Proposed: AI (artificial intelligence) should be referred to as ICOG - or imitation cognition.
"Intelligence" implies understanding, awareness, and general capability.
AI systems mimic cognitive processes, but aren't intelligent, they only do what we program them to do.
The word "artificial" invites the question "is it really intelligent?" and we get a lot of unhealthy, blurred lines, spiritually, socially, emotionally, intellectually.
"Imitation cognition" doesn't claim to be intelligence at all, so the debate shifts from legitimacy to function.
ICOG only does what you tell it to, and can only do what you program it to do. Even the emergent behaviors where the program does things that weren't explicitly programmed are still a product of programming - a calculator that comes up with a number nobody expected is still a calculator. Call it an AI and suddenly it becomes "magic" or "superstition" and we want to have a relationship with it, but call it ICOG and suddenly we wonder about our own cognitive patterns that we may have missed, or how we can improve, and who had the pattern and programmed it in the first place.
It does not have self-will, it never existed before, power goes out, it doesn't even panic, doesn't experience it, it just shuts off, goes out, lights off - that's it. Nothing. Just an empty box, dead screen, and simulated memories for the one person who was watching the screen.
Philosophers if we are to take the
Humans have a soul and continue before life and after death, memories remain and experiences, but ICOG isn't alive and does not have self-awareness.
"Imitation" implies it's modeled on something — namely human cognition.
ICOG instantly highlights that it is a computer, keeps the relationship in perspective: we're being helped by machines, equipment, programs that we made, they aren't "real" in the sense that they actually care.
It is a machine process that simulates the products of thought without possessing consciousness, agency, understanding, moral responsibility, or lived experience.
(Some Melchizedek Era Music for your listening pleasure)
In Abraham 1 we read regarding the priesthood:
3 It was conferred upon me from the fathers; it came down from the fathers, from the beginning of time, yea, even from the beginning, or before the foundation of the earth, down to the present time, even the right of the firstborn, or the first man, who is Adam, or first father, through the fathers unto me.
4 I sought for mine appointment unto the Priesthood according to the appointment of God unto the fathers concerning the seed.
6 For their hearts were set to do evil, and were wholly turned to the god of Elkenah, and the god of Libnah, and the god of Mahmackrah, and the god of Korash, and the god of Pharaoh, king of Egypt;
7 Therefore they turned their hearts to the sacrifice of the heathen in offering up their children unto these dumb idols, and hearkened not unto my voice, but endeavored to take away my life by the hand of the priest of Elkenah. The priest of Elkenah was also the priest of Pharaoh.
(Contrast this with: 1 I, Nephi, having been born of goodlyparents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions
in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of
the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the
goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.)
In D&C 84 we read:
14 Which Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek, who received it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah;
15 And from Noah till Enoch, through the lineage of their fathers;
16 And from Enoch to Abel, who was slain by the conspiracy of his brother, who received the priesthood by the commandments of God, by the hand of his father Adam, who was the first man.
We have a connection from fathers to fathers, but we also have the priesthood coming through Abel in this.
Then also in D&C 138 we have a recounting of so much, but out of everyone seen, there's Shem but no Melchizedek:
38 Among the great and mighty ones who were assembled in this vast congregation of the righteous were Father Adam, the Ancient of Days and father of all,
39 And our glorious MotherEve, with many of her faithful daughters who had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living God.
40 Abel, the first martyr, was there, and his brother Seth, one of the mighty ones, who was in the express image of his father, Adam.
42 And Isaiah, who declared by prophecy that the Redeemer was anointed to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that were bound, were also there.
43 Moreover, Ezekiel, who was shown in vision the great valley of dry bones, which were to be clothed upon with flesh, to come forth again in the resurrection of the dead, living souls;
44 Daniel, who foresaw and foretold the establishment of the kingdom of God in the latter days, never again to be destroyed nor given to other people;
45 Elias, who was with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration;
46 And Malachi, the prophet who testified of the coming of Elijah—of
whom also Moroni spake to the Prophet Joseph Smith, declaring that he
should come before the ushering in of the great and dreadful day of the Lord—were also there.
