Before we can master ourselves, we need to know who we are. We consist of two parts—our physical body, and our spirit which lives within our bodies. There is a correspondence between the human soul and everything that exists in the World, and since a person contains all that is needful to one’s government within oneself, it must be that nothing can be given to an individual or take away, but always there is a compensation. We are embodied spirits and inspired bodies, (of, if you will, embodied minds and minded bodies). The mind has been variously defined as that which is responsible for one’s thoughts and feelings, the seat of the faculty of reason or the aspect of intellect and consciousness experienced as combinations of thought, perception, memory, emotion, will and imagination, including all unconscious cognitive processes. People ought to know that from the brain, and from the brain alone, arise our pleasures, joys, laughter and jests, as well as our sorrows, pains, griefs and tears. Through it, in particular, we think, see, hear and distinguish the dreadful from the beautiful, the bad from the good, the pleasant from the unpleasant. Therefore, the brain is the most powerful organ of the human body. Wherefore, the brain is the interpreter of consciousness. Bodies are modifications of God qua extended, and minds are modifications of God qua thinking. They are not distinct things; they are merely parallel aspects of the one true substance. #RandolphHarris 1 of 8

Mental Mastery empowers us with insight into the unconscious patterns that silently drive our behaviours and outcomes in life. The mind, without direction and vision, cannot support us to create a new experience beyond us to create a new experience beyond what we have already known. Free judgments depend on will, but natural ones do not; they are a kind of complex sensation in that they do not depend on us. They are made by God in us, in consequence of the laws of union between soul and body. As judgements they can be true or false, but as sensations they may occur against our will and are certainly not due to our will. Sentimentality is a sensation by which we can be affected, even against our will, by sympathy for others’ condition who, so to speak, can play at will on the organ of the sentimentalist. Sensitivity is meanly; for the man who wants to spare his family and friends difficulties or pain must possess such delicate feeling as is necessary in order to judge their sensations not by one’s own strength, but rather by the meekness, and delicacy of one’s sensation is necessary for generosity. On the other hand, the ineffectual sharing of one’s feelings in order to appear sympathetically in tune with the feelings of others, thus allowing oneself to be affected in a merely passive way, is silly and immature. When we become aware of our mental patterns and learn to direct our thoughts to places that serve us and our vision for the future, we begin to step out of the past and into new possibilities, which we create for ourselves. #RandolphHarris 2 of 8

For full truth an idea must be seen to be true, and this is possible only insofar as it is seen to follow from the nature of things. In Mental Mastery, we begin to define a vision for life, and understand how the inner workings of the mind determine our daily experience. The essence of consciousness is the state of becoming conscious and it is a special psychic act, different from and independent of the process of becoming fixed or represented, and consciousness appears to us as a sensory organ which perceives a content proceeding from another source. Knowledge must ultimately be reflexive. Anyone who really knows something is necessarily so, one must know that one knows this, since the truth of what one knows must be manifest. The doctrine of truth is also commonly referred to as the coherence theory of truth, and it is normally associated with the doctrine of degrees of truth, knowledge, and reality. The distinctions between grades of reality which exist between the one true substance and its various modifications are paralleled by distinction between two kinds of knowledge. True knowledge, the having of adequate ideas, entails seeing things as following from the essence of God. Knowledge can be more or less inadequate or confused to the extent that a thing is not seen as following necessarily from that essence. #RandolphHarris 3 of 8

Absolute truth consists in having adequate ideas, although every idea has some degree of truth since it must have a counterpart in the order of things. In other words, an idea, although necessarily true in some respect, has greater truth to the degree that it is adequate and to the degree that its object is seen as fitting in with the other of things. When we say that the human mind perceives this or that, we say nothing else than that God, not is so far as he is infinite, but in so far as he is explained through the nature of the human mind, has this or that idea. God is that one spiritual and infinitely perfect essence, whose being is of himself eternally. As we stand as a witness, obey the commandments, and press forward with a steadfastness in God, we will never be alone. Emotional serenity comes from letting our emotions run their course, flow naturally until they come to an end, because one they do and we respond to them mindfully, peace and clarity will naturally result. Nonetheless, sometimes in life it just seems like we cannot find what we are looking for, whether it be material information, new opportunities, or for God to answers our prayers. Life can seem like an endless day with people doing the same things over and over and us unable to escape from these patterns, no matter how hard we try. Other people may enjoy life as a repetitive drama, constantly talking about and bothering the same people, but others want to transcend the situation, elevate their status in life and move on. #RandolphHarris 4 of 8

