Meredith Sprunger's Synopsis of The Urantia Book
Synopsis of Paper 34
THE LOCAL UNIVERSE MOTHER SPIRIT
1. When a Creator Son is personalized by the Universal Father and the Eternal Son, then does the Infinite Spirit individualize a new and unique representation of himself to accompany this Creator Son to the realms of space, there to be his companion, first, in physical organization and, later, in creation and ministry to the creatures of the newly projected universe.
2. After the completion of the physical organization ...there goes forth the proclamation of the Michael Son that life is next to be projected in the newly organized universe. Upon the Paradise recognition of this declaration of intention, there occurs a reaction of approval in the Paradise Trinity ...In response to these Paradise phenomena there immediately personalizes, in the very presence of the Creator Son, a new personal representation of the Infinite Spirit. This is the Divine Minister.
3. From the earliest association with the Creator Son the Universe Spirit possesses all the physical-control attributes of the Infinite Spirit, including the full endowment of antigravity. Upon the attainment of personal status the Universe Spirit exerts just as full and complete control of mind gravity, in the local universe, as would the Infinite Spirit if personally present.
4. While the seventh segment of the grand universe may, in many respects, be tardy in development, thoughtful students of our problems look forward to the evolution of an extraordinarily well‑balanced creation in the ages to come. We predict this high degree of symmetry in Orvonton because the presiding Spirit of this superuniverse is the chief of the Master Spirits on high, being a spirit intelligence embodying the balanced union and perfect co‑ordination of the traits and character of all three of the eternal Deities. We are tardy and backward in comparison with other sectors, but there undoubtedly awaits us a transcendent development and an unprecedented achievement sometime in the eternal ages of the future.
5. In personal prerogatives a Creative Spirit is wholly and entirely independent of space, but not of time. ..She is equally and diffusely present throughout her entire local universe and is, therefore, just as literally and personally present on one world as on any other ...A Creator Son is not handicapped by time, but he is conditioned by space;...when these two function in administrative union, they are practically independent of time and space within the confines of their local creation.
6. The Creator Sons are endowed with a spirit of universe presence in many ways analogous to that of the Seven Master Spirits of Paradise…This bestowal Comforter is the spiritual force which ever draws all truth seekers towards Him who is the personification of truth in the local universe.
7. The Holy Spirit of the Divine Minister would become nonfunctional if her personal presence should be removed from Salvington. Her spirit presence seems to be fixed on the universe headquarters world, and it is this very fact that enables the spirit of the Creator Son to function independently of the whereabouts of the Son. The Universe Mother Spirit acts as the universe focus and center of the Spirit of Truth as well as of her own personal influence, the Holy Spirit.
8. The human an the subhuman orders of evolutionary life are endowed with the adjutant spirit types of mind ministration ...The seven adjutants have been given the following names: the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of worship, the spirit of counsel, the spirit of knowledge, the spirit of courage, the spirit of understanding, the spirit of intuition—of quick perception.
9. The four points of the compass are universal and inherent in the life of Nebadon. All living creatures possess bodily units which are sensitive and responsive to these directional currents...Thus is the sense of orientation forever fixed in the living beings of the universe, This sense is not wholly wanting as a conscious possession by mankind. These bodies were first observed on Urantia about the time of this narration.
10. On the inhabited worlds the Spirit begins the work of evolutionary progression, starting with the lifeless material of the realm, first endowing vegetable life, then the animal organisms, then the first orders of human existence; and each succeeding impartation contributes to the further unfolding of the evolutionary potential of planetary life from the initial and primitive stages to the appearance of will creatures
11. This ministry of the sixth and seventh adjutants indicates mind, evolution crossing the threshold of spiritual ministry...When mind is thus endowed with the ministry of the Holy Spirit, it possesses the capacity for (consciously or unconsciously) choosing the spiritual presence of the Universal Father—the Thought Adjuster. But it is not until a bestowal Son has liberated the Spirit of Truth for planetary ministry to all mortals that all normal minds are automatically prepared for the reception of the Thought Adjusters.
12. Though the Spirit of Truth is poured out upon all flesh, this spirit of the Son is almost wholly limited in function and power by man's personal reception of that which constitutes the sum and substance of the mission of the bestowal Son. The Holy Spirit is partly independent of human attitude and partially conditioned by the decisions and co‑operation of the will of man.
