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I AM HERE. John.
I desire to say that you are much more in that condition of soul development
that enables us to make a rapport with you than you have been, and we are
pleased that this is so. For the greater the development you have, the easier it
is for us to express our ideas of the higher Truths that we so much desire to
disclose through you.
Well, the subject about which I wish to write is: “What Is the Reason That
Mortals Will Not Seek the Love of the Father, but, Rather, Endeavor to Believe
in the Creeds and Sacraments of the Church to Which They Belong or Are
Affiliated With?”
Now, it may appear to you that mortals, themselves, could better tell the reason
for this preference, and better describe their actions in carrying out their
preferences. But this supposition would not be true because they do not really
know. The knowledge of the Truth which they might obtain, and the supposed
knowledge of truth which so many of them content themselves with believing that
they possess, are two and very different things.
And first, they believe that the creeds of their churches contain and disclose
the truths as to God and as to mortals’ relationship to Him; further, that if
they follow these creeds, they will do that which is pleasing to God and in
accordance with His Will. And, hence, they rest satisfied to abide in such
knowledge, and they seek no further to learn the Truths of their being and of
their salvation.
In most particulars, the creeds do not contain the Truths of these spiritual
matters, because they are based upon error; consequently, they can have no truth
as a superstructure, and, from them, mortals cannot learn the true knowledge of
spiritual things.
These creeds are man-made and are not based upon the real Verities that can
never be changed by creeds, nor by any other thing that is the result of man's
making.
But mortals do not know that these creeds do not disclose the Truth to them. And
this is one reason why they prefer to follow the teachings of the creeds and
believe in them. They have nothing else to which they can resort, except the
many statements of Truth that the Bible contains. And even though they should
resort to these statements, yet, in their condition of mental and soul
development, they would not be able to discover the Truths as therein disclosed,
or to realize any distinction between such Truths and what they believe are the
truths of their creeds.
For long years—generation after generation—these creeds have been accepted and
believed in, and proclaimed to be the truths of the respective churches to which
mortals may have belonged. And such mortals have seen their parents and
grandparents believing and resting in the assurance that the creeds contained
the truth. They have seen these relatives live and die apparently happy in
their beliefs. And, hence, they have become satisfied to do that which those
before them did: not question or search for the Truth elsewhere, or even think
that it can be found elsewhere.
As man is constituted, it may be said that such a position and condition is
natural. And we, or you, who know the Truth, and also that the creeds do not
contain the Truth, should not be surprised.
Again, mortals prefer their creeds because, in the majority of the instances
when a church or denomination has existed for a long time, those who have, as I
may say, inherited these beliefs in the creeds never consider for a moment that
they should do anything else than give an unquestioning belief to the teachings
of their creeds, with the assurance that, in such belief, they are in the truth
and are not called upon to doubt or question. And this growing up in this
belief, as many do, becomes to them, in many cases, a thing of mere form, having
no vitality, and creating in those who possess it no special concern as to
whether their belief is well-founded or not. This belief saves them the trouble
of exercising their minds to any comprehensive degree. They say: “I am content
with the creed of my church and do not desire to be troubled by questioning the
same.” And, hence, you will see, it is not difficult for them to make the
preference; for, in fact, there is no preference—only a condition of mind
existing that has in it no room for the exercise of any preference.
And, then again, this preference exists because of the social life of the people
who believe in the creeds of the churches. For if they do not so believe, it is
not permissible for them to become members of the churches. The creed must be
subscribed to, no matter what else may be vital or required to be believed in,
or declared by the mortal to be believed who desires affiliation.
The church is the greatest of social centers in the lives of men, and its
influence and power are very great, and reaches further into the economy of
social life than unthinking people may realize. So, when the applicant
subscribes to the creed and becomes a member of the church, he usually becomes
satisfied with his social position, and his thoughts of spiritual Truths are no
longer plastic but fixed. And, as time goes by, he pays less attention to what
the creeds may require of him, but, in a kind of automatic manner, acts upon
them and rests satisfied. His position then becomes very comfortable and his
mind becomes free from effort by his undoubting acceptance of the doctrines of
his church creeds.
Of course, there are many exceptions to this condition existing among members of
the churches. For while they subscribe to the creeds, yet, their souls are not
satisfied, and they go out in longings to the Father for His Love. And many
possess this Love, though intellectually they do not know what It means. But,
with the majority, the preference is made because of the reasons that I have
stated; and the difficulty will be great to cause an awakening from this
satisfaction and feeling that in their beliefs lie the certainty of doing the
Father's Will and of their own salvation.
Now, while all this is true, yet, these mortals do not realize that it is true,
just in the sense that I have described it. And the great work that lies before
you and us is to cause the Truths which you are receiving to be presented to
these people in such a way that they will not be satisfied to rest in the
security of their old beliefs, but will be persuaded to seek for the Truth
outside of the teachings of their creeds. And this I can say: that if these
people will have such an awakening, and seriously and honestly seek for the
Truth, they will not hesitate to believe that they have been mistaken in their
beliefs, and they will not be satisfied until they learn the Truth.
I merely thought I would write this because, while it is more of a subject
pertaining to the merely living of men on earth, in its hoped for results and
consequences, if men's living is changed, the spiritual things will become the
things of absorbing interest.
These creeds shut out the Truth, and men will never be able to find the Truth
until they shut out from their minds and souls the doctrines of the creeds.
I will not write more tonight. So, with my love, I will say good night.
Your brother in Christ,
JOHN, THE APOSTLE.
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About James E. Padgett
 Born August 25, 1852, Mr. James Edward Padgett
practiced law in Washington, D.C. Subsequent to his wife's, Helen,
passing in February, 1914, James learned from a psychic that he had
the gift of automatic writing. Based on the promptings of the
psychic and with a desire to reach his dearly departed Helen, he
commenced take messages from the spirits in the spirit world. At
first, James denounced the messages as merely coming from his mind,
driven by a strong desire to reach his departed wife. Eventually,
however, James could not deny the fact that information he was
receiving could not have possibly come from his own mind - for the
content of the messages surpassed his own education and knowledge.
Before his passing in March, 1923, James had accumulated hundreds of
messages from spirits and celestials in the spirit world.
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