The ability to manage our emotions and remain calm under pressure has a direct link to our performance. Out of more than one million people, 90 percent of top performers were skilled at managing their emotions in times of stress in order to remain calm and in control. However, as you know, stress can wreak havoc on one’s physical and mental health. However, our brains are wired such that it is difficult to take action until we feel at least some level of stress that is unbearable.  In fact, performance peaks under the heightened activation that comes with moderate levels of stress. As long as that stress is not prolonged, it is harmless. On set levels of stress actually entices the brain into growing new cells responsible for improved memory. However, this effect is only seen when stress is intermittent. As soon as the stress continues beyond a few moments into a prolonged state, it suppresses the brain’s ability to develop new cells. Intermittent stressful events are probably what keeps the brain more alert, and one performs better when one is alert. The opportunity to live on Earth, though a blessing, can be hard on the human spirit. Sometimes it may feel like we cannot sense the love of God. However, after we realize that we are not alone and witness the truth of that fact that God is omnipresent, the love of God will begin to filter into the dark places in our lives. #RandolphHarris 5 of 8

The important thing is not to harden our hears, and ask God in faith, believing that we shall receive, and with diligence, keep the commandments of God, and surely what we are seeking will be made known to us. Sometimes the environment around us can reflect darkness, wilderness, blindness, and hardened hearts. However, we must focus on the light, safety, peace, hope, strength, and permanence. Let God melt your heart like April’s snow. Allow the scriptures and your prayers to open your hearts and mind to the reality of peace. Sometimes in life, we deal with the same trials and they have the exact same outcome, but we must use these situations to grow in strength as we contend with the same trial over and over. Though we repeat some experiences in life, we learn that we can count upon the Lord to deliver us, even from the direst situations. Continually struggling with adversity will teach us that we can do anything the Lord commands us to do. We have to let our confidence shine as a bright lantern amid the darkness. Taking time to contemplate what we are grateful for is not mere the right thing to do. It also improves one’s mood, because it reduces the stress hormone cortisol by 23 percent. People who work daily to cultivate an attitude of gratitude experience improved mood, energy, and physical well-being. It is likely that lower levels of cortisol plays a major role in this. Smile though your heart is aching, smile even through it is breaking. When there are clouds in the sky, you will get by if you smile through your fear and sorrow. Smile and maybe tomorrow you will see the Sun shining through for you. #RandolphHarris 6 of 8

Aspects of life can go in a million different direction, and the more time we spend worrying about the possibilities, the less time we will spend focusing on taking action that will calm us down and keep our stress under control. Calm people know that thing about past possibilities will only take them to places they do not want to experience. By keeping optimistic thoughts, this allows stress to only be an intermittent focus of our brain’s attention because we are giving our attention to something that is completely stress-free. We have to give our brain a little help by consciously selecting something we love to think about. We are in full control of our choices and our reactions. Our destiny is not something we can sit by and let happen to us. We need to take action on the opportunities we are presented with. The only person we are destined to become is the person we decide to be.  Sense perception gives us complete knowledge of reality, and we have in addition notions of spirits, including God. Indeed, we could regard our ideas as a sort of divine language by means of which God speaks to us, so that our senses, if viewed correctly, continually reveal the glories of God. It is  great asset and advantage to be able to silence the mind. A person who can silence the inner chatter of the mind is free from worries, anxieties, and fears. Light up your face with gladness, hide every trace of sadness. Although a tear may be ever so near, that is the time you must keep on trying. Smile, what is the use of crying? You will find that life is still worthwhile if you just smile. #RandolphHarris 7 of 8

Sometimes we may feel as helpless as a kitten up a tree and  feel like we are clinging to a cloud. However, we must feel the glow of God’s unspoken love and understand the treasure that we hold. We must want God with us all the time. Sunrise and Sunset. True control of the mind is not just the ability to concentrate on one thought and disregard other thoughts. It is the ability to cleanse the mind completely and make it silent. This silence brings peace, contentment, happiness, and bliss. This silence is not the silence of sleep. It is the silence of power, happiness, and enhanced awareness. This is the concept of spirit over body. That is self-mastery. The spirit and the body are the soul of humans. Our physical body is a magnificent creation of God. It is his temple as well as ours, and we must treat it with reverence. Our spirit acquired a body at birth and became a soul to live in mortality through periods of trial and testing. Part of each test is to determine if our body can become mastered by the spirit that dwells in it. Since thoughts precede deeds, we must first learn to control our thoughts. “As a person thinks in one’s hearts, so is that person,” reports Proverbs 23.7. Physical conditioning through regular exercise requires self-mastery, too. “Those faithful in magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. They become the elect of God,” reports Doctrine and Covenants 84.33-34. Courageous accountability for our own actions becomes a cherished price. #RandolphHarris 8 of 8

