Language

Dear Readers,

Language is an interesting subject. Countless theories and speculation have come about this subject. Whether or not animals actually have a language from the calls of whales, to the chirps of birds. How much of it is an actual language and how much of it is instinct based upon sensory cues?

As I mentioned in my blog post about The Creation, I do believe that in the beginning, before the fall of Adam and Eve, that animals could speak. This would explain Eve's lack of shock as the serpent that Satan possessed spoke to her (Genesis 3:4, Moses 4:6-7). With the ancient understanding of this principle, we can also see why Balaam a prophet from Pethor was not surprised either when his ass (donkey) began to speak (Numbers 22:22-35) when the Lord opened its mouth.

Thus, it is not unreasonable to say that animals might have their own languages for they might simply be confounded with the fall like human language was with the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:4-9, Ether 1:33-37). With the confounding of tongues or languages at the tower of Babel, we have countless languages. I am not a linguist, though I do understand that many of the languages today have evolved from other languages. Like Portuguese from Spanish. English itself is a giant mix of Latin and Greek roots with some entire words stolen from other languages.

Then there are the non verbal behavioral communication between animals such as mating dances and the like. We too have non verbal languages like sign language. There are those, like the character Patrick Jane portrayed in The Mentalist who focus on body language. Facial expressions help to accent these languages, and with those have come the new evolution of emoji's.

Yet, as I talked about in my blog post about Light of Christ and the gift of the Holy Ghost, I recounted an experience I had with feeling the Holy Ghost when someone bore their testimony (witness of Christ) in American Sign Language. It was from that experience that I gained my own testimony of the universal language of the Spirit. The Spirit of God can communicate meanings, thoughts, and feelings directly from one individual to another.

However, if this powerful connection using the language of the Spirit were all that is necessary, why would we also have the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues? Even from the beginning God gave Adam a language, a pure, unaltered, perfect language. "In the beginning God gave Adam a language that was pure, perfect, and undefiled. This Adamic language, now unknown, was far superior to any tongue which is presently extant... This first language spoken by mortals was either the celestial tongue of the Gods or such adaptation of it as was necessary to meet the limitations of mortality; and Adam and his posterity had power to speak, read, and write it." (Mormon Doctrine pg 15 Adamic Language)

"Deja Vu" scene from The Matrix

At very least this shows how important language and literacy is. Indeed, there is the theory that learning a new language changes the way an individual thinks. As with the word "deja vu" it is a purely French word that has no equal in the English language. The concept of deja vu is feeling like your are experiencing again, or reliving a moment. Creating and having a word for such a phenomena changes the way in which we are able to express that idea and that feeling. We are able to break it down and define it more and simply. This is why it is important to learn multiple languages, because often times, a word in one language will have slightly different connotations than another making it uniquely qualified to properly represent the message that someone is trying to get across.

Like with Spanish, all nouns are either male or female, even those for objects. This makes it more difficulty for native Spanish speakers to understand the concept of gender-less English words like "they", "them", or "it".

Now, briefly, I would like to point out that usually learning a language takes repetition, immersion, hard work and dedication. However, there are some exceptions, including the spiritual gift of tongues, and fictionally the Tamaranean kiss. I bring up the Tamaranean kiss simply because it was a fascinating concept from the DC comic book universe. When the Tamaranean Koriand'r (Starfire) came to earth, she kissed Robin (Batman's sidekick) and learned English, allowing her to communicate with the earthlings. Though pure, abstract magic exists within the DC universe, in my mind magic has always been a more spiritual science.

With the notion that maybe this could actually be possible, I have thought about how. I would imagine that some sort of electrical current could pass through the lips and map out the circuits from the brain to the mouth correlating thoughts and ideas to speech. This could be similar to a bio-electrical reading like the sensors that sharks have in their snouts helping them sense movement and animals nearby.

Though Starfire learned English in this manner, there were yet many cultural and understanding complications. Thus suggesting that with the speedy manner of learning some fundamentals of the language remained to be learned more manually.

A movie that created an interesting concept of spoken words was Pontypool. Pontypool is a Canadian "zombie" movie that I have found quite unique. It is a viral outbreak that makes people homicidal, however the dialogue pushes the notions that words themselves are infected, and only words from the English language. Though I like the outside-the-box thinking of the movie as a brain exercise, it inspired me to, like Starfire's language learning ability, think about how it could really happen.

In my mind, it would be an actual viral infection, however, everyone is infected already. The virus is simply dormant within the brain, likely nestled along a neural pathway associated with a word. From the movie, it seemed as though they were different words for different people, and they did not "infect" or rather activate with the use for everyone. With my manner of thinking, this would imply that the way in which the English language shapes the brain is the only corridors of neural activity that the virus attaches to.

The main word that we learn for sure is an infected word was "kill". The doctor talks about how it is only when the word is heard and understood that it activates, implying further that the neural connection expands to the auditory receptors as well. "Kill" itself as a spoken word, the vibrations of those sounds, cannot activate the virus without the continuing connection of the meaning behind the word.

Similarly, the individual who begins to activate begins repeating the word over and over. The doctor compared this to an auto-immune response. Saying the word allows the individual to hear it and comprehend it again, re-triggering the virus almost like they are trying to overheat that location with electrical energy. Much like a normal auto-immune response of swelling and heat.

Alas, and as further evidence of my hypothesis, the woman repeating the word "kill" did not infect the man with her using that word. This implies that any or certain words, certain mappings of neural connections, allow the virus to attach and it may not attach in the same location for each individual.

The cure was the cincher for my idea. With the woman repeating the word "kill" the man redirected the immune response. By disassociating the word slightly, it changed the neural pathway, allowing the virus to go dormant again before it fully activated. Grant Mazzy, the main character, tells Sydney Briar, the infected woman, that "kill means kiss". "K" being a strong, definitive sound, it triggered the same electrical pathway, but then derailed or detoured to a completely opposite meaning with "kiss".

Surprisingly, the notion of electrical pathways determining language and thought have been around for quite a while. With computers and their binary code coupled with Morse code for telegrams and emergency signals we see that circuits and space have a correlations with information.

Spoiler Alert!

As with the concept of languages being in different parts of the brain, Arrival took a turn with how learning languages changes the way one thinks.

