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"What?" "A nice big Hershey bar or even a little one. For some reason or other, a Hershey bar would save my soul right now." "There's your Buddhism, a Hershey bar. How about moonlight in an orange grove with a vanilla ice cream cone?" -THE DHARMA BUMS (Kerouac 1958:167)

5. UNIFIED THEORY OF THE POS

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CHAPTER CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

II. META-CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821. PRIMORDIAL CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

A. Priesthood & Anti-Priesthood . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83B. Metamorphosis Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84C. Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85D. Prime Mover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

2. THEORETICAL PROPOSITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 861. Spirits are formed of Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . 882. Spirits are endowed with free agency . . . . . . . 883. Spirits undergo a three-phase evaluation . . . . 894. Spirits altered by exercise of agency . . . . . . . 90

3. METATHEORETICAL CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92(SEE CHAPTER 6 FOR DETAILED DISCUSSION.)

III. SPIRIT FORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

IV. METAMORPHOSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 921. INITIAL CONDITIONS FOR PRE-EXISTENCE . . . . . . 932. PRE-EXISTENCE PHASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 933. PHYSICAL INITIAL CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

A. Singularity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94B. Big Bang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95C. Four Fundamental Forces of Physics . . . . . . . . 95D. Particle Zoo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95E. Energy, Matter & Entropy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96F. Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97G. Three-Dimensioned Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98H. Black Matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98I. Summary: Physical Initial Conditions . . . . . . . 98

4. MORTAL PHASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 995. POST-MORTAL INITIAL CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . 996. POST-MORTAL PHASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 997. JUDGEMENT AND RESURRECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

METAL TEMPERING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99SPIRIT METALLURGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100SERVICE/CHARITY AND

HONESTY/SINCERITY . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

8. POST-RESURRECTION ETERNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

V. GOD/DESS RETURN TO META CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . 101

CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

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1There is another relevant comment to make here, but it is not being stated as aprinciple. It is, rather, more like an assumption. SMD is fond of noting that the Lord operatesaccording to order, that there are laws that govern everything. I believe that is true. And it isfurther assumed that it is appropriate to take those Laws of Heaven and the Principles ofRighteousness, and to link them in what appear to be reasonable, sensible structures. Thisprocess leads to next steps and new understandings which are not apparent in SMD. Thisextending of basic principles in logical directions raises more questions than it answers. Buthere it is believed that intensive investigations of this kind of basic principles are valid.Rationalizations for this work, huh.

2You can form your own opinion. We don't claim to have succeeded, but the attempt hasbeen worth the effort because our understanding of the POS has deepened significantly.

3We acknowledge how brash this is, how presumptuous we are in this attempt. We areneither a scientist nor a divine. We simply trust that our good intentions, mixed with thepotpourri of readings and thoughts will produce a result that is at least interesting.

And as noted in the last foot note of this work, hundreds of pages forward from here atthe end of the third fascicle, we are operating under the impression that there is, after all, somesort of assignment given to us which impels us to slog forward, feeling equal parts fearful,tearful and joyful.

4Time really isn't the distinction, but it is an easier for our mortal minds to comprehend thanthe truth - whatever it is, and we don't know.

I. INTRODUCTION:

Over the years, we had impressions about possible inter-relationshipsbetween principles, laws and ordinances of the POS which are not spelledout in the canon. As these impressions congealed, and were exposed to thesun and wind, the residue was the ambitious goal of formulating a generaltheory of the POS.{1} In 1984, when we started to make notes, wewondered whether it might be possible to construct a theory that wouldpossess broad explanatory power, be internally consistent, encompass allaspects of the plan of salvation, relate otherwise unrelatable aspects thereof,make predictions that are not verifiable yet, etc. That hope had the qualitiesof a pipe-dream. But we believe that this model moves us in thatdirection.{2}

Now that you have been inoculated with some theory in the lastchapter, we will present the theoretical model we have made out of thatstuff. We include the basic elements from the preceding chapter, with thedifference that we extend them with details to indicate how they inter-relate. The first model we developed to capture the relationships between theseitems is on the next page.{3} After consideration of the implications of thisstructure, we recast the model.

Before moving to the new table, we need to spend a few momentslooking at the first version because the differences highlight some significantthings. Note that in the first version, there is one block of Initial Conditions,with two sub-sets, the Primordial Conditions (PC) and the Physical InitialConditions(PIC). We were short-circuited into thinking that they belongedtogether because they were in fact 'initial conditions.' But while they are'initial', they are not parallel as first assumed. True, they appear to be ofthe same genus, but the point in time{4} when they each {were-are-willbe} operative is significantly different.

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5If you wish to understand the symbolism of these Egyptian figures, see various Budgetexts, or see explanations for Fig.s 11 and 12 in the hypocephalus (No. 1) in the Book ofAbraham in the P of GP. Which may or may not be accurate - “accurate”? Definition?

The PC represent primordial conditions which we can only postulate as +))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))), .)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))- ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** +))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))),.)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))-64444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444475I. INITIAL CONDITIONS: 55 1. PRIMORDIAL CONDITIONS: 55 A. Priesthood & Anti-Priesthood 55 B. Metamorphosis Function 55 C. Intelligence 55 D. Prime Mover 55 2. PHYSICAL INITIAL CONDITIONS: 55 D. Singularity E. Big Bang 55 F. Four Fundamental Forces of Physics 55 G. Particle Zoo H. Energy 55 I. Time J. Three-dimensioned Space 55 K. Black Matter L. ??? 5:44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444< 5II. METATHEORETICAL CONDITIONS: 5 5 1. Accretion Condition 2. Algorithm Condition 5 5 3. Double-Bind Condition 4. Equal Opportunity Condition 5 5 5. Full Dose Corollary 6. Linear Sequencing Condition 5 5 7. Mechanics' Corollary 8. Non-equilibrium Condition 5 5 9. Opposition Condition 10. Paradox Postulate 5 5 11. Parsimony Principle 12. Permutation Principle 5 5 13. Scotoma Condition 14. Symmetry Condition 5 5 15. Teeter-Totter Condition 16. Truth-Faith Condition 5 :44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444< 5III. THEORETICAL PROPOSITIONS: 5 5 1. Spirits formed of Intelligence 55 2. Spirits endowed with free agency 55 3. Spirits undergo three-phase evaluation 55 4. Spirits altered by exercise of agency 59444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448 METAMORPHOSIS FUNCTION {5}644444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444479L4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4LL4L8 * ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** *6N4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4NN4N794444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448

TABLE 6. ELEMENTS OF THEORETICAL MODEL OF POS

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6See Chapter 11. SPIRIT BIRTH ORDINANCES for our guesses about this process.

7This point contrasts with some other footnotes. The difference explains, at least in part,why it is that we never wondered about whether or not these other worlds were created."Heaven" is the term that we discussed in other footnotes, and is the word which short-circuitedour brains.

This word is used in Christianity in general and SMD in particular to refer to threedifferent 'locations': pre-existence (we lived in 'heaven' before we came to earth), the post-mortal world (we go to 'heaven' when we die) and the post-resurrection world. By using thatterm to refer to these three existences, we apparently just assume they "have existed" and notwondered further about it.

Now, however, the implication of mortality having initial conditions is that the PE and PMworlds also did. That makes much more sense.

fundamental tenets of this model. There is no mortal evidence either way. In contrast, the PIC are associated only with this universe and world. Thelatter are all subject to some sort of finite proofs, though the proofs differ inpersuasiveness in some cases, in particular in regards to black matter. Thisdifference led us to recast the theoretical elements, and we came up withthe diagram shown on the following page. The largest single change was togroup three previously independent elements into a single set termed"meta-condition". This block stands as the foundation and source of all thatfollows in this model.

The first theoretical elements that we chose to derive from the meta-conditions were:

1) spirits2) Initial Conditions for Universe and Mortality

Spirits must be created{6} and we claim that these three primordialelements are the underpinning for such an enterprise.

The PIC are derived from the metaconditions and are obviously 'real'. Cosmologists and physicists have identified them experimentally, and youpersonally can attest to the reality of time and three dimensions. The PICraise an important point. As you remember from the last chapter, one of themost powerful things about a theory is the fact that a law, or a statement ora claim, will have implications for the theory beyond what the law statementinitially seems to suggest. These implications are otherwise invisible withouta model to elucidate them. They must be teased out and then evaluated. There are two implications of 2) in this context. They are:

1) The Premortal and Postmortal worlds were also created 2) These two worlds also arose from sets of initial conditions.

Lovely ideas. Given the symmetry of things in the POS, these insights make us

wonder why we ever considered that these two worlds could have somehow"just existed." They had to have been 'created'.{7} It would beasymmetrical to postulate a set of PIC for mortality, one of the testingphases, but none for the other two metamorphic phases. The phases areequally significant and represent unusual environments in comparison to the

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remainder of eternity that we will live in after the J & R. on our experiment

64444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444475 META CONDITIONS 5

644444=44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444=444444 75+)))))))))))))))))))), +)))))))))))))))))))))),+)))))))))))))))))))))))))) , 55* 1. Priesthood & * 1. Spirits made of * *1. Accretion Condition *55* Anti-Priesthood * * Intelligence. **2. Algorithm Condition *55* * * **3. Double Bind Condition *55* 2. Metamorphosis * *2. Spirits have **4. Equal Opptunity Condton *55* Function * * Free Agency **5. Full Dose Corollary *55* * * **15.Teeter-Totter Condition *55* 3. Intelligence * *3. Spirits experience **6. Linear Seqncng Conditon*55* 4. Prime Mover * * 3-phase evaluation **7. Mechanics' Corollary *55.))))))))) )) ))))))))- * **8. Nonequilibrium Condton *55 *4. Spirit matter is **9. Opposition Condition *55 * altered by exercise **10. Paradox Postulate *55 * of Free Agency **11. Parsimony Principle *55 * **12. Permutation Principle *55 .))))))))) ))))))))) - )- *13. Scotoma Condition *55 *14. Symmetry Condition *55 *16. Truth-faith Condition *5 5 .)))))))))))|)))))))) ))))) 59444444444444L44L4444444444444 44L4444 L444 4444444444444 4L444L4 4 44444 4 L4 8 % % * * * * * * * 64444444447 * * * * * * * 5 SPIRITS 5 * * * * * * * 9L444444448 * * 6444444444N4444N44 4 4 4 4 44 447 * * * * * * 5PHYSICAL INTIAL CONDITIONS5 * * * * * * 5 D. Singularity 5 * * * * 4N44N 4 7 5 E. Big Bang 5 6N444N47 * * 564444475 5 F. Four Forces 5 56444475 * * 55 IC? 55 5 G. Particle Zoo 5 55 IC? 55 * * 594444485 5 H. Energy 5 59444485 * * 9 L44L448 5 I. Time 5 94L44L48 * * * * 5 J. 3-D Space 5 * * * * * * 5 K. Black Matter 5 * * * * * * 944 4444444L4444L4 4 4 4 4 4444448 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 6444 444444N4 N444447 644444N4444N444447 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 N44N4 47 * . M PREMORTALITY K)) ) M MORTALITY K) )M POSTMORTALITY 5 * 94444444444444444448 944444444444444 448 94444444L44444444 8 * {{JUDGEMENT/RESURRECTION}} * T * 6444444 44N 4 4 4444 444 4;Z- 5 POST-RESURRECTION 5 94 4 4 4 44444444444444448 6444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444475 TABLE 6. SECOND THEORETICAL MODEL OF POS 5

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944444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448 as this one is. We have noted our belief that they represent testingconditions, conditions that are as unique when compared to our final state asare the condition of mortality. There are no guesses about what the initialconditions would be for these two states yet, but at a later date we willdoubtless come up with some speculation.

