HELPING ME BECOME MY ETERNAL SELF 3

Although I have chosen to separate our eternal mentors into three categories, it must be understood that the influence and impact they have on one another should never be forgotten or underestimated.

It should also be noted, before we commence, that since I will be using many scriptural references when discussing Telestial,
Terrestrial and Celestial Mentors and since I won’t use the precious space in my Thoughts to write all these out, it might be wise to have your Standard Works as a companion while you are reading the next few episodes of my Thoughts. (For those of you who are not familiar with the term ‘Standard Works’ – a brief discussion with any badge toting Mormon Missionary – will make you equal with those for whom this is a very common term.)

Telestial Mentors:

We all have in common, to one degree or another, experience in the processes which fit into what I am referring to as those which we receive from Telestial Mentors; those which come from our informal and formal educational experiences during mortality.

Depending both on the diligence of the instructors and the learners there will be a wide discrepancy in that which we retain and use during our mortality.

Not all parents have the same degree of dedication. Not all children have the same degree of retentive obedience.

Not all teachers have the same level of resources or ability to motivate learning. Not all students have the same ability to learn and retain or understand the relevance of certain subjects.

Not all towns have the same availability of providing cradle to grave educational opportunities.

Not all inhabitants have the same desire, opportunity or aptitude necessary to take advantage of the educational opportunities provided.

Thus, we see that even in those areas of learning which we as individuals are privileged to have available to us, there will be a vast variety of experiences enjoyed by each one of us. Even in those areas which mainly apply to our mortal existence we will progress and be judged by very individualistic scales.

A further note of explanation might be important before we venture into the areas of Terrestrial and Celestial Mentors.

I will be naming each of the various mentors which fall into these categories and then give some suggestions concerning the preparation and the process necessary for advancement and learning and, in addition, some cautions to which we individually need to adhere in order to maximize the influence these mentors will have on our eternal learning and understanding.

This formula should be familiar to each of us, since from our birth we have intuitively known that that which we get out of any learning process in which we might find ourselves, will be in direct proportion to the preparations we have made, how much we understand the process which is being used and some of the dangers or limitations involved with the learning experience with which we are about to be involved.

Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me; and none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.

And the Father and I are one. I am in the Father and the Father in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me and I in you. Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall. And the day cometh that you shall hear my voice and see me, and know that I am. Watch, therefore, that ye may be ready. Even so. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants 50: 40 - 46)

Hopefully, from this scripture we can begin to understand that our Savior and our Heavenly Father never intended, nor was it ever part of Their plan, to leave us abandoned and stranded children cast out onto this little blue marble.

Terrestrial Mentors:

SPIRIT OF CHRIST

This mentor is also scripturally referred to as The Spirit of Man (note man is capitalized) and The Mind of Man.

Frequently in our everyday conversations we hear the word ‘conscience’ used when this mentor is being referenced or talked about.

Preparation:

Our Heavenly Father so loves us, that even though when we left His presence we were told we going to a fallen or spiritually dead condition as a result of being out of His presence, he has provided us all with the Spirit of Christ to mentor us and help us navigate through the trials of mortality.

Therefore, the only preparations needed to have the Spirit of Christ as a mentor in our lives are our agreeing to leave His presence and being born into mortality.

One of the misconceptions which I think should be dispelled is that we come into this world and are immediately thrust into a lose/lose situation, when in reality our Loving Father immediately provides us with a mentorial advantage with the gift of the Spirit of Christ which we all have been given.

(Book of Mormon-Moroni 7:16; Doctrine and Covenants 84:46)

Process:

Learning to recognize when the Spirit of Christ is trying to influence decisions we are making.

Understanding that the more we yield to the influence of the Spirit of Christ the more we will be capable of recognizing the promptings.

(Doctrine and Covenants 9: 8, 9; 88: 40; New Testament-Romans 2: 15)

Caution:

We must understand this influence will usually be limited to choices we make during our daily mortal journey, especially those which involve choices between good and evil.

As we choose to ignore the promptings of the Spirit of Christ and make decisions contrary to its counsel, we may lose the influence of this important mentor.

If we never come to the time when our cup of iniquity is full and we have totally yielded to the influence of Satan, we always have the hope and opportunity of having the Spirit of Christ as our mentor during mortality.

(Book of Mormon-Moroni 8: 28; Moroni 9: 4; Doctrine and Covenants 76: 103 – 112; Doctrine and Covenants 1:33; Doctrine and Covenants 6: 35; New Testament-John 8: 11)

(To be continued)