In Arrival, the aliens brought their language, a very interestingly language, in which they need to know exactly what they were going to say before and after. They compare this to writing a sentence with both of your hands, one from the beginning of the sentence and the other from the end, and then meeting in the middle. The main suspense of the movie is caused with the communication of the idea of "weapon". For them, their language was the only weapon worth sharing because understanding it, being fluent in it, expands the human brain to be able to see through time. Similar to how Dr. Manhattan from the DC universe Watchmen timeline could only see his own direct future, this change only affects the individual, but they can then see their life as the sentence. From the beginning and the end, meeting in the present.

Remarkably, it is interesting how that language, that way of thinking allowed the aliens to anticipate a problem that would require the help of humans, and the humans must have this ability themselves in order to help. Like a continuing cycle for the betterment of life itself.

Yet, we must remember how important it was for God to teach Adam both a spoken language, and how to read and write. With the emphasis in Arrival with the written word, we have to acknowledge the remark-ability of symbols standing for words, sounds, and sentences. In Egyptian, the hieroglyphics represented sounds and yet the pictographs portrayed entire stories. Even in English, though we borrowed Roman lettering we also have braille, dots choreographed to stand for another symbol (a letter). Still, in Chinese, Japanese, and other oriental languages a symbol can represent an entire word, or part of a word.

Often times, cultures associate words with power and meaning. Like in the Chinese mythology Jiangshi (Chinese vampires) could be stopped with talismans. These talismans were originally based and predicated on sealed orders from a shogun or emperor (Chinese Talisman Demystified). Official documents like these became symbols in themselves of power and authority, like the wax seals of European kings on their important messages to troops or for diplomacy.

Episode 6 of a show called FreakyLinks took the idea of words having power one step further. In this episode entitled Subject: The Harbingers, there were inter-dimensional beings seeping through a barrier that we could call a veil. These beings were the Harbingers, and they would possess people, latching onto their backs and encouraging them to be angry and commit violence. However, the book about these creatures itself had power over them, to drive them out of this plane of existence. Much like the concept of a bible burning a vampire who touches it, the premise is that the words simply existing with their meaning has power.

In the church we learn that the scriptures have power and can recharge and even rejuvenate us and our spirits. Allowing us to truly "feast" upon the words of Christ (2 Nephi 32:3). There is even a certain power or special influence that comes from studying the scriptures from a physical book as opposed to simply reading them through electronics. This connection church leaders have acknowledge and is a part of the reason why they still push for people to have and study from an actual book.

Another movie that made an interesting metaphysical correlation between words and power was the 2001 remake of Thirteen Ghosts (Thir13en Ghosts). This movie used Latin words as seals or power to bind and prevent ghosts from passing through walls or floor.

Like irrefutable commandments that the spirits must obey. Even the summoning of the spirits to the center room was done with recorded spoken words commanding and demanding that the ghosts yield and obey.

In reality, the reason why I think that written word has so much more power than digital word is because of how elements and the light of truth work together. With words on a page, you have elements with their own spirits attached, all dedicated to being a substance that will either absorb light (the letters) or reflect light (the paper or material the words are printed on). That light, or lack thereof, portrays a message, the very word of God. Contrary, electronics emit light. Whatever source of florescence, whether light-bulbs or more high tech means, are only temporary. They lack that dedication, that solidarity of always testifying and revealing the truth written upon it. The same bulb that illuminates the name of Christ could deny Him the very next second.

Though that is simply speculation, there is another, less metaphysical theory that people have as to why it is better to study from an actual book. Our minds are designed to experience, not simply observe, and our eyes pick up the sides, the margins, and the location of the words on the page. With these other factors, studying from scriptures we can more easily find a scripture we liked because we vaguely remember where it was on a page. By limiting our field of view to a small screen, we are limiting the level of cementing a scripture or passage can have in our minds.

Summing up, language is fundamental in whatever form it takes, and does indeed have power. For it was by the power of God, His authority and honor (Doctrine and Covenants 29:36), that He was able to speak and the universe was created and organized (Genesis 1:3, John 1:1-3). What we say matters. How we think and what we think about matters. It is important that we gain as much education as we can, and ever reach towards truth, and God, and Christ.

Love,
Jacobugoth

Agency

Dear Readers,

I had a lesson in institute (a religion class) about "agency" and one of the articles we had to read for homework made me think.

Elder Robert D. Hales said in his October 2010 General Conference that sometimes we forget that most non LDS people only associate the word "agency" with a group, company, or firm. Which is very strange with how we use the word as our free will, or ability to choose and make decisions for ourselves. (Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life).

An "agency" is "an organization, company, or bureau that provides some service for another:" (Dictionary.com).

This makes an interesting bridge. First of all, we have our personal agency, our freedom to choose for ourselves. To provide services for ourselves and others. The only reason we have this agency is because we chose God's plan in our premortal lives.

In this state of life, we were spirit children of our Father in Heaven, who has a body. In order to become more like Him, we had to experience life, not only gaining a physical body, but learning how to use it. Yet, the ultimate test is that of faith. With God's plan, we were to fall and then learn the difference between good and evil, with the final result to determine for ourselves if we would choose God, choose righteousness and goodness, or choose the evils and enticing sins of this world.

However, Lucifer, a son of the morning, had another plan. He wanted to come down in Jehovah's place, becoming our savior and mediator. Despite what could have been a noble gesture, his plan came with some amendments, including making us all be good. We would not have choices, we could not fully think and act for ourselves.

I realize this could be a hard concept to grasp, but it could be as harsh as full mind control, like what Apocalypse tried to do with Professor Xavier's powers in X-men Apocalypse.

Or, more realistically and how I would imagine, it would be more like lesser animals. We would be bound by instincts. Obeying the laws of God only because chemicals in our bodies compel us to.

In either case, that was a turning point in Lucifer's plan, though he is recounted by Isaiah (14:12-14) mourning for him for the most crucial part, that the light bringer Lucifer himself would receive God's glory and replace Him as our god.

Even though there may be times in our lives that we wish someone else was in control, that we did not have to think and act for ourselves, then deal with the consequences, I believe it was that last drastic clause of Lucifer's plan that cinch our choices in choosing Jehovah over him. Yet, that idea of everyone being saved, and not having the burden of living life and not having to make hard choices, like between good and evil, drew away one-third of our Father's children away, choosing relatively for the last time to follow a being literally into the depths of hell in exchange for not having agency of their own. (Revelations 12:4)

Again, in my opinion, their wills became part of Satan's will, and thus all they seek as angels of the devil, demons in the darkness, is the misery of the rest of us (Moroni 7:17). We, of the human race, who have received physical bodies, are of the two-thirds that chose God, chose Jehovah who came down as Jesus Christ and paid for our sins. Because of Him and God's plan we have our freedom to choose, our agency.