There is also a major difference between the two tables and themanner in which the Metamorphosis Function is incorporated. In the firstversion, it was perceived as being a by-product of the PC, sort of asynergistic consequence of those elements. That may, in fact, be true. However, in order to explicitly relate that function to the PC, we have chosento actually incorporate it into the set of PC. It is the mechanism thatcaptures spirits at their birth and carries them across the metamorphosis.

Another major difference between the two tables involves thejudgement and resurrection. The first model didn't take this into account. Itsimply outlined theoretical considerations, and failed to even refer to thethree-phase metamorphosis. We have added that reference, and a naturalconsequence of that inclusion is to require the model to also define theclosure mechanism of themetamorphosis. These ordinances do that, terminating our metamorphosison the one hand, and introducing us into eternity. In regards to this pair ofordinances note that there is a line drawn up the right side of the table fromthe post-resurrection world back to the meta conditions. That is the pathindividuals will traverse, at least metaphysically, if they meritcelestialization. At that point, they will become god/esses so will be able tointeract with the priesthoods, create spirits, define initial conditions, createuniverses, etc. We will now discuss all of these elements in the order theyappear in this table.

We will now address the elements of the model displayed on thepreceding page. Please note that the discussions of these items are ofnecessity abbreviated. We present the basic concepts in this chapter anddevote the remainder of this text to explication of some of this fairly crypticinformation.

+))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))),.)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))-

II. META-CONDITIONS:

The three items in this set must be postulated as existing in somemanner, in some location, or dimension or somehow. We don't

+))))))))))))))))))))))))))))),* 1. Primordial Conditions (PC) ** 2. Theoretical Propositions ** 3. Metatheory *

.)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))-Table ??. META CONDITIONS

know what one should say to specify just what it is that we are trying to say. Because we don't know what it is we are trying to say. We just know that in

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8Of course, the strait jacket was created by those divines.

9One can't help but hear with a chuckle the question about "the reason foreverything" in the HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY.

10Whether they would be the same for other universes is not guessable.

mortal language, we are trying to state that these things have existed'forever', that they have existed somewhere, they are manipulated by gods,and they impact everything and everyone everywhere all the time. Thosearen't the terms that divines use; they reflect a) the ignorance of mortals,and b) the obsessive, compulsive linearity of mortal thinking.{8}

1. PRIMORDIAL CONDITIONS: (PC)

These conditions are believed here to represent features orcharacteristics of eternity. They are the conditions which pre-existedeverything we are familiar with, everything that we have heard or dreamedabout, everything in this universe. We propose four conditions for this set:

+))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))), * A. Priesthood & Anti-Priesthood *

* B. Metamorphosis Function * * C. Intelligence *

* D. Prime Mover * .)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))-

Table 7. Primordial Conditions

We posit these PC as the pre-conditions for everything.{9} In particular, wepostulate them as the precursors for spirits and of the Physical InitialConditions. The PIC are the PIC for this specific universe, so became 'real'or operational at the point it was created.{10} Since this universe came intoexistence at a specific point in mortal/universal time, there were precursorsof various sorts which are postulated as having existed eternally. All orsome of these factors controlled in some fashion how the creation occurred. The PIC are derivatives, or under the control of, the PC.

A. Priesthood & Anti-Priesthood

We postulate the existence of a combination of powers that hasexisted {forever x forever}forever, in whatever space, time, or dimensionshave existed for that amount of space, or time or number of dimensions.

There is a primordial, eternal beneficent power matchedwith a malignant power, which interact with each otherthrough out time and space.

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11Is it really 'power'? Who knows. Who can even guess. What is power?

See Chapter 9. DARTH VADER DILEMMA for more discussion of this puzzle.

12That is, there is nothing in science to suggest priesthood, unless you take thewonder of cosmologists about the startling coincidences that made this earth and uspossible. Hawking referred to "God" eleven times in A SHORT HISTORY OF TIME, and endsthe Word.

13Not nearly the rigorous, objective process imagined by laymen.

14They obviously don't think of it this way, no more than a chef thinks about thereality that all s/he is doing in the kitchen with heat and pans, is chemicalmanipulations of aromatic substances, different textured materials, etc. Indeed, someof the most pungent foods, e.g. cheeses like Stilton, blue, etc. and funyu (fermentedtofu), all depend for their flavors on the by-products of complex biochemical reactionsbetween particular genera of microorganisms and their food supply. (Don't think too hardabout that last sentence if you have a weak stomach. It's sort of sickening.

15Another point of speculation revolves around the prefix 'anti-'. In physics,

there are anti-particles for 'regular' particles, anti-matter for matter. Is this thesame correlation as the priesthood and anti-priesthood?

The Priesthood is whatever it is.{11} It is invisible to mortals. There isnothing in the world of science to even suggest that it exists.{12} As far asbelievers are concerned, it exist, it works and that's that. Logical proof isimpossible.

But there is more to say. This force is assumed within SMD and thismodel to govern or control everything in the universe, from pendulums andfreezing water to changes of seasons and death. All of the laws of naturewhich are discovered scientifically{13} are believed to be expressions of thisforce, including the four fundamental forces of the physicist. SMD, as it iscommonly taught, appears to suggest that the only way a person canexercise the priesthood is to have it formally bestowed in some fashion. This, however, is a rather narrow, parochial, and we believe, only partiallycorrect view.

If the priesthood is in fact the basis for everything, scientific or not-scientific, and if it is manipulated by obedience, then, we claim in this model,righteous acts of all people can impinge on, or activate, the priesthood insome fashion. Those actions, whether ones calculated to assure one'sliturgical purity, or ones that are intended to manipulate scientific laws, alsomanipulate priesthood powers, if one believes literally that the Priesthoodgoverns all. This means that 'godless' scientists [if such exist] are actuallystudying and handling priesthood powers{14}, an ironic thought.

In this model, it is believed that there is actually no difference betweenthese two types of obedience referred to above. Obedience manipulateslaws, both scientific and theological, and all laws are laws of heaven. Theecclesiastical variety is termed principles of righteousness, the other arescientific laws, as if there was a difference. The only difference is that theformer are invisible, and are not available to experimentation and validationby everyone like the latter are.

The curious twist to this priesthood business is Satan. The priesthoodof God is believed to be opposed by an anti-priesthood,{15} a "dark"

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16Do look at 9. DARTH VADER DILEMMA for more details on this matter. Also note

here the term "nearly". I don't know what the basis is for this reservation: fear orconviction?

17For references, see Lightman, Capra, Gribbin, Hawking, etc. Pre-eminent cosmologists all.

18Remember: the purpose of the theory is to make sense out of the field being investigated, to createan orderly model of the field. That is not the same as defining what the 'purpose' of the field itself is.If there is one, as in the present case.

priesthood, of (nearly?) equal power which is employed by evil forces.{16} This dark priesthood must be the power of Satan, and company. It is theforce of evil that opposes and counterbalances the silver or white priesthoodof God everywhere in the universe.

B. Metamorphosis Function

As you recall, we discussed 'purpose' in the preceding chapter, butthat 'purpose' was the purpose for creating a theoretical model. Thatpurpose had nothing to do with the field under investigation. That purposeis independent of the field. As we look back to our training and reading fordiscussions of the purpose or function of the investigational field itself, wedon't recall that there was much discussion of the 'purpose' or 'object' or'goal' or 'intention' or 'point' or 'reason' or 'mission' or 'purpose' or 'scheme',etc. of the field itself.

Perhaps the question of the purpose or function of the field beingexamined is generally a trivial one because there may be no such thing as a'purpose', as in the world of math, or in others where there may be nopurpose, or it may be self-evident. To inquire after the purpose of geologicalprocesses or chemical processes is to ask a silly question. For example,while formulating a model of the Big Bang, there probably is no reason toask, "What was the purpose of the Big Bang?" Right? Wrong.

It will be abundantly clear in the footnotes which follow through thiswork that cosmologists find themselves face to face with that exactquestion:

Why was the Big Bang?{17}

So our claim a minute ago of not encountering discussions of the 'purpose'of the investigational field is really a straw man. This too-obvious techniqueleads to the point we wish to make.

We must specify what we posit as the purpose of the metamorphosisand POS -which you will please to not confuse with the purpose of thetheoretical structure:{18}

The function, i.e. purpose and effect, of themetamorphosis and POS is to provide the opportunity and mechanism for embryonic spirits to attain the awful

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19LDS recognize this as the 'purpose' of the POS, as noted in the Preface. It is just that, and in anymodel of the POS, it should be formally stated. The question we leave undiscussed here is the one of: wheredid the Metamorphosis Function derive? An unnerving question to ask, and probably worse to have answered.

20See Chapter 11. SPIRIT BIRTH ORDINANCES for a discussion of how we have imagined this birthing

process.

21This is a neat, though simple, example to illustrate why it is the Buddhist believes that perfectionis voidness. One thing implies its opposite. So if there were joy in the state of perfection, there would ofnecessity have to be sadness, if there were pleasure, there would have to be pain, if there were happiness,there would have to be sorrow, if there were thought, there would have to be whatever the opposite it, etc.

majesty of god-ness.{19}

This postulate, which we name the 'Metamorphosis Function' (MF), is anarticle of faith -like the rest of the PC- which is not subject to (dis-)proof. The entire theory is designed and aimed directly in this direction. From itstem all of the other elements, the various types of conditions, thepropositions, the metatheory, etc. It is assumed to derive its power andauthority from the pair of priesthoods. There are no other candidates for thesource of this MF, if it indeed, even had a source.

Let's look closer at the MF for a minute. The definition of 'function' isbipartite: 'purpose' which suggests something about what is intended to beaccomplished, while 'effect' alludes to consequences of that purpose. Theyare nearly the same thing, but are subtlely different. In this model, theeffect is on the spirit through some chemistry on its matter.

The other pair of words to comment about is 'opportunity' and'mechanism'. 'Opportunity' refers to spirits being provided with all situationsnecessary to comprehensively evaluate their (un)willingness to comply withthe Laws of Heaven. The 'mechanism' refers to the mysterious process offree agency and/or priesthood power altering the spirit matter. 'Purpose'and 'opportunity' are nearly a pair, while 'effect' and 'mechanism' are.

C. Intelligence

The third PC we postulate, on the basis of 1) SMD, and 2) exigency ofthe theory, is Intelligence. We need something from which to make spiritswho are then sent packing on the metamorphosis.{20} It is mystical stuffwithout any history or provenance being specified in the Christian canon. We do not countenance the concept of spirits a) coming into existence at thepoint of birth into the mortal world, nor b) being created out of nothing.

