The Backyard Professor

Another Interesting Review of Matt Brown's Connection of Masonry & Mormonism

Kerry Shirts — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:56:26 PDT

I know the gent who wrote this review and find him to be very careful, and honest, and well, interesting reading! He does a good job here as Nick Literski does in his review. Both reviews as well as Brown's book are worth reading.

http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2009/10/review-matthew-b-browns-exploring.html

Nick Literski's Book Review of Matt Brown's Book on Mormonism and Masonry

Kerry Shirts — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:30:05 PDT

Nick, who is a Mason reviews Matt Brown's book on the Connection of Mormonism and Masonry. Being a new Mason, I was very interested in this. Here is the link.

http://mormonmatters.org/2009/10/29/book-review-exploring-the-connection-between-mormons-and-masons/

Some Notes on the Lamb & Lambskin Apron of Freemasonry

Kerry Shirts — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:39:21 PDT

Some Notes on the Lamb & Lambskin Apron of Freemasonry (Oct 29, 2009)

In Freemasonry, the lambskin apron is of signal importance. As I have been pondering its significance, I have discovered some rather interesting themes surrounding the lamb as a symbol in ancient times. I cannot include all aspects of it for this little essay, but there is enough to help me appreciate why Masonry emphasizes its meaning and use.

The Christian emphasis on the lamb and its spiritual significance is noted by most commentators, yet it is much broader and deeper in time than

Early Christianity. “Because a lamb was the sin offering of the ancient pagans, the early mystic Christians considered this animal as an appropriate emblem of Christ, whom they regarded as the sin offering of the world. The Greeks and the Egyptians highly venerated the lamb or ram, often placing its horns upon the forehead of their gods. The Scandinavian god Thor carried a hammer made from a pair of ram’s horns. The lamb is used in preference to the ram apparently because of its purity and gentleness; also, since the Creator Himself was symbolized by Aries, His Son would consequently be the little Ram or Lamb. The lambskin apron worn by the Freemasons over that part of the body symbolized by Typhon or Judas represents that purification of the generative processes which is a prerequisite to true spirituality. In this allegory, the Lamb signifies the purified candidate…”(1)

The lamb in the Apocalypse on the book which is on the altar in Freemasonry, “…represents the Shekhinah, that is, the presence of the glory of God on the Ark of the Covenant.”(2) The meek and lowly lamb “embodies the triumph of renewal.”(3) Interestingly, in a very similar vein with Freemasonry, we are to understand that in allegory there are three meanings to every symbol. “Taking sheep as an instance, there are three degrees: [I] the white and innocent thoughts of the mind; [2] the man himself who has become lamb-like; [3] the lamb of God.”(4)

The symbolism of the lamb of God originated because of the ancient cosmology. “The blood of the lamb is the solar life pouring into the world through the sign of Aries.”(5) Robert Eisler, in his fascinating exposition on Orpheus has demonstrated that the Ewe’s milk, instead of the cow or goat milk in antiquity was always used in a sacramental/Eucharistic sense. The theme of sacrificing the bull and the “magical reviving of the sacrificial lamb by boiling it in its mother’s milk,” take on an intensely interesting meaning when we are taught that these words have “an astral and cosmological significance, for according to a well known Pythagorean doctrine the souls had to pass on their way down as well as on their return to the sky through the galaxy… only as such could they pass through the galaxy and reach the blissful fields of heaven.”(6) The lamb is understood to be the “victory always to be won afresh of life over death.”(7) It was throughout the European and Asiatic (including China) regions over vast reaches of time that the lamb “was sacrificed on all the altars of pre-Christian cults.”(8) Because of its whiteness, as well as coming from the one animal understood as being pure and innocent, the milk of the lamb among all the pre-Christian peoples that we know anything of, “was a revered and precious liquid and nearly all the ancient religions used it as a perfect ritual substance…from one end of the ancient world to the other, it was related with the idea of prosperity and happiness.”(9)

Endnotes

1. Manley Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages, Philosophic Research Society, reprint, 1997: CLXXXVI.

