On that posting Ranger Dave also wrote some very kind words. He inquired about my view regarding the creative periods, and the fact that I believe we are currently in the sixth period, waiting for the seventh. But, I realized that that idea is in my book, Mormon Mysticism, but not on a post, so I am posting that short chapter here. I have omitted the footnotes, but you can find them here in my html version [link ]
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Many truths of creation are taught in the temple and in scripture, yet many of those teachings are misunderstood among Latter-day Saints.
Jewish mysticism teaches us that the creation is still in progress. But, what does that mean?
Some Mormons walk around with a vague understanding of the creation that goes something like this, with some variations:
God planned the creation (spiritual creation). Then God created the earth through Christ, in six creative periods. Man was created during the sixth period, which ended creation. Somewhere in this sixth period Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. God rested upon the seventh period. And now here we are.
Superficially this sounds alright, but it is fraught with many logical problems. Besides that, this outline is in conflict with scripture, the temple, and Jewish theological tradition.
Words have meaning. We are taught that the heavens and the earth were created in six days. These days are creative periods, not twenty-four hour days. Trying to determine the age of the earth is beyond the space available to use here, but it most likely is billions of years old. Some will reject this proposal, so, for our purposes here, let’s use a lower number (because our point is still made with a fraction of the billions of years). We won’t even use millions of years. Let’s use a thousand years for each creative period. The creative periods must be close to being equal periods, otherwise the description of days becomes non-sense. If one period is a million years, and another period is an hour the description of “days” has no meaning.
One problem is; if Adam was created in the sixth period, and was expelled from the garden during the sixth period, then the thousand years of rest happened (seventh period), then the mortality of the rest of us begin (when Adam left the garden), how do we reconcile that with the life-span of Adam (Adam was less than a thousand years old)? It does not work.
Starting in Abraham chapter three, verse 22, God shows Abraham the pre-existence with the spirits. Abraham is then shown the spiritual creation and the planning of the physical creation, as ordered by God. The above spans from Abraham 3:22 through 5:5. This process was seven periods long, in the likeness (or pattern) of what was going to take place in the physical creation. At the end of these seven periods there was still no physical creation, as the scripture states there was no “rain upon the earth” because there was no earth yet, and God had not yet “formed a man.”
Then in the remainder of the Book of Abraham Adam’s spirit is placed into a body, and then he is introduced into the Garden of Eden.
Which means we have a more detailed description of the spiritual creation and planning. This is a pattern that the physical creation would follow. Then when describing the physical creation the description is truncated, we just jump to the point where Adam is in the garden. And we see that Adam and all the children of Adam will be created before the end of the sixth (physical) creative period.
“[And] thus we will finish the heavens and the earth, and all the hosts of them…” before the seventh period of rest begins. The “hosts” of heaven are the children of God that come to earth.
In other words, all the children of God that are going to come to this earth (Adam included), will come during the sixth creative period.
These seven creative periods should not be confused with the seven thousand years of the temporal existence of the earth (that starts with Adam leaving the garden at about 4,000 B.C.).
We now live in the sixth creative period. When all the spirit children of God that are coming to this earth (and most likely many earths in this eternity, since the creation described is of heaven and earth or perhaps earths) have processed through mortality, been resurrected, and have entered kingdoms of glory, then the sixth period will come to an end. And then there will be a seventh period of rest.
You live in the sixth period of creation, and the creation is continuing.
7 comments:
"Jewish mysticism teaches us that the creation is still in progress. But, what does that mean"?????????
It means that you could define any position from the Quabala..."Qabalah" is the spelling generally used to indicate the use of Kabbalah as an occult and practical magical system..
Jewish Mysticism is not a single line of thought. And although Numberology can be applied to Hebrew Letters and writting these Hebrew stories should be read as stories and not Transliterations of God speaking.
"In Judaic Kabbalah, the ten essences refer to the ten aspects of the Divine Personality. They make up the world of Atzilut, high above the phenomenal world. As in the Christian cosmology, there is an unbridgable ontological gulf between even the knowable God (the ten Sefirot) and the Creation. The Kabbalist devotes himself to understanding the Sefirot, and by doing so he arrives at an understanding of, and an approach to, the nature of God.
Then you Have the Masonic/Hermetic/Tarot/Magickal View,
Joseph Smith and Mormonsim share views from at least two Views of Qubalah/Kaballa
Further More you cannot transliterate POGP Moses and Abraham and the Genesis accounts!!!