A hallmark of totalitarian societies is that the people are apprehensive about being overheard or spied upon. The person who lives by oneself and for oneself is apt to be corrupted by the company he or she keeps. Humans are limited by society, economic conditions, laws, history, the church, and especially by God. Human beings are classified, defined, and fixed by a hundred institutions and a thousand conditions. Humans, however, do not want to be defined and limited; they want to be free and want to be totally free. Humans are right in wanting to be free, for freedom is the essential attribute of their identity. Human beings have to refuse to be what society and economic conditions have made of them: stuck in a certain rank of a job, which is not paying well, living on the street with a servant; someone not poor and not rich; something of a bootlicker, a bit of a hypocrite, and a social bore. By letting go of all of our undesirable traits, we are able to make in our mind a new identity: good, brave, intelligent, and heroic. In our own minds we can define who we are. When our ideas of who we are and what others see come into conflict, we can defend our freedom by rejecting what the past conditions have made of us, and we have a right to create our own identity. If individuality has no play, society does not advance; if individuality breaks out of all bounds, society perishes. “People are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto people,” reports 2 Nephi 5. #RandolphHarris 1 of 7

Finding one’s own, intimate identity can be a great blessing in the life of every human being. Everyone can obtain it if he or she realizes it comes only through the light of truth or, the light of life. “I am the light of the World: one that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life,” reports John 8.12. As we endeavour to understand what it means to have the light of life, which is a most important tool to discovering our identity, we have to figure out if we are some infinite calculus, or if we are free to follow the sweet curve of our foolish will. In the scriptures human beings find that we belong to a whole, of which God is a part. Belonging to such a whole gives one a sense of the value of one’s own soul, but seen in relation to God reveals one’s dependence and hence one’s subordination. Thus, a devout use of the scriptures nourishes the spiritual life with a calm that displaces the doubts and anxieties which paralyze human kind. This statement leads some to believe humans are not really free. For this freedom implies an implacable and terrible truth about the actions of humans and their treatment of others. If there are no law to one’s nature—and there cannot be if one is to be free—then humans alone are their own law. And if one is one’s own end, one will make everything else serve that end, including other people. Even more, every a priori truth becomes illusion. Otherwise, the truth would be a prior to our choices, and our choices would be determined by it. #RandolphHarris 2 of 7

Truth as something absolute, timeless, and pre-existent to our choices would be impossible in this concept of freedom. Truth, like everything else in this kind of World depends on our wills. The implication of the are terrifying: every action of principle, every act of unselfishness, every good, beautiful, virtuous, reasonable act is only an appearance. No matter how much naïve and tender romantic souls may want to believe in them, they are really deceptions, for the reality is human’s free will and one’s deadly duel with others free wills. The total freedom brings us to the total terror of a Universe without truth or principle, good or evil, virtue or vice. This nihilistic version of the Universe sends some philosophers into dark ecstasy over the naked power of the will, and it creates an irresolvable dilemma: Freedom is the supreme good because humans are not humans unless they are free, but freedom is also a supreme evil because humans are free to do anything, including illimitable destruction. People think that God threatens to restrain the destructive aspect of free will by destroying freedom. That is probably because some people only explore, with incredible creative skill and dramatic power, the destructive implications of free will. Total freedom does not lead to destruction because human nature is thought to be good by law. The freedom that kills life is not the only possibility, for there is a freedom that gives life. God has made humans a little lower than Angels, and has crowed them with glory and honour. #RandolphHarris 3 of 7

In this capacity humans have been given characteristics which are unique to the human race. We have an awareness of our own personality and the ability to strive for self-realization. We have the ability to extend our knowledge, to become aware of the nature of humanity and the nature of things about us. We have the power of abstract reasoning by which we compare facts and determine the relationship between them and their relevance in our lives. We have the ability and the right to make choices. This is one of the greatest gifts of God to us. We have a will to master. By this power, we can control thoughts, emotions, appetites, and passions. We have a right to worship God and can seek power from him to fulfill our destiny. With this unique capability and emphasis on the worth of souls in sight of God also comes the opportunity for confusion. We live in a materialistic World. Some become confused and seek identity through riches or the accolades of humans. The Saviour makes it very clear in his teachings that it is not possible to realize our divine identity through such means. To inherit eternal life, we must not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honour they father and thy mother. Superhumans are shaken to their roots when involved in graft, intrigue, and scandal. “While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light,” reports John 12.35-36. #RandolphHarris 4 of 7

When people experience life as meaningful, they tend to express that meaning. We must be familiar with the mental process through which meaning is experienced and conveyed. If we did not know what it was to love or abhor something, to have an intention, or to express something, we could not begin to understand anything; of course we need not abhor spiders to understand Miss Muffet’s abhorrence of them. Because we are human beings and because all expression ultimate derive from the activity of individual human beings, this requisite of familiarity with mental processes is always at least partially fulfilled. Understanding expressions is knowledge of the particular concrete context in which they occur. A word is better understood, sometimes only understood, in its verbal setting; and action, in the situation that gave rise to it. To understand an expression, we must systematically explore the context in which it stands. For example, to understand a religious movement or a philosophic doctrine better, we must relate it to the climate of opinion and the social conditions of the time. To further highlight this illustration, the philosophy of Spinoza can be better understood against the background of the rise of science and the conflict between different religious sects in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Much like some of the stuff we read on social media might not seem like things the people we know would say, and does not reflect their real personality, unless what understand what it is they are responding to. #RandolphHarris 5 of 7