2. Louis Charbonneau Lassay, The Bestiary of Christ, Parabola Books, 1992: 74-75.

3. Jean Chevalier, Alain Gheerbrant, The Penguin Dictionary of Symbols, Penguin Books, 1996: 585.

4. Harold Bayley, The Lost Language of Symbolism, 2 Vols., Citadel Press, 1988: Vol. 1: 97.

5. Manley Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages, XCI.

6. Robert Eisler, Orpheus the Fisher, Kessinger Publishing reprint, n.d.: 7-8, and note 2.

7. Chevalier, Gheerbrant, Ibid., p. 585.

8. Lassay, p. 78-79.

9. Lassay, p. 80.

HUGE NEW MAYAN DISOVERY!!!!!!!!!!

Kerry Shirts — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:09:32 PDT

CNN today showed Dr. Richard Hansen at El Mirador showing the LARGEST pyramid per volume in the world. Also the earliest edition of the Popol Vuh, the Mayan Creation story carved right in the stones. Hansen also said that his guards are on work to keep looters out. When they can't protect the sites they lose 100% of everything to them. To learn more see CNN news site.

Hebrew Design in Mesoamerican Temples!

Kerry Shirts — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:28:16 PDT

Whoa..... here's sumthin to chew some fat on

http://mormontimes.com/studies_doctrine/research_discoveries/?id=11256

A 2000 Year Apostasy? Why Did God Wait Soooooo Long?!

Kerry Shirts — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:36:00 PDT

Sometimes we run across an interesting observation and critique that the Restoration in Joseph Smith's day (1820's-1840's) is utterly unlike anything God would actually do. The question is asked why did God wait so long to restore the Truth? If God always has prophets to guide the Church, why have an apostasy for almost 2,000 years?! Why let so many souls live without the Gospel?

In thinking on this, I mused to some friends that if this is a proper approach, we could always ask why did Jesus wait so loooooooong to be born on earth?! Why wait until the Meridian of Time and let 2000 years of history go by? Why let so many souls perish before the atonement occurred? Why not just do it right from the very start and show up on the very FIRST day and perform the Atonement then?

A very dear friend of mine, Ted Jones (a phenomenal researcher) actually found this to be

a critique in the Early Christian times! Here is the info. Utterly fascinating no?

De Lubac, Henri, Catholicism. Why did God wait so long to send His Son:

Celsus, Contra Celsum 4.7; “But what is fundamentally objectionable in all of this is the particularism attributed to God by Christians. Why was it only ‘after such a long age’ that it occurred to God to redirect the human race? ‘Did he not care before?’ Also, why should God, after such a ‘long slumber,’ have sent some one ‘into one corner?’ [contra Celsum 6.78; cf. 4.36; 5.50: ‘one corner in the land of Judaea’]. He ought to have breathed [his spirit] into many bodies in the same way and sent them all over the world. The comic poet wrote that Zeus woke up and sent Hermes to the Athenians and Spartans because he wanted to raise a laugh in the theatre. Yet do you not think it is more ludicrous to make the Son of God to be sent to the Jews?’ [contra Celsum 6.78].”

“[Origen] grants that God does indeed intend that ‘this world as God’s work [should] be made complete and perfect in all its parts…. We should agree that in this point [Celsus] was right.’ But then comes the decisive difference: ‘…God does not take care, as Celsus imagines, only of the universe as a whole, but in addition to that He takes particular care of every rational being’ [contra Celsum 4.99]” (Frans Jozef van Beeck, S.J., God Encountered: A Contemporary Catholic Systematic Theology, Volume One: Understanding the Christian Faith (Harper and Row, 1989), I.114-115)