We wonder what the relationship is of intelligence to the "singularity,"energy" and "black matter" that are postulated below in the PIC. To amortal mind, those three elements from the PIC must have had a substratefrom which they arose, a precursor of some sort. This mercuric stuff wouldbe a tidy source to invoke as their precursor. But there is no reason tobelieve it is.

Occasionally, there is reference in the additional SMD to"intelligences", plural instead of mass, which implies the opposite,{21} i.e.singular, hence individual intelligences. Does this refer to spirits after theyhad been constructed, or does it refer to intelligence before it was consumedin spirit formation? If the former, there is not problem, because the pluralwould just be a notational variant of 'spirit; if the latter, there is a problem.

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22Yes, there are peculiar circumstances in which a mass noun can be counted, but it is sort of cheatingto bring that in here. That is like counting "waters", referring to number of glasses of water set on a tableby a waiter. Water in that situation probably should be considered a homophone, rather than a specialdefinition of mass-water.

23The details vary considerably. Ancient Egyptians creation had many characteristics different from

the Judaeo-Christian on, and from most others. But there is also considerable similarity. Why?

24In the text I have over-simplified this business to move the arguments along. Note that SMD also

makes a great deal out of the Father saying that He is "Endless", and other epithets connoting eternal eternityas His lifespan. Noone raises their hand to say, "Wait a minute. You just told me He was once as we are. Nowyou tell me He is 'Endless'. Isn't that double talk? What's the truth?"

We don't know, but we won't swallow the contradiction without noting its existence.

25As the lady told Huxley, "It's turtles all the way down."

26This matter of patterns recurring throughout our metamorphosis and eternity is an important one to

this theory. We have codified it as the CYCLICAL CONDITION in the next chapter.

This would mean that there are chunks or pieces of intelligence that aresomehow identifiable as individual chunks. That contradicts our perhapsmistaken impression that spirits were created from a mass of intelligence. Amass of something, like 'water', cannot be counted like individual can, "oneman, two men, etc.".{22} The advantage of individual chunks would be thatspirits could possibly be constructed from those discrete chunks, rather thanbeing concocted from a lump pinched off the continuous mass, though whatdifference that would make is not clear.

D. Prime Mover

The last PC we postulate is a Prime Mover. To Christians, this is theFather Himself, the Elohim of the OT. To other religions, it is a differententity, but the function, role and purpose are generally the same.{23} Thisentity, usually masculine and occasionally without consort, through a set ofappointed servants, created this earth as well as the people who live on it. A question that seems to be open in other religions is whether or not thatset of servants also created this universe, a wholly different proposition, forwhich there is no convincing evidence either way. SMD seems to suggestthat they created both.

Another question: Is the Father really THE Prime Mover, the ultimatesource of everything? There are SMD references to the 'fact' that the Fatherwas once a mortal like we are now.{24} If that is the case, and we have noreason or desire, to argue against it, then He, too, must have been theprogeny of an 'earlier' Prime Mover, who was preceded by another, ad pre-infinitum.{25} Note that in this set of PC, we give priority to the power, thepriesthoods, over the Prime Mover. We have taken sides in the chicken-and-egg business. Are we right? We don't know, but make this choice on thebasis of this argument. SMD, as just noted, claims that the Prime Mover ofthis world, Elohim, was Himself the progeny of an "earlier" Prime Mover. Ifthis relationship is true, and if eternity is endless, and is predictable andsystematic{26}, then we will believe that Elohim's Prime Mover was, in turn,progeny of another one. If He wasn't the Prime Prime Mover, then thepower of a prime mover, at least, had to have pre-existed Him. Since we

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27Of course, we are mis-stating the fundamental question. We are casting it as a mortal would cast it,i.e. as if there was a linear sequencing of dynasties and some sort of precedence between at least some PrimeMovers and the eternal power. Perhaps the real question is totally different, and the reality the same. Butwe can't begin to really comprehend it. Sorry for mis-leading you. And leaving it in the text. But I did thatto stimulate you to think beyond what would have happened if I had left this paragraph out.

28Obviously, we do not attribute these statement to Christ. Nor do we

suggest they even represent in any manner the 'true' -whatever that means-statements would be as cast by Him. We merely claim that they stand as thefoundation of this particular model.

29I can't help noting something for the LDS reader. Today, explorations

of non-canonical works is discouraged by at least some of the 12. So it isparticularly interesting to read the appendix included in the LECTURES ON FAITH,compiled by NB Lundwall. The appendix is prepared by Ariel L. Crowley, Ll.B., andis described as a "Condensed Research Bibliography of Works Cited and Sources ofQuotations" which appear in the lectures themselves. The remarkable thing aboutthis bibliography is that it contains so many non-canonical works some of whichare listed here:

APOCRYPHAL WORKS ATHANASIUSSYRIAC VERSION (OF THE PESHITTO) TESTAMENTS OF THE TWELVE PATRIARCHSTHEODOTUS TRACT BAVA BATHRACLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA CATHOLIC MASSESTIMOTHEUS OF CONSTANTINOPLE TERTULLIANCHRONICON PASCHALE CYPRIAN

can't guess how many steps back one must go to get to the beginning of thedynasties -if, indeed, one can ever get to a beginning, then it is difficult todetermine that there was a Prime Mover or not before there was power.{27}

2. THEORETICAL PROPOSITIONS:

In the mid-1980's, during the earliest development of this work, a setof generalizations were derived from the data that is presented in greatlyexpanded form below in the other chapters. These concepts were framed inbrief statements that were termed 'principles' at one time, and 'premises' atanother time. Over the succeeding years, these concepts and statementsunderwent subtle evolution as this whole work developed, evolutionnecessitated by new insights and previously unprocessed data. They entaileverything that is discussed below, everything in the Christian Canon and allof the intentions of the Christ.{28} They were later renamed "propositions". Today we postulate these propositions as the foundation for the entiretheory. Together they comprise the basic theory of the POS. Obviously theyfit together with the initial conditions, boundary conditions and metatheory,but they constitute the core of the theory.

A helpful analogy to draw here is to compare them, in a trivial sense,to the four fundamental forces of mortal physics, the strong force, the weakforce, gravity and the electromagnetic force. Those fundamental forces arethe foundation from which all physical and chemical entities and phenomenaof mortality are derivable and explainable. Waterfalls, explosions, sunsetsand sand. In a comparable manner, everything in the POS can be derivedfrom this set of propositions. All of the laws, ordinances and principlesrevealed to us mortals in the Plan, as contained in canonized scriptures{29},

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GOLDEN BOUGH HIPPOLYTUSIGNATIUS

First, it is interesting to note how widely read Joseph Smith was. One would notexpect him on, the basis of the simplistic stories told about him, to discoverthat he wandered around in this sort of material. Second, given what appearsto be (though this is perhaps only the attitude of a few individuals) the currentdynasty's prohibitions on reading of non-canonical works, one would not expectJoseph to have quoted from this sort of stuff in his School of the Prophets. Buthe did. Widely. I like that. A later parallel is James Talmage and his JESUSTHE CHRIST. While the text appears to have been heavily influenced byEdersheim's THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JESUS THE MESSIAH, it also refers to a widerange of texts. The last time I counted there were more than 60 different, non-LDS citations, a remarkable fact given the near-sacred position accordedTalmage's work. Remarkable at least within the context of the current dynasty'sanxiety about non-canonical reading.

30We need to remind you of something here. We think that the set of principles and laws and ordinancesthat have been revealed to us mortals on this particular earth is only a subset of a larger set of ordinancesand laws and principles that constitute the full set of the laws of heaven which are subsumed by the eternalpriesthood. The unrevealed items are not needed during mortality, for which reason they are not revealed.

But they are nonetheless active here, and if the conditions or behaviors which trigger their applicationare satisfied by an individual, the law or principle does respond, bestowing the related blessing(s). It isbelieved here that some or all of these other not-mortally-revealed items may be revealed in either or both ofthe other two testing phases. And it is believed that those individuals who rise to the status of God will knowand understand them all, and will manipulate them to their purposes.

31That is a rash statement to make. It makes us sound like we, too, believe we understand. We don't.Our approximations of the theory and the various conditions are probably fundamentally wrong. But that's justfine. We are thinking. We are trying. It will be a glorious thing to sit at His feet and have Him take thischildish model in hand and dissect it with love and comprehension, correcting the misunderstandings andinforming us of the additional information that should have been incorporated or which was absent frommortality. Marvelous opportunity to look forward to.

are merely local applications of these four elements.{30}The strongest claim we will make about these propositions, from a

theoretical point of view, is that they are mortal expressions of aspects ofthe METAMORPHOSIS FUNCTION discussed above. The MF doubtless entailsconcepts beyond human understanding, but these statements suffice todefine the basic theoretical model that we are presenting below. They arederivable from the powers of eternity, the primordial conditions, byperfected beings who are empowered with all knowledge and authority.{31}

The generalizations, which we term propositions are included in thefollowing table:

+))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))),*1. Spirits formed of Intelligence **2. Spirits endowed with free agency **3. Spirits undergo three-phase evaluation **4. Spirits altered by exercise of agency *

.)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))-

Table 9. THEORETICAL PROPOSITIONS

All of these elements operate within the context of both sets of initialconditions described above. Indeed, they appear to be in part theconsequence of the operation of those conditions and the manner in whichthey interact. These statement are applicable in, or relevant to, all three

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32The precise quote, from the D:C 131:7-8 is:

"There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, andcan only be discerned by purer eyes; We cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall seethat it is all matter."

While we don't know what intelligence is, we have encountered some interesting speculations from non-LDS, sortof a shock. We thought SMD had the corner of the use of the term in the particular sense it is used here, butnot true. Gribbin says:

"Science fiction authors, and some who write nonfiction, have speculated on the possibilities of, forexample, life on the surface of a neutron star, or intelligence generated by magnetic fields that eddythrough a black cloud in space." (1989:14)

The comment about 'intelligence' from magnetic fields interacting with black clouds is curious, and at leastis a specific possibility.

33That is a bold statement for Joseph to make. Few individuals would dare make such a bald statementabout the essence of spirits, though they believe in their reality. This is perhaps one of the originalcontributions of SMD to the canon.

testing phases of the metamorphosis. These statements are constrainedduring the testing of spirits by the metatheoretical conditions defined in thenext chapter. We will present brief discussions of each proposition here, andyou will be referred back to them throughout the text.

64444444444444444444444444444444444444444751. Spirits are formed of Intelligence 5944444444444444444444444444444444444444448

Joseph Smith, jr. explained that spirits consist of matter, even thoughit is not discernable to mortals.{32} This dogma is extended further here tosuggest the obvious, obvious when one considers the nature of the matterwe can see:

This spirit matter, whatever it is, has inherentcharacteristics which represent qualities or attributesof some type.

The source of this intelligence is not known. Smith's doctrine isexpanded a bit in another scripture where he notes that all space is filledwith matter, which we interpret to also suggest that this matter is, byextension, perhaps eternal in nature. In this case, intelligence which mightqualify to be that matter, would be eternal, having no beginning, nor end.