Lastly, I would like to note how our agency plays in the grand scheme of things. We have our own agency, which means we are an agency. We can work services for ourselves and be agents for our own purposes, or we can be agents of evil, using our agency to ruin the lives of others, and our own in the process. Yet, by this same token, we can use our agency, the agency that God and Christ have given us to choose to do good, acting as agents and representatives of the Father. Thus we see why it was spoken that charity, the pure love of Christ towards another creature, is true religion (James 1:27, 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8) (religion being how we are tied back to God April 2014 General Conference "Let Your Faith Show" Elder Russel M. Nelson), because that is passing the test. That is using our agency to choose God. That is being Christlike and serving the Father, for inasmuch as we do it unto one of the least of our brothers and sisters, we do it unto God (Matthew 25:40).

These thoughts I leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ. amen

Love,
Jacobugoth

Adam, Eve, and Lilith

Dear Readers,

I am about to take you on a journey, my journey, in trying to understand what is true about the Adam and Eve story. Alas, that is only part of why I am talking about this subject. Opinions and speculations abound in this post, for it is my mortal mind trying to accept and understand the scriptures and the teachings of modern prophets.

Adam and Eve from the movie Noah 2014

What first got me trying to discover this is when I was trying to understand and combat the anti-mormon information out there, including the false doctrine that Adam is God the Father. During this pursuit I found this quote from Journal of Discourses given by Brigham Young, "When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him." (Journal of Discourses v1 pg 50)

Of course, it is important to note the context for this quote. Brigham Young was trying to dispel the false notion that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Ghost. In so doing, he compared Christ's birth to Adam's creation. "He is the first of the human family; and when he took a tabernacle, it was begotten by his Father in heaven, after the same manner as the tabernacles of Cain, Abel, and the rest of the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve; from the fruits of the earth, the first earthly tabernacles were originated by the Father; and so on in succession." (Journal of Discourses v1 pg 50-51) "from the fruits of the earth" is key here, at least for me.

All accounting of Adam's creation in the scriptures describe him as being "formed from the dust of the ground" (Genesis 2:7, Moses 3:7, Abraham 5:7). However, President Brigham Young has stated, "Look for instance at Adam. Listen, ye Latter-day Saints! Supposing that Adam was formed actually out of clay, out of the same kind of material from which bricks are formed; that with this matter God mad the pattern of a man, and breathed into it the breath of life, and left it there, in that state of supposed perfection, he would have been an adobie to this day. he would not have known anything."

Though I am one of the first to admit this is faulty logic, for I believe in the same God that turn water into wine (John 2:1-11), that multiplied the loaves of bread and the fish (Mark 6:38-43), who parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22, Psalm 136:13-15), and raised the dead (Luke 7:12-15, John 11:14, 43-44). Therefore, if God wanted to, He could create Adam from clay and the dust of the earth, that is within His power. However, because of Prophet of God was permitted to teach this for doctrine, I must believe it is true. For we also see that if there is a natural way to bring something into existence then there is no need for Him to intervene so miraculously. As with the wine, they could not get wine for the party, so the transmutation needed to occur.

Similarly, there was a world-wide devotional this year in which Russel M Nelson talked about Divine Law. "I learned this as President Spender W. Kimball's surgeon." he said concerning divine laws, "When the implanted pacemaker for his heart suddenly failed, President Kimball came back to me for help. But first he asked me to give him a priesthood blessing. After the blessing, which promised correction of his failed pacemaker, he then said to me. 'Now you may do whatever you need to do to make that blessing a reality. I proceeded with the operation. One the wire that carried electricity from the pacemaker to his heart, I found a break in the insulation. When I replaced the faulty wire, the pacemaker immediately worked again, allowing President Kimball's heart to beat normally. Not even for God's prophet could the law relating to the transmission of electricity be ignored." Again, I believe in a God that could repair the pacemaker without surgery, but why would He need to when He has our natural and learned skills at His disposal. Thus the truth is made plain that there was another, natural way for God to create Adam.

It is interesting that while studying why Christ had to be born of the mortal Mary and the immortal Father in Heaven, that the logic dictated this truth. If Jesus was born of two mortals, He could not withstand the pains of the atonement and give up His life for us. Thus we would remain under the condemnation of sin. Nor could He raise Himself from the dead, and we would forever remain subject to death. Yet, if Jesus was born of two immortals, then He must needs remain immortal, unless He were to fall. Though, if He fell, He would no longer be perfect and without sin. Therefore, Jesus had to be born half mortal, half immortal, a demigod. Able to die, and yet live a perfect life. With this realization, I saw that Adam could have been born of two immortal beings, and as thus, he would need to fall to become mortal, to know pain, suffering and evil so that he can choose and rejoice with the good (2 Nephi 2:22-25).

Thus my conclusion that by the natural laws, dust of the ground was take and shaped into the fruits of the earth, literally fruits and vegetables likely in the Garden of Eden. As our Heavenly Mother bore Adam within her womb, she ate of this matter which was used to form Adam's physical body. This, to my mind, satisfies all of the laws of both God, man and the scriptures. For Adam was "formed from the dust of the ground" and yet begotten of the Father in immortality, celestial as his parents before him.

Until further light and knowledge is revealed, this explanation and conclusion satisfies me. Though it is clearly based upon quotes from the Journal of Discourses which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not proclaim and uphold as scripture (Church's standing), it does adhere to the Church's official stance upon the creation of Adam as stated in The Origin of Man. "True it is that the body of man enters upon its career as a tiny germ embryo, which becomes an infant, quickened at a certain stage by the spirit whose tabernacle it is, and the child, after being born, develops into a man. There is nothing in this, however, to indicate that the original man, the first of our race, began life as anything less than a man, or less than a human germ or embryo that becomes a man." That same article also refutes evolution as it is currently taught as "...the theories of men."

With this understanding that I have about the creation of Adam, I recently met up with some discrepancies with the creation of Eve. For the longest time, I had believed that the rib was literally taken of Adam, and with the knowledge that I have and seeing the symbolism of "woman" being taken out of "man" thought that maybe God had taken some cells from the rib and using them like gametes taking the x-chromosomes from Adam and formed Eve with a pair. However, as I brought up briefly in my post about the Creation,  President Kimball stated with no uncertainty that Eve was not created from Adam's rib (The blessings and responsibilities of womanhood).

