest, also engaged in flagellation in search for salvation for his soul, at his body’s expense. One of the foremost tenets of the Lutheran Church, founded after Luther split with Rome, was that salvation could never come through works such as flagellation and vows of good deeds; it came through simple faith. #RandolphHarris 5 of 10

The search for spiritual perfection has left many a mark on human’s history, some beneficial and some destructive. Out of Christianity’s concern for other human beings has come the development of hospitals, both physical and mental. In spite of many abuses and colonial enterprises that were exploitative, much good has been done by Christian missionaries for people who needed to acquire certain academic skills and better understanding of health measures. On the other hand, many of the most infamous acts in history are traceable, directly or eventually, to attempts at Perfection and/or Salvation. The Crusades are but one example. Others are the Holy Wars, the Holy Inquisition, and the persecution of witches in New England is Sacramento, California (Prisoners of the River).  When Christian nations go to war and religious leaders in those nations proclaim that the holy war carried on in God’s or in Christ’s name, it can for some be the most offensive extensions of this search. The Lord’s people must be at peace one with another during times of trouble, regardless of what loyalties they may have to different governments or parties. God lives. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, love your neighbor as yourself,” reports Luke 10.27. Let us daily renew in our hearts the pure love of Christ and overcome with our Master the darkness of the World. #RandolphHarris 6 of 10

A similar search, not always linked to religious belief, is the finding of perfection in the fullest development of human’s intellectual and rational capabilities. “The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth,” reports Doctrine and Covenants 93.36. This thrust has been called by various names (Rationalism, Age of Enlightenment, etc.), which, though differing in individual matters, all emphasized human’s search for wisdom and knowledge. The sons of the Enlightenment—Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Voltaire—were sure that through rational means people could become masters of all, lords of eternity. Noble as it was, this emphasis on intellectual and cognitive skills became the hobby of a secret elite. To have the time, energy, and ambition needed for intellectual pursuits, one needed to be wealthy or living in a monastery or the pet of some wealthy patron. The large masses of people had more basic pursuits—getting enough to feed themselves and their families, keeping a roof over their heads, and fighting off the many obstacles of less affluent existence. For the majority of the population, rationalism and intellectual activity had no survival value. However, all who are faithful will see the Lord is a promise made to people who had to devote their lives to earning a living. Do whatever it takes to improve your confidence in your creativity. #RandolphHarris 7 of 10

The idea of an Intellectual Elite is still with us. We subsidize think tanks in various parts of the nation, where highly trained and vastly experienced men and women come together to pool ideas, to explore rationally the urgent issues of our times. “And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good,” reports Abraham 3.23. Yet, too much of this valuable brainwork goes unshared by the ordinary mortals who may be just as intelligent, but who have more immediate personal obligations and commitments. “Intelligences that were organized before the World was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones,” reports Abraham 3.22. The worship of intellectual power, the predisposition to believe that all problems can be rationally solved and the subsequent ignoring of other aspects of human experience like emotion, joy, and fellowship, creates an imbalance in social attitudes that is ultimately detrimental to the individual’s sense of significance. The Enlightenment period made people aware of their brains and untapped potential of human intelligence, and for this we are grateful. Solving mental games can actually raise measurable Intelligence Quotient (you will notice you get better at the capacity to learn).  #RandolphHarris 8 of 10

However, because of a continuing tendency to believe the human beings need only to accumulate information, to gather knowledge, to amass wisdom, with no need for feedback into the pool of human experience, we would ask the worshippers of Knowledge to consider the question, “Knowledge for what?” Our personal intelligence is everlasting and divine. There is a dignity of the human spirit. Because of our sacred regard for each human intellect, we consider the obtaining of an education to be a religious responsibility. Yet opportunities and abilities differ. In the pursuit of education, individual desire is more influential than institution, and personal faith more forceful than faculty. God assures us that knowledge acquired on Earth with me ours forever. “Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through he or her diligence and obedience than another, one will have so much more advantage in the World to come,” reports Doctrine and Covenants 130.18 and 19. Our crystallized intelligence workout also facilitates our understanding of complex issues in our personal life. We are laying the ground work for other areas of growth.  Your work will actually promote neurological change, which can increase the rate and depth of your growth. #RandolphHarris 9 of 10

If our mind is sharp, we will have an easier time understanding the paradoxes of spirituality, or the fundamentals of interpersonal effectiveness. Once we have reached a place where we continually challenge and enjoy our mind, we deserve to celebrate. Wisdom is one of the special virtues that humans possess. Mastering new skills, topics, and bodies of knowledge, whether on one’s own for formally is related to the strength of curiosity. Love of learning does not have to be limited to only in a school or classroom. The World is the biggest classroom ever. We can enhance this strength by going out and engaging in new skills and experiences. Wisdom is the key to improving ourselves and it helps us tackle challenges and setbacks. People with high strengths in love of learning can maintain a sense of efficacy and motivation while learning longer than those who do not. Wisdom is used for the sake oneself and others well-being. People with the strength and thirst for knowledge see things through a wider lens. In addition, perspective is all about the experiences. Perspective or wisdom can be developed through life tasks, adjustments, coming to terms with life choices, life changes, and stressful life experiences. Wisdom provides a great advantage to human beings. Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. There are many different ways to explore and expand the mind, using it to help one decide what one wants in life and how to get it. #RandolphHarris 10 of 10