[tmtranscripts] N. Idaho TeaM 7/25/04

[rickgiles]

North Idaho Teaching Mission Group
Topics: Your Growth is Twofold: for Yourself and for Others.
The Survival Choice.
Teachers: Elyon

July 25, 2004

*	Elyon  (Jonathan TR):  Greetings, friends.  As always it is 
a joy to be with you, to be part of this group, to be acting in 
ministry for Michael aligned with you.
	I am growing ever fonder of this planet.  I am enjoying its 
peculiarities.  It has been struggling for much of its history, 
and we are poised to initiate a bright new chapter which will 
assist all dwelling here in orienting life to maximize inborn 
spirit potentials through worldly conditions which are conducive 
to activating these potentials.
	An individual soul is deemed a potential morontial being 
when growth is initiated, for, as you understand, this 
experiential growth yields soul substance which takes your 
temporary selfhood into fusion embrace with the permanent, 
everlasting, divine self.
	To you who have spent many years fostering conditions which 
will assist the divine Monitor in accumulating soul experiences, 
you have traversed many of the layers of morontia ascent.  You 
sense that you are likely to be promoted through the mansion 
world experiences that you now have attained and will begin your 
subsequent schooling higher up the grade level.  This is due to 
your diligent work in this, your first life.
	Generally spiritual growth is satisfying to oneself.  You 
overcome the fear of an eternal death in the recognition of and 
the development in the relationship with your divine Parent who 
loves you and saves you from this uncertainty.  You have also 
found great tranquillity in your understanding of your place in 
this universe and on this world and in your standing before God.  
Much that troubles the uncertain soul you have resolved and have 
found peace.  These are the rewards of personal growth.  Today I 
intend to instill within you another purpose to grow and that is 
because further spirit attainment, while not re-addressing your 
primary issues that led you down the spiritual path, will be of 
great importance for your fellows.
	Having completed this stage of growth for yourselves to be 
spiritually satisfied, you are now being encouraged to be 
sensitive evermore to the obligation of lifting your fellows to 
the same position of morontia status that you hold today.  
Recall the times in your past experiences where one who was 
perceivably more advanced than you kindled the passion within 
yourself to attain such a state.  These individuals are the 
mentors that this world needs.  We teachers are pledged to 
foster the lives of all who seek to function in such a role.
	You have gained enough accumulated wisdom to know that such 
a responsibility is not the glorification of yourself, for you 
have witnessed those who have sidetracked their divine privilege 
with personal indulgence of glory and status.  Humbly you stand 
beneath the overcare of Michael.  You know your eternal position 
before God as one of His children who will dwell in His universe 
household forever.  That is a significant milestone in your 
growth.  While you are here I encourage you to provide to the 
many hungry people the opportunity to awaken to the very answers 
that have fed you and satisfied you.
	You will continue to grow in Supremacy attainment for 
millions of years.  Every step in the path is a point of 
attainment enjoyment, a reward to you as a single personality.  
But every step in your attainment becomes a tool for service to 
those who seek your relative level of accomplishment.  Freely 
give it.  Hope ever and always that those behind you will 
rapidly catch up, that you will be spurred ever onward to higher 
levels, that you likewise will help them again.  You look to me 
and my associates for just this same ministering and attention.  
Our association becomes a byway, an avenue, whereby I myself at 
my level of attainment may not only touch you but touch others 
through you just as the Father does so through Michael and 
through each of their children to all others who, while not 
knowing their status as children of God, seek that confirmation.  
Your growth is twofold: for yourself and for others.
	I wish to interact with you at this time.

	Evelyn:  You started off talking about the levels of the 
mansion worlds, something I’ve been curious about.  Can you tell 
us anything beyond what’s in The Urantia Book about the 
differences from one level to another in terms of our 
attainments and accomplishments?

*	Elyon:  Much of what is provided to you through the textual 
revelation of the Urantia Papers is deemed to be sufficient to 
address human curiosity.  However, I would draw attention 
further to the parallel stages of growth upon an evolutionary 
world and the mansion world progression.
	These training centers, while they provide the context for 
efficient growth, they only make context for you.  Your ascent 
is self chosen, and the opportunities are vast at each station 
to pursue what you perceive to be lacking, in counsel with the 
morontia beings and in association with your divine spirit 
presence.  You will traverse these schools, while similar in 
progress to others, completely, uniquely, on your own path.  You 
will create your curriculum.  It is one adventure in independent 
study.
	To be prepared for such an undertaking I assure you that 
you are now establishing the habit patterns and orientation to 
successfully ascend.  I witness in each of you here present 
today the strong character that can choose your future with your 
divine destiny in mind, choose for the well-being of your soul.
	While these worlds are considered corrective spheres for 
deficiencies of this planet, they are not boot camps that will 
drill into you the proper behavior.  You are counseled, and you 
choose your pursuit.  You even have the opportunity to forestall 
certain accomplishments.  It is not an opportunity; it is a 
situation that allows you to develop the right conditions 
wherein you will more successfully fill that deficiency.
	Some worlds are dwelling places that you will find so 
satisfying you will not wish to leave.  Other worlds will remind 
you of eras in your past when you struggled for attainment, and 
you would prefer to leave that behind.  Yet those very same 
worlds will delight another soul who finds fulfillment in those 
attainments.  As I taught in my lesson and encouraged you to 
grow for others, a great percent of your time will be engaged on 
these training spheres doing just that: teaching, and thereby 
growing and thereby teaching.
	Each station has its own social, cultural context which 
provides those conditions for growth.  Some are more 
individualistic, for they address personal needs.  Others are 
more fraternal, for they provide those familial, associative, 
needs.
	In conclusion, I would simply state that do not wait for 
the mansion world, for your training has begun already.  You are 
now ascending through these worlds in experience, if not 
physically.  You are already in your morontia training.

