Changes

*01/21/92 Tuesday a.m.

*01/21/92 Tuesday a.m.

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

Good morning my dear friend. I am your teacher and your guide, Will. I like that term, "guide." It will appeal to many who resist even the modest connotations of the term "teacher." I also approve of the term "inner voice" which you use when discussing spiritual developments with others. It is not an invasive notion to them, and harks back to dimly-recollected memories of such ideas from their childhood.

[[Good]] [[morning]] my dear [[friend]]. I am your [[teacher]] and your guide, Will. I like that term, "guide." It will [[appeal]] to many who [[resist]] even the [[modest]] connotations of the term "teacher." I also approve of the term "inner [[voice]]" which you use when [[discussing]] [[spiritual]] [[developments]] with others. It is not an [[invasive]] notion to them, and harks back to dimly-recollected memories of such [[ideas]] from their [[childhood]].

Our communion yesterday was brief, but it is also an act of worship to enjoy the beauty of the Father's creation. To live in town is to surround yourself with the works of man. Leave the town, and you are immediately surrounded with the works of God, however much scratched and scraped by human action. Life in town is not for you; escape is necessary. You already have long known this. I recall the story you once read of the gladiator who realized as he shivered under a tree in cold rain that he truly was a Roman, despite his protestations, not knowing how to light a fire for himself. I hope we shall never find you in such a predicament. It would be a violation of your promise to Jade.

Our [[communion]] yesterday was brief, but it is also an [[act]] of [[worship]] to [[enjoy]] the [[beauty]] of [[the Father]]'s [[creation]]. To live in town is to [[surround]] yourself with the works of man. Leave the town, and you are [[immediately]] [[surrounded]] with the works of [[God]], however much scratched and scraped by [[human]] [[action]]. Life in town is not for you; [[escape]] is [[necessary]]. You already have long known this. I recall the [[story]] you once read of the [[gladiator]] who realized as he shivered under a tree in cold rain that he truly was a [[Roman]], despite his protestations, not knowing how to light a [[fire]] for himself. I [[hope]] we shall never find you in such a predicament. It would be a violation of your [[promise]] to Jade.

I will address Soldette's [[question]] on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporal_punishment corporal punishment]: There is no [[Paradise]]-based instruction on matters such as these. They are within the general instruction "[[Conduct]] yourself in accord with your highest [[understanding]]." The [[Heavenly Father]] promulgates [[opportunities]], not rules. You are left, then, with my [[personal]] [[opinion]]. I lived my life on a [[planet]] [[developed]] socially far beyond your most [[inspired]] [[fantasies]]. Questions such as this are not within my [[personal]] [[experience]]. Corporal punishment of [[children]] was unthinkable on my world, but of course it was unnecessary because of the extent of [[support]] available to [[parents]]. [[Parents]] were not, as an identifiable [[unit]], solely [[responsible]] for the [[care]] and [[education]] of their [[children]]. It was seen as a [[Social|societal]] [[responsibility]], and therefore children who were ill-behaved were swimming against a [[tide]] of certain [[love]] and correct [[action]]. They quickly saw the unproductivity of their [[acts]], and fell into a better and more rewarding mode of [[behavior]]. There was [[simply]] not the [[opportunity]] for children to act badly, nor were there the viciously [[Exploitation|exploitive]] [[factors]] of television and movie glorification of [[dissident]] and recalcitrant role [[heroes]].

I will address Soldette's question on corporal punishment: There is no Paradise-based instruction on matters such as these. They are within the general instruction "Conduct yourself in accord with your highest understanding." The Heavenly Father promulgates opportunities, not rules. You are left, then, with my personal opinion. I lived my life on a planet developed socially far beyond your most inspired fantasies. Questions such as this are not within my personal experience. Corporal punishment of children was unthinkable on my world, but of course it was unnecessary because of the extent of support available to parents. Parents were not, as an identifiable unit, solely responsible for the care and education of their children. It was seen as a societal responsibility, and therefore children who were ill-behaved were swimming against a tide of certain love and correct action. They quickly saw the unproductivity of their acts, and fell into a better and more rewarding mode of behavior. There was simply not the opportunity for children to act badly, nor were there the viciously exploitive factors of television and movie glorification of dissident and recalcitrant role heroes.