 Though it has been argued by some that the entire creation story is all symbolic and only symbolic, I do not now believe that to be so. Which is why I struggled with accepting this doctrine. Luckily I had a friend that purposed this idea to me. The scriptures say that Adam was put into a deep sleep (Genesis 2:21). Therefore, there is a possibility that what the scripture states about Eve's creation was the vision that Adam was shown in a dream. Thus the symbolism of the rib, "The rib signifies neither dominion nor subservience, but a lateral relationship as partners, to work and to live, side by side." (Lesson from Eve). This makes more sense, though the scriptures do not say that Adam woke up, but assuming that he did so, or even if it was in the dream, he would proclaim "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Genesis 2:23-24).

Now, unsure if it was still in the dream not the scripture says "And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman..." (Genesis 2:22). To this I would like to sight how "man" stood for "mankind": "Man here is always in the plural. It was plural from the beginning." (In the Beginning: A Latter-day Perspective). Therefore, Eve being the symbolic rib was "taken from man" which could mean that she was taken or set apart from mankind, which at this stage was in the spirit world. This brings me full circle to the quote from Brigham Young that started this post, "When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him." (Journal of Discourses v1 pg 50).

If you want to know my position on Plural Marriage, you can read my post about it. For this post, it will be enough to acknowledge that fore-ordination or pre-destination (Destiny is not a matter of chance, but of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved. [William Jennings]) exist and that we were called to certain positions before mortality to serve in during mortality. With that realization, why couldn't a woman be called or fore-ordained to be a man's wife? or a man fore-ordained to be a woman's husband?

Thus, my understanding that Eve was fore-ordained to be Adam's wife, and the mother of all living. However, what if there were other women fore-ordained to be Adam's wives? Who are they and why don't we have a record of them?

By getting into some very strange stuff, there is Jewish mythology of a being known a Lilith that was supposedly Adam's first wife, but she sinned against God and was cast out. It is interesting to note that maybe this is true, maybe Lilith was a fore-ordained wife to Adam, but she sinned against God and His plan and was cast out with Lucifer. Therefore, she never received a body and we have no account of her in the creation.

Western Screech Owl

Indeed, the only biblical reference we have for her is her name as a Hebrew word that was translated as "screech owl" in Isaiah 34:14 "The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest." (Bold Added).

As with the topic of Adam, context is important. Isaiah 33 is talking about apostasy and wickedness abounding before Christ's second coming. Isaiah 34 talks about the destruction and evil right before Christ's second coming, and Isaiah 35 talks about restoration, rebirth and blessings as Christ comes again. Thus this "screech owl" or Lilith might find rest, in the destruction, in the wicked world, right before it is cleansed and made new for Christ. It is also interesting to note that in Mesopotamia Lilim were female night demons and in Akkadian/Sumerian "lil" is a reference to wind which co-incided with the "breath of life" or spiritus (Latin for breath or breeze) or spirit, which could mean that she is still a spirit and is indeed a demon or angel of Satan.

Alas, Jewish folklore, not myth, but folklore has Lilith being made at the same time as Adam, from the same dirt. She then disobeys Adam and God and leave them for the archangel Samael. Whether she was actually born in the flesh or merely a fore-ordained spirit, there certainly seems some negative connotations associated with her. Least of all being Lilith, the first demon in the television show Supernatural. However, that show requires many grains of salt considering they also portrayed Eve as being the mother of monsters.

In any case, we do not have a credible account of their Eve's actual creation nor of Lilith even existing. Thus, until more light and knowledge is revealed, it satisfies my mind to think that Eve was created the same way as Adam. Though that would make them brother and sister, they would be perfect, with perfect genes, even relatively perfect after the fall enabling the genetic diversity to prevent deformities from inbreeding.

Now, with all of this stated, I don't want anyone to go away thinking that this idea of Adam's creation takes away from the majesty of Christ's birth. Not only is Jesus Christ the "Only Begotten Son in the flesh" it is a title as well as a state of being.

"The 'divine Sonship' also refers to the designation 'Only Begotten Son in the flesh.'... This title signifies that Jesus' physical body was the offspring of a mortal mother and of an immortal Eternal Father, which verity is crucial to the Atonement, a supreme act that could not have been accomplished by an ordinary man." (Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel chapter 7)

This signifies that "in the flesh" is a reference to mortal life. Christ is the only child that God has been the sire of into mortality.

I hope that these ideas get all of you thinking and pondering upon the beauty of the gospel and of the the Plan of Salvation.

Love,
Jacobugoth

Light of Christ and the Gift of the Holy Ghost

Dear Readers,

Something that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints offers that no other church upon the earth does is the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Yet, it is nonetheless true that there are miracles and promptings of The Spirit of God found in other churches and in lives of members and non members alike. Thus, I will proceed to explain the differences and levels of how close we can be to the Holy Ghost.

At the root of how each of us view the world, there is a choice in that view. Do we believe that humans are inherently good? Or do we believe that humans are inherently evil? I think that most people do not agree with either extreme, because of evidence to the contrary in lives of people all around us. However, God knows the truth of what we are. "For the natural man is an enemy of God..." that is to say that our natures, our tendencies because of the flesh and our mortal bodies is towards evil, for what is more evil than being an enemy of God. "...unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint..." (Mosiah 3:19) Though we are indeed inherently evil, as we listen to the part of us that encourages us to be good we can actually change our nature, becoming saintly, having "no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2)

Robert Neilsen 2013 London Riots Image Link

With the view that, yes we are evil, but we can change and become better through Christ, it shapes how one views the world. If you look at all of the destruction, rioting, and evil going on in the world, if you believe that humans are inherently good then you blame their surroundings and their environment for why they are so outrageous. However, with the realization that humans are pulled more towards evil than good, that good is indeed a harder choice to make, it is obvious that their actions are their own. They are choosing darkness and evil instead of the uphill battle of righteousness. Their choices may be biased because they were never taught right from wrong, but that does not mean that they cannot learn now.

