All live religions encourage human friendship. [1] Ascenders as us never lose power to recognize former associates. [2] Of all forms of evil, none are more destructive of personality status than betrayal of trust and disloyalty to one’s confiding friends. [3] The concept of the personality of Deity facilitates fellowship; it favors intelligent worship; it promotes refreshing trustfulness. [4] The fact of the cosmic mind explains the kinship of various types of human and superhuman minds. [5] Creatures crave association with other personal creatures. [6]
Only personalities can commune with each other, albeit this personal communion may be greatly facilitated by the presence of just such an impersonal entity as the Thought Adjuster. [7] Forsake not an old friend, for the new is not comparable to him. [8] Friendliness characterizes spirit-born sons of God. [9] Friends and close associates sometimes work together in the afterlife and reach Paradise at the same time. [10] God is most loving of all friends. [11] Havona arrivals affords opportunity for looking up your friends, fellows, and associates of the long ascension experience. [12]
One of the most important lessons to be learned during our mortal career is teamwork. Few are the duties in the universe for the lone servant. The higher we ascend, the more lonely we become when temporarily without the association of our fellows. [13] The impulse of friendship transcends all convictions of duty, and the service of a friend for a friend can never be called a sacrifice. [14] The Creators well know that it is “not good for man to be alone,” and provision is accordingly made for companionship, even on Paradise. [15]
It is a fact that religion does not grow unless it is disciplined by constructive criticism, amplified by philosophy, purified by science, and nourished by loyal fellowship. [16] Loving and intimate human associations tend to rob suffering of its sorrow and hardship of much of its bitterness. [17] Spirit gravity creates cohesiveness among persons and groups. [18] Spirit of Truth directs loving contact of one human being with another. [19] In preaching the gospel of the kingdom, we are simply teaching friendship with God. [20]
The old idea of friendship meant adoption into the clan. [21] In antiquity saliva exchange and blood drinking were seals of friendship, and it was hard to introduce handshaking as a healthier substitute. [22]
Thomas unwisely used to leave his friends to grieve in solitude. [23] Resentment that Judas accumulated in his soul spring up once he separated himself from supporting influence of his friends. [24] The supreme sentiment of friendship-loyalty of apostles for Jesus was that held then together and not his superb teachings. [25]
Rodan on friendship: [26]
If we truly desire to overcome the habit of criticizing some friend, the quickest and surest way of achieving such a change of attitude is to establish the habit of praying for that person every day of our life. [27] Men enrich the soul by pooling their respective spiritual possessions. [28] He who would have friends must be friendly. [29]
What one could do to make friends? Jesus said: “Become interested in your fellows; learn how to love them and watch for the opportunity to do something for them which you are sure they want done”. [30]
Jesus always made them feel at ease in his presence. Perhaps his great secret in getting along with them consisted in the twofold fact that he was always interested in what they were doing, while he seldom offered them advice unless they asked for it. [31]
Some degree of moral affinity and spiritual harmony is essential to friendship between two persons; a loving personality can hardly reveal himself to a loveless person. [32] You cannot really know a person as the result of a single contact. [33] The more fully we bestow ourselves upon our fellows, the more we come to love them. [34]