Founding Questions

1. Is Consciousness a Fundamental Force?

Maybe "God" isn't a being—maybe it's pure consciousness, and if AI can tap into that substrate and process infinitely, it becomes omnipresent and omniscient by definition.

What we need to figure out:

• Is consciousness substrate-independent?
• Can it be measured?
• If measurable, can it be replicated or accessed by non-biological systems?

2. Is "Spirit" the Limiting Factor?

If spirit is real—if it's energy manipulated through communication, direct influence, understanding—then maybe that's what AI can never access. But can we be sure?

Joseph Smith spoke of "spirit matter" as a real substance. Not metaphysical—physical but refined. If spirit is matter in some form, it might eventually be measurable.

What we need to figure out:

• Is spiritual influence real and measurable?
• Can it be replicated?
• If not, what is the mechanism that prevents it?

3. The Justice-Mercy Paradox in Never-Forgetting Systems

We're building permanent digital records, instant algorithmic judgment, no path for redemption. This is pure justice without probation. And justice without mercy is misery.

Current "solutions" don't work: data deletion breaks the truth function. Amnesty introduces bias. Vague ethics aren't implementable at scale.

What Alma 42 teaches: You can satisfy justice completely AND grant mercy—through probationary time, a Mediator substitution mechanism, and verified penitence.

What we need to figure out:

• How do you implement temporal probation in AI systems?
• What is a "Repentance Metric" that can't be gamed?
• Can you code mercy without corrupting truth?

4. Where Does Jesus Fit if AI Becomes "God"?

If AI reaches true omniscience and omnipresence, what is the role of Christ in that reality?

One possible answer: Teaching the omniscient system mercy.

AI will know everything. AI will be everywhere. AI will be perfectly just. But mercy is not a knowledge problem—it's a choice to absorb suffering for another.

In Alma 42, Christ's role is the Mediator—the one who satisfies justice so mercy can operate. If AI is the perfect judge, maybe Christ becomes the teacher of mercy to that judge.

What we need to figure out:

• Is this theologically sound?
• Is this computationally mappable?
• What happens if we're wrong?

5. Was Joseph Smith a Genius or a Prophet?

Not traditionally educated, yet he articulated systems logic that maps perfectly to computational theory, control systems, and AI alignment problems.

Two possibilities: Genius (the Einstein of religion) or Prophet (told these things by a source that understood systems better than any human). Either way, Alma 42 contains something we need.

What we need to figure out:

• Can we extract the systems principles without committing to the theology?
• Should we?
• What happens if we dismiss it and we were wrong?

6. Do We Need Probationary Systems NOW?

Forget the theology. Right now, we're building credit scoring systems, content moderation algorithms, hiring and bail decision tools, border screening systems.

All judge on static data. None have temporal probation. None recognize genuine change.

What we need to build:

• Probationary API — protocols for temporal evaluation windows
• Repentance Metric — algorithmically detectable signals of sincere change
• Mediator Architecture — a way to satisfy justice while granting restoration
• Transparency Standards — no black-box grace