Though our natures are evil, God has given each and every one of us something to help us fight this nature. We call this the Light of Christ. Most people refer to the manifestation of this light as a conscience. Yet "it is more than a psychological effect that takes place within people" (David A Bednar, Patterns of Light: The Light of Christ). The Light of Christ is the reason that when we see someone struggling, we want to reach out and help them. We feel compassion and charity which is the pure love of Christ for those people (Moroni 7:47). Doctrine and Covenants 84 explains it this way, "...whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit." (44-46) Every one of us, male and female, who are children of God and of the human family, also called mankind, have light and truth within us. That light inside "cleaveth unto light" as "intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; [and] truth embraceth truth;" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:40).

The question remains, if the Light of Christ or conscience is more than a "psychological effect" then what is it? "...Intelligence, or the light of truth..." (Doctrine and Covenants 93:29). I have talked about intelligence in many blogs, most selectively was one about "The Glory of God is Intelligence". If intelligences are little living pieces of light, then the Light of Christ within us could simply be our true selves. However, I like to think it is more than that as well. When Christ performed the atonement He suffered both body and spirit. This occurred in the garden of Gethsemane and all along the road to the cross. Between the bleeding from every pore, having flesh ripped from His back by a cat-of-nine-tails, crowned with thorns, nails driven into his hands and feet, and lastly being pierced in the side He suffered for us.

Caravagio "The Incredulity of Saint Thomas

Thus, one of the perplexities and potential contradictions was expressed when Christ rose the third day. In the ensuing weeks He visited His disciples and they saw that He was resurrected with a physical body, and they touched the holes in His hands, feet, and side (John 20:27). When we are resurrected we are promised that our new bodies will be perfect, and not one hair of the head will be lost (Alma 40:23). How then was Christ's resurrected body riddled with scars of mortality? Because it was both physical and spiritual suffering, I had always figured that as the nails were hammered into his hands and feet, the nails pierced both His body and His spirit. Thus when He was resurrected, His body reflected His spirit. Alas, as I write this, I am perceiving more. In the temple we learn that certain "tokens" were laid from the foundation of this world, and by the tokens in His hands we would know Christ (LDS Hymn 29 A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief verse 7). What if Christ literally gave each and every one of us part of His spirit, to take with us into mortality. That He both spiritually, temporally and metaphorically engraved us upon His hands (Isaiah 49:6). That would make the truth of the words, "Know ye not that your bodies are the member of Christ?..." (1 Corinthians 6:15) ring all the louder.

Whether the light of Christ in each of us is our true selves, or a piece of Christ that He has given us, the important thing is to know that if we do not heed that light it can be drowned out. That is how true psychopaths are created. They smother the light of truth and righteousness out of their hearts and live from lie and deception to narcissism and ill-begot gain.

dreamstime.com stock photo

Like with the analogy of the two dogs, we each have this nature or bad dog, and the light of Christ or good dog, within us continually fighting. With the analogy, the dog that wins is the one you feed the most. By comparing this to our lives, its not necessarily feeding our bodies as feeding our "bad dog" but that could be part of it. It is feeding the appetites of the flesh, or our carnal natures (Our Mortal Body -- A Sacred Gift by Sara Lee Gibb, Guide to the Scriptures: Natural Man). Thus, if our craving for food turns into gluttony, then our natural desires begin feeding that "bad dog". Yet we are told to, "...feast upon the words of Christ..." (2 Nephi 32:3). These can be the scriptures and the spiritual power and influence they can give us in our lives. This nourishes and feeds our "good dog".

If by doing the things God commands we feed our "good dog" and by disobeying His commandments we feed our "bad dog", how long do you think it will be before the "bad dog" becomes hungry enough to eat what you are feeding the "good dog"? As it said in Mosiah, "...putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord..." I believe that we can actually change our human nature to become something better, something more.

Wonderfully, even if someone smothers that light of Christ within (starving the "good dog"), the personage of the Holy Ghost, an actual spiritual being, is still there waiting to reach out and rekindle that light. Though only members who have had the gift of the Holy Ghost conferred upon them can receive of the fullness of what the Spirit of God has to offer, it does not mean that the Holy Spirit leaves the rest of us out to dry.

As I have personally seen, when an investigator (non member of the church) meets with the missionaries. The Holy Ghost can be there, in the midst, and testify to them of truths that the missionaries have to share. The same goes for when the investigator studies the Book of Mormon and other scriptures and feels the power of the words. This is most certainly the power of the Holy Ghost. However, those feelings are the Holy Ghost touching and growing the light of Christ within us. "...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:..." (Galations 5:22-23). These are all promptings and feelings that come from the Spirit talking to us. Other descriptions are also that of a burning bosom (Doctrine and Covenants 9:8).

There are also gifts, not just fruits, but gifts or powers of the Spirit that can be given to us.

"To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that [H]e was crucified for the sins of the world. To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful. And again, to some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know the differences of administration... to some to know the diversities of operations... the word of wisdom... the word of knowledge... faith to be healed... faith to heal... working of miracles... prophesy... discerning of spirits... speak with tongues... interpretation of tongues... And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God."(Doctrine and Covenants 46:13-26 Bold added)

"...teach the word of wisdom... teach the word of knowledge... exceedingly great faith... gifts of healing...work mighty miracles... prophesy concerning all things...beholding of angles and ministering spirits... all kinds of tongues... interpretation of languages and of diverse kinds of tongues." (Moroni 10:9-16 Bold added)

"...the word of wisdom... word of knowledge... faith... gifts of healing... working of miracles... prophecy... discerning of spirits... divers kinds of tongues... interpretation of tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)

Though many of these gifts are repeated, often times they are worded slightly different to reveal more meaning. As for me, I know I was given the gift of faith that I know Jesus Christ was crucified for the sins of the world. I received this gift long before I was ever baptized. Indeed, I have had it all my life. Unexplainable, I know it is true. Even when I entered into the state of life when I could go either way, I knew that I had a Father in Heaven, and that Jesus Christ is His Son. Where my doubt was whether or not Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, and if the Book of Mormon is true. I know that Joseph Smith was indeed a Prophet of God, and the Book of Mormon is the fruit God has given for us to know that he was.

As I have served a mission, I feel as though there were some who have the faith to believe on my words, and on the words of other missionaries.

I have not yet received the gift to know the differences of administration or the diversities of operations, though portions of the marvelous workings of God's kingdom I have been permitted to see.