Knowledge of the social and cultural systems determine the nature of most expressions. To understand a sentence we must know the language; to understand a chess move, the rules of the game. Two problems arise about the way we understand such systems. First, we are theoretically involved in a circle. To understand a word we must understand the language, yet to understand a language we must have come to understand the words that constitute it. In practice we solve this problem by a kind of shuttlecock movement. From approximate knowledge of individual words an understanding of the language grows; this, in turn, make sour understanding of individual words more precise; and so on. Tis procedure is characteristic of the human studies. The second problem in understanding cultural systems is more general; understanding a legal code is different from and more complex than understanding what Aunt Tori feels. Legal systems or works of literature are, of course, the products of individual minds, empirically given in physical signs (such as marks on paper) and in the psychological experiences that they precipitate. Yet it is methodologically convenient, as well as in conformity with common usage, to treat them as independent entities belonging to a sphere of their own and confronting the individual: Brown’s life, we say, has been affected by Milton’s poetry. #RandolphHarris 6 of 7

Philosophy assists the human studies in the achievement of methodological clarity and receives from the, in return, the factual insights into life which are grist to its mill. Some ideas are mental, meaning that they cannot be derived from experience and must be synthesized operationally from a few unequivocal ideas used as building stones. We satisfy the desire for our own happiness in part, but only in part, by seeking the happiness of others. A person who inhibits these desires of their own which find their satisfaction in achieving the happiness of others will not in fact make oneself happy. By refusing to be benevolent, one damages one’s own self-interest and disobeys the call of self-love. Cool and reasonable self-love consists in guiding our actions by reference to a hierarchy of principles; supreme among these is moral reflection or conscience, by means of which human nature is defined and the good that will satisfy it discerned. Thus, self-love itself refers us to the arbitration of conscience, which in turn prescribes that extent and degree of benevolence which will satisfy the needs of self-love. If there were in the World today any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, we could have a paradise in a few years. Superiority to fate is difficult to learn. It is not conferred by any, but possible to earn. A pittance at a time, until, to one’s surprise, the soul with strict economy subsists till Paradise. The words you left behind have rippled the serenity and brought about some mysterious dream to my heart. #RandolphHarris 7 of 7

The real value of learning is that it enables an individual in any situation to be resourceful—to figure out what to do when we have no idea. Life should elicit excitement, joy, and pleasure as we come into our journey and experience the World. The approach to living should be based firmly on our intrinsic nature to listen and observe from the foundation of our soul as we pressure inspiring and purposeful works of spirituality through the refinement of ideas which respond to specific factors we endeavour to reflect in the personality and lifestyle we desire. Personal identity, the unified self is thus assured by the nervous system, and the brain plays the role of both organ and organist. Self-awareness, however, depends entirely on the remembering function of the human brain. Memory furnishes the continuity in time, the imaginative combination of artistic integrity, and graceful elegance. The personal history that is created through this craft is fundamental to self-consciousness and personal identity. We are inclined to believe that all we have seen, known, perceived, or heard—even the trees of a great forest, all the concerts we have ever heard—exists within us unknown to us. They are stored by neural mechanisms as vibrating string and harmonic intervals, which possess the association of images and memory, the passage from sense perceptions to comparisons, reflection, judgment, and thought. #RandolphHarris 1 of 7

In sleep, control is relaxed and make dream-formation possible by reducing the endopsychic censorship. While many dreams are simply the results of the brain processing information, others send messages directly to the soul. A random recall in the central organ may then be referred to the subordinate organ, or the procedure may be reversed, from organ to brain. In dreams, random combinations may be formed and dragons created. Only personal past experience is available, however, for such imaginings. God uses dreams to communicate—and he may do so for anyone who is paying attention. The impressions can be so strong that the some realize these are important spiritual messages. “God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, you young men will see visions, your antiquate men will dream dreams,” reports Daniel 1.17. Jacob’s Ladder is the connection between the Earth and Heaven that the Biblical Patriarch Jacob dreams about during his flight from his brother Esau, as described in the Book of Genesis. This portal symbolizes prayer traveling across dimensions between God and people. When Jacob was dreaming about Angels going back and forth between Heaven and Earth, that beautiful image was a message of encouragement to Jacob, a man who was seriously discouraged. The spiritual dream was from some dense part of entanglement of the intellectual World. It arose from some dense part of fabric in the form of a dream-wish, like a mushroom from its mycelium. #RandolphHarris 2 of 7