The process of converting this intelligence into spirits is also unknown. It is discussed somewhat in Chapter 21...MALE AND FEMALE CREATED HETHEM... but there are no answers, only questions. Regardless of the birthingmechanism, we maintain that spirits do consist of intelligence,{33} and thatthe matter is malleable. These concepts have obvious implications for themetamorphosis we undergo. Our spirit matter itself is being altered, just asthe cellular structure of a caterpillar is altered during its metamorphosis.

644444444444444444444444444444444444444444752. Spirits are endowed with free agency 5

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34Actually, it is the Bonobo ape, not a 'great' ape, that is most like us. Biologist have calculatedthat approximately 90% of the genetic material of this ape is shared with homo sapiens. Astounding. Incontrast, canines only share around 15%. The depressing trait of the bonobo that one wonders whether is relatedin any manner to this shared DNA is its remarkable promiscuity. Certainly not something we take pride in.

35The notion of creativity is one of the hallmarks of human communication. By 'creativity' we refer

to new usages, new combinations of words or syntax, which carry semantic baggage previously unexpressed orunencountered. It accounts for poetry and for new expressions that we have never been exposed to. Sara andWasho have gotten great press for their 'creative' use of symbolic language. It does appear at one level thatthey are capable of creativity, but only at a most primitive level. Their creativity is probably akin to thelimited creativity possible in computer languages which are severely constrained ultimately, childishapproximations of human speech. Try and compose a sonnet in Fortran. Or a limerick. Or write a novel.

36See 15. CONSCIOUSNESS - COGITO ERGO SUM for a discussion of the differences between types of spiritsand free agency and obedience.

37Obviously, there are powers, abilities, etc. that also characterize gods, but those are ultimately

all consequences or products of the exercise of the agency of those beings. Or so we maintain here.

9444444444444444444444444444444444444444448

It is believed here that the property of free agency is the fundamentaldifference between humans and non-humans on this earth. True, there areother attributes, such as speech and the capacity to indulge in abstractthinking, which also differentiate homo sapiens from the great apes{34} andprobably fossil hominids, the two groups most like us. But it is the ability toexercise free agency, with full cognition of the consequences of the choicesmade, that is held here to be THE cardinal difference.

It is believed that free agency implies "personhood" in the likeness ofGod, that it is the true mark of (latent) godhoodness. A spirit endowed withfree-agency is capable of inter-acting with its environment with "intention"and according to abstract concepts which don't have objective correlates inthat environment. Apes cannot do that, even though they do act with whatappears to be intention or one sort, and in response to their environment. The repertoire of responses of these creature, while broad and apparentlycapable of modification, and possibly even creative{35}, is nonethelessrestricted in certain ways that human spirits are not. We claim here thatthese restrictions are related, at least in part, to the amount or type of freeagency that is given to their spirits during spirit birth ordinances{36}. Unfettered free agency, however, is the sine quae non of a god{37}, andonly human possess it on this earth. Our model of the POS offersanother indirect bit of evidence to support the elevation of free agency to thelevel of a god-like attribute. The argument goes this way:

1) The metamorphosis postulated in the model has onepurpose and one purpose only: to test spirits prior toassigning them to some "location" for the remainder ofeternity.

2) The manner in which spirits demonstrate their obedience, and undergo transformations during the metamorphosis, is through the exercise of their free agency. Our choices areaggregated across the three testing phases for total reviewat the final judgment.

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38All of SECTION III. PRE-EXISTENCE PHASE -Chapters 12 through 18- addresses this matter from variouspoints of view.

39We suspect that there is a mechanism whereby we can get off the greased rail during mortality:

suicide. The canon is silent on this matter, but it is a serious one, and we suggest that it is so seriousbecause we are essentially cutting ourself off like Satan and Co. did in the PE. See Chapter 33. OBESITY,ALCOHOLISM AND SUICIDE for details of our concepts about suicide.

40We can't help wondering if there could be any sort of back doors, sort of a "Chutes and Ladders"

system, whereby we could slip between phases in a different order. While that seems like a possibility, wedon't entertain it seriously for the simple reason that the POS is fundamentally a plan of order, and thisconcept seems to violate order. Maybe not: as long as the moves are constrained by chutes and ladders, whichare manifestations of the priesthood, perhaps this sort of sequence would be allowed. (How about going backto re-do a phase?!) The position we will maintain here is that we are granted a wide latitude of choicesduring the phases. It seems unlikely that we would be allowed to skip across major phases because the testingis incrementally defined and constrained.

A problem that crops up in this regard is that posed by stillborns. SMD offers no convincing discussionabout these creatures. Are they in fact the unused vehicles for unique spirits that were somehow "given" access

3) This agency is a) tested in all three phases, and since b) the correct exercise of it leads to celestialization, then 4) Free agency must be THE tool whereby we can be elevatedto the status of god(ess)hood.

This argument is not as tightlystructured as it might be, but the point it makes is that free agency is thesentinel attribute that is evaluated during the metamorphosis. As notedbelow, we suggest that free agency of spirits derives from a majormodification during spirit "birth" of a latent attribute or characteristic ofintelligence.{38}

64444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444753. Spirits undergo a three-phase evaluation: 5944444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448

This matter has already been discussed at some length in Chapter 3.METAMORPHOSIS METAPHOR. The PE, Mortality and PM are designed toelicit evidence about the types of choices we will make under a wide range ofconditions. The purposes of this three-phase test are:

1) to give us a complete range of opportunities to exercise our free agency under all possible conditions,

2) to allow us to demonstrate what kinds of choices we will make, and

3) to accumulate evidence to be used during the final judgement that will consign us to our 'mansion'.

Going through this three-phase testing sequence is not a matter of choicefor us, except in a trivial sense. Once we were shaped into spirits, we wereput on a greased rail that leads through the three phases. Only Satan'sfollowers were able to get off this track by their choice(s) in the PE.{39} Norare we given any choice about the order in which we are subjected to thesetesting phases. They are obligatorily sequenced in relationship to eachother, and we must pass through each one.{40}

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to those little bodies, but for reasons we don't know, didn't inhabit them like we have? Or are those bodiessimple failed organ systems that never did enjoy connection to a spirit? These are two fundamentally differentpossibilities, and we have no yardstick to help us choose between them. However, you can see the implicationa propos this matter of sequencing of phases.

41We assert that this is also true of the other testing phases.

42Once more, we admit that this is an inadequate term to use to refer to the texture or quality or

consistency of spirit matter, whatever it is. But it is the closest analogy we can think of, and it does servewell to convey the concept we are trying to express.

During the metamorphosis, the laws and powers of heaven, and theprinciples of righteousness, all manifestations of the eternal priesthood, areactive, and respond appropriately to our choices. The black priesthood isalso active and responsive to our choices.

64444444444444444444444444444444444444444444754. Spirits altered by exercise of agency 5944444444444444444444444444444444444444444448

Spirit matter is subject to being restructured, modified or rearranged,just like mortal matter is subject to alteration. As noted above, we believethat during mortality this manipulation or restructuring of spirit matter iseffected through two different, but complementary, forces or influences:

(a) the exercise of an individual's own free agency, and/or

(b) the application of powers of heaven to the spirit, which laws are triggered by obedience to the laws of heaven{41}

The net effect of both types of manipulation of spirit molecular structure iscalculated and manifested at the big judgment. Then this structure is 'fixed'in place by the resurrection. We live the remainder of eternity in that shapeor configuration or whatever word is correct to describe whatever it is we aretrying to capture about our spirit matter nature.

In some manner, the process of making decisions and executing them,has an effect on the molecular structure{42} of the spirit matter. Take as ananalogy from mortality the crystalline lattice structure that metallicmolecules are arranged in. This three dimensional lattice can be altered byvarious metallurgical processes: alloying with other metals, heating, coatingwith chemicals, etc.

In a similar fashion, spirit matter, at a fine structure level, is arrangedin some sort of lattice-work or other structure. As noted above, we believethat the exercise of one's agency, selecting and implementing choices is oneof the two basic methods through which spirit matter is modified, as notedabove under PROPOSITION 2. The other method is through the directapplication of the priesthood on spirit matter such that its structure isaltered in some manner.

Another mortal analogy to bring in that a propos this concept of finestructure modifications of spirit matter is the anatomy and physiology ofmortal muscle tissue. When we use muscles, they undergo changes at a

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43It is noted here that this business of "exercising" priesthood is not understood. How an individualactually "connects" with the priesthood, and thereby causes it to respond sympathetically in accordance withthe law being triggered by the purposeful behavior, is beyond mortal comprehension.

44The major benefit of having the priesthood conferred on a person is that it empowers him/her to actthrough it on the behalf of another person. The triggering of priesthood laws referred to here concerns thestatus of the individual him/herself who is doing the obeying. True, the consequence might rebound positivelyto other people as well, but that is more on the order of a by-product of the first application to theindividual him/herself.

The curious contrast here, then, is that for an individual to trigger the Law of Heaven on his/her ownbehalf, s/he does not need to have the ecclesiastical bestowal of the priesthood. Does that mean, then, thatwe all already possess in some manner priesthood powers?

I personally am persuaded that women come to earth empowered with the priesthood (See chapter 17.MORTAL BIRTH ORDINANCES for details.) to create child bodies, so find it easy to believe that we all are endowedwith whatever keys we need for the activation of the priesthood on our own behalf in particular.

45Obviously, mortals do not understand these alterations, but it is believed that there are systematiceffects of all of the laws and powers of heaven, such that every spirit will experience the same change fromeach law, assuming that the laws are triggered.

46I suppose that gamma radiation can be considered an external influence which can directly impinge onand alter cellular integrity and function. That would make it analogous to the priesthood in a trivial sense,though the consequence can be cellular death, rather than something positive.

molecular level that are commensurate with the amount and type of exercisethey are subjected to. For example, they may increase in strength as theactin-myosin junctions undergo demand-mediated changes. Or the bulk ofthe muscle may increase due to the nature and duration of the stressesimposed on them. Or muscle flexibility may increase. Thesemeasurable changes in muscle characteristics are directly related to theamount and type of exercise they are subjected to. Just look at the effectsin body builders. This is precisely how the matter of the spirit is modified. The specific actions and activities of an individual's will produce, to one whounderstands spirit matter, predictable alterations in the spirit. It won't be achange in the strength of the actin-myosin junction, nor in bulk norflexibility, but it WILL be a change in something that IS characteristic ofspirit matter. The point of the three phase metamorphosis is to provide usall ample opportunities to make correct choices, i.e. ones that will enableand allow us to develop in our spirit matter into optimal crystalline lattices(or whatever 'structures' they are).