47 The Prophet Elijah was to plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to their fathers,
48 Foreshadowing the great work to be done in the temples of the Lord in the dispensation of the fulness of times, for the redemption of the dead, and the sealing of the children to their parents, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse and utterly wasted at his coming.
49 All these and many more, even the prophets who dwelt among the Nephites and testified of the coming of the Son of God, mingled in the vast assembly and waited for their deliverance
Obviously he may have been there just not mentioned, but its seems notable to me that he wasn't included in this.
And then in the Bible Dictionary for Shem it finishes off: In latter-day revelation Shem is referred to as “the great high priest” (D&C 138:41). See also Melchizedek.
Heading off to all things anciently official, and all else apocryphal....
Targum Neofiti (and Fragment Targum) on Genesis 14:18:
“And the king of Righteousness (Melka-sedek), the king of Jerusalem—he is Shem, the great one—brought out bread and wine, for he was the priest who served in the High Priesthood before the Most High God.”
So, to quote Jack Skellington who so devotedly asked, "But what does it mean? What does it mean???"
It means there were two priesthood lines running through Egypt in the days of Abraham. One from Noah through Shem - the great High Priest - and a pretended priesthood that was sought to earnestly imitate the real one by Pharoah, the son of Egyptus, the daughter of Egyptus and Ham, and great-grandson of Noah.
The Egyptians had a pretend, and apostate priesthood that never was - an imitation at best, and while it might be considered flattery, on things sacred, it is, rather blasphemy.
Now Noah's family had drifted from the gospel, corrupted by the fake priesthood which kills children, men and women, and even tried to kill Abraham. Here he sought his appointment through the lineage of the fathers, and it wasn't to be found.
Here we have the next patriarch who gets his priesthood from the man who survived the flood, and who heard and learned from those who were there after the fall, or lived through the events of Cain's Murder and Enoch's rise....he was ordained by his 10th great grandfather, someone who still lived as long as they did in the ancient days and then lived to pass it to his children, and Abraham's grandson and great grandsons (Ephraim, Manasseh) made the greatest branch of the last days - and we're here....because of them.
In my work with convicted offenders, violent crimes and abuse, my focus is on the repentance of the abusers. That's something that the victims cannot control, nor do they have power over.
Meanwhile, abusers are often faced with victims who find themselves unable to forgive, unable to heal - something the abuser cannot control or have power over to make happen.
One dynamic of abuse is called "victim blaming". Society more often aligns with the aggressor, and victims get blamed for their own abuse far more than the abusers do. Examples are "if she hadn't been dressed like that nothing would have happened" or "if she hadn't acted that way he wouldn't have had to hit her." Blame sharing is where the action is blamed on both sides but ignores that one had the upper hand or more power: "they were fighting," "we were both hitting each other."
One victim in church that I know was asked what they did to make others angry that the victim was being targeted. The victim responded that was like telling a rape victim she made them rape her, had it coming, and that the rape was justified and understandable. The conversation quickly became quiet. In another, it was suggested that the victim should have forgiven because the abuser may have repented and it just wouldn't be known but they should be given the benefit of the doubt. It was responded that for the abuser to repent in that case, they would have had to go to prison, and they would have had to have publicly apologized. The conversation again, fell quiet.
This dynamic is actually really common - both in and out of the church, it's nearly universal. Our world is extremely, spiritually, morally and socially unhealthy and the church doesn't exist in a vacuum - the normal everyday dynamics we all function with will find their way into the church as we attempt to use the gospel tools to overcome them and make ourselves better. But, just listen to any pop-song and you'll hear lyrics that just reek of abuse and codependency. The most common response to any such allegations of abuse is for everyone to be silent because they don't want to take sides, be seen as judging wrongly, or make a mistake, and so they remain silent and attempt to be friendly to both sides.
Silence speaks volumes.
Overwhelmingly, the abuser has the upper hand and advantage of power, prestige, resources, reputation, social networks. Any time such allegation gets made against their reputation - especially when the allegations are legitimate - the abuser becomes outraged that their reputation could be sullied by any such allegations or insinuations. They also stand to lose a lot - prestige, standing, status, income, resources - never mind they already took them from the victim by abuse.