13. With the advancing evolution of an inhabited planet and the further spiritualization of its inhabitants, additional spiritual influences may be received by such mature personalities ...Although Divinity may be plural in manifestation, in human experience Deity is singular, always one ...all spirit influences are one in function.
14. Spiritual forces unerringly seek and attain their own original levels. Having gone out from the Eternal, they are certain to return thereto, bringing with them all those children of time and space who have espoused the leading and teaching of the indwelling Adjuster, those who have been truly "born of the Spirit," the faith sons of God.
15. Spiritual life, like physical energy, is consumed. Spiritual effort results in relative spiritual exhaustion...The seed of theoretical truth is dead, the highest moral concepts without effect, unless and until the divine Spirit breathes upon the forms of truth and quickens the formulas of righteousness ...It is not enough that this spirit be poured out upon you; the divine Spirit must dominate and control every phase of human experience.
16. It is the presence of the divine Spirit, the water of life, that prevents the consuming thirst of mortal discontent and that indescribable hunger of the unspiritualized human mind...Such divinely watered souls are all but independent of material environment as regards the joys of living and the satisfaction of earthly existence. They are spiritually illuminated and refreshed, morally strengthened and endowed.
17. In every mortal there exists a dual nature: the inheritance of animal tendencies and the high urge of spirit endowment. During the short life you live on Urantia, these two diverse and opposing urges can seldom be fully reconciled; they can hardly be harmonized and unified; but throughout your lifetime the combined Spirit ever ministers to assist you in subjecting the flesh more and more to the leading of the Spirit.
18. The Spirit never drives, only1eads. If you are a willing learner, if you want to attain spirit levels and reach divine heights, if you sincerely desire to reach the eternal goal, then the divine Spirit will gently and lovingly lead you along the pathway of sonship and spiritual progress. Every step you take must be one of willingness, intelligent and cheerful co‑operation. The domination of the Spirit is never tainted with coercion nor compromised by compulsion.
19. The consciousness of the spirit domination of a human life is presently attended by an increasing exhibition of the characteristics of the Spirit in the life reactions of such a spirit‑led mortal, "for the fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance."...And throughout every trial and in the presence of every hardship, spirit‑born souls are sustained by that hope which transcends all fear because the love of God is shed abroad in all hearts by the presence of the divine Spirit.
20. Evolutionary mortals inhabiting normal worlds of spiritual progress do not experience the acute conflicts between the spirit and the flesh which characterize the present‑day Urantia races.
21. The Urantia peoples are suffering the consequences of a double deprivation of help in this task of progressive planetary spiritual attainment. The Caligastia upheaval precipitated worldwide confusion and robbed all subsequent generations of the moral assistance which a well‑ordered society would have provided.. But even more disastrous was the .Adamic default in that it deprived the races of that superior type of physical nature which would have been more consonant with spiritual aspirations
22. Those God‑knowing men and women who have been born of the Spirit experience no more conflict with their mortal natures than do the inhabitants of the most normal of worlds, planets which have never been tainted with sin nor touched by rebellion. Faith sons work on intellectual levels and live on spiritual planes far above the conflicts produced by unrestrained or unnatural physical desires. The normal urges of animal beings and the natural appetites and impulses of the physical nature are not in conflict with even the highest spiritual attainment except in the minds of ignorant, mistaught, or unfortunately overconscientious persons.
23. Having started out on the way of life everlasting, having accepted the assignment and received your orders to advance, do not fear the dangers of human forgetfulness and. mortal inconstancy, do not be troubled with doubts of failure or by perplexing confusion, do not falter and question your status and standing, for in every dark hour, at every crossroad in the forward struggle, the Spirit of Truth will always speak, saying, "This is the way."
Discussion Questions
1. How do we understand or explain the Creative Spirit who is independent of space but not of time?
2. How does knowledge of the seven adjutant mind-spirits help us understand animal and human behavior?
3. How do we distinguish between the influence of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Truth in human spiritual growth?
4. Although our experience with Spirit is one, how does it help us to know its many sources?
5. To what extent have theologians confused intellectual doctrines with real spiritual power?
6. Are spiritually endowed persons largely independent of material environment for joy and happiness?
7. How do we promote intelligent and cheerful cooperation with Spiritual guidance?
A Service of
The Urantia Book Fellowship