In addition to the foregoing method of spirit matter modification, thepower of the priesthood can also alter spirit molecular structure.{43} Notethat this is a special form of "exercise" of the priesthood that apparentlydoes not require that the spirit have the priesthood formally bestowed on aperson, at least not in the ecclesiastical sense.{44} Obedience to the laws ofheaven triggers those laws, regardless of whether or not the priesthood hasbeen formally bestowed on the individual, whether male or female, Hindu,Taoist, Shinto, Islam, ten or one hundred years old, red, yellow, striped orblack, etc.{45}

The aspect of this spirit modification business that does not harmonizewith the mortal muscle model arises from the fact that the Laws of Heavencan directly alter spirit matter in some manner. Mortal muscles are notnormally subject to the influence of forces outside of the mortal body.{46} They only respond to internal levels of exercise, intrinsic biochemicalprocesses, including age-related ones, nutritional status, etc. But otherwise,the analogy between mortal muscle changes and spirit substance changes

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47Obviously, the effect of the black priesthood will not be celestial.

48This is an important question because the over-whelming majority of mortals will have lived and died,probably >95%, without hearing a peep about SMD, so the issue of precisely what their objective was is not easyto answer. Most of them will not even be Christian, but they will nonetheless have a chance atcelestialization, so there are forces and principles and conditions at work that are not alluded to in SMD,which confer that opportunity on all mortals.

By this, we are not referring to the story about the Millennium being the time when things are workedout. Peoples' lives and decisions during all of the three testing phases will somehow be integrated into theactivities of the millennium. Unfortunately for SMDers, that is probably an unsatisfactory concept because mostprobably perceive that proselyting in the next world will be THE way uninitiated individuals will get their'chance' and prove their intentions.

We politely demure. Such a perception, while attractive for its simplicity and for seeming to haveexplanatory power, is essentially a trivial explanation. It neutralizes or minimizes or discounts all of therest of the testing those spirits went through during their metamorphoses. It means that the testing was fornaught. We invoke the Mechanic's Corollary here. The Lord's POS has not incorporated in it any unessential,meaningless elements. All three testing phases have meaning and (un-)value for all spirits. The Millenniumis merely the time where ordinances can be completed for those who wish to partake, a sort of bureaucratic orclerical timeout to get the paperwork done and boots polished. Spirits general inclination during themillennium will have been generally, and doubtless amply, demonstrated during the testing phases. Weacknowledge that change in the Millennium is possible, but doubt that substantial changes will occur. We remainwhat we were. So if a Muslim demonstrated discipleship of Christ -even though he never heard of Christ- byhaving love for his fellowmen, he will merit the same reward a dyed in the wool LDS who succeeds will earn.

49We repeat ourselves for emphasis. Our apologies. We claim that this is the prime objective of all

three testing phases, the point of the entire metamorphosis. Without this purpose, the metamorphosis conceptfalls apart, because it has not underlying thread on which to hang the otherwise disparate elements.

50For a discussion of faith, see 27. FAITH.

51See footnotes above regarding the application of these concepts to all testing phases.

under loading conditions holds true.Through the effect of both types of changes, those mediated through

the exercise of agency, and those that result from the application of thepriesthood, spirits begin to take on the attributes or characteristics ofcelestial beings.{47} Note the assumption that celestial specifications arethe ones we are striving to meet. Is that a fair assumption for mortals?{48} It is believed that it is the intention of the Father that this be the majorobjective of this mortal test,{49} but obviously individuals down here don'tknow of it or they alter their objectives.

There are two additional comments to add regarding PROPOSITION 4. First, faith is critical to the process. Without faith, change is somehow notpossible. And second, metallurgy provides a neat analogy as noted in thefollowing paragraph. Regarding faith,{50} it is suggested that it must beexhibited by an individual in order for the laws of heaven and the effects ofexercise of agency to have maximal benefit on and to the individual. One ofthe basic requirements for the testing environment of mortality{51} is thatwe not be able to see the whole picture and that we not be able tounderstand what is going on. That requires us to accept things on faith andallows, or better, forces, us to act on the basis of faith. This, then, providesmaximal growth opportunity for the spirit matter.

3. METATHEORETICAL CONDITIONS

This is the third member of the meta conditions postulated here. Younote from the table that there are sixteen of these conditions. As noted in

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52Of course, we are not suggesting that the MF ceases to exist. It doesn't. We simply state that itwill no longer have any effect on our spirits because they won't be spirits any more.

the previous chapter, the metatheory serves as a control on the form andfunction of the theory itself. This suggests to us that we should incorporatethe conditions in the meta box. The detailed discussion of the metatheoryand the conditions is found in the following chapter due to the quantity ofinformation that must be handled.

III. SPIRIT FORMATION:

This is the process whereby spirits are created from intelligence andset on their way. The metamorphosis function takes over the control of thelife of spirits as they traverse the metamorphosis. This control, mediatedthrough the priesthood with some direction from the PM, is relinquished atthe resurrection. At that point, the spirit is no longer a spirit. It becomessomething permanent, and is no longer subject to the effect of themetamorphosis function.{52}

IV. METAMORPHOSIS:

After the spirits are created, they are sent on their way through thetesting mazes set up for them. Chapter 3 went into detail about thisconcept, which serves as the basis for the theory. The purpose of themetamorphosis has been discussed at various points above, and will beilluminated repeatedly through this work.

1. INITIAL CONDITIONS FOR PRE-EXISTENCE

There is no evidence in the canon about whether or not there was anysort of 'creation' process for the PE. The scriptures just jump into the middleof the story line, having spirits in a conference with the Father and Christand Satan. However, given the manner in which theories behave,specifically, given the way they make implications about otherwiseunattested facts, we are going to make the strong claim here that the PEunderwent some sort of creation, that there were initial conditions thatcontrolled just what its nature was.

This creation was perhaps quite different from that of this earth anduniverse, at least in terms of the details. But the purpose of the IC andwhatever dynamic process would be analogous to the 'big bang', would be tobring into existence a location where the spirits could be congregated for thePE where all of the things noted in the canon -and a jillion other things- tookplace for us and are still taking place for those who are waiting for their starttimes. This creation would have to have been completed prior to the Father

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53Wouldn't it? We suppose the Father could have created us and held us in some sort of limbo until Hegot around to making a play pen for us. However, that simply pushes back one step the question, forcing us toaddress the issue of where this storage place was that we were held in. He is systematic and thorough, so Hehad the PE ready for the first spirits.

54At one point, we were tempted to defined these conditions as boundary conditions, rather than a subsetof the initial conditions. However, we have decided to exclude the term 'boundary' condition from ourvocabulary. Those elements are subsumed under initial conditions or metatheoretical conditions.

(THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH IS PRESERVED FROM AN EARLIER DRAFT. IT ILLUSTRATES THE CONFUSION WE ENCOUNTEREDFOR A WHILE WE SORTED OUT BOUNDARY CONDITIONS: We mention boundary conditions below, but cannot determine atthis point in time what the substantive difference is between the two sets. Setting both up is perhapsunnecessary, though intuitively we think there may be a difference.)

55Capra (1991:76) lists more than 200 of the elementary particles -different species of mesons and

baryons- that have been identified so far, from which all matter is created. Matter consists of nothing butthese entities which appear to be energy waves rather than actual particles. Startling, isn't it, to discoverthat there are so many 'things' that electrons are built of. Which things don't seem to be much of anythingat all except energy.

Bohr's planetary model of the atom was a lovely model, and was predicated on a belief that physicistswould eventually be able to find the smallest building blocks of matter. Only time and energy would be requiredto finally get to that last irreducible level. But what has happened in quantum physics is a) the destructionof the planetary model and b) the dis-proval of the concept of 'smallest building block'. What is found in thebubble chambers is this zoo of totally bewildering 'things' that are waves and particles at the same time, whichchange into each other and back again in such a way that while the behavior of large numbers of particles mightbe predicted within a certain degree of certainty, the individual is unpredictable. Sort of like shootingcraps, though Einstein said that, "God doesn't play dice with the universe." The Heisenberg UncertaintyPrinciple captures the schizophrenic nature of this mad world: a researcher can measure either the speed OR thedirection of an electron, for example, but not both. Wow.

siring the spirits.{53} SECTION II. INTELLIGENCE STATE deals with some ofthe issues relevant to the creation of spirits.

2. PRE-EXISTENCE PHASE

As noted in Chapter 2, this was the first place we will remember aschildren. We lived in some sort of relationship with a Father (and Mother?)and in society with each other. The primary purpose of this test was to giveus free agency and allow us to shakily solo in it. This was preparatory toshocking us into mortality where an entirely different purpose waits us,which depends on our ability to be continent and self-controlled. SECTIONIII. PRE-EXISTENCE PHASE both deal with aspects of this phase.

3. PHYSICAL INITIAL CONDITIONS{54}:

We will now go through the PIC, adding some information that will berelevant to our discussion below. You note now much we are blendingmortal science with metaphysics in this theory. All of the PIC can be foundin various college texts and publications like SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN thatdeal with space and physics and the like. A full list is noted below as Table 8.Physical Initial Conditions.

+))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))), * A. Singularity * * B. Big Bang *

* C. Four Fundamental Forces of Physics ** D. Particle Zoo{55} ** E. Energy, Matter & Entropy ** F. Time ** G. Three-dimensioned Space *

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56We have elected to continue numbering this set in sequence with the MIC. Seemed nicer.

57Nor, we have to admit, do we really comprehend the concepts. We simply can tell that they are goodideas that do have a relationship and role in this model. If you are as ignorant as I about the details, checkthe bibliography for various texts that may help you understand what I don't.

58It is one of the remarkable things about world religions how much attention is devoted to the creationstories, creation of both the earth and man and woman. The pre-occupation of all peoples with this is notaccidental. We come here with a knowledge that we "came from somewhere." It is a knowledge that will not bedenied. The answer isn't known, but the instinct to have an explanation is intense. So our interest here inincorporating the creation into our theory is a standard sort of penchant for human beings.

59(Don't think about it too long. Just take a deep breath and think about sunshine.)

60True, He has set up a devilishly complex set of conditions and constraints and situations and

environments for us to navigate, but the rationale is to ensure that

1) He has sufficient evidence to satisfy Justice that whatever judgement is meted out is the one thatis earned, and 2) we each individually have all the chances we need to make known our true nature (and so that wecan't later tell Him, "That wasn't fair. I didn't have a chance to etc. etc.")

* H. Black Matter * .)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))-

Table 8. Physical Initial Conditions{56}

We add absolutely nothing to these concepts.{57} We simply incorporatethem in this theoretical model by reference. We do this because the theorymust include any evidence about cosmogony as it relates to our spirits asthey are traversing their metamorphosis.{58}

The mortal universe and earth are really nothing more than aparticularly elaborate rat maze for us to navigate as part of our test. Putthat testing maze together with the pre-existent one and the post-mortalone, and you are over-whelmed.{59} It is exhilarating to understand thatwe really are simultaneously the subject and the object of a staggeringlylong experiment. It is conducted by Him, but He has the graciousness toallow us to participate with Him. While we are the 'thing' undergoing theexperiment, He nonetheless allows us to actually take control of our selvesas we are in these experimental conditions.{60} As noted, we claim that they are derived entirely from the PC just noted. How? We haven't the slightest idea. It's done with mirrors and smoke asfar as we know.

A. Singularity

The notion of a Singularity is borrowed from cosmology andcosmogony. It is the 'spot' from which the Big Bang created this universeand all of the stars and planets in it. Fairly bewildering concept for mortalsto really believe in, but the evidence persuades physicists, who sound likethey know what they are doing, that this is true. This means that our world,and our mortal bodies, were part of this singularity. A singularity containsthe entire universe we live in, and is beyond comprehension. The only otherconcept that mystifies us as much as this is the concept of a 'black hole'.