"but it is fraught with many logical problems"
The Book of Moses/Genesis v/s the Book of Abraham are not in a Timed sequence or chronolical and are in conflict if read as Literal sequence of events Such as Eve being Created First and then the animals to be Named and visversa the stories do not paralell each other.
"In Hermetic, magickal,Enochian Qabalah in contrast, the ten sefirot ("sephiroth") pertain to ten aspects of what could be called the astral or magical world. In contrast with dualistic theism, but in keeping with a neoplatonic and emanationist understanding, they are the ten intermediate stages between the indescribable infinite or Absolute (En Sof, or "Ain Soph") and the mundane reality. They are identified with ten grades of magical initiation, the seven planets of traditional astrology (with the lowest sefirah, Malkhut, representing the Earth, and the two highest the fixed stars and the sphere of God) and with a numerological analysis of the numbers one to ten. The twenty-two paths which link the ten sefirot are identified with one of the twenty-two Hebrew letters and twenty-two Major Arcana tarot trumps). Thus, not only each sefirah has a particular archetypal meaning, but each path as well, making thirty-two archetypes altogether. By the proper means therefore it is possible to invoke any of these fundamental essences".
http://www.kheper.net/topics/
Hermeticism/Qabalah.htm
Masonry/Hermeticism has been the Flame Keeper of the Burning Light and Later occultist outed and did further expound upon many of the Occult themes as Also there are present Mormon/Masons who fancey the Tarot and the Occultic/Esoteric
shinings in Masonry.
http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Enochian
If you Link to
http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Qabalah you will see many of the "Mysticism" themes you speak of from the Hermetic View
"The "Kircher Tree": Athanasius Kircher's 1652 depiction of the Tree of Life, based on a 1625 version by Philippe d'Aquin.This is still the most common arrangement of the Sephiroth and paths on the tree in Hermetic Qabalah"
Filthy waters are not far from the Fountian and some Fountians have Poison
Your Leaps of Faith of the creation lean toward Darwinism and Evolution(slow and steady), in contrast to Worlds in Collision and Cataclismic events.
http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Immanuel_Velikovsky
I did find the over all Point rather interesting and insightful
something to consider,By tradition some of us have been conditioned to think in "THOUSANDS" a new prespective and raises a good issue about time and periods in contrast to the "Thousands" Daat a Boy
"These seven creative periods should not be confused with the seven THOUSAND years of the temporal existence of the earth'
27 So the Gods went down to organize man in their own image, in the image of the Gods to form they him, male and female to form they them.
31 And the Gods said: We will do everything that we have said, and organize them; and behold, they shall be very obedient. And it came to pass that it was from evening until morning they called night; and it came to pass that it was from morning until evening that they called day; and they numbered the sixth time
It seem to me that the "Gods" spoke of Days in a Manner
5 And the Gods called the light Day, and the darkness they called Night. And it came to pass that from the evening until morning they called night; and from the morning until the evening they called day; and this was the first, or the beginning, of that which they called day and night.
Truth be told Jewish mysticism also aludes to children being born previous to the fall
28 And the Gods said: We will bless them. And the Gods said: We will cause them to be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and to have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
31 they shall be very obedient
4 And the Gods came down and formed these the generations of the heavens and of the earth, when they were formed in the day that the Gods formed the earth and the heavens
13 Now I, Abraham, saw that it was after the Lord’s time, which was after the time of Kolob; for as yet the Gods had not appointed unto Adam his reckoning.
16 And I, God, made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night, and the greater light was the sun, and the lesser light was the moon; and the stars also were made even according to my word.
2 And on the seventh day I, God, ENDED my work, and all things which I had MADE; and I rested on the seventh day from all my work, and all things which I had made were finished, and I, God, saw that they were good; 3 And I, God, blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it I had rested from all my work which I, God, had created and made.
Book of Abraham
14And the Gods said: Let us make an help meet for the man, for it is not good that the man should be alone, therefore we will form an help meet for him.
15 And the Gods caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and he slept, and they took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in the stead thereof;
16 And of the rib which the Gods had taken from man, formed they a woman, and brought her unto the man.
17 And Adam said: This was bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; now she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man Kolob; for as yet the Gods had not appointed unto Adam his reckoning.
21 And Adam gave names to all cattle, to the fowl of the air, to every beast of the field; and for Adam, THERE WAS FOUND an help meet for him.