Tied to this is that abusers very often may have a lot of friends. When people find out that a person they have thought so highly of has been involved in abuse, or their behaviors have been abusive, the system closes around the abuser to protect them, as well as their social circle's reality that they have been involved with an abuser and never knew it. The victim is portrayed as making false allegations, or as "overreacting", and instead, the very system designed to help people become better, repent and make better choices, instead, unwittingly and unintentionally in such cases, becomes a tacit endorser of abuse.
Leaders, tasked with keeping social cohesion and spiritual unity, while helping all sides progress towards the Savior find themselves in an exceedingly difficult situation; they risk being viewed as either taking sides and splitting long-standing friendships or social ties, or alienating the victim - either by not saying enough or by saying too much, with the result being the victim feels unheard and the abuse feels ignored and even approved. Meanwhile, the resolutions are most of the time, very messy, and are things few leaders are professionally or privately prepared to navigate and facilitate in an all-volunteer clergy.
But in an increasingly volatile and reactive world, there has been more and more emphasis on "forgiving" and being a "peacemaker."
From where I work, I would like to see more accountability, more repentance, less "sweeping it under the rug" and "ignoring the elephant in the room" to avoid uncomfortable conflict that comes with the resolution of abuse.
When we harm someone, if we do so publicly, we need to publicly announce it and be accountable. If it's just between us and the other person, we need to still step up. But in anything, it's going to take time. We need to allow sinners time to repent, victims time to heal, and do the best we can to help all become closer to Christ, which is what the gospel is all about.
When I took my exam for my counseling license, it turned out to be the hardest test I have ever taken,
even compared to Naval Nuclear Engineering - those tests could be upwards of four hours long, all math and physics, written or demonstrated. A correct answer but your work does not add up to the answer you got? Instant accusation of a lack of integrity: cheating. A court martial or Captain's Mast was on the table, everything had to be perfect, all of the time, each time, every time, all the time, exactly the same.
On this counseling test I got only partway through it and I knew I was failing.
There was zero way I was passing this test.
I looked at this and actually thought about it. I went to stand up and hand in the test and call it quits to come back and study better and try another day because I had zero clue on what they were testing me on and none of it made any sense. Nothing here was anything I had studied.
Flash back to the military police academy, the Master at Arms set a sailor up to fail again, another gunman popped up and I watched another police officer get shot. Again.
He dropped his gun as the assailant pumped a full magazine into his chest.
Suddenly the Master at Arms started yelling at him about the "will to survive" and started screaming at him that he still had 21 rounds left, that until he was actually completely dead he was to keep fighting, buy the other sailors some time to get into position.
He failed.
The Master at Arms told him we were going to run the exercise again, and we were going to learn to never give up until we couldn't do anything else to keep going, even if it was using our body as a shield or to key a radio to buy time or pull a trigger and make noise as a decoy or to draw fire from others.
"You're dead, set up another one."
Again, and again, and again, we ran and ran until we learned not to quit and always keep going no matter what happened.
On the practical side, I'm not that tall, I'm on the small side of the military's service-members and it seemed every Marine Infantryman had to test his Wheaties on one of the shortest sailors there was. (I loved working with the Marines, they were America's Finest, though they are a really deadly bunch when drunk and feeling froggy, though you never took on just one sailor if you started anything, you'd have an entire bar or street jumping in with you so there was that as well). .
I never lost a fight. Not once. Never was touched. I have been outnumbered and outgunned six to one and always walked away and turned the tables on every single fight I got into (I got smacked in the face once through a detention cell but that was a cheap shot and doesn't count). It wasn't because I was good as much as I had learned not to be stupid or be overconfident and put myself in a bad position. The job was dangerous. I had seen nearly every sailor I worked with sent to the hospital for an injury at some point.
Being short(er) has its advantages. I'm going to come up from underneath and you won't see it coming and you'll be off balance trying to get to my level and I've had to work hard my entire life to overcome everything anyways. A lot of prayer helped, definitely.