We never know when God may reach out to us through a dream; it could happen anytime. If we believe it is possible, and if we are seeking God, we are in the best position to notice divine dream messages when they do grace our sleeping state. God or one of his Angels may send us an innovative idea or inspiration through a dream. Dreams have been responsible for some major creative and scientific discoveries in the course of human history. The father of quantum mechanics, Niels Bohr, often spoke of the inspirational dream that led to his discovery of the structure of the atom. One night when he was dreaming about atoms, Niels saw the nucleus of the atom, with electrons spinning around it, much as planets spin around their Sun. After reflection and allowing the involuntary ideas to come to the surface, Niels vision of the atomic structure, upon investigation, so perfectly covered an explained the directing ideas that it turned out to be one of the greatest breakthroughs of his day. He was later awarded a Noble Prize for Physics as a result of this leap in creative thinking while asleep. “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, and purify your hearts,” reports James 4.8. If we teach and learn in the manner the Lord has prescribed, he will spend his Spirit to edify and enlighten us as we do so. #RandolphHarris 3 of 7

In life, we often meet people who have studied engineering, computer science information, health, medicine, religion, philosophy and metaphysics, World history and languages, science and arts. Some of these people are better educated than we are. In view of that, if we do not have the Spirit of the Lord how can we expect the direction of the Spirit to help us effectively socialize and communicate. We cannot always compete with the World on its terms. If we are to fulfill our calling, we must teach the Lord’s way. God is always communicating—and we may hear from him while we are awake, as well. During our dreams we surrender ourselves entirely to the involuntary phantasy, yet always other leading interests, dominant feelings and moods prevail at one time rather than another, and these will always exert an influence on the association of ideas. In semi-conscious dreams there always appear only such ideas as correspond to the (unconscious) momentary main interest. The unconscious mind is open to all information, so we are constantly open to learning something new. If we have the Spirit of the Lord to guide us, we can tech any person, no matter how well educated, any place in the World. The Lord knows more than any of us, and if we are his children, acting under his Spirit, he can deliver his message of salvation to each and every soul. #RandolphHarris 4 of 7

The Spirit of God speaking to the spirit of human beings has the power to impart truth with greater effect and understanding than the truth can be imparted by personal contact even with Heavenly beings. Through the Holy Ghost, the truth is woven into the very fiber and sinew of the of the body so it cannot be forgotten. The strong emotions are the chief source of the good, the true, and the beautiful. Life is not merely the biological fact that humans share with other beings on this Earth, but human life, experienced by us in all its distinctive complexity. It is the agglomeration of innumerable individual lives, which constitute the social and historical reality of the life of humankind. The hopes and fears, the thoughts and acts of individuals, the institutions which people have created, the laws by which they guide their conduct, the religions they believe in, all art, all literature, and all philosophy are part of that life. So is all science, because although it considers inanimate nature, it is still a human activity. All reflections on life, all valuations and moral principles, are the product of a pure knowing mind, and particular individuals who are living at particular times in a particular place, are all influenced by these circumstances and ideas around the, by the horizons of the age. All such reflections and valuations are, therefore, tinged with the Spirit of God. “Glory of God is intelligence,” reports Doctrine and Covenants 88.41. #RandolphHarris 5 of 7

We actually experience life in its whole wealthy and variety. We see things and people, listen to music and poetry, observe the workings of the law, experience religious awe, patriotic enthusiasm, or aesthetic satisfaction. All these, not merely the sensation of blobs of colour or twinges of pain, are part of the experience from which the true empiricists must start—although we may later analyze it into its components. Life is not a mass of disconnected facts; it is encountered everywhere as already organized, interpreted, and therefore meaningful. The philosopher starts from the meanings that human beings have given to their World. The philosopher is part of human life, a human being affected by the circumstances of one’s age like our fellows, and becomes an asset. The processes by means of which life becomes organized and meaningful are familiar to us from our own experiences. We are aware of the working of our mind, of how ideas give rise to feelings and feelings turn into intentions; we are familiar with the temporal quality of our lives, with the succession of moments in which the present is filled with experience and coloured by recollection of the past as well as with anticipation of the future. In common with our fellow people, the philosopher also uses principles for the organization of our experience. These are called the categories of life. #RandolphHarris 6 of 7

What we call experience is already intellectualized, that is, thought processes have gone into the organization of raw material. Intelligence has several meanings. It is the light of truth that gives life and light to all things in the Universe. It has always existed. The word intelligences also refers to the spirit children of God. “All intelligence is independent in that sphere in which God has placed in,” reports Doctrine and Covenants 93.29. We organize and interpret life consciously and deliberately. It is not that we see the rose, the frown, or the wall and then infer the rose is beautiful, the man angry, or the wall an obstruction. We see the beautiful rose, the angry man, or the obstacle. However, we do not stop there; impelled to make experience meaningful, and using the categories by which this can be accomplished. “If a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through one’s diligence and obedience, one will have so much the advantage in the World to come,” reports Doctrine and Covenants 130.19. There is in humankind a persistent tendency to achieve a comprehensive interpretation, or a philosophy, in which a picture of reality is combined with a sense of meaning and value and with principles of action. Knowledge, both temporal and spiritual, comes in steps. This awareness, combined with the consciousness of the relativity of all interpretations and valuations, liberates the spirit for open-minded acceptance of reality and creative endeavour. #RandolphHarris 7 of 7