For these reasons, my [[counseling]] may seem [[absurd]]. It is no less [[sincere]]. I wince when I see the people of your [[planet]] strike one another, most especially when I see the [[horrific]] [[sight]] of the beating of a [[child]]. Just [[think]] for a moment of the lesson which is imparted by such [[brutality]]. At the very least, you ensure that this [[pattern]] will be carried on another [[generation]]. It is unnecessary for me to [[describe]] in detail my revulsion at these misguided [[activities]]. It would seem hopelessly [[naive]] to you. I will say, however, that people of your [[planet]] are [[favored]] [[simply]] because they are so [[rugged]], if backward, in [[constitution]]. Your people -- especially your [[children]] -- are resilient, and seem to recover rather easily from the cuffings and belittlings which are their habitual due while it is their unfortunate lot to be in the lesser class of [[childhood]]. You people treat your [[children]] as if they were the dumbest, most insensitive brutes. It is a [[mystery]] to me.

For these reasons, my counseling may seem absurd. It is no less sincere. I wince when I see the people of your planet strike one another, most especially when I see the horrific sight of the beating of a child. Just think for a moment of the lesson which is imparted by such brutality. At the very least, you ensure that this pattern will be carried on another generation. It is unnecessary for me to describe in detail my revulsion at these misguided activities. It would seem hopelessly naive to you. I will say, however, that people of your planet are favored simply because they are so rugged, if backward, in constitution. Your people -- especially your children -- are resilient, and seem to recover rather easily from the cuffings and belittlings which are their habitual due while it is their unfortunate lot to be in the lesser class of childhood. You people treat your children as if they were the dumbest, most insensitive brutes. It is a mystery to me.

I see each [[child]] as the [[hope]] of the world. Who knows, if the [[spirit]] is not beaten out of them, depriving them of the [[understanding]] of whole-hearted [[love]], one of them may someday [[lead]] their brothers and sisters into the life of loving [[respect]]. That is the [[necessary]] first step in the approach to the Ages of [[Light and Life]]. You are some distance from that first step. You are purchasing failure insurance, by your [[acts]].

I see each child as the hope of the world. Who knows, if the spirit is not beaten out of them, depriving them of the understanding of whole-hearted love, one of them may someday lead their brothers and sisters into the life of loving respect. That is the necessary first step in the approach to the Ages of Light and Life. You are some distance from that first step. You are purchasing failure insurance, by your acts.

Your Jade and Harrells' Ben and Leah are [[clever]], demanding [[studies]] in the [[vitality]] of the [[spirit]]. I look upon them and see spirit -- the untrammeled [[spirit]] that it will take to lift this world up, out of the mud and manure. I never [[desire]] to see that [[spirit]] dimmed, no matter what temporary [[advantage]] is theoretically gained on the [[material]] [[planet]]. Nothing is [[worth]] that. These [[children]] will test everything that you stand for. Make sure of what you stand for.

Your Jade and Harrells' Ben and Leah are clever, demanding studies in the vitality of the spirit. I look upon them and see spirit -- the untrammeled spirit that it will take to lift this world up, out of the mud and manure. I never desire to see that spirit dimmed, no matter what temporary advantage is theoretically gained on the material planet. Nothing is worth that. These children will test everything that you stand for. Make sure of what you stand for.

Your [[children]] will outstrip you. That is in the [[divine]] [[plan]], else there is no point to [[reproduction]]. Children are not subject to you in [[value]] -- their [[destiny]] is to be your superiors in every way. Only then you will have fully discharged your [[responsibility]] as [[parents]] -- when your children's [[abilities]] exceed yours in every area. Because of this [[desired]] result, the basis for your every [[judgment]] is automatically open to close and intrusive questioning. You will be called on to [[explain]] and defend every [[decision]] and [[value]] [[assessment]] that you have made in life, and no inconsistencies will be [[tolerated]]. It is actually an enriching [[experience]] for you, but few live up to the [[potential]]. Do not beat this questioning [[spirit]] out of the [[children]]. It is a contravention of the [[plan]], and robs them of the [[vitality]] [[necessary]] to do [[the Father]]'s important [[work]].

==Session 16==

==Session 16==

*JANUARY 22,1992

*JANUARY 22,1992