3rd century anti-Christian Porphyry; fragments 81, 82

Ambrose, Epistle 18.27;
Chrysostom, In Rom, homily 5.5; asked why did Christ not come sooner [Hom on Colossians 4; in LFC 14 (1843): 181-334; LNPF 13 (1890): 257-321] (Quasten, Patrology, 3.449).
Justin, Apology 1.46.1;
Irenaeus, AH 4.38;
Theodoret, On Providence 10; In Psalmen 2 (246 ff. with extracts 38, 39)
Augustine (251-2).
Eusebius says the human race could not have received the teaching (that is why God waited so long) [History of the Church 1.2.16, 21-23].
Gregory of Nyssa asks “Why did God postpone his blessing? Why did he not cut short the subsequent progress of vice right at the beginning?’ [Adv Apollinaris 53; Oratio 29, catechetica magna] (262-3, with note 55).

Ep to Diognetus in Quasten, 1. 249-50: (ca 200 AD). Diognetus had asked why Christ had not come sooner [Ep. Diog 1; translation ANL 1; FOTC 1; ACW 6]
Justin, in Thompson;
Augustine in Ralph Turner;
Augustine CD 10.32, in Wilken;
Luther, in Grislis;
Origen in Watson;
Ambrosiaster in Tavard.
Julian also).

William of Auverne asks: Why did Christ wait so long? (Henri de Lubac, Catholicism (San Francisco: Ignatius Books, 1988): 421): ‘But why did God leave the divine cult imperfect and wanting for so many thousands of years? Why did he not take thought sooner for his glory and for our salvation?
One answer to such questions is this: if but a small fraction of the peoples of the world, the Jewish race alone, was capable of understanding, in the most simple and elementary way, wherein lay the perfection of the divine cult, and if to do even this they needed the persuasion of miracles, and something of the compelling power of many great afflictions, not to mention the help gained from knowledge handed on by their ancestors; surely the whole world and society of mankind was far more incapable of attaining to the required perfection in so great a matter. And so God permitted his cult to be imperfect until the fullness of time was come (Gal 4), just as he permits children to be immature and the seed of plants and of animals to be small, till by gradual growth they reach their full and perfect stature.
To go further, the fundamental meaning of the question we are answering is this: why are we born as infants, instead of as fully developed and mature men? Why do certain animals lay eggs instead of bringing to birth fully developed offspring? When God’s cult, the true religion, was first established in the world, it existed rather in the manner of a seed or an infant, because the community of mankind itself was immature and unfitted for anything more advanced’ [On the Sacrament of the Eucharist, chapter 2]

John Wesley, in William Ragsdale Cannon, The Theology of John Wesley, with special reference to the doctrine of justification (New York 1946): 159-60; “….There are many things of which [man] is ignorant [Sermon lxix.3.2]. Why did God keep his Son for so long a time apart from the world; and, when he came, why did he come only to the Jews [sermon lxix. 3. 3]? Why is the New Zealander or the Hottentot cut off from the truths of the gospel /sermon lxix 3.1/? These problems we cannot solve, for the answer to them lies in the unsearchable wisdom of God [sermon lxix.3.2]. But rather than raise these problems as objections to the Christian revelation, we should accept them as lessons of humility, trust, and patience [sermon lxix. 3. 4]”.

Arnobius, in McDonald: 76; The credibility of a religion must not be determined by its age, but by its divinity [Adv Gentes 2.71]”

Leo the Great: The atonement was ordained from foundation of earth; ‘it is cause of salvation for all’. ‘Those who believed its promise received no less than those who witnessed its fulfillment’ [3rd Sermon for Christmas 4]” (426-7).

How to Approach a "Theme" in Historical Research

Kerry Shirts — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:50:44 PDT

In what I believe is a most remarkable book, thus far, Alexander Piatigorsky, in his exploration of Free Masonry, struck a theme cord very hard in my mind concerning picking any historical theme to write on, and in this particular case of his, on Free Masonry, with this statement: "One thing, however, seems to me to be an absolute condition for forming a theme: you cannot be negative about it, for an entirely negative approach is always a self-blinding one." (Who's Afraid of Freemasons?, Barnes & Noble Books, 1997: 11).