This beautiful Earth and all things in it are the creations of God. However, virtually every day we read or hear something about global climate change, endangered species, environmental degradation, or one of the many problems facing humanity today. We are living during a critical period in the Earth’s history. Indeed, the future of much of life as we know it will be decided in the next few decades, and these decisions will be irrevocable. Therefore, it is crucial that we, as individuals, cities, and nations, make wise decisions, and to do this we must be informed. We also think it is important to consider these problems from an anthropological perspective. This is something not usually done in the media and certainly not by politicians and heads of government. However, if we are truly to comprehend the impact that human activities have had on the planet, then such discussions surely must consider our biological and cultural evolution. And we must also emphasize our place in nature and focus on how, since the domestication of plants and animals, we have altered the face of our planet while at the same time shaping the destiny of thousands of species, including our own. The way to discover the original nature is calmness and wisdom. This means not being carried away by thought in the process of thought and being free from characters whole in the midst of them. When the mind is unperturbed by selfishness or deliberate effort and deliberate effort and is left to take its own course, it will reveal its pure nature, and enlightenment will come suddenly. #RandolphHarris 1 of 9

We humans tend to view ourselves as separate from all other life forms, and we generally regard our species as the masters of the planet. In Western cultures, this view has been reinforced by the conventionally held Old Testament assertion that humans shall have dominion over all other species. “Let us make humankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground,” reports Genesis 1.26. However, this also means that we are supposed to have stewardship over the animals. Stewardship is the job of supervising or taking care of something, such as an organization or property. We are also supposed to protect and take care of our land and waterways. However, in the Late Bronze Age peoples (circa 4,000-3,500 years ago), many of England’s forest were disappearing. Today, the majority of European woodlands exist as discontinuous patches, the results of process that continued until fairly recent times but originated with prehistoric farmers. Unfortunately, humans began to exploit, and increasingly depend on, non-renewable resources. Forests can be viewed as renewable resources, provided they are given the opportunity for regrowth. However, in many areas, forest clearing is virtually complete and is inevitably followed by soil erosion, frequent overgrazing, and overcultivation, which leads to further soil erosion. Therefore, in those areas, trees become a nonrenewable resource, perhaps the first resource to have this distinction. #RandolpHarris 2 of 9

Also, the archaeological reports that around 15,000 years ago, influenced in part by climate change and extinction of many large bodied prey species, some human groups began to settle down, abandoning their nomadic lives. That shows that climate change is natural and it happens so that other species have a chance to flourish. Humans are members of a group that includes about 4,000 species. And this is a group that has been on the decline for the last several million years. And in truth, it would be inaccurate to assume that human activities have only recently come to have environmental consequences. In fact, human impact on local environments increased dramatically as soon as people began to live in permanent settlements. Many of the Earth’s features we think of as natural actually came about as the result of human activities. For example, prior to the Neolithic, when people began to live in permanent settlements, much of Britain and continental Europe was blanketed with forests and woodlands. The moorlands and, to some extent, the peat bogs that have provided evocative settings for so many English novels are the result of deforestation that began more than 5,000 years ago. #RandolphHarris 3 of 9

It would not be inaccurate to say that since the advent of settled life, and to some extent prior to it, humans have virtually waged war on trees. Early European explorers and settlers recorded extensive burning of woodlands and forest by indigenous groups of hunter-gatherers in North America and Australia, presumably to clear undergrowth and drive animals from cover. The effect of such burning was not inconsequential, and as people began to live in agricultural communities and later in towns and cities, the impact on forests became devastating. In fact, only about 20 percent of the Earth’s original forests remain intact today, and much of the clearing occurred centuries and even millennia ago. There are many reasons for cutting forests, and the earliest of these were to clear the land for cultivation and grazing and to provide firewood and lumber for construction. As small communities grew into towns and cities, wood came to be used for shipbuilding, fortifications, and even the construction of temples and palaces. In short, the human experience over the last 10,000 to 15,000 years would not have been possible without the exploitation of woodlands and forests. One of the earliest documented examples of humankind’s appetite for lumber is the cutting of the famous cedars of Lebanon. Over 3,000 years ago, the eastern Mediterranean (modern-day Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria), southern Turkey, and Mesopotamia (in present-day Iraq) had become major sources of valuable cedar, fir, cypress, and other woods. #RandolphHarris 4 of 9