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61Some tantalizing speculations and theories exist that are argued variously by the experts. One of

the most interesting aspects of the BB to this author is the time scale in which things occurred. Billionthsof a second are the scale on which things are measured. That is interesting because the chameleon behaviorsof the particles discussed below also occur in billionths of a second.

We note that the time scale is a mortal one. In the eternities where the process unfolded, there mayhave been a leisurely appearance to the process. Time doesn't exist.

62Its fascinating how recently the last of the four evidences of universal expansion was confirmed.

Guess that comment shows how old I am -or feel. Red shifting of cosmic light sources was noted, as was theproportion of helium and hydrogen, and something else. But the last of the four 'proofs' to be detected wasthe 3 K. degree background radiation that was predicted to exist today as a result of the Bang. The findingwas really accidental, like so many significant scientific findings.

In 1964-5, (not too long ago) Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson were using a 20-foot horn antenna at theBell Labs in Holmdel, NJ to look out into the universe. They were intending to measure the intensity of radiowaves emitted from the galaxy at high galactic latitudes, i.e. out of the plane of the Milky Way. Their effortsresulted in some peculiar radiation that persisted in spite of their attempts to clean up the experimental gear.The fact that the problematical radiation came from virtually all angles of the sky was a strong suggestion thattheir equipment had a problem. A pair of pigeons had been roosting in the antenna, so they caught them, sentthem away, and they returned. Then they were definitively handled. The stuff they left behind, that Penziasdelicately called "a white dielectric material," was washed out. But the radiation was still present. Youcan read the whole fascinating story in Weinberg 1977:38 et seq. The outcome after much puzzlement was theconclusion that this persistent, irritating radiation was none other than the ancient light from the Big Bang.(Big Band to cosmologists?) They had unwittingly found the background radiation that had been predicted to hang

around our universe after the bang.

63Note our assumption that there are other universes. We include it in our arsenal of concepts for thistheory. Cosmologists theorize/hypothesize that there are such. They refer to worm holes that lead from oneto another, speculate that black holes may feed the stuff of one universe into another on the 'backside' of theblack hole, etc.

64Physicists are attempting to unify all four forces, but without success. Gravity doesn't seem to beamenable to such treatment, an interesting fact because gravity is able to warp space-time, and to bend lightrays which are manifestations of the electromagnetic force.

We merely adopt this concept because 1) it is necessary to identify a 'source'for the stuff of our universe and of our earth, and 2) science has come upwith this peculiar concept with persuasive arguments.

B. Big Bang

The Big Bang is the term coined to describe what happened to, or in,or through, the singularity. A stupendous expansion of matter and theuniverse and time "occurred". Why did the Bang occur when it did? Nooneknows. What caused it to occur? Noone knows. What happened in the BB?Noone knows.{61} But the evidences from our universe argue in favor of abig bang origin{62}. So if a Big Bang occurred, it must be incorporated intothis model because we argue that all truth is subsumed by the priesthood. We need to incorporate finite truth with infinite truth.

C. Four Fundamental Forces of Physics

In the explosion of the singularity, four fundamental forces becameapparent. Did they pre-exist the bang? Who knows. Are they present inother universes?{63} Noone knows. To name them, they are:

1. the weak force, 2. the strong force, 3. the electromagnetic force and 4. the force of gravity.{64}

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65We are merely a smart parrot here. Forgive us the appearance of understanding.

66according to Fritjof Capra.1975, page 76.

67In fact, one of the consequences of his model was to confirm the concept of quanta of energy.

Specifically, for an electron to jump from the innermost orbit to the second orbit required a specific amountof energy. And only after the electron had been energized with that precise amount of energy did it jump. Thenwhen the electron returned to the innermost orbit, it gave off that same amount of energy. This packet ofenergy is measurable, and is called a quantum because it is a discrete. Electrons don't jump around with 1/3of 3/4's of a quantum. So quantum mechanics owes a great deal to Bohr's now obsolete model. It is still amarvelously helpful way to introduce students to basic atomic structures and behaviors.

68See Zukav's THE DANCING WU LI MASTERS for a good introduction to this psychotic world. Nothing is

what it seems, or if it is, it isn't really, or some such thing.

69Getting out of hand already, isn't it?!

Wait till you read chapter 44. RESURRECTION, METALLURGY AND QUANTUM MECHANICS. You will be pleasantlysurprised, or horrified. To give you a preview: how could Christ eat mortal food?

In the last half of this century physicists have attempted to unify all fourforces into a single theory, called a Grand Unification Theory (GUT), butwithout success. The holdout is gravity. It doesn't seem to be amenable tosuch treatment, an interesting fact because gravity is able to warp space-time, and to bend light rays which are manifestations of the electromagneticforce.{65}

D. Particle Zoo

This term was coined by high energy particle physicists. It applies tothe wide variety of particles that have been discovered, most of them since1955{66}. For those of you new to the world of quantum mechanics, lookfor a minute at the old fashioned model of the atom that consisted of anucleus consisting of proton and neutrons, around which swirled electrons infixed orbits. When Bohr developed that theoretical model of the atom, headvanced physics significantly, and physicists were able to understand 0-particle behaviors better than before.{67}

However, as bubble chambers and high-energy particle acceleratorshave increased in sophistication, research has shown that electrons, andprotons and neutrons are not indivisible as originally thought. They, in turn,consist of smaller particles, which themselves are further divisible. At thepresent time, over two hundred different particles have been discovered,and are classified generally into two large groups, mesons and baryons. These are the things from which matter is made. As will be pointed outvariously below, their behavior is so bizarre that one begins to wonder justwhat's going on.{68} They appear to actually be packets of energy, ratherthan something 'concrete' in the lay sense. In any event, they are part ofthis real world, our bodies are made of the darn things, so on both countswe must accommodate them into this theory.{69}

E. Energy, Matter & Entropy

Energy is the specie that keeps things moving in this universe, keeps

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70Another more-than-usually-tangential comment: Biosystems on this earth derive energy from oxygen andcarbon based molecules. One might construe this as evidence that carbon+water physiology is the only, or mostlikely, form of physiology that would be used by the Creator. In fact, this might be true. However, it is notthe only possibility, even on this earth.

There are bacteria living in the ocean near thermal vents that spew out hot water that containsdissolved elements of various kinds. However, molecular oxygen and organic compounds are not present inabundance. Those bacteria have evolved a metabolic system that utilizes sulphur as an energy substrate. Otherresearch currently being done in Lechuguilla, a cave in the Carlsbad Cavern complex, focusses on bacteria "milesunderground...isolated from animals or streams that might bring in organic matter. Researchers think thebacteria derive energy from sulfur and iron, believed to be two main ingredients of Martian soil." (THE IDAHOSTATESMAN April 19, 1994, 6A) So energy is derived from non-organic compounds on this earth as well.

things alive. Where did it come from? The heat of stars and hydrogenbombs can be explained nicely by physicists, elaborating on the process offission. Where did the BB get its phenomenal quantities of energy?{70} Energy is what keeps us and the universe alive today. But our simple mindreacts to that notion by asking a question: so where did these elementaryparticles that are getting squashed derive their energy initially? Theresponse will be, "The Big Bang." Unfortunately, that just pushes thequestion back a step, where it remains unanswerable.

Einstein was the one who showed the interchangeability of energy andmatter. They are the same thing. Very mystifying to the layman like me. We can't detect any particular relationship of this concept to the theory,except for the implications for resurrection discussed in detail below inSection VI.

What about entropy? Is there actually a net loss of energy and anincrease in disorder over time, suggesting that the universe will eventuallyrun down? We note that our own individual, i.e. biological, bodies are keptalive simply on the basis of inequality of forces which inequality ismaintained through the expenditure of energy, whether glucose or ATP, etc.The increase in disorder that occurs in systems left to themselves suggeststhat our bodies, too, may fail because some hormonal, enzymatic, etc.systems have lost their control mechanisms, at which point thingsdisintegrate and death occurs.

And what will happen to all of this energy/matter after this universehas served its purpose? No guesses.

One wonders whether or not the spirit body requires or consumesenergy of some sort to keep it alive. It seems on the one hand that theywould require energy, but the is probably the result of finite understanding,not of spiritual reality. It is possible, and perhaps even likely, that perfectedbeings will live lives that are analogous to the manner in which electricitymoves at near perfect zero temperature: without resistance, hence, withoutloss of energy.

F. Time

Time apparently came into being simultaneously with the big bang andthe three dimensioned space we live in. Time has been a point of greatconfusion to some of us. There are individuals who claim that time is/wasthe fourth dimension, i.e. Ouspensky. Others pooh-pooh the idea. Wereally don't know what to make of it, except to note that it is present in ourlives and does seem to exist as another axis along which to measure"things". However, if everything is present with God, then time must notexist for Him. It couldn't. If all things exist simultaneously in some fashion,then there can't be the linear sequencing of events that result when there is

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71Perhaps the bizarrest facts about time relate to how it changes as the speed of an object increases.As one approaches speed equal to the speed of light, time stops. Aging stops. Clocks stop. And this isn'tjust some cock-a-mamie theory of Einstein. Physicists have taken two cesium clocks, meticulously synchronizedthem, put one of them in a jet liner, flown it around for a few hours, returned to the ground and then comparedtheir time. The one the had flown around was running behind the one sitting on the ground.

I can't imagine what this has to do with the present theory, but it's interesting anyway. (Rememberthat Sallinger said we didn't need air-tight reasons to quote favorite authors. We'll just extend that libertyto include telling stories we like, regardless of anything. Actually, this story is relevant, in an irrelevantsort of way, we'll grant you. Did you like it? We'll tell lots more.)

72Some of you have probably noted that the 'present' is all that exists. There is no past. There isno future. There is only the omni-present. Only. We can think about past and speculate about the future, butthey don't exist, even in our neurons.

That obviously isn't an accident. The Prime Mover intended it to be so because of the effect it hason our testing. It is perhaps possible to define testing conditions without time, which accomplish comparableresults, but the fact that the PM used time, suggests that it may be unique in terms of its effect.

We wonder whether or not there is time in the other two phases of the experiment. There is little inthe canon to suggest either way. We have little basis for speculating about it. The only suggestion we cancome up with it to suggest that it seems strange to us to postulate three testing phases, and to only imbue onewith the linear sequencing characteristics. If linear sequencing is in fact characteristic of the priesthoodin testing phases as we suggest, then it is likely to be operative in the PE and PM. OK?

time that sequences events.{71}One possible explanation for this bizarre condition, time, involves the

testing condition we must operate under. We suspect that one of thepurposes for having time be part of our metamorphosis, at least for themortal segment, is to limit our ability to deal with complex stimuli. Ratherthan allow us to sample all data simultaneously, which is what a god does,we can only focus on a segment of the data stream. This forces us intomaking decision without the advantage of wide spectra of data. Rather thanallow us to see forward and backward simultaneously, which would give usinformation and insight that would affect our decisions, we are only allowedto see the 'present'.{72} For each of us mortals, there really is no future orpast, even though we anticipate the former and bemoan the latter.