The reason this struck me is due to my discussing, analyzing, exploring, and learning about the LDS scriptures. Critics usually contend the only way to approach them is to view them as totally phony, faked documents pretending to masquerade as real history. That is the "objective" approach we are always told. I have my serious doubts that Piatigorsky's comment will change anything, but it is a reminder that it is far more important to take things seriously of their own accord when exploring them, i.e., giving them the benefit of the doubt first, then exploring if anything significant occurs, rather than approaching all things as jabberwocky and gewgaw as a supposedly objective person does. I am specifically thinking of the Book of Mormon, which critics more often than not will approach it from an entirely negative stance in all out war against whatever it says.

Infinity, Kosmos & God

Kerry Shirts — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:12:21 PDT

The new 14 part series of videos discussing Dr. Francis Beckwith's disagreement about Infinity and Mormonism are now up. Dr. Beckwith uses Infinity to refute Mormonism. I find that he did no such thing however. Beckwith does not understand Infinity, let alone Mormonism. Here are the goodies showing you the real discussion of Infinity and how it blends most beautifully with Mormonism's doctrines than any other religious doctrine.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=TheBackyardProfessor&view=videos

Immutability of God, Analyzing Joseph Smith's King Follette Discourse and How it is that God, Who Does Not Change, Actually Changes All the Time

Kerry Shirts — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:26:55 PDT

Come to my Facebook account for more information.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754616608&ref=name

And if it helps make it easier for those who do not have Facebook, (get an account, they're free, and very interesting!) here is my other link on my You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=TheBackyardProfessor&view=videos

LDS Scholar Mike Parker's site on Old Testament Studies - NICE!

Kerry Shirts — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:28:29 PDT

Mike Parker has put together pages of notes, links, comments, and commentary on the LDS understanding of the Old Testament which he teaches in an LDS Adult Religion class. This is a nice page he puts out!

http://sites.google.com/site/hwsarc/

We Mormons Continue to Run from our History - LOL!

Kerry Shirts — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:31:04 PDT

We are thrilled to announce the publication of the long-awaited THE JOSEPH SMITH PAPERS: REVELATIONS AND TRANSLATIONS, MANUSCRIPT REVELATION BOOKS, edited by Robin Scott Jensen, Robert J. Woodford, and Steven C. Harper, published by The Church Historian’s Press, 2009. Two of the volume editors will be speaking about the Joseph Smith Papers project and this volume in particular during a special book signing event. Due to the large number of people expected to attend, this event will NOTbe held at our store, but rather at the Columbus Center*, 2531 South 400 East in South Salt Lake, on Thursday, October 1, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. The editors will speak at 6:00 and answer questions from the audience, signing books before and after that time.

This new volume is the second overall in the Joseph Smith Papers, but is the first of the Revelations and Translation series which will provide transcripts of many of the earliest manuscripts of Joseph Smith’s written revelations and translations, together with reproductions of editions of these documents that were published during his lifetime. This beautiful oversize book (707 pp., 9” x 12,” weighing 8 pounds!) contains, for the first time ever, the full texts of the original manuscript books, “Book of Commandments and Revelations” and “Book of Revelations” (more commonly called the “Kirtland Revelation Book”), now renamed “Revelation Book 1” and “Revelation Book 2.” They are presented in their entirety in full color facsimiles of the original documents, as they appear today, with complete transcriptions in parallel columns. These manuscripts served as most of the original source material for the earliest publications of Joseph Smith’s revelations in The Evening and the Morning Star, the 1833 A Book of Commandments, and 1835 Doctrine and Covenants, and in most cases, are the earliest extant revelation texts. The facsimiles clearly show the manuscripts and all corrections and revisions of any kind made to them, and the editors identify the handwriting of the various scribes. Introductions to the series and this volume provide helpful background information on how Joseph Smith received the original revelations and how they were recorded, transcribed, compiled, and finally published.

