Jim seems to think we both suffer from a serious and shared malady.

Is it not the least bit curious that the Master made a concerted effort at leaving no written record by his hand and insisted that his apostles and disciples refrain from making such a symbolic account of revelation as well? The followers of Jesus could not resist and disobeyed this directive eventually.

Were the celestials involved in bring us TUB disobeying Christ Michael? Did Michael change his mind on this issue of presenting revelation in symbolic form?

Jesus' apostles did not have the same mandate as he. They were free to write, but some tried to imitate Jesus and therefore refrained from writing or reproducing their writing.

Words eventually became fetishes, more especially those which were regarded as God's words; in this way the sacred books of many religions have become fetishistic prisons incarcerating the spiritual imagination of man. 88:2:6

Modern respect for wisdom and truth is but the recent escape from the fetish-making tendency up to the higher levels of thinking and reasoning. Concerning the accumulated fetish writings which various religionists hold as sacred books, it is not only believed that what is in the book is true, but also that every truth is contained in the book. 88:2:7

Knowing how his Master so scrupulously avoided leaving written records behind him, Andrew steadfastly refused to multiply copies of his written narrative. A similar attitude on the part of the other apostles of Jesus greatly delayed the writing of the Gospels. 121:0:1

The decision to not leave any form of "relics" by Jesus was made by Michael prior to his bestowal and Jesus remembered or was reminded during the 40 day sojourn in the Perean Hills. I am unable to document ANY such instructions TO the apostles. Please post or reference that text you mention above.

And what a glorious malady it is, don't you think? I've never been so happy. If this is a sickness, then all I can do is thank God for it and hope it spreads.

I also want to say to you Brad, that I truly appreciate your stamina and courage in fighting the good fight of faith. Your ability to stay the course in the face of slings and arrows is commendable and inspiring. Stay true to your heart good fellow, stay true. Feast upon uncertainty, fatten upon disappointment, enthuse over defeat, invigorate in the presence of difficulties, exhibit indomitable courage and unconquerable faith when challenged with the inexplicable, and stay true to your faith in God.

Manny has provided yet another example of why the study of the Papers and the study group format itself is so important in being accurate about our "recollections" of what the book actually says.

Thanks Rexford!! Manny has provided yet another example of why the study of the Papers and the study group format itself is so important in being accurate about our "recollections" of what the book actually says. Unlike the once-spoken word which is so subject to misstating, misrepresenting, misremembering, or other forms of torture, twists, and abuse, the UB allows study and reference and precision in quoting and discussion and debate.

The book is for the world and all its masses and is not destined to be dominated by priests or grand intellects or charismatics or any who hold themselves up as "keepers" of the book or the gate (whatever that means).

It speaks for itself clearly and redundantly so that anyone with a 6th grade education may study it and/or read it to another who cannot read but can think and know and become another cosmic citizen in this friendly universe founded by and based on love - something all can understand clearly.

If we look to the Master for example, as Manny suggests above, and then read and study this book about him and his life, we find an example of one who was fascinated by study and learning. Indeed, the young Jesus studied the old and ancient texts so thoroughly that he could recite them and utilize them in discussion and debate in great detail, to such a degree that he astounded and confounded many a priest and learned educator. He used this knowledge to tongue tie and embarrass his critics later in his ministry, but also to teach his apostles and disciples the truths to be discovered by such study and knowledge.

Jesus studied books and taught from those books so studied. We are given mind and curiosity for the purpose of learning about and truly experiencing the reality of the universe of universes - all of reality. The UB is our first-level primer of that reality.

The UB is our first-level primer of that reality.

Okay...I deny it. An entry-level text book relating the facts of cosmology is not an idol nor is its study or appreciation for it idolatry. A book describing reality is not the reality described and none have claimed such here.

Manny - to be clear, I accused you of nothing more than misremembering. I should of been more clear. Your misremembering here is an example of the difference between discussing that which is written for reference and that which is spoken as in oral-tradition. However, IMO, your celestial conspiracies are pretty twisted. I wonder if they are a result of too little study or too much?