Time imposes barriers on us that create impatience. That forces us tomake choices about how we will deal with the delays, which come incountless varieties. The choices we make are primary data beingaccumulated by us about ourselves. These barriers allow us to learnpatience. They allow us to plan for a distant future. Perhaps the major areaof our lives where time has the greatest potential to create havoc is inpersonal relationships, spouses, parents, siblings.

Time also allows us -forces us- to go through a carefully sequenceddevelopmental sequence on earth. This makes it possible to place spirits ingrossly incompetent bodies with massive neurological deficits that areusually cured with

1) the passage of time ("tincture of time"), and 2) the ministrations of our primary caregivers.

As babies we respond to one set of stimuli, as children another, aspubescents still another, as adolescents another and finally as adults thefinal sequence of stimuli. Each phase has certain characteristics imposed onit by the Prime Mover. Conditions were built into various biological systemsthat are triggered by evolutionary sequences of hormones that are agerelated. These different stages are both periods of testing and learning. Each phase builds on the preceding one(s). Finally as adults we undergo thefinal and greatest segment of mortal testing. All of this requires a linearlysequenced reality. Time provides that to us.

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73It is pure speculation for us to specify a minimum of three dimensions. That reflects our bias thetwo dimensions would represent an environment with a paucity of stimuli. Testing in such an environment wouldyield some things that might not be possible in three dimensions, but over all, the options would be so severelylimited that the experiment would not be worth being lived.

74For humans as well as all other kingdoms.

75There are those who might suggest that black matter is somehow a manifestation of intelligence. Fora discussion, see chapter 8. BLACK MATTER, INTELLIGENCE AND COSMIC BULLDOZERS. We don't really subscribe tothat idea, however. Hard to believe, isn't it, after all the brazen speculations so far in this book.

G. Three-Dimensioned Space

Three-dimensions apparently came into existence with the Big Bang. Along with time. Once more, sort of like the fourth dimension. Why threedimensions, why not four or five, etc.? We have no idea. That's the waythings are. However it seems obvious that three dimensions were chosenwith specific purposes in mind. We speculate that as this intermediatetesting phase was being designed by the Prime Mover, that S/he evaluatedthe various sorts of vehicles, i.e. bodies, that could be designed for realitiesof three or more dimensions.{73} Spirits have to be embedded in a 'body'for the duration of that experimental phase, and concluded that the vehiclesthat were possible{74} in three dimensions best met the requirements of theMetamorphosis Function. So we are now, living out this reality.

The conditions of this three-dimensioned reality are selected formaximal impact and yield. Our three-dimensioned bodies are designed tointeract with this reality in such a way that we both sense what is here, andchoose to act in response to that information. The spirits resting quietlyinside these bodies are basically blinded, so depend on the primitive sensorydevices that are provided to it. Its own abilities are masked, so the mortalbrain owns the major share of the responsibility for processing data andmaking decisions and carrying them out. Three dimensions provide anoptimum testing environment for all of this.

H. Black Matter

The issue of black matter is one difficult to fit anywhere in thismodel.{75} Today physics infers its existence from experimental results thatcannot be explained without adjacent, though invisible, mass. But it cannotbe seen directly, so noone knows what it is. We simply include it herebecause it appears to be a special sort of matter that is present in thisuniverse, which therefore must be at least acknowledged by reference in thistheory.

I. Summary: PHYSICAL INITIAL CONDITIONS

That concludes our discussion about PIC. Most of them do haveproperties that make them essential to our testing during mortality. Wehave described what we perceive as their role in this model. Our conclusionsare that:

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76Yes, even scientists must take the singularity and big bang on faith. They have bushels of indirectevidence pointing in that direction, but these evidences are not finally irrefutable. Different theories canbe proposed with them. The IC selected as the starting point, direct subsequent developments. They are alsolimited by Planck's Wall as to how close they can speculate and experiment about the initial conditions andevents of the BB.

77Wouldn't it? We suppose the Father could have created us and held us in some sort of limbo until Hegot around to making a play pen for us. However, that simply pushes back one step the question, forcing us toaddress the issue of where this storage place was that we were held in. He is systematic and thorough, so Hehad the PE ready for the first spirits.

1) The PIC do not figure directly in the decisions we makeinside our heads, with the exception of the limitations of athree-dimensional world.

2) However, they, with the exception of black matter whoseexistence and function remains in question, created and holdtogether the testing environment for the mortal phase.

We -laymen, clerics and scientists- choose the ones from this set that we arewilling to 'believe in' or accept on 'faith'. Proof isn't possible, however.{76} Our claim here is that the Prime Mover did select these elements to be partof this universe and part of our experimental conditions.

4. MORTAL PHASE

We currently reside in this phase, so know it well. Little introduction isneeded by the reader. However, there are various points we will makeabout mortality in SECTION IV. MORTAL PHASE.

5. POST-MORTAL INITIAL CONDITIONS

There is no evidence in the canon about whether or not there was anysort of 'creation' process for the post-mortal world. The scriptures just jumpinto the middle of the story line, having spirits go 'there' after they die.However, given the manner in which theories behave, specifically, given theway they make implications about otherwise unattested facts, we are goingto make the strong claim here that the PM came into existence through acreation process, and that there were initial conditions that controlled justwhat its nature was.

This creation was perhaps quite different from that of this earth anduniverse, at least in terms of the details. But the purpose of the IC andwhatever dynamic process would be analogous to the 'big bang', would be tobring into existence a location where the spirits could be congregated for thePE where all of the things noted in the canon -and a jillion other things- tookplace for us and are still taking place for those who are waiting for their starttimes. This creation would have to have been completed prior to the Fathersiring the spirits.{77}

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78Or 'eternal finality'?

79See Chapter 51. NESTER OR CRISS-CROSSED DEPENDENCIES? for details about the iterative cycle we

postulate for birth and death. Metatheoretical conditions 2 ALGORITHM CONDITION and 14 SYMMETRY CONDITIONSboth argue in favor of one ordinance-cycle which repeats as conditions are satisfied. This is also anexpression of the PARSIMONY PRINCIPLE.

6. POST-MORTAL PHASE

After mortal death, we are inducted into this phase. There is aresuggestions from Christianity and Plato that there are two sub-locations,paradise and prison. A judgement occurs at the point of birth into the PMand we are assigned to one of the two locations. SECTION V. POST-MORTAL PHASE deals with some of the issues relevant to the creation ofspirits.

7. JUDGEMENT AND RESURRECTION

The last element required to close the theory is that which addressesthe last set of ordinances through which we will pass on our way to finaleternity{78}. The ordinances postulated are those proposed by the Canon,the Judgement and the Resurrection. This pair is the culmination of theentire metamorphosis, the doorway through which we will ultimately step aswe move into our final condition. The condition will be that which we haveearned. Granted, the Atonement will somehow play its part is preservingthe meritorious spirits from some of their punishments, or the consequencesof their poor choices, but the majority of our reward will stem squarely fromour own choices across the metamorphosis.

There are arguments to enter in favor of both orders of theseordinances: judgement first, or resurrection first. We will come down on theside of judgement. We do this because we perceive this as being consonantwith the thrust of the metamorphosis and this theory. As just noted,metallurgy of the spirit is the point of the metamorphosis. This suggests tous that the crystalline lattice of our spirit matter must be determined orassayed in some manner. Then the resurrection will be equivalent to thecold water bath: it will fix the spirit into the shape it earned, after all creditswere incorporated in the judgement.

These two processes are priesthood-mediated. Obviously. Everythingis. We will claim, by analogy, that the judgement represents the lastiteration of the death ordinances we undergo, that which takes us out of thePM world, while the resurrection represents the final iteration of the birthordinances which introduces us into eternity in our final state.{79}

METAL TEMPERING

The third example we want to use here as an analogy of spirit

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80Note Zukav's description of how color changes occur in black bodies being heated:

"When a black body is put over low heat, the first color it glows is red because the energy packets ofred light are the smallest energy packets in the visible light spectrum. As the heat is increases,more energy is available to shake loose bigger energy packets. The bigger energy packets make thehigher\frequency colors, such as blue and violet." (1979:76)

That's how the regular color sequence is controlled.Now: do you see the correlation of this concept to the developmental sequence our spirits undergo? As

children, our spirits only take in, or absorb, or respond to low energy trials/tribulations. But as we age,our spirits are becoming "heated" (at least when we are progressing) so the trials/tribulations that we areaffected by then are higher energy, until highly righteous individuals are responding to "blue or violet" energypackets. Age 8 somehow mystically and magically turns on our the heating process. Or our susceptibility toit.

81A curious thing about this tempering process is that re-heating the metal can un-temper it again.

That seems possible for spirit matter as well.

molecular structure changes comes from metallurgy. This is the old-fashioned process of tempering metal. I remember being on my uncle'sranch on the Greenriver outside of Vernal, Utah. He had a blacksmith shop where he repaired tools or built new pieces to repairsomething. My brother and I loved to go to the shop because it was sodifferent from a barn or corral. It was full of various pieces of metal, somebeing new stock, others being mistakes waiting for a second chance.

In the center of the shop stood the forge with its sooty circular hoodwhich hung over the ash-filled bed. In the center of the bed, Uncle wouldpile up some coke or anthracite and start the fire. Then we would turn thecrank handle that forced air through a tube up into the fire. The harder weturned the crank, the faster the air blew into the fire and soon it wouldchange from an orangish-yellow color into a blue-white color with sparkscrackling off.{80} Then Uncle would set the metal he wished to shape intothis bed of super-heated coals, and we would continue to crank air in.

When the metal had heated enough to actually start to incandescewith an orangish glow, Uncle, now in a heavy, grimy leather apron, wouldpull the piece out with big tongs and take it over to the anvil where he wouldpound it into a new shape with a small sledge hammer. Flakes of metalwould fly off as he beat on it. The tool would always cool off before he hadcompleted shaping it, so he would return it to the fire where we wouldreheat it. This process would continue until he was satisfied with the shape. The final time, he would leave it in the fire for a long time. This superheated the piece, turning it to a bluish-white hue. This time he would pull itout and run it over to an old coal hod filled with dusty water. When hedropped the glowing piece into the water, it produced an exciting display ofsteam and rattling, splashing water.

He called this process of quick-cooling, 'tempering'. When he removedthe piece from the water, it had some new properties. For one, it now hadan iridescent surface, and for another, it was much harder than theuntempered metal. The process of super-heating put the molecules into anew crystalline lattice, and the precipitous removal of heat permanentlytrapped them into the new configuration.{81}

SPIRIT METALLURGY

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82Actually, this is how I believe that ALL three testing phases work on our spirit matter. This conceptcan be generalized to apply to us across our entire metamorphosis. This is so because our spirits areundergoing testing in each phase. There is actually accretion of changes over the three phases, resulting inwhat they result in at the point of the judgement and resurrection.

I wonder whether or not each successive phase represents a "hotter" environment.