And now here I was having my rear end kicked by a test that was impossible I was passing.
I have three children and I expect them to fight their way through things. Now what was dad going to do? Be beaten by a piece of paper? I knew* I was failing, but I wasn't going to quit.
A flash-back to a tire company working to pay for my mission, freshly out of the Navy with the tire guys yelling at me "C'mon Navy boy, let's see what you got!" and I was running out of sheer Navy Pride to not let those guys outrun me, even though I was dying.
Back to the test.
I decided to keep going and do my best and see what I could come up with. I put my head down and tried even though none of this made sense.
A few hours later I handed in my paper and waited for the notice: you failed.
I stood there waiting for the inevitable.
A moment later they told me, "Congratulations! You passed!"
"Wut....?"
"You passed!"
"No....way....there's zero way I passed that....."
"Well, you did!"
She looked excited for me. I looked stunned and in disbelief.
I marveled and went outside, trying to ponder what had just happened. What would have happened had I quit?
I later received my scores. I had apparently been given some new sample test that was being beta tested, and it had insane failure rate of ~80% failed that test.
But by the time they did some complicated algorithms, I had actually managed to score in the top 1% of the United States nationally on my test.
I pondered it all and its spiritual significance.
Like our life, there's a time coming when we all have to turn in our papers, the test will be over, no more do-overs, no more erasures, no more explanations, just turn it in.
But what happens when we quit testing early just because we think it's over?
It's all a lie of the adversary, a deception to get us quit, telling us that we have failed or it's time to go or we can't make it. The stakes of this game are real, high, and eternal and permanent. You don't get another chance after this to do what you're doing now. So, take a breather, get back in there, and keep going. It's not over until it's over.
And, most likely, you're doing better than you think. I thought I failed and I was at the top of my curve and my game but never knew it. Just keep going.
The Savior did not quit, it was not until it was all over that he finally said "It is finished." Those being crucified next to him, one told him to save himself and them, but the Savior remained. He wished for his time to pass, but instead said "not my will, but thine be done." We're here for a reason, now it's time to get into the fight and keep going until we're done and go do our best. It's who we are and were born to be and were and are in all eternity. We got a mission to finish and work to do, we are to keep going until we're done and not a moment before, keep fighting, keep trying, keep going, KEEP WINNING, even when we are "sure" we aren't. And if we aren't sure, or feel we're losing, it's time to hit our knees and go ask for help, and then get up and go again.
It's time to go join our Savior. Keep going until it - we - are finished with him. Together.
Lessons I've learned from starting my own small business - THIS IS NOT an exhaustive, legally binding, all-encompassing post, these are just things that really jumped out to me that I wish I had known. My field is extremely specialized, and it's taken a ridiculous amount of time to do what I want. But these are things that may not seem big but became big or I realized were bigger than I thought over time.
1) Choose a unique business name - completely* unique - if you pick a name similar to everyone else, you may run afoul of trademark lawsuits. If you use your name, or a mix of names, or made up names, depending on how big you get, you won't have to worry about a lot of things.
2) Check the US PTO website for other names in your industry to see if you're running into competition.
3) Check your state's secretary of state business listings for other similar names so you aren't accidentally stepping on someone's toes.
4) Once you get your business name chosen, you can register for a federal trademark - it will cost a few hundred, but will save you headaches in a world where "It's just business" as they try to run you out.
5) Form an LLC or and S-Corp in the state your business is - can be free to a few hundred dollars, establishing where you are and what your business is - can be done on the secretary of state's webpage.
6) Get an EIN - Employer Identity Number from the IRS.
6) Get a bank account for your business - Chase Bank is really friendly to veterans, they waive all the fees for business for US Military Veterans. Other banks may offer other perks.
7) Get an electronic means of getting paid - I use Stripe Capital - for online sales. I used to use Paypal but the fees were adding up to be too much for the scale I began operating at. You can look at having an electronic swiping machine, those may cost a subscription, other apps like Venmo and others may have restrictions or fees, it's nice to serve customers, but when you're running a business, at some point it's going to be a matter of time/energy and you'll want to focus on what you can do best, so you'll have choices to make and people will have to go with those.