However, by far the most highly prized wood was Lebanese cedar, which was cut and shipped throughout the eastern Mediterranean, where it was used in the construction of buildings and ships. The Old Testament tells us that King Solomon’s temple was made of cedar from Lebanon, and numerous other texts, written over several centuries, document the extensive use and desirability of this precious wood. Not surprisingly, the deforestation of the mountains of Lebanon was eventually so complete that the forest of today consists of small patches of trees. Just to prove the ancient adage “The more things change, the more they stay the same, it is informative to note that classical scholars (most notably Plato and Aristotle) bemoaned the effects of deforestation and other forms of environmental degradation in Greece and other areas of the Mediterranean basin. They warned that the cutting of forests and overuse of land led to soil erosion and agricultural decline, disrupted water supplies, and even caused climate change. Their views, expressed some 2,400 years ago, are verified by combined archaeological and geological data that show sequences of soil accumulation followed by intense human occupation, then soil erosion, and finally abandonment of archaeological sites throughout Greece. Furthermore, this sequence of episodes dates to around 5,000 years ago. #RandolphHarris 5 of 9

However, given the relatively small size of human populations, even by the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans, the human impact on ecosystems mostly remained a localized, not global, phenomenon. Nevertheless, these impacts were in some cases significant. The barren (but enchanting) landscape of Greece and much of what is now desert in the Middle East and the Sahara Desert in Africa are the legacies of deforestation, overgrazing, and subsequent erosions over the last few thousand years. Destruction of natural resources in the past has also had severe consequences for the people living today. In 1,990, a typhoon and subsequent flooding killed over 100,000 people in Bangladesh, and the flooding was at least partly due to previous deforestation in parts of the Himalayas of northern India. There is also evidence that continued erosion and flooding in China are partly the results of deforestation that occurred in the past. Many scientists have long speculated that the collapse of the Maya civilization of southern Mexico around 1,000 year ago was at least somewhat due to climate change, overcultivation, and depletion of nutrient-poor tropical soils. So, it is very important to protect the trees in the Sierras and throughout California and Nevada to prevent it from becoming a desert. #RandolphHarris 6 of 9

 As beneficiaries of this divine creation, we should care for the Earth, be wise stewards over it, and preserve it for future generations. The Earth and all things on it are part of God’s plan for the redemption of his children and should be used responsibly to sustain the human family. “We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an Earth whereon these may dwell; and we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them,” reports Abraham 3.24-35. However, all are stewards—not owners—over this Earth and its bounty and will be accountable before God for what they do with his creations. “For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every person accountable, as a steward over Earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures. I, the Lord, stretched out the Heavens, and built the Earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine. And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine, Reports Doctrines and Covenants Section 104.13-15. All humankind should gratefully use what God has given, avoid wasting life and resources, and use the bounty of the Earth to care for the less affluent. “And wo be unto humans that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need,” reports Doctrines and Covenants Section 49.21. #RandolphHarris 7 of 9

To truly reverence the Creator, we must appreciate his creations. God intends is creations to be pleasing to look upon and to enliven the mind and spirit. “All things which come of the Earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of humans, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul,” reports Doctrines and Covenants 59.18-19. For that reason, making the Earth ugly offends God. It is important to see and appreciate the glory and grandeur of God in everything about us because the state of the human soul and the environment are interconnected—each affects the other. The Earth, all living things, and the expanse of the Universe all eloquently witness of God. Accounts and portrayals of the Creation show that God cares about all he has made—his children, the Earth and all living things on it. The Earth and its fullness were first created spiritually. “I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the Earth,” reports Moses 3.5. The great variety of life forms God created give the Earth its beauty and diversity. The Earth and its creations are eternal. The Earth will be sanctified and receive celestial glory. It will be the home of the righteous, who will enjoy God’s glory. #RandolphHarris 8 of 9

The Earthy is the place where God’s children experience mortality, exercise agency, learn from their experiences, improve and progress. As a reminder, God has made us accountable for the care and preservation of the Earth and the wise use of its resources. As stewards, we avoid complacency and excessive consumption, using only what is necessary. We make our homes, neighborhoods, and cities beautiful. We preserve resources and protect for future generations that spiritual and temporal blessings of nature. If we all follow the universal principles given to us by God, the nature and destiny of humans and things will be correct. When the principles of the scriptures are endowed in human beings, it becomes their nature. The human purpose is originally good because its principles are good, and principles are good because they are from the source of God. Evil arises when feelings are aroused and deviate from the principles taught in the scriptures. One’s knowledge will be extended, one’s will sincere, one’s feelings correct, and one’s personal life cultivated only when the mind is clam—that is, free from selfishness, cunning, and deliberate—effort can it be peaceful. When this is done, one will have fully developed one’s nature and fulfilled one’s destiny. The development of human nature does not stop with personal perfection, but involves all things. #RandolphHarris 9 of 9