James H. Hutson, Chief of Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, calls this volume “a model of documentary editorial practices. . . . The editors have taken pains to present the subject matter with objectivity, with the result that the volume will be a valuable resource for non-Mormon scholars and readers as well as for Joseph Smith’s present followers and admirers.” Philip Barlow, Professor of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University, notes that “in certain respects this is analogous to our hypothetically gaining access to copies of first-century versions of the earliest biblical manuscripts. With the appearance of this new volume, serious students of the Mormon prophet and of Mormon scripture are more free than ever before to contemplate the development of the revelations’ composition and publication.”

We hope you will be able to attend this exciting event which is sure to be fascinating and informative, but, if you can’t and would like to have books signed or personalized, we will be happy to take prepaid orders and either hold or ship them to you. Please note that all of our copies of the “Revelations” volume are first printings, signed by all three volume editors.

JSP: Revelations and Translations, Manuscript Revelation Books $99.95

JSP: Journals, Volume 1 (not 1^st printing, not signed) $49.95

(Note: those who subscribe to the series through us may deduct 10% discount on the prices shown, $10 and $5 respectively; please inquire if you are not already a subscriber.)

Because of the hefty size and weight of this book, the shipping and handling charges are more than normal, as follows: (1) Media mail: $8 for 1^st copy, $4 for ea. add’l (add $1 for delivery confirmation). {2) Priority mail: $12 (1 copy—add’l, inquire). (3) UPS: $14 (1 copy). Insurance extra and recommended.

*The Columbus Center (adjoining the Columbus Branch Library) can best be reached by going east on 2700 So. (entering from State Street) to 400 East and turning left (north), parking in the large parking lot at 2531, just west of the Columbus Center. Enter the west door, walk down the hall, turn left and enter the auditorium on your left.

Benchmark Books
3269 So. Main Street, Suite 250
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
801-486-3111
801-486-3452 (fax)
800-486-3112 (orders only)
Hours: Mon. - Fri., 10-6; Sat., 10-5
We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover or check or money order

Professor Bill Hamblin's Blog in Jerusalem

Kerry Shirts — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:09:55 PDT

My good friend Bill Hamblin, a BYU professor, is in Jerusalem for the next year on a teaching assignment, and has started a blog where he posts videos, pictures, and commentary on the Holy Land. This is a wonderful service he is giving to us all. Enjoy!

http://hamblinofjerusalem.blogspot.com/

SUPERB Christian/Evolution Discussion

Kerry Shirts — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:08:43 PDT

Wow... a must read! Very impressive.

http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Evolution-as-Witness.html

Boyd Jay Petersen, Mormon Democrat Delivers!

Kerry Shirts — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:00:43 PDT

One of the best articles on this subject I have ever read. I have personally been misaligned because some Mormon (who really, honestly, no, I mean this, REALLY KNEW BETTER!) told me directly, "We need to kill all Democrats! You can't be a good Mormon and Democrat at the same time." Imagine an Elder of the LDS church thinking this way... (yes, we're still friends. I believe in forgiveness, because I really don't like having enemies, and because I also really need Divine forgiveness for my own short-comings). Wanna know the weird thing? I am not a Democrat! Nor a Republican. I rather enjoyed Nibley's response to Louis Midgley in the famous interview he gave Nibley when asked about politics Nibley said "I am NOT a party man."

Boyd Petersen just rocks!

http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Why-Im-a-Mormon-Democrat.html

Seer Stones and Gold Existing Together Anciently eh?

Kerry Shirts — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:21:02 PDT

Joe Swick recently gave me this pointer that is interesting enough I share it with you all.

The only thing that could make this article better would be the graphics
accompanying in the print version. I'm tempted to scan and make a PDF.
Really of interest to those who like seerstones:

http://www.freemasonrytoday.com/17/p11.php

This stuff isn't supposed to exist. LOL.

