388: What if We & our Dead Do Not Need Saving but the Temple Helps Us See This?

Series Title:  Series Title: Exploring Mormonism's Immortality Projects [Episode II of IV]

In this engaging episode, Valerie and Nathan dive deeper into ideas about spiritual transformation for those wanting more depth as they progress on their faith journey catalysed by an LDS faith crisis. As part two of their four-part series on the Atman Project, they explore: 

• how each human is both essentially an unfolding of God consciousness but does not remember it...until we do
• how the only way to awaken is to be willing to die to all of our false/separate self identities that serve us until they do not...
• how our personal and religious substitute 'plan of salvation projects' are necessary and vital to our growth...until they aren't...
• how we can look back on some of our former beliefs and practices and realize their great worth in eventually showing us that they were never needed in the first place due to God's universal presence within us all. 

Listen as Nathan vulnerably shares how this exact process played out in his own life regarding his relationship with the LDS temple and witness how he lovingly both transcends and includes this part of his Mormon upbringing as key to his spiritual journey. 

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Series Overview

00:11 Valerie’s Personal Reflections

02:22 Previous Episode Recap

04:41 Episode Focus: Anatomy of the Atman Project

05:30 Key Concepts: Eros and Thanatos

06:25 Applying Eros and Thanatos to Spiritual Growth

08:15 Eros and Thanatos in Practice

10:08 The Ladder Metaphor for Spiritual Progression

14:02 Translation vs. Transformation Explained

19:59 Example: Temple Work and Personal Growth

21:03 Theological Motivation and the Immortality Project

22:35 Assigning Extra Steps and Worthiness to Temple Work

23:27 The Paradox of Necessary but Unnecessary Projects

24:07 Family History and the Desire for Connection

26:35 Nathan’s Personal Transformation Story

28:00 Positive Experiences with Family and Temple Participation

29:00 Translation: Deepening Within the Same Spiritual Rung

30:35 The “Aha” Moment: Questioning the Need to “Save” Ancestors

32:00 Realization: Connection, Not Salvation, is the Goal

33:28 Eros and Thanatos Applied to True Atman

34:40 Letting Go of the Need for Temple Work to “Save”

36:00 Facing Fears: Church Membership and Family “Sealing”

37:30 Moving Up the Ladder: Embracing a New Spiritual Perspective

38:30 Navigating Spiritual and Emotional Struggles

43:37 Next Episode Preview

44:47 Closing Remarks