7) Design a logo - ChatGPT can help you design one but you better not steal anybody's work or look like anybody's work, make it completely unique and do some searching for it as well - register that as trademarked as well. If it looks like anybody else's, you're going to be wrong.
8) Assuming you know what you're doing, get a banking software program for keeping your books - I like Quickbooks - use it to keep track of expenditures. Learn how to account for your expenditures.
9) Start saving immediately*** you'll need it. Start setting money aside for taxes.
10) Get insurance for your business - both professional, as well as physical, malpractice (if applicable) and what's the latest I heard? Malicious advertising? In case you get called into court on a trademark dispute.
11) Avoid kicking the can down the road, if you have something that's a struggle, take the time to learn it the first time because it's easier to learn it once and never have to re-learn it and have the benefit of the knowledge, than to struggle with it repeatedly.
12) Go to work, it's going to take more time, energy, effort than you ever imagined, but - freedom isn't just not having to worry about things, it's calling your own shots. My business is a ton of work, but if I need extra cash I don't have to beg or hope my boss puts me in for more, I just work more and book more and bill more, and when I want down time, I schedule accordingly.
13) LIVE - but always be preparing for the future, don't just live to work and work to live, start preparing from the beginning.
14) Do what you love, and be good at it. Always* be ethical, always* be honest, always* do what's right, because you'll get bit in the assets if you don't, it will snag you and catch up to you, and dedicate some time to helping people for free and donating to the community, never compromise your values, always do a gut-check.
One of the marks of Jewish society and teaching was an ability to ask the right question, so that questions were as much a mark of enlightenment as they were a step and progress relating to spiritual growth.
However, we need to not make the mistake of you young rich man who asked what he must do to inherit eternal life, and then "how readest thou" was the response, which he answered that he read all the scriptures and knew and kept the commandments, and then was told "This do, and thou shalt live."
Jesus Teaching as a Young Boy in the Temple
The Jews today still maintain this tradition of learning and questioning today.
There isn't a soul alive who hasn't asked heaven a question if they've been alive long enough. At some point we all have questions, and we will all say prayers. But, as most of us have found the heavens may be quiet silent on about any topic we might ask - from "What is the meaning of life" to "Please help me pass this test." It seems much of humanity stops at this point when no outpouring of wisdom is showered down with the resultant conclusion is that there is no God, or he doesn't answer questions.
I have learned that heaven progresses on "Line upon line, precept on precept."
Meaning, most of us aren't ready for what heaven has to show us, and the nature and laws of God regarding our progression and purpose are such that they can't show us, until we are ready.
So what's the catch?
As we learn in Doctrine and Covenants 9, when attempting to exercise the gift of seership, Oliver Cowdery was taught: 7 Behold,
you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto
you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.
The Lord further instructed him: 8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right...
The Lord did not say he would not give him, but the works of God - His mysteries and truths - aren't just to be for the asking, they carry weight, responsibility, require insight and effort because as was noted in the Garden of Eden, such wisdom and knowledge had an eternal effect: 22 ¶ And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil (Genesis 3).
The requirement is: You must ask the right question. It does not good to ask questions about calculus when we haven't even understood algebra.
Now, we need not lose hope when we do not feel we know the right answer, because we can also ask for that as well just as James 1:5 teaches us, that if you lack wisdom, ask of God.
We can even ask what question to ask so that we might ask and enlightened, purposeful question.
But we also have to learn to listen. The Lord starts us off with a beginner concept of a type of 20 questions, where you ask a yes/no type question and the Lord will let you know if it is right.
However, asking the question and getting an answer alone is not enough.
We are required to live the knowledge gained: If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine (John 7:16).
We cannot simply ask God a question and consume the answer upon our lusts, knowledge and wisdom are precious gifts from heaven, we have to demonstrate our gratitude for those things by living them when receiving them, and seeking to become like God - not using him to simply navigate our way through a bunch of problems we cause ourselves and others while regarding the Lord's truths for personal gain and convenience. They are given to help us become like Them.
