Creation happens when unorganized matter is penetrated by Heavenly Virtue into a living system ruled by a particular heavenly template that has as a chief aim that of bringing the separate, chaos-ruled particles into a context of unity and aliveness with all other particles within the system. It is like water molecules that take on the form of vapor. When vapor condenses into water droplets, called rain, transformation occurs that unites the previously separate molecules into a greater whole, called a rain drop. The water molecules relate to each other inside the context of a droplet of water that is subject now to the effect of gravity. They then fall and collect into a puddle when the droplets fall and splash upon the earth,. Another transformation occurs inside of a different context than before where an even greater unity is achieved, and the water molecules relate with each other inside the context of a puddle. Creation is not designed to happen only once, but is a process that happens ongoingly as particles transform from one context to another. Relating newly inside of progressively larger and grander contexts of unity is partaking of the divine nature[1]. This is the natural tendency of Virtue and Water. Inside of creation, I have the opportunity to participate ongoingly in the divine nature, progressing from transformation to transformation.
And then the Lord said: Let us go down. And they went down at the beginning, and they, that is the Gods, organized and formed the heavens and the earth. And the earth, after it was formed, was empty and desolate, because they had not formed anything but the earth; and darkness reigned upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of the Gods was brooding upon the face of the waters.[2]
The earth, in its primordial state was empty and desolate, meaning that it had not the power to conceive. It was barren and uninhabitable. It was toxic. Darkness reigned upon the face of the deep; meaning that recognition between what was and what was possible was missing. There was no measuring up to a standard. There was no purpose or intention in what was initially created that was recognizable to the beholder.
The Spirit of the Gods was brooding upon the face of the waters. But, creation happens ongoingly, continuously, and constantly. It is a now occurrence. The Gods organize and form the heavens and the earth ongoingly. But darkness reigns over the face of the deep, and the Spirit of the Gods broods upon the face of the waters. A catalytic action is missing, that if it were present would spark and ignite the grasping potential of the earth with the penetrating action of the Spirit and transformation would occur. Transformation does not occur because the earth is empty and desolate, meaning that it is barren, and uninhabitable. It does not yet have the capacity to carry through gestation dust into living matter. The earth, after it is formed is empty and desolate, meaning it does not have the capacity to experience what it is created to experience, transformation. It is like Elizabeth, barren, unable to carry a child. Face is used twice. One of the definitions of face is “an outward show or pretense, especially as a means of preserving one’s dignity or of concealing a detrimental fact, or condition” In other words a face can be a cover-up, or an act, or Creation always begins with the Gods creating first the form for transformation to occur inside of, which is the yin element of creation. In this case it is the face of the waters that the Spirit of the Gods was brooding over. Face in this context has a peculiarly possible interpretation. According to Dictionary.com, one definition of face is an “.” And the Gods then create the yang element of creation: the Spirit that broods over the face of the waters. But in this primordial state the earth, as a womb is empty and desolate; meaning that it is by itself; uninhabited; lacking power to contain and grasp. This is the nature of dust. Dust is matter that is not organized by the quickening presence of spirit. It just is blown any such way by any wind that affects it.
Darkness reigns; meaning that the earth has not yet been given an agent that qualifies in overcoming its empty and desolate state. The Spirit of the Gods, which is the heavenly template, or record of Heaven that the Gods bring with them from heaven, which is what the Chinese call Virtue, is brooding patiently over the face of the waters; waiting for word from the Gods to proceed. That word will come from the Gods, through the framework (the earth, or womb) that was created first, and emerge as an essence that will grasp brooding Virtue which will then penetrate essence with its presence.
In me, Virtue is grasped by my essence when my heart is cleansed of all encumbrances by the blood of Christ. This cleansing then changes the nature of my heart into a heart that is justified[3] no longer by encumbrance, but by Virtue. My breathing dust that I am formed from is then transformed into living flesh inseparably joined with eternal element[4]. Because of the inseparable nature of this union, this transforming is something that happens ongoingly. Virtue breathes into me ongoingly the breath of life. The dust that I am formed from takes on a quality the Chinese call essence (Jing), which has the capacity to continually grasp the Virtue that the Gods (Shen) are laden with. But this only happens to the extent that my heart is unencumbered, because the heart is the medium that receives and distributes Virtue to essence.
