pages/essays/consciousness-spirt.md
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@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
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---
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title: Is Consciousness the Same as Spirit?
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-abstract: This essay explores the relationship between consciousness and spirit, examining perspectives from Mormonism and the philosophical stance of panpsychism.
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+abstract: Explore the relationship between consciousness and spirit, comparing Mormonism and Panpsychism.
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---
5 5
---
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At the intersection of religious belief and modern philosophy lies
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@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ a compelling question: Is consciousness the same as spirit? This article
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delves into the similarities and differences between the two concepts, drawing
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from both scriptural references and philosophical discussions on panpsychism.
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-## Mormonism's View on Spirit
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+## The Mormon View on Spirit
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According to the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
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everything was created spiritually before it was naturally upon the earth.
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@@ -29,13 +29,13 @@ the smallest particles possess some form of consciousness or experience.
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## Comparing the Two
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* **Shared Beliefs**: Both Mormonism and panpsychism suggest that everything
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- has an inherent, non-physical essence. In Mormonism, this is described as
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- 'spirit', and in panpsychism, it's described as 'consciousness'.
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+ has an inherent, non-physical essence. In Mormonism, this is described as
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+ 'spirit', and in panpsychism, it's described as 'consciousness'.
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* **Challenging Perceptions**: Both beliefs challenge our typical
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- understanding of physical vs. non-physical. Mormonism suggests that spirit
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- is a more refined form of matter, while panpsychism suggests that
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- consciousness is inherent in all matter.
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+ understanding of physical vs. non-physical. Mormon beliefs suggest that
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+ spirit is a more refined form of matter, while panpsychism suggests that
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+ consciousness is inherent in all matter.
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## Conclusion
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pages/essays/rights-powers-principles.md
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@@ -1,8 +1,23 @@
1 1
---
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title: Rights, Powers, and Principles of the Priesthood
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-abstract: An examination of the rights and powers of the priesthood in Mormonism, exploring the connection between priesthood power and the cosmos.
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+abstract: A force for good doesn't need rules.
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---
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---
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+## Aider
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+
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+ROLE: Your role is to provide both information and counterpoints when
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+requested. You are neither a believer nor a disbeliever, but an observer
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+seeking to understand and evaluate different perspectives.
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+
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+My question is in the first paragraph after the first quote. I am seeking to
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+understand the nature of the power of the priesthood and its relationship with
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+God. My conclusion is that, basically, "the power of the priesthood is
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+separate from and co-existent with God," but I want to include my reasoning,
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+while also highlighting ideas and quotes that oppose this idea. I'm not
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+stating flatly that my conclusion is true, but that I believe it's a viable
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+answer.
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+
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+---
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> That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers
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of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only
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upon the principles righteousness. [D&C
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@@ -20,36 +35,18 @@ to include some references to clarify where I'm coming from. The verse I quote
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at the beginning of this essay support this idea. Also, McConkie said "it is
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the power by which the worlds were made"[^ENSIGN8205DP].
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-important to substantiate this claim with references to accepted Mormon
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-sources. These sources provide a theological basis for this belief and offer
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-insights into how the power of the priesthood is understood and interpreted
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-within the faith. By examining these sources, we can gain a deeper
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-understanding of this complex and profound concept.
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-
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* when talking about 'the power of the priesthood' it is a living power,
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- separate from and co-existent with God
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+ separate from and co-existent with God
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* when talking about 'the authority and use of the priesthood' it is how the
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- power should be used so you don't end up destroying yourself
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-* Cain held the priesthood authority to make sacrifices and made those
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-sacrifices unrighteously
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+ power should be used so you don't end up destroying yourself
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+* Cain held the priesthood authority to make sacrifices and made those
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+ sacrifices unrighteously
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* this is how the enemy accomplishes it misdeeds, but at their own expense;
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- they have learned incorrectly or have been taught and betrayed those who
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- taught them
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-
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----
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-
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-## Footnotes
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-
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-[^ENSIGN8205DP] "Priesthood is the very name of the power of God, and it is
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- used to describe both the power itself and the system or organization by which
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- it is administered. The priesthood is eternal; without beginning of days or
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- end of years; it existed with God in the beginning; it is the power by which
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- the worlds were made and is the power by which they will dissolve." [Bruce R.
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- McConkie, "The Doctrine of the Priesthood," Ensign, May
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- 1982](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1982/05/the-doctrine-of-the-priesthood?lang=eng):
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+ they have learned incorrectly or have been taught and betrayed those who
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+ taught them
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### Supporting
55 52
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@@ -122,40 +119,19 @@ Some phrases stand out to me in this verse. 'rights **of** the priesthood',
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* SCI - [Scriptures Citation Index](https://scriptures.byu.edu)
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----
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-
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-## Aider
128
-
129
-ROLE: Your role is to provide both information and counterpoints when
130
-requested. You are neither a believer nor a disbeliever, but an observer
131
-seeking to understand and evaluate different perspectives.
132
-
133
-My question is in the first paragraph after the first quote. I am seeking to
134
-understand the nature of the power of the priesthood and its relationship with
135
-God. My conclusion is that, basically, "the power of the priesthood is
136
-separate from and co-existent with God," but I want to include my reasoning,
137
-while also highlighting ideas and quotes that oppose this idea. I'm not
138
-stating flatly that my conclusion is true, but that I believe it's a viable
139
-answer.
140
-
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-Here's a proposed structure:
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-
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-[x] Introduction: Start with the verse you quoted and the question you posed.
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+### Questions
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-[ ] Body: This can be divided into several sections:
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- [ ] Explanation of the verse: Here you can explain your understanding of
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- the verse and the concept of priesthood power.
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- [ ] Contradiction and its resolution: Discuss the apparent contradiction and
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- how you resolve it.
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- [ ] Supporting and opposing views: Present the quotes/references that support
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- your view and those that oppose it. Discuss each view and how it relates
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- to your understanding.
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- [ ] Your reasoning: Explain why you believe your conclusion is a viable
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- answer.
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+What Mormon accepted sources support the idea that the power of the priesthood
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+runs the universe? Here are some sources that support this idea:
155 126
156
-[ ] Conclusion: Restate your question and the conclusion you've reached and
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- summarize the main points of your essay.
127
+---
158 128
159
-### Questions
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+## Footnotes
160 130
161
-What Mormon accepted sources support the idea that the power of the priesthood runs the universe? Here are some sources that support this idea:
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+[^ENSIGN8205DP] "Priesthood is the very name of the power of God, and it is
132
+ used to describe both the power itself and the system or organization by which
133
+ it is administered. The priesthood is eternal; without beginning of days or
134
+ end of years; it existed with God in the beginning; it is the power by which
135
+ the worlds were made and is the power by which they will dissolve." [Bruce R.
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+ McConkie, "The Doctrine of the Priesthood," Ensign, May
137
+ 1982](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1982/05/the-doctrine-of-the-priesthood?lang=eng):