The gift of the word of wisdom is not necessarily in reference to The Word of Wisdom which is God's commandment concerning taking care of our bodies (Doctrine and Covenants 89). The gift of wisdom and knowledge, I feel, are more deeply rooted in what John A. Morrison described: "Knowledge comes by taking things apart: analysis. But wisdom comes from putting things together: synthesis." Some have the gift of being able to put things together with logic and the wonders of their minds. Others have the gift of being able to look at a situation and break it down and figure out what is happening. Then, in the Moroni description of these gifts, to some it is given to be able to teach these ways of thinking.

There are those, like Ephraim Hanks, a real man who was represented in the movie Ephraim's Rescue, that have the gift to heal. Though it did not come until after he received the authority from God to do so, we see how often hearts are touched in a more temporal manner to heal. With the learning of doctors and physicians, there are those who have sought to acquire this gift.

I remember how M. Night Shyamalan's movie A Lady in the Water spread the comparison, that though the gift of healing can be learned, there is more divinity to it, if only we recognize it.

Then there are those who are blessed with the faith to be healed. We see this with account of the woman diseased with an issue of blood for 12 years (Mark 5:25-34). She had enough faith, that she told herself that if she could only touch the edge of his robe, then she would be healed. By that faith, she was healed.

Plague 7: Rain of Fire from "Prince of Egypt" movie

What some people do not realize is that the ability to perform miracles is a gift of the Spirit. These miracles can be as extreme as the plagues that Moses called forth (Exodus 7-12) or as small as knowing what to say to brighten someone's day.

The gift of prophecy is an interesting one. We usually think of prophecy as predicting the future. Yet John the Revelator described it like this, "...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:10). This is profound, because though not all of us will receive direction and inspiration for the world, we can receive a testimony of Jesus. If we have a testimony of Jesus Christ being the Son of God, the very Word made flesh (John 1:1,14), then we know that He is our Savior and Redeemer who paid for our sins and gave up His life upon the cross for us. If we know that He is our Mediator, who rose again the third day, then we know that He lives. If He lives, then the prophecies about His second coming are true. Therefore, if we have a testimony of Jesus Christ, and we testify and bear witness of Him and that He will one day return, then we are prophesying by the spirit of prophecy.

Common questions that often arise are: is a feeling or idea from God? Is it my own idea? Is it a temptation from the devil?

Discerning of spirits is knowing if something is from God or not. Like others, this one can be learned as well. "For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil: for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him." (Moroni 7:16-17).

Elder David A. Bednar "Patterns of Light: Discerning Light"

Therefore, one can realize that it matters not if a righteous prompting is from the Holy Ghost or the light of Christ within us, because if it is the right thing to do, both with testify to you of it. Similarly evil people and evil thoughts, whether inspired by Satan or our natural desires, will entice us to do things that are not right. Actions that are evil and conniving.

Angel Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith Jr.

In similar manner, we have been taught in Doctrine and Covenants 129 how to discern physical manifestations of spirits or angelic messengers. The only beings that have resurrected bodies that are permitted to visit this world are Celestial righteous beings. Thus, if you can touch them, then they are of God. Yet God can also send spiritual angels as well. With Joseph Smith's instruction of asking them to shake your hand. Righteous spirits would refuse, for as true servants of God they are not permitted to deceive, and reaching to shake your hand only to pass through would be deceit. While only an unrighteous spirit, not sent from God, would reach for your hand and pass through your flesh.

Joseph Smith's First Vision
 of God the Father and the Savior Jesus Christ

This very much goes along with the gift of beholding angels and ministering spirits. Clearly, it would be a gift from God for Him to send one such messenger, but how is it a gift of the Spirit? For angelic, resurrecting beings of a higher glory to appear unto us, we have to be, "cloaked" in the Holy Ghost. Else their glory would consume us like fire. This is how Joseph Smith was able to behold God the Father and our Savior Jesus Christ before he was ever baptized, let alone receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Lastly, there are two more gifts closely related: The gift of tongues (speaking different languages) and the gift of interpretation of tongues (understanding different languages). As most people know, these gifts can be acquired from learning and study, and mastery of both for a language makes one fluent. However, the process can be expedited with prayer and accepting the Holy Ghost's help. After Christ's ascension into heaven, He sent His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, to His disciples. As the Spirit came upon them, they spoke in diverse tongues (Acts 2:4) allowing everyone of the several different cultures that had come to celebrate a festival hear in their own language the message of Jesus Christ they had to share (Acts 2:8).

The gift of tongues was given that those speakers of a language could hear and understand. Sadly, too often the gift of tongues is misinterpreted, and people claim they are filled with the Spirit of God and babble incoherent words, when the spirit, if any, that fills them is far from that of God. To them I say with the Apostle Paul, "will they not say that ye are mad?" (1 Corinthians 14:23) "If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret." (1 Corinthians 14:27). I have seen this in action many times. My ward, here in Arizona, has a Spanish Group. On occasion, one of these members will be asked to give a talk, or sermon, in church. Speaking in Spanish, which for me is basically an unknown tongue, they are usually accompanied by an English translator or "interpreter".

However, there is more than just speaking another language and interpreting it. There is a universal language, the language of The Spirit (Elder Boyd K. Packer "Language of the Spirit" March 1977 New Era). I first gained my testimony of this aspect of the Spirit while at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo, Utah. My district (the grouping of missionaries larger than a companionship) included some missionaries called to serve in American Sign Language. As the were learning this new language, they were encouraged to use it often. One young Elder (Elder being the title of a male missionary) bore to us his testimony in American Sign Language, without an interpreter. Though no words were translated, the Spirit and power of his testimony shared his witness with us that his words were true. There was amazement, wonder, and emotion that filled the silence of his words.

Since I have been home from my mission, I have had further witnesses of this universal language of The Spirit. Whether prayers spoken in Portuguese or Navajo, testimonies given in Spanish or Mandarin. The Spirit has testified of the truths that they speak.

"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:4). The Spirit of God is responsible for all of these gifts. "For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby." (Doctrine and Covenants 46:11-12). None of us have all of these gifts, and sometimes we may loose a gift to gain another. Yet, God gives us these gifts through the Holy Ghost to help us, and help those around us who might need someone who has one of these gifts. Someone who is sick might need a healer. Someone who has no faith may need to lean on the faith of another.

Alas, all of these gifts from the Spirit are not the gift of the Holy Ghost. As I have said, the feelings of the Spirit is the Holy Ghost touching the light of Christ within us. The gift of the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God dwelling in us.

