Paper 113 Overview: Seraphic Guardians of Destiny

Paper 113 explores the nature and mission of guardian angels, called seraphim, who minister to individual human beings. These celestial beings serve as spiritual helpers throughout human lives and beyond death, functioning as guides toward progressive spiritual growth. The paper explains how seraphim are assigned to humans based on spiritual attainment, and describes their coordination with other universe influences in the grand plan of spiritual evolution.

Guardian seraphim perform numerous functions, from stimulating better decision-making to preserving human identity elements after death. They accompany ascending mortals throughout their entire universe career, from the evolutionary worlds through the mansion worlds, and eventually to the threshold of Paradise. Their service represents one of the most personal and devoted aspects of universe administration, demonstrating how every human of spiritual potential receives individualized heavenly assistance.

The paper begins by introducing seraphim as ministering spirits devoted to individual mortals within the divine progression scheme. Throughout Urantia's history, these guardian angels have been one of the few angelic orders recognized by humans. These seraphim truly function as spiritual helpers sent to serve those with survival potential, and they have been instrumental in many revelations throughout human history, delivering messages from heaven.

Seraphim are described as the traditional angels of heaven who live close to humans and contribute significantly to human welfare. They have ministered on Urantia since the earliest times of human intelligence development, providing guidance and spiritual support. Their consistent presence throughout human history underscores the ongoing celestial interest in human spiritual advancement and the divine plan for mortal progression.

The concept of guardian angels is confirmed as truth rather than myth, with Jesus himself acknowledging this reality when speaking about children of the heavenly kingdom. He noted that their angels "always behold the presence of the spirit of my Father," validating the existence of personal angelic guidance. This teaching has ancient roots but was given special confirmation through Jesus' recognition.

The assignment of seraphim has evolved over time, shifting from race-based allocation before Michael's bestowal to the current system based on intellectual capacity, spiritual potential, and destined purpose. Humanity is divided into three mental classifications for seraphic purposes: the subnormal minded who cannot comprehend God, the average normal minds organized into seven circles of spiritual progression, and the supernormal minded with greater spiritual connection and potential. Those in the third circle or higher, or anyone making a supreme spiritual decision, receive personal guardian seraphim who provide continuous guidance and watchcare throughout their lives.

Seraphim earn the designation "guardians of destiny" when assigned to humans who have achieved significant spiritual milestones: making the supreme decision to become Godlike, entering the third circle of spiritual progress, or joining one of the reserve corps of destiny. Historically, the first Urantian to receive a personal guardian was Rantowoc, a wise man of the red race who attained the necessary spiritual development. This historical milestone marked the beginning of personal seraphic guardianship on the planet.

The process of assigning guardian seraphim involves a volunteer system where experienced angels are matched to humans based on need and the angels' qualifications. Only long-serving, tested seraphim receive these important assignments, reflecting the significance of this responsibility. These guardians develop genuine affection for the worlds and races they serve, forming meaningful bonds with their human subjects. Interestingly, seraphim struggle to understand humanity's persistent susceptibility to fear, finding it difficult to comprehend why humans allow anxiety and dread to dominate their thinking despite the availability of faith and spiritual resources.

A key function of destiny guardians is coordinating the various impersonal spirit influences that affect human minds and souls. Because humans are distinctly personal beings, they have difficulty connecting directly with non-personal or pre-personal spiritual entities. Guardian angels serve as intermediaries who make these spiritual influences more accessible and comprehensible to the human personality, essentially translating higher spiritual realities into terms the human mind can process.

Guardian seraphim specialize in correlating the diverse spiritual influences stemming from the Infinite Spirit, ranging from physical controllers to the Holy Spirit presence. They then integrate this unified influence with the spirit presences of both the Father (the Thought Adjuster) and the Son (the Spirit of Truth). Through this integrative service, guardian angels combine the Father's love and the Son's mercy in their ministry to evolving mortals. This explains why seraphim eventually become the personal custodians of mind patterns, memory formulas, and soul realities of the mortal survivor during the transition between physical death and morontia resurrection.

Guardian seraphim function as mind stimulators rather than being mind themselves, although they originate from the same Creative Spirit source as mortal mind. They continuously encourage circle-making decisions in human thinking by working from the outside inward through social, ethical, and moral environments, complementing the Adjuster's work from within the soul. This external-internal dynamic creates a comprehensive spiritual influence system around each human being.

Humans can respond to both Adjuster guidance and seraphic direction simultaneously, as they serve complementary purposes. The Adjuster represents the essence of eternal human nature, while seraphim teach and guide the evolving nature—the mortal mind during physical life and the morontia soul afterward. Seraphim function as teachers by guiding humans into new and progressive experiences, often leading through challenging moral choices and spiritual progress rather than providing paths of ease. The impulse to worship originates partly from adjutant mind-spirits but is reinforced by seraphic influence, which manipulates the environment to increase cosmic insight and awareness of the indwelling Adjuster.

Seraphim respect the sanctity of the human mind and never violate free will. Guardian angels influence mortals in every way consistent with human dignity but never interfere with the freedom of human choice. No angel has the power or authority to limit the decision-making prerogatives that belong exclusively to humans, preserving the integrity of personality development through freely chosen decisions.

Angels deeply care for humans, figuratively "weeping" over human stubbornness and resistance to spiritual guidance. They operate independently of direct human appeals, executing the mandates of their superiors regardless of human moods or momentary desires. Guardian angels do not directly control or dictate to humans—they simply protect and guide, allowing each person to chart their own course while making the best possible use of whatever path is chosen. They rarely intervene directly in human affairs except in emergencies or under special instructions, as they primarily prepare for a long future association with their human subjects.

When physical death occurs, the destiny guardian carefully preserves the records, identity specifications, and morontia soul of their human associate. Everything that constitutes the true self is conserved by the guardian, except for the continuing identity (held by the departing Adjuster) and the actuality of personality. This preservation of human essence is vital for survival beyond physical existence.

Upon human death, the attending angel reports through the angelic hierarchy, receives certification, and proceeds to the first mansion world to await the awakening of their former ward. The guardian seraphim serves as the custodial trustee of the survival values within the sleeping soul, while the Adjuster maintains identity. When these two collaborate in the resurrection halls with the newly created morontia form, the personality of the ascending mortal is reassembled. This process demonstrates how the guardian angel and Adjuster work together to ensure personality survival beyond physical death, with the guardian eventually presenting the reawakened soul to the faithful Adjuster of earth days.

The awakening on the mansion world marks a significant milestone for ascending mortals, as they can finally see their long-present but previously invisible angelic companions. This glorious awakening also brings conscious awareness of the divine Monitor that indwelt their mind on earth. This transition represents a genuine resurrection experience that initiates the next phase of the universal journey.

On the morontia spheres, the two attending seraphim become open companions to the ascending mortal, directly assisting in the acquisition of morontia and spirit status. The human race was created slightly below the angelic orders, so the first assignment in morontia life involves serving as assistants to seraphim. As ascension continues, these seraphic guardians accompany their human associates through all phases of universe progression—from the mansion worlds through Jerusem, Edentia, and eventually to the receiving worlds of Uversa. Some guardian angels even follow their mortal companions through Havona to Paradise, forming bonds that may continue into eternity through potential service together in the finaliter corps.