The transforming influence of Heavenly Virtue is not found in speaking, but inside the listening my speaking is received into. Listening, like Virtue, has power to penetrate and transform the words it receives.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The spoken word is a form of essence that has an incredible tendency to be transformed by what it is with. If my word is with God [meaning that my word is received into God’s listening], then my word is transformed by God’s listening. But even more astounding, my word takes on the capacity to listen me into the transformation it was originally listened into. My word becomes God to me. This is the nature of my word’s grasp. When my word is received into your listening, your listening transforms my word. I am in turn created by my word that I honored in putting it into your listening. But I also have a listening for you, and I transform your words, by my listening, and through that transformation I create you by your own words that return back to you with my transformation engraved upon them. The strength of the grasp of essence [my words/your words] determines the depth of penetration of Heavenly Virtue [your listening/my listening], which in turn determines the grasp, which determines the penetration: it’s a cycle that either builds or destroys those involved in it. My word’s grasp of your listening is cleaved to by the quickening penetration of your listening to my words. The potential of the transformative penetration of Virtue and Water in my life is found in the potential and influence your listening has in transforming the words that come out of my mouth.
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I enter through the transformational gate of birth/rebirth by taking on the nature and tendency of words. Words have the tendency to grasp other words, and join into sentences and conversations. They have a tendency to grasp and be transformed by the listening of those around me. When I speak, I take on a form of being that grasps listening. When I listen I take on a form that transforms the words I am listening to. The words that have the strongest tendency to grasp are words which embody promises, covenants, declarations, contracts, oaths, judgments and powerful requests. All these wordforms have a tendency to bind me to a particular transformation that occurs because of the listening my promise was received into. However (speaking about promises and declarations), there are promises and declarations that are easy to keep, that have little potential to grasp a transformative listening, and there are promises that have incredible potential to grasp a transformative listening. Promises that have little grasp are promises that I am sure that I can keep. This type of promise is illustrated in the person that takes only college courses that he knows he will pass. He never stretches himself beyond that which he thinks he can do. Promises that transform me into other worlds are promises that I have no idea how to keep. To experience a listening that transforms powerfully my word, I must make a promise or a declaration whose possibility for fulfillment has no validation in the world that presently encases me. In other words, the world I see through pre-transformed eyes doesn’t fit inside the world the new promise or declaration has inspired. I find I don’t know how I will keep it. I am incapable of grasping the know-how. I am inspired by the promise, but find myself not knowing how to keep it relying on my own powers and intellect. Knowing-how resides inside a world where I am not. That world could be inside the know-how of others, and it could also a world that has not yet been discovered. Fulfilling upon the promise requires a powerful listening presence outside of me. This is transforming my life from a small life run by fear, and the instinct to survive, into a life that is transformed by another’s listening. I then transform from being a self into a being a relationship. This transformation only happens by honoring the words I make by being brave enough to put those words out into the listening presence of others. Therefore, transformation is not found in keeping my word, but in honoring my word. The parable of the talents Christ told comes to mind. If I am keeping my word, I am hording my word; I am burying my word, and not putting it out there into your listening where it can be multiplied tenfold and more[5]. If I am always keeping my word, I am not putting my word out there in listenings that I am unfamiliar with. I am not trusting that your listening has power to catapult me into worlds that inspire me; whose entrance requires faith and humility, rather than my know-how. The power to transform is found in my ability to grasp your listening with my words, and in turn for your listening to transform my words. It is found in the promises I honor, and that you listen into fulfillment. This is entrance into a realm where the depths and heights are infinitely vast. It is a realm of unlimited possibilities.
[1] 2 Peter 1:4
[2] Abraham 4:2,3
[3] Justified has an interesting meaning. In writing, my print is justified between the right and left margin. In me, my shadow can justify my life, or the Spirit, or Virtue can justify my life.
[4] “And the Gods formed man from the dust of the ground, and took his spirit (that is, the man’s spirit), and put it into him; and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” (Abraham 4;27)
[5] “But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talents which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them.” (D&C 60:2)