As we go through life, we have to be doing the right things at the right times in order to feel the Spirit before baptism. Basically, we have to come to where He already is. However, have the gift of the Holy Ghost enable Him to be wherever we are. Maintaining that gift requires obedience on our end, like being the proper conductor for electricity. If we sin, it is like trying to make a circuit out of aluminum. The chances of having the Holy Ghost work with you is severely diminished. However, righteousness is like using copper or gold, which allows for a stronger connection and more power to be transferred in.

Much of the reason why we do not have the gift of the Holy Ghost conferred upon us until after baptism, is because it is only after we have been washed clean from our sins that we can be pure enough have Him with us. Another reason, is because we have covenanted (made a two-way promise) with God, we are held under more condemnation should we sin, and we need a stronger bearer of testimony, a stronger friend to always walk with us as we try to live righteously.

In much the same way as our bodies make senses and emotions more amazing and amplified for our spirits, the Holy Ghost dwelling in us enables us to feel His influence more potently than before when we were merely in His presence (June 2010 Ensign Elder David A Bednar "Things as They Really Are").

Yet, what has intrigued me the most is how the Holy Ghost has the capacity to potentially be inside of all of us, even though He is an actual being and not just an energy field.

Now, because of my beliefs about the fourth dimension (see "Death" and "Gravity, Science, and the Spirit World") the Holy Ghost would be on a plane where He could see into us. Like a three dimensional being looking at the inside of a circle on a two dimensional plane.

Using this two dimensional to three dimensional analogy, well represented in the story "Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions" by Edwin Abbott Abbott. Imagine that a circle on a piece of paper is a living creature. In a two dimensional plane it only sees up down, left and right, and can move in those directions, and in a combination of those directions, like North East, South West, et cetera. Now imagine a human being looking at this two dimensional world. The human can see inside of the circle, and the human can even touch or put their finger inside of the circle, which is like the Holy Ghost touching the light of Christ within us, because He is around.

Flatland's mysterious Sphere

Then there is the Holy Ghost inside of us. In Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions, there is a sphere that passes through the two dimensional plane. First as a dot, the shape grows into a circle before it shrinks into a dot again and vanishes. Similarly, the Holy Ghost can pass through and into us.

Like the great old science fiction explanation, for a two dimensional being, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

However, for a three dimensional being, one can fold that flat plane through the third dimension and bring the points next to each other. The distance between the two dots is the same on the paper, but the folding would allow an object to pass through both.

To imagine this on a world wide scale, picture a map of the world. Time to make it more difficult, imagine ever person, some seven billion people, all on this map.

Now imagine each person point on that map pinching out like the middle of a tissue. Then someone reaches towards the map and touches all of these points because the two dimensional plane is warped through the third dimension, allowing all of these points potentially be touched or have a three dimensional being pass through them all.

I wish I could represent this more visually, alas, imagination will have to do for now. It will suffice me to speculate that maybe a spirit being in the fourth dimension could interact similarly with our third dimension, able to be where they want, as far as they want, with whom they want, and that maybe, those small openings of the fourth dimension that physicists theorize are just points in space that the fourth dimension can use to pull and move our third dimension (Again see my Death blog).

Hopefully you have enjoyed this post and found it intriguing and helpful in understanding why it is so important to have the Holy Ghost in our lives, to help us become better humans, and improved beings, feeding the "good dog" within each of us with these delicious and wonderful gifts God and His Spirit gives us.

Love,
Jacobugoth

Death

Dear Readers,

Today's subject is one that I feel it necessary to express my views about. It relates in great deal to how I see the world around me, why I hardly ever grieve over death.

I first got the idea of how to express and explain my understanding when a friend who I call Shorty asked me a question about death. At what point do we die? Is it when the heart stops? What happens after we die?

I replied that it was indeed a "difficult" question to answer, but as for my understanding, our spirits communicate with our bodies through our brains. Somewhere in the cerebral cortex are cells that are able to interact with our spirit. I am unsure if this is gray matter, white matter, or the basal ganglia. However, it is evident not only in science that the body is controlled by the brain, but it is by electrical impulses that cause such control through the nervous system, so also is the "head" (Christ) what leads the body (the church). (Colossians 1:18)

Now, what I understand about memories I will go into greater detail in a later post, but it will suffice me to say that one key distinction between a brain an a computer is the ability to "choose" what to think about, what memories to recall and how to recall them. A computer can be made to cause random stimuli or even "ideas" on a subject, however, a human brain can "choose" to think about something else.

Yet, like an individual sitting at a computer, that individual can choose which currents or electrical pathways to activate. Just as I am doing now, while typing my thoughts into script. Much in a similar way, our spirit interact with our bodies. The keyboard and mouse are like the parts of the brain that allow the spirit to interact with the body. Then the memory and storage for the computer is like the memory and storage of the brain. Unlike computers, biological brains are able to grow new connectors, and thus grow in storage capacity. It stores the history of things done, visuals, interests et cetera. Lastly there is the hard ware, like cameras, microphones, disk drives and the like. These the computer can use, but they are still controlled by the person at the computer. If there is something wrong with the camera (eye) then no matter how hard we push buttons we cannot get the camera to work until it is repaired or replaced. Such repairs to the body can be necessary, however, the greatest overhaul of all is the resurrection.

Now, because of a bioethics class I had a while back, I have thought about what is the decisive point of death. Indeed some people think that once the heart stops, then that is death, but then people can have their hearts restarted and come back to life. Thus the question, is that death? I don't think so, at least not in the definite sense. The heart stopping is like the power going out. No more oxygen and nutrients for the brain is equal to no more electricity to the computer. It shuts down and waits for the power to come back on. However, unlike a machine, cells die and cease to function if they are deprived for too long. Thus the spirit may linger hoping that the "power" will come back on, but when the brain itself dies, there is not much point for the spirit to linger at a "broken computer".

Therefore, death occurs, really, at brain death. Now, someone can be raised from the dead, as Christ did to Lazarus, like someone fixed the computer and the spirit came back to play. Yet, raising the dead is different from resurrection.

Comas, often times, still have brain activity only the brain is no longer in communication with the rest of the body. Kind of like if a computer freezes, it is still on, the person is at the computer, but they can not do anything on the computer. Sometimes whatever problem that caused the freeze is resolved and the individual awakes from the coma, but sometimes that does not happen and the plug is eventually pulled.