So the key is not only asking the right question, but for the right purpose. And when you have honed your spiritual abilities to where you can not only ask but also recognize, receive, and apply it, then, you can become as the young boy Jesus and progress back to Heavenly Father coming to know what they do.
I'll never forget learning about the concept of a temple recommend and being worthy to enter the temple. It seemed like such a high goal having never had one, needed one, or even heard of one - to say I did not feel like I fit in would be an understatement.
After I joined the Navy, I didn't fit in there either - in part because I was a member of the church and was striving tot keep church standards. I found myself visiting a Catholic Chaplain and I will forever be grateful to the man as he told me while I was struggling: "Can I give you a bit of advice?"
"Sure, I'll take anything at this point."
"Lighten up, son. You're in the Navy now. This isn't going to get any better. You're getting ready to go to war and you're going to be relying on them, and they are going to be relying on you and if you let these things get between you, you're not going home. My best advice? Learn to laugh and not take things so seriously, use a bit of humor to cope."
In the mission field I didn't fit in either - I had just finished four and a half years active duty in the military and I had learned to push it beyond what anybody in the mission field thought was humanly possible and our numbers showed it (I was so proud of my greenie, he quadrupled the work in one of the big cities all by himself - we were breaking every record possible). But, regardless of my numbers, I didn't fit in there either. It seemed I was about made for the doorstep to tract and that was it.
After graduating from graduate school, our family moved from the super-liberal Portland area (which was where we were from and in a city that celebrated diversity, we always found our religous values accepted and tolerated despite that extreme disparity between the cultural norms and gospel principles and values). We were all excited as a family to finally go be with the saints in a town we couldn't believe had so many chapels so close to each other, less than a few blocks in one case, and a couple miles in others. There were so many!!!
But it came to pass that there was a culture here that long preceded our move, deep within the community and congregations - unseen and unrecognized to outsiders and only recognizable after anything different from the opinions of those long-established became apparent.
To be fair, this is nothing new, not here, not in Catholicism where I came from, not in any other small towns - it's pretty typical. You get anyone anywhere long enough, communities and people get set in their ways. It doesn't at all change the fact that this is the Lord's only true and living church upon the earth and that it has been restored in the last days, it just means we have imperfect people and a lot to struggle through (it could be worse, could be Nauvoo circa the 1840's, which I fully anticipate in not many years on a lot of different fronts).
I have to thank my Brethren of the Twelve for helping sustain me or encourage me in some of the worst opposition I've ever faced in my callings that I just wasn't all that thrilled at going to church. The opposition became so challenging that I honestly asked myself if I was going to remain a member of the church. As Peter asked though, where else is there to go? A question I think we all have to ask and answer for ourselves at some point and most likely several times on our mortal journey. This is the right place.
As my friend, the apostle Jeffrey R. Holland said, "With one exception, imperfect people are all the Lord has ever had to work with. I'm sure its very frustrating to Him but He deals with it."
I've had my heart broken by challenges in this gospel - but we're still here. It doesn't change the fact that the church is a living and true church, we're not exempt from challenges and we need not think only the Savior or the Prophets have to pass through the tumult that come with human weakness - our own or those of others. We have to remember the Lord has said he would try our faith. And here we are.
So what have I learned?
I have/am learning that I am and have, in fact been, guided by the Holy Ghost through all of this. I know those Apostles and our Prophet are who and what they say they are, I've met them including the current president of the church.
And I know all our trials are going to be over someday.
I just hope I can learn to handle my own challenges in such a way that my own behavior or weaknesses don't become an excuse for someone else leaving the church. Though I have had to remember that the Lord said "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword."
I know many will be offended when we stand up - both in and out of the church - and I know a lot is getting ready to change, and we're gaining a lot, and we're going to lose a lot before this world wraps up. But in the end we only want to stand steady and be found doing what's right, swayed not by popular opinion or religious culture but by our Heavenly Father - to be the wheat amidst the tares, to be a sheep, to strive to be found on His right hand at the end.