Crystal lenses and . . . gold. Heh.

Hidden Oneness

Kerry Shirts — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:31:10 PDT

The Hidden Oneness

"According to Kabbalah, God has hidden Himself, His oneness, from us so that
we can find it, realize it, and experience it. However, since you and I are sparks of God, it is as if God were hiding Himself from an aspect of Himself

Therefore, our journey in

search of the One is on behalf of the One and for the sake of the One. Our job is to serve God in His process of
self-reflection and knowledge. We have been put in this world of hiddenness
to find the Divine in us, to discover that we are souls — sparks of the
Divine, act accordingly and thereby reflect God's oneness.

As we elevate ourselves spiritually through the worlds of greater
and greater perspective, we will uncover more and more the truth of God's oneness beyond the either/or. We will realize more and more that the many are included within the oneness and permeated by it. And we will experience the ecstasy of love.

This is the journey of our lives. This is the journey God has sent
us on. This is our divine mission—to become a living reflection of God,
reveal the hidden One, and realize love."

— David Aaron (The Secret Life of God: Discovering the Divine within You)

Just WHAT is God Anyway, a Spirit or Body?

Kerry Shirts — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:23:27 PDT

When I produce videos for You Tube, they only allow a 10 minute time per video, so when I lecture for an hour that means the video series ends up being a 6 part series. I label them as Pt 1, What is God; Pt 2 What is God, etc., and I video response link to them as well so that once you watch video number 1, you can simply click the video response link and it takes you automatically to part 2, and continue this through the 10 part series. This is a significant look into the Early Judaism, Early Christian Biblical view and understanding of God the Father and His Son as to what kind of beings they are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afy-ieaEuCc&feature=channel_page

Notes on The Father & The Son: Indwelling Yet Separate Individuals

Kerry Shirts — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:53:14 PDT

My very dear friend Gaia has put together a little essay which I believe quite powerfully helps us understand the relationship(s) of the Father and the Son. ENJOY, I did!

By means of His divine nature, the Father has a relationship with the cosmos that a mere corporeal being (as we are currently) does NOT possess; nor can an "un-glorified" being easily comprehend the kind of life that God experiences. This, i think, is one of the reasons many people (even some LDS) fail to comprehend many important LDS doctrines -- they think of God as being "just like us",

and they don't take into account His DIVINE NATURE.

The Father extends His glory -— His divine intelligence and power -— beyond the limits of His body to "fill the immensity of space", so the organized cosmos becomes His tabernacle -— the extended body of the divine powers of truth, light, and life that emanate from Him. For this reason, Joseph Smith referred to the elements as being "the *repository" -- in which dwells all the glory" of God.

Worship of a personal, corporeal God is thus combined in Latter-day Saint thought with a realistic concept of the immanence of divinity within all things. "The elements are the tabernacle of God," a revelation declared; "yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples."

Thus, LDS thought *resolves* the (seeming) philosphical dillema / contradiction of a personal God having a physical, corporeal nature, who is simultaneously "in and through all things" and omnipresent.

Another revelation concerning the immanence of deity within all things says:

(D&C 88):
[i] "He comprehendeth all things, and all things are before him, and all things are round about him; and he is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things; and all things are by him, and of him, even God, forever and ever. . . .
Behold, all these are kingdoms [of organized life in the cosmos], and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power. I say unto you, he hath seen him; nevertheless, he who came unto his own was not comprehended." [/i]

The Relationship in Glory of the Father and the Son

Thus, as a glorified being, The Father has a relationship with the universe that mere corporeal beings do NOT and CANNOT have, and that they cannot easily understand or appreciate.

The same may be said of the divine relationship that exists between the Father and the Son. In his testimony of Christ, John mentioned the divine relationship that came to exist when Christ received the fulness of the Father, saying of Jesus: "And the glory of the Father was with him, for he [i.e., the Father] dwelt in him ."