The World seems to have lost much of its innocence. Formality, respect for authority, dignity, and nobility are mocked. Modesty and neatness yield to slouchiness and shabbiness in dress and grooming. The rules of honesty and integrity and basic morality are not ignored. Conversation is laced with profanity. We have decisions almost every day as to whether we will follow those trends. We have many tests ahead. The main factors that lead people to a life of cowardice seems to be a lack of belief within themselves and fear of the unknown. We have to believe in a greater future for ourselves and see ourselves achieving our goals, and we have to stop being afraid to take action. Fear is not real, it is just false negative assumptions that the mind tries to make us believe. “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer,” reports 1 Timothy 4.4-5. We have to stop living small, stop being afraid, and live an extraordinary life as we pursue what we truly want. We can live our whole life in a state of resignation to life that we are in now or we can take responsibility for our lives and make things happen. If we do not take action we will never discover what we are truly capable of becoming and achieving. The Holy Ghost will comfort us and we will be able to feel the influence of the Angels, and this will help us feel our ways through life. #RandolphHarris 1 of 5

Our dreams and visions should have special meaning to us. We have to rekindle the desire within our hearts that we once had growing up to live the life we imagined. It is important to dream like we have never dreamed before. With the dream at the forefront of our mind taking the massive action in the direction that we want to go. Whatever is produced in a person, that is, whatever is inborn in an individual, is his or her nature. In its original, tranquil state, human nature is neither good nor evil. The distinction arises when human nature is aroused and manifested in feelings and actins and when these feelings and actions abide by or deviate from the mean. The chief task of moral and spiritual cultivation is to calm one’s nature though absolute impartiality and the identification of internal and external life. Since principle is code of creation and since life-giving is good, principle is the source of goodness. To be good is to obey principle. Thus, principle is both natural and moral and both general and specific. It has meaning as an abstract reality, but more so as the moral law of human beings. The pursuit of learning depends on the extension of knowledge, self-cultivation requires seriousness. The superior person is one who develops one’s mind to the utmost and nourishes his or her nature. If we will take control of it, magnificent is our future. There is something greater within us that is greater than any obstacle that we shall encounter. #RandolphHarris 2 of 5

We have to believe in ourselves, we have the capabilities to live the life we want to life. We can also be of service of the World, be the one to achieve our dreams so that we can help others to stand up and take charge of their lives, do away with the mediocre life, sacrifice for success, sacrifice for dreams, and sacrifice for what matters must. The harmony of the individual and society rests on several basic ideas. Foremost of these is humanity. Humanity is connoted particular virtues, such as kindness, benevolence, and affection. Humanity is the moral character, which enables people to attain true humanhood. The moral character is developed in oneself and in one’s relations with others. Wishing to establish our own character, also establishes the character of others. Rectification allows of to correct errors in our heart (moral errors). We have to see ourselves as the person that we truly want to be, the superior versions of ourselves who is ambition, drive, disciplined, focused, action-orientated and making our dreams a reality. Some people do not do all that they can because they have sold themselves short within their minds that they are not good enough and they do not have what it takes. However, when God put dream in your heart, it also came with a date of completion. #RandolphHarris 3 of 5

Success is a journey of growth, personal development, and action. The more we persist towards our dream with confidence, the stronger we will become in all areas of our lives. We should speak of the future, and it is bright with promise. There is hope and faith and achievement manifesting. Goodness and love and peace will attain their proper order and all things will flourish in a harmonious universal operation. The significance is the there will be a profound influence on the World. We are people of divinity; the people of the Almighty. Limitless is our potential. The ideal life of the individual, the ideal order of society, and the ideal type of government are al based on the Supreme Being and guided by God. Therefore, we must honor our heritage and not let our lives drift into an unproductive and worthless manner. It is the will of Heaven that we should practice humanity and righteousness, be economical, and practice universal love, and it is our duty to obey the will of Heaven. We can life vibration by our thoughts. High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectations. These patterns of behaviour will yield success and happiness and peace. There must be cleanliness, for immorality will blight our lives and leave a scar that will never entirely leave us. There must be purpose. We are here to accomplish something, to bless society with our talents and our learning. #RandolpHarris 4 of 5

There can be fun in life, but there must be recognition of the fact that life is serious, that the risks are great, but we can overcome them if we will discipline ourselves and seek the unfailing strength of the Lord. Memory of mistakes will likely linger, but the deed can be forgiven, and we can rise above the past to life a life fully acceptable unto the Lord where there has been repentance. God promised that he will forgive our sins and remember them no more against us. We have to stay on the Lord’s side of the line. We have within us instincts, powerful and terribly persuasive, urging us at times to let go and experience temptation. However, we cannot do it. We must not do it. We are men and women of God with tremendous potential. God has great expectations concerning us, as do others. We cannot let down for a minute. We cannot give into an impulse. There must be discipline, strong and unbending. There is nothing in all this World as magnificent as virtue. It glows without tarnish. It is precious and beautiful. It is above price. It cannot be bought nor sold. It is the product of self-mastery. We have to find purpose in our lives and choose the things we would like to do, and educate ourselves to be effective in the pursuit. Centrality in the individual is the state of equilibrium in one’s mind before the feelings are aroused, and harmony s the state after they are aroused. We must dream like we have never dreamed before and make our dreams a reality. #RandolphHarris 5 of 5