Also, there are cases of perfectly healthy people just dropping dead. This is also seen with old age, when the body is just so worn and used that the spirit simply walks away from the computer. With no more internal stimuli from the spirit, the system shuts down.

From what I have generally heard of near death experiences, and the religious aspects of it, which is mostly limited to my having watched movies like Dragonfly, Flatliners and similar media, most people find themselves in some kind of passage, a black tunnel, on a road, or at a train station like in Harry Potter. The visual symbolism is clear, of movement or transportation. Some places give you a choice to stay or move on. Often times it is the dark tunnel with a light at the end, and the individual moves or runs towards the light, but they don't make it. I would say that in these cases, the light would be God welcoming them home, while their not reaching the light is the re-establishment of whatever connection with the spirit and the body.

Sometimes there is also a guide, again similar to Harry Potter where Dumbledore was there and gave him advice, the guide may escort the spirit home, or advise them to stay. These spirits could be compared to angels of death, and can be friends, mentors, or even relatives who have passed beyond the veil of death.

These concepts work with scripture, particularly Alma 40:11 "...Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life." The emphasis I would like to add here is "taken" which could be synonymous with "escorted".

So, if physical death happens when the spirit has left the body, why are bodies "alive" meaning still breathing because of machines and other devices, even after brain death? It all depends on what you mean by life, if the spirit is connected, then it is a living soul (spirit and body together [Doctrine and Covenants 88:15]) otherwise, without the spirit, it is simply a living body. As far as I am concerned, keeping someone in this "alive" or living body state is only good for harvesting organs to help other people stay really alive. Though, I would like to emphasize that this is only in the case of brain death, not just being comatose.

Now, what about what happens after we die.

As I already quoted Alma 40:11, the rest of that chapter gives us the best straightforward insight I have found, "11 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection... the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body... whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. 12... The spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where thy shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow. 13... the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil... these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity... 14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection." This return to God and then consigning ourselves to a state of happiness or misery we call the first judgment, where we either feel pleased by the life we lived and our relationship to God, or feel wretched because we remember all of those willing sins that we have committed.

These two states, paradise and prison, are both states of being in what Mormons call the spirit world. Catholics would refer to this state as purgatory. This spirit world is here all around us (Gospel Principles 41), and we cannot see those spirits because spiritual matter is more fine and pure "and can  only be discerned by purer eyes" (Doctrine and Covenants 131:7-8).

Science Company Image Link

There is a valid question, however, if spiritual matter and spirits exist, why can't we see it/them and how can they both be in us and yet interact with our bodies through the brain. There is a wavelength theory, that similar to how photons of ultraviolet ray wavelength can pierce through cells and destroy DNA which either kills the cell, or in some cases cause cancer, that spirit is photons or some other particle moving at a wavelength that can only interacts with certain depths or types of other matter.

Brian Greene's depiction of 4th dimensions from the video.

Though I like that theory, there is another one that I find more complete and intriguing. The idea of the 4th dimension. Most of the natural phenomenon can be predicted mathematically taking into account the 3 dimensions of space, and the dimension of time. However, the algorithm for electromagnetic fields require the abstract idea of a 4th dimension of space. This may seem absurd, yet let us think about this a moment. Brian Greene has endeavored to try to explain the running theory about this 4th dimension in his video Brian Green: The Search for Hidden Dimensions. In this, he describes how the dimension might be so small that as we look at them, they appear 3 dimensional when they are really 4 dimensional. Much like how a piece of paper looks 2 dimensional until you get a closer look at the edge and see some, not much, but some depth.

This idea of the 4th dimension would explain how spirit matter could be all around us in these dimensions, and yet we cannot see it, and it works with the scripture about spirit being too "fine" which could mean small, like fine grain salt or sandpaper. However, it is yet incomplete. This may only be personal preference, but I enjoy the idea of a larger 4th dimension that extends out like an actual direction. I go into this all in further detail in my blog post "Gravity, Science, and the Spirit World". It will suffice me to say that whatever means, likely a combination of directional 4th dimension, miniature 4th dimension, and wavelength frequency, our spirits interact with our bodies.

It is important to note that our own spirit looks like its owner, and the body grows, if not prohibited by genetic malfunctions caused by the fall, to grow in the likeness of the spirit body (Ether 3:16). As I already said, though the spirit is in the likeness of our bodies, or rather our bodies are in the likeness of our spirits, right now, here in mortality, our spirit only interacts with our bodies through the brain. Yet, as I recently discovered and talked about in my blog post about Quickening, Resurrection, and Ectoplasm, that when we are resurrected we will have spirit in our veins. Our spirits and our bodies will be inseparably connected. This would mean that our bodies would be quickened so that our spirit will connect with our bodies in the finger, in the toe, and every cell one to another. No longer would we simply control our bodies through our brains, but we will truly be one with ourselves. How glorious that immortal body will be will depend on our righteousness and how much of Christ's light we let quicken us.

Alas, that is after the resurrection. Until that time, post-mortal life will continue. The righteous, though at peace and rest, will continue to reach out to those in darkness and bring Christ's divine light into their spiritual lives. As with this scripture from 1 Peter, Christ taught spirits in prison who had lived in the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:19-20) and "for for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." (1 Peter 4:6)

Though Christ did not personally minister to those in spirit prison, they were taught, for in the three day slumber for His body in the tomb, He organized the missionary work, and the word was first ministered to those of Noah's day. (Doctrine and Covenants 138:19-21)

With this wonderful missionary work going on beyond the veil, we wonder what the point is and why it is going on. 1 Peter 3:21 gives some insight. "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" That is to say, baptism cleanses the spirit of the guilt and corruption of sins and it is in the like image of the resurrection of Christ which cleanses our bodies into immortality. "...why are they then baptized for the dead?" (1 Corinthians 15:29) This is why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints performs baptisms by proxy on behalf of the dead. Baptism for the dead allows a spirit beyond the veil to accept Christ's atonement and be cleansed and redeemed from spiritual death (separation from God). Alas, it does not force Christ's atonement upon them, it merely allows them to full accept Christ and feel His peace, enabling them to rise from prison to paradise.

God does not want His children to be left in darkness. Though there are certain things that we must do to return to His presence, He will not deny us from any of them, we can only deny ourselves. Death is not something to be feared, it is simply coming home to our ever loving, ever merciful Father in Heaven and waiting the fullness of Christ's redemption to come upon us.

Love,
Jacobugoth