There is an "INDWELLING" relationship that exists between the Father and Son, which is not always understood even by many LDS. Of this "indwelling" relationship Jesus bore testimony to the Nephites, stating: "I am in the Father, and the Father in me ; and in me hath the Father glorified his name."

Only by understanding this divine indwelling relationship can one comprehend Joseph Smith's concept of deity. In his Lectures on Faith, Joseph stressed that the full intelligence and power of the Father are centered in the Son so that both divine beings possess --

[i] "...the same divine mind, the same wisdom, glory, power, and fullness -— filling all in all; the SON being filled with the fullness of the mind, glory, and power ; or, in other words, the Spirit, glory, and power , of the FATHER, possessing all knowledge and glory, and the same kingdom, sitting at the right hand of power, in the express image and likeness of the Father, mediator for man, being filled with the fullness of the mind of the Father ; or, in other words, the Spirit of the Father." [/i]

BYU Religion Professor Emeritus Hyrum L Andrus explains thusly:

[i] "The word "mind," as used by the Prophet in the above statement is equated with the word. "Spirit." Thus, the "mind of the Father" is made synonymous with the "Spirit of the Father," and refers to the quickening intelligence, or Spirit that is extended from the Father and developed in its fulness in the Son. Thereby the Father is in the Son, and the Son is in the Father . And since the fulness of the Father's glory (or divine intelligence), with all its divine attributes of life and power, dwells in Christ, the Son possesses the same divine mind or Holy Spirit as the Father ." [/i]
(Hyrum L. Andrus, God, Man, and the Universe [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], 128.)

Thus could John write:
[i] "And I, John, bear record that he received a fulness of the glory of the Father; And he received all power both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him." [/i] (D&C 93)

This relationship might be somewhat analagous to a powerful electrical circuit, with the electricity passing without restriction from one pole or center of power to another, and back again.

[i] "But in the case of these two glorified beings, the indwelling substance consists of the Holy Spirit which centers initially in the Father, and constitutes the power of life, light, truth, or Spirit that emanates from God as a glorified being to fill the immensity of space. Being centered initially in the Father, the Holy Spirit is developed in the Son to quicken and endow the Son with the "mind, glory, and power" of the Father, and to give the Son all power in heaven and on earth. Thereby, the two glorified beings are united in one , each possessing the same indwelling Spirit or divine mind as the other."
(Ibid)

It's important to understand that Christ does *not* lose His personal identity or will in this "indwelling" relationship, for the basic nature of the divine intelligence with which He is endowed prevents that. And as Joseph Smith taught, "all truth is independent within the sphere of its existence, as all intelligence also; otherwise there can be no existence."

The acquisition of truth and light, or of divine intelligence, leads to independence; and in receiving a fulness of the Father's glory, the Son thus became an independent being possessing all intelligence and power within the Father's kingdom. In addition, the natural affinity that light has to light and that truth has to truth promotes union between the Father and the Son, making them perfectly ONE.

Both independence and union (rather than domination) are thus achieved. The Father and the Son possess two independent wills .

As BYU Professor of Religion James R. Harris, wrote in BYU Studies:
[i] "Thus, through the indwelling divine Spirit , Christ enjoys a perfect union with the Eternal Father of our spirits. This union is so perfect that the Father is described as dwelling "in him." The Eternal Father of our spirits also enjoys a perfect union with all divine beings throughout the immensity of space. This union is so perfect that the Father correctly bears the title Elohim, meaning Gods, for he represents all Gods as if they dwelt in him. This communion of the Gods (with which our God, Jesus the Christ, is in perfect union), constitutes a "storehouse" of knowledge and power from which, as a faithful steward of the Gods, Christ may and does constantly and instantly draw." [/i]
(Eternal Progression and the Foreknowledge of God by James R. Harris Fn, BYU Studies, vol. 8 (1967-1968), Number 1 - Autumn 1967 45.)