83This sort of testing and results are characteristic of all three testing phases, not just mortality.In the PE and PM worlds, we will be subjected to various sorts of tests which will have the capacity of alteringthe molecular structure of our spirit matter. That is an eternal principle.

84Another analogy is the Coleman Lantern Mantle Method. Recall that an unused Coleman lantern mantleis a lovely appearing device, woven of some sort of fabric with a sheen. When it is lighted the first time,however, part of the fabric is burned away. What remains is a rigid structure that then serves as the mantlethat incandesces when fired up. That is another way to look at the effect of the metamorphosis of our spiritmatter and the resurrection which is applied to it.

(Your totally useless dose of trivia for the day: unburned Coleman mantles are alpha emitters so canbe hidden on the body of mock radiation disaster victims to determine whether nuclear medicine techniciansreally do comprehensive body surveys for radiation with geiger counters. Neat, huh?)

That is how I believe mortality works.{82} We are being testedthrough the adversity we encounter. Adversity is analogous to the heat ofthe forge, Our spirit molecules -for lack of a better term- are forced intonew configurations, as we exercise our agency in selecting choices while ourspirits matter is subjected to the heat of this adversity. If the choice is a'good' one, the change in configuration is good, if the choice is 'bad'. thechange in configuration is bad. The changes are minute increments thataccumulate, but they are nonetheless real{83}.

The purpose of the POS is to enable us to transform ourselves -thesubstance of our spirits- into god-like structures. Then, at the resurrection,we will be "fixed" into whatever state or configuration we have imposed onour spirit matter.{84} Keep this tempering model in mind because it is agood analogy for the effect of the POS as perceived in this model. We willrefer constantly to the alteration in spirit matter, and the effect of theresurrection.

SERVICE/CHARITY AND HONESTY/SINCERITY:

We are going to add a reference, at this point in the development ofour theory, to the two pairs of virtues that strike us as being the foundationof the entire test. Service to others is a manifestation of our charity tothem. Honesty is evidence of sincerity. Charity and Sincerity are thehallmarks of the gospel of the NT, the highest expressions of godliness inmortals. Christ was the manifestation and embodiment of them both. Thispair serves as the basis of the examination we are all taking as we traversethe metamorphosis.

This observation is not stated as either theory or metatheory, nor asmeta condition at this point. But our willingness to demonstrate this pair ofvirtues will be the topic of greatest significance when we are judged. Perhaps, because they constitute the limits of acceptability, they should becast in the form of a meta conditions that are applicable to us through thetesting phases.

8. POST-RESURRECTION ETERNITY

This place is really the gold ring, the Cracker Jack surprise. It's the

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85The SMD description of this state subdivides it into three section, celestial, terrestrial and

telestial. It sounds like these assignments are permanent. However, Scott Robertson suggests that somescriptures seem to indicate that everyone will end up with the Father after the prices for sins are paid. Wow!What anarchistic doctrine!

86And in Chapter 9. DARTH VADER DILEMMA. However, we don't pretend to understand the vaguest thing

about it. Really. It's pure magic as far as we can see.In Chapter 9, you will also encounter a treatment of the black priesthood that shows our belief that

it is truly a mirror image, an anti-image, of the silver priesthood. We shrink from using the term'counterfeit' because that term has the ability to create a sense of false security, or disbelief or too littleconcern about, or respect for, this black priesthood. It is real. It is malignant. And it best be regardedas a (near?) equal of the Silver, lest we fail in attempting to achieve whatever good we wish to achieve.Assuming we wish to achieve anything good.

reason for sweating through this miserable metamorphosis. This world isone where we will exist forever, doing whatever things we chose to doduring the metamorphosis. So it won't be a surprise to us what reward weare given: it will be what we already chose for ourselves.{85}

This state is apparently endless. This means it has neither end, else itcan't be endless. Right? We will live our 'lives' in the state we earned forourselves. It seems likely to us that for those of us who avoid being cast outinto outerdarkness, the Avitchi Hells, that we will even be happy with our lot. That isn't consonant with most Christian doctrines, but we believe it is true. We would not be happy being placed with a group of people who aredifferent from ourselves, either better or worse (whatever those termsmean).

V. GOD/DESS RETURN TO META CONDITIONS

Those individuals who succeed in retaining their gender and receivingunlimited priesthood power will find themselves in charge of the meta-conditions for other universes. This starts another cycle of themetamorphosis, but for different spirits.

CONCLUSION:

To close this chapter, let's go back to Table ?? and fit all of thesepieces together. This will complete the explanation of the term"mechanical", and tie together the above propositions into the quasi-theoryof the POS that is elaborated through the remainder of this work.

First, start with the foundation element -of the theory, not the POS-the Metamorphosis Function. It is the controlling purpose of everything thatwe are subject to. It is manifested in all of the other conditions andpropositions. It also is present across all testing phases.

Second, the priesthood is the priesthood as described above inChapter 2{86}. For the sake of our discussion here, let's think of it as a full-cut solitaire diamond with facets. It will look different from different anglesand facets, but all views and facets are part of the whole.

Third, compare the 'principles of righteousness' to the facets of thediamond. One principle 'describes', is related to, or applies to one facet. Wedon't know all of them because they aren't all revealed to us on this earth,but they are active and operational across eternity, hence across the

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87We must emphasize that we do not categorically exclude divine intervention by the Lord or His

emissaries, but we discount by 99% the frequency with which His name is invoked. We do this, not to discreditHim, rather to highlight the fact that He simply has built algorithms based on the priesthood, these principlesand laws which capture and reward all instances of appropriate behaviors on the earth. He is on to biggerthings than blessing brother Jensen for saying his prayers tonight. Brigham Young said we are surrounded bypowers and this is what we believe was part of his meaning.

We recognize, however, freely and gratefully, that an omnipotent God can and does intervene, and aregrateful for His condescension and beneficence.

88Last note for this chapter involves "automatic writing." In the late 19th Century, automatic writingwas highly popular. Individuals who did this claimed to be under the control of departed spirits or spiritsof other types. In several settings while writing this particular chapter, we experienced the same type ofphenomenon. Our mind was not thinking what to write, rather was focussed on correct grammar for English andproper spelling. The ideas themselves came from elsewhere. LDS would attribute this to 'inspiration' andperhaps it was. Modern psychological theory would impute other sources. In either instance, it was aremarkable experience, and the thoughts that were produced have the ring of 'truth' to them. We'll eventuallysee if they were.

The sidenote that interests us -but which emphatically man NOT be significant- is that this occurredwhile writing this, the central chapter of this work that has been fermenting for 10 years. Whether thisresulted from external inspiration, i.e. agency of the holy spirit, or internal inspiration, i.e. the by-productof years of cogitation by my own spiritual half that finally was able to loft its conclusions across the barrierbetween my two halves, matters not to me. It was grand in either case, and represents something meaningful tome personally.

metamorphosis. Fourth, the 'laws of heaven' are the commandments or rules given to

us, like the 10 commandments. Now the important point: Each law is linkedto one of the principles of righteousness, and therefore, to one of the facetsof the priesthood.

Fifth, each facet, Law of Heaven and Principle of Righteousness has anassociated consequence, a blessing.

Sixth, so when we do good things, we are manipulating laws ofheaven, which means we are manipulating principles of righteousness whichmeans we are handling the priesthood. And because we did good things,regardless of our motivation or state of mind, that facet of the priesthoodresponds with the blessing associated with it. Each facet has bound up withit some form of consequence -a blessing or reward- that is dispensedautomatically by the appropriate behavior. Put a quarter in a pay phone andyou can make a phone call. Pay your tithing, and your get the blessingassociated with paying tithing. A mechanical 1:1 relationship that allows allof us equal opportunity to blessings, etc.

In a nutshell, then, that is how we view the POS working for everyindividual. Together all of these elements, as displayed in Table 5, will standas a theory of the POS. As free agents, whose very substance is subject tomodification and alteration through the exercise of that agency, and throughthe application of the priesthood, our three-phase metamorphosis allows usthe opportunity to earn celestialhood{87}. Good luck.{88}

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89However, in this case as well, we are claiming in this theory that

intelligence is somehow present in all matter. So this is not a good example,nor can we think of a good example of a MIC that behaves in a completelycompartmentalized way.

CHAPTER APPENDIX - BOUNDARY CONDITIONS:

(This appendix is inserted as a historical note on the evolution of thetheoretical framework. This shows that we originally intended to include aset of BOUNDARY CONDITIONS that were separate from theMETATHEORETICAL CONSTRAINTS. However, after sorting out theconfusion about the distinction, we elected to incorporate the two concepts,which are probably notational variants of each other, into the metatheory.)

BOUNDARY CONDITIONS:

To turn to boundary conditions, we note that they are different frominitial conditions in that they are not part of the foundation from which thetheory is derived. Instead, they delimit and confine the theory, or establishlimits within which the theory must evolve, as it is elaborated. For thistheory, we postulate three boundary conditions.

1. All phases are experimental environments2. Silver and black forces active in all phases

Now that we have defined these boundaries, we will move to themetatheory, which provides comparable limits.

2. Silver and black forces active in all phases

At first glance this may appear to be a repetition of the first MIC thatpostulates the eternal existence of the priesthood pair. Recall, however,that the MIC refers to conditions that were antecedent to the creation of thisuniverse. It is a separate matter to state that those priesthoods are alsoactive in all phases of the metamorphosis. Obviously, this may be impliedby the first MIC, but it is not necessarily true. The presence of a thing inone segment of eternity doesn't automatically entail its existence in allsegments. For example, the third MIC postulates the existence ofintelligence, yet there is no intelligence that we observe in this universe.{89}

In any event, these two forces establish the limits between which theexperiments of the three phases proceed. They delimit what we aresubjected to. They respond to our actions appropriately, either positively ornegatively. Our free agency is free to experiment and express itself up to,but not exceeding the limits that are inherent in these priesthoods. As in thepreceding paragraph, we have no example of what a true boundary of eitherpower would be. We simply believe that there are boundaries for them both. One possibility is that they constitute the boundaries of each other. They

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This is the Buddhist concept that the existence of one thing automaticallyentails its opposite number, whatever it is. This has a relationship to theOPPOSITION CONDITION in a particular sense, the difference being that the OCstates that both powers exist and oppose each other eternally, even in God'spresence. However, the intent of the two concepts is quite different. Ourtraining predisposes us to the Christian belief in the eternal existence ofboth powers.

would be an intertwined mechanism with auto-feedback servo systems thatdelimit each other.

There is a particular implication to note if we make the above claimthat this pair of powers delimits the boundaries of the metamorphosis:

It implies that the boundaries may NOT exist at some point orin some place.{90}

This in fact appears to be true in one case. For those spirits who achieveperfection, the external boundaries that apply to us now will be removed. That concept is consonant with the spirit of this theory: we believe that thefundamental purpose of the metamorphosis is to determine to what extentwe are able to control our behaviors. Those spirits that demonstratesufficient control over their abilities and wishes will be perfected, whateverthat means, and the ultimate benefit will be the removal of any restraintsfrom the outside. The individuals themselves will behave in perfect harmonywith the Laws of Heaven because they choose to, not because someone setup boundaries.