	Harold:  I go back and forth between “going with the flow” 
and wanting to break away from set patterns.  I know Jesus 
advised us to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves.  It’s the 
wisdom of serpents that differentiates the times for each of 
those activities.  Could you give us a little insight on how 
that wisdom works?

*	Elyon:  It is often misunderstood that going with the flow 
involves maintaining an orientation of passive acceptance.  
However, to remove yourself as a contributor to the flow takes 
you out of it.  The center of choice is a vital element of this 
flow process.
	Floating in a river you are aware of the energy of the 
current as the stream flows downhill.  Yet, if you were passive 
you would encounter peril at the rapids.  You also would run the 
danger of ending up in an eddy where you are flowing in circles.  
This is the serpent discernment, to recognize such dangers and 
detainments and to assert your will to place you in good speed 
and safe direction.
	The serpent in this phrase of “serpents and doves” is 
symbolic of and indicates your volitional center.  It is an 
important characteristic of oneself the development of 
receptivity to divine guidance.  Opening yourself to the 
Father’s care is the best act you can ever undertake.  However, 
as Michael is noted for saying, “I knock at the door.  If you 
open I will come in and sup with you.”  It is not enough to 
simply open yourself to spirit, for he will come in and sup with 
you.  You are expected  to engage with him in the events 
subsequent to inviting him.
	A dove is seen as harmless, as soft, as an icon of beauty.  
It represents the willingness to open that door to receive.  A 
serpent symbolizes aggression and determination and a singleness 
of purpose.  It knows how to protect itself and to accomplish 
its goals.
	You are one within the Supreme, an integral part of the 
time flow of God the Supreme.  Your choice is part of the 
direction of the flow.  While in the stream of life Father wills 
you to Him, but you will steer yourself toward Him with your own 
creative choices.  The divine flow is wide; your individual tack 
is your response to Father.  It is your welcomed gift to Him, 
how you proceed within His divine plan.
	I hope this is fulfilling as a response.

	Harold:  Yes, very helpful, thanks.
	Another question came up recently I couldn’t find an answer 
to.  Why would anyone choose not to proceed to the Father once 
given the information of the purpose and plan?  

*	Elyon:  It is of record that when one has truly received 
the guidance you speak of, the purpose and the plan, that no one 
chooses otherwise.  It is only in the failure to comprehend such 
divine purpose that one seeks to withdraw.  It is a burden that 
we who survive carry if we are part of the attempt to bring that 
understanding and it fails to make its mark.  While we 
understand it is a freewill choice, we are nonetheless more 
keenly sensitive to where we may improve our presentation of 
this divine purpose for the other soul.
	There are, inherent in personality, types, and in order for 
full expression of the Supreme God there is instilled within 
certain personalities the ability to question forever 
significance and purpose.  This leads to higher development of 
philosophy but also carries with it the potential for the sense 
of futility for an individual.  I may ponder how I may have 
better provided comprehension opportunity for another for the 
selection of eternal life, but another’s choice to withdraw 
proves to me the love and the compassion of our heavenly Parent 
who gave us the freedom to live or to die.  This freedom is a 
revelation of God, for were no one to opt out, freedom could not 
be considered a character, an attribute, of divinity.
	There is a common form of humor witnessed by us of those of 
you who go through the resurrection experience.  It is common 
for many surviving humans, no matter what level of spiritual 
development, to awaken and subsequently ask, “What was I 
thinking?” for the eyes are refreshed; the world is new, and 
much of your comprehension begins its reorganization.  Some who 
believed they were going to their eternal sleep are surprised 
that Father has given another opportunity to understand His 
plan.

	Kirk:  It’s reassuring to know you can opt out.  Sometimes 
you hit periods when you think, “I don’t want to go on.”  That 
helps growth.  The opportunity to choose is so vital and 
important.

*	Elyon:  Indeed it is.  It needs to be more than theoretical 
in its posture, for it is that realized sense that fosters 
growth.  It has to feel (fail?) in order to cause the expansion 
of the mind and the upreach of the soul to recognize purpose, to 
more deeply value eternal living.
	Without the option the value of everlasting life looses 
meaning, at least to time oriented creatures.  And it joins you 
intimately with your heavenly Father, for He desires you forever 
and waits for you to reciprocate.  When you choose the eternal 
association on your own, no conditions, you bless the Father 
with a Supreme joy.

	Kirk:  What a perfect plan.

	Harold:  Is the place that we have to get to with no 
conditions that determines our final acceptance of the Father’s 
plan?  When we completely identify with the plan we fuse.  If we 
completely identify with sin we become unreal.  Is the 
determining factor having no reservations?

*	Elyon:  Yes, it is a point of understanding and accepting 
the wisdom of the Father’s purpose and the relinquishing of the 
sense that oneself could improve upon such a plan.  But it also 
entails the realization of the supremacy of your free choosing.  
The plan of the Father is never adopted because you are 
obligated to.  When you know you are free to choose, independent 
of the rewards of heaven, without the perils of hell-full 
punishment, no coercion whatsoever, no enticing bribery; that 
also fulfills the condition.

	Harold:  So, without reservation or coercion?

*	Elyon:  Yes.  It is what is meant by loosing yourself to 
gain eternal life.

	Harold:  That’s helpful, thank you.

*	Elyon:  I am grateful that you have selected this day to 
assemble, to fellowship with each other.  I am always willing to 
be with you.  I delight in your input into our communication 
process.  We have much work to do on this world.  Some of it you 
do not relish.  Some of it you will recognize in your subsequent 
ascent beyond this planet how valuable it was.
	I will be with you again.  Farewell.