[b] [u] THE GOSPEL PLAN: [/b] [/u]
Understanding this "Indwelling" relationship between the Father and the Son, we are finally prepared to understand the ultimate Gospel objective for ALL -- to extend this "INDWELLING" Relationship to each of us, as we are willing and able to receive it.

[i] "In the great plan of life, man may be glorified in Christ as He has been glorified in the Father, Elohim. A similar relationship in glory as that which exists between the Man of Holiness and Christ will then exist between Christ and man. Jesus therefore explained in a revelation given through Joseph Smith to the Saints: "If you keep my commandments you shall receive of his [i.e., the Father's] fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father." [/i]
(Hyrum L. Andrus, God, Man, and the Universe [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], 207.)

THIS is what the scriptures are referring to when they say (Philippians 2:5-6) --

[i] "Let this mind be in you , which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God..." [/i]

The LDS idea of the UNITY that exists among the Gods and that will eventually exist among the Gods and those who are exalted, is MUCH greater than just "agreeing in purpose" -- it is no less than to have the MIND of GOD, yet retain (and contribute!) our own individuality.

I hope this is helpful --

The Book of Mormon Jaredite Barges Story: Quirky?

Kerry Shirts — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:29:14 PDT

How did 22 friends along with their wives and children board 8 barges and collected and packed in them “flocks and herds, male and female of every kind” along with enough food and water to feed them all for an ocean journey that would last for 344 days at sea? (just by way of reference, one cow would require six tons of hay and 3000 gallons of fresh water to survive)

One Possible Response To This Question:

As is often the case, the terse account in ancient texts with few details leaves many questions unanswered. The text says nothing about the Jaredites taking cows with them, and what the flocks and

herds consisted of is pure speculation (we have some mention much later in Ether, but no discussion as to which of these animals were brought on barges and which were indigenous).

At three families per large barge, there was clearly a large amount of storage space. The text provides no other specific details which would answer logistical questions. A variety of potential solutions could be posited in view of the scriptural parameters, but there would seem to be little point in engaging in such speculation. There are also some Latter-day Saints who view this story as literal and others who see it figuratively, just as many non-LDS Christians view some of the early content of Genesis.

The Jaredite story is clearly less fantastic than the Noah's Ark story, or a great many other stories that have come down in ancient records, and the limitations of our knowledge must be kept in mind. Your question is therefore one which has little specific to do with Latter-day Saints, but engages long-standing themes of the Judeo-Christian scripture about which controversies are unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. One might as well protest in front of various Christian churches with signs reading "Noah's Ark is a Lie" as to attempt to make hay of this much less problematic account in LDS scripture.

Another additional point to add to this is that the record says nothing one way or the other about the journey being uninterrupted. They were on the water for a given number of days. It doesn't say that they didn't beach from time to time to replenish, stretch one's legs, etc. But, that amount of time clearly doesn't count for travel time--i.e., if I want to know how far or how long it took, I don't care about the two months you spent beached on the tropical island replenishing stocks; I care how long you were shut up in the boat.

The Awesome Joseph Smith Papers Project!

Kerry Shirts — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:54:00 PDT

Here is a very interesting and exciting link on the Joseph Smith Papers Project which has been launched. For critics to say we Mormons run from our history is simply false.

http://josephsmithpapers.org/Default.htm

NHPRC GIVES STAMP OF APPROVAL TO JOSEPH SMITH PAPERS PROJECT

17 May 2004 WASHINGTON, D.C.

I am pleased to notify you that the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, at its May meeting, formally endorsed the [Joseph Fielding Smith] Institute's Joseph Smith Papers project. The Commission's action took the form of the following resolution:

Resolved, that the National Historical Publications and Records Commission thanks Brigham Young University for its Joseph Smith Papers proposal, which it endorses.

Congratulations on your successful application to the Commission.

Sincerely,
(signed) Max J. Evans
Executive Director