Book of Moses
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but as for Adam, THERE WAS NOT FOUND an help meet for him.
21 And I, the Lord God, caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and he slept, and I took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in the stead thereof;
22 And the rib which I, the Lord God, had taken from man, made I a awoman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said: This I know now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.
There is not a steady Time line of events When was Eve Created?Before or after the Animals
and was Eve Created Before or after the Commands regaurding the Trees and Multipling and replenishing the earth?
Points Raised. Timelines
Times. Days(Sun Moon Stars) or Periods . Mans Time .God's Time.
Greater or Lesser lights for our time .Our sun moon and stars or Kolobs? Help meet Found or not Found?
I guess that's one way of looking at things, but not the way I see them.
-David
Part I
I am still at a point where I am experiencing many intimate moments within my existence, make up, and relationship to God through the "language of branches." Although I believe the scriptures literally, I am accelerating my at-one-ment with God and everything when I appeal to the "desires and intentions" behind the scriptural accounts accompanied by an unconditional invitation to receive of God by whatever means He deems expedient. By not appealing to the physical intellect to figure out the literal and secular interpretation of the scriptures, I become more translucent (in a sense) and more deeply rooted in the relationship I had with God from the beginning. A record of this relationship still exists within my (immortal) intelligence and within my spirit. The more exposure I get to God by applying this Kabbalistic method of the “language of branches” during my scripture study, the more I become aware of this relationship that has existed for millennia. Instead of keeping my observations in the physical mind and trying to build a new relationship with God as though I am the physical body trying to have a spiritual experience, I am discovering the primordial relationship that is already successful and learning to build upon it while I now have the added experience of the mortal physical body.
I have of lately been drawn to the repeated number 6 in the scriptures. Kabbalists teach that Adam Kadmon’s body was broken up unto 600,000 pieces and dispersed into the bodies born on earth so that as each piece is corrected, the whole can be corrected and return to oneness with God. They allow 6,000 years for this correction to be complete. There are six creationary periods in Genesis. Lehi left Jerusalem 600 years before Christ was born. There are 6 senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch, and spiritual discernment. If you read my comments on one of the BOM blogs, I extended Jacob’s Ladder beyond the 3 degrees of Glory and Outer Darkness to also include the 3 degrees of the Celestial Kingdom, thus making 6 from Outer Darkness to Oneness with God. I believe that all of these, as well as the time allotted in mortality, are based on the same desires and intentions, especially as we look at how we have come thus far in our cooperation with God. They all follow the same pattern, but on more refined degrees. Like the Atonement, they are all very intimate and personal and we can come to learn more about who we are, how we operate, and the failures and successes we have had tendencies for in the past. Everything is about us continuing in yet another “added upon” existence of coming to know God with a perfect knowledge so that we can become one with Him through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Interestingly enough, the Godhead recreated is 6 and the godhood process is 6. The Star of David has 6 points. One explanation of this I like is that the first two legs reaching down from the upper most point represent Heavenly Father and Mother. The word Elohim in Hebrew is a feminine root with a masculine plural. Many interpret this to mean God is both male and female. Although they think it is one body, God is both male and female—but a perfected husband and wife, not a hermaphrodite. The horizontal line that allows these legs not to dangle is the spirit children. Being able to reproduce is another attribute of God. From the lower most point arises two legs. One representing Jesus Christ and the other representing the Holy Spirit. These two are held stable by providing physical bodies for spirits and exalting souls. Thus allowing God to create spirit children and still eventually bring forth after His own kind. These two perfect interwoven triangles with 6 points together explain the purpose of spiritual and physical creation.
Part II
By studying the scriptural accounts in the language of branches, our personalities or desires and intentions, start out singular (represented by individual people, things, or events) and grow to become complex and innumerable (representing groups of people, things, or events). Likewise, on a larger scale, if we learn to do well in our stewardship over one (ourselves) or a few (families, callings, neighbors, etc.), we will eventually be given stewardships and posterity to exceed the sands of the sea.
An interesting aspect of creation, or our progress from raw intelligence to mortality, is that we have so far been successful in the same pattern that will exist in exaltation, but on different degrees. As our raw intelligence (light and truth D&C 93: 29, 36) was clothed with a spirit body, the experience was much the same as when our spirit body was clothed with a body of flesh in the womb. The pattern will follow even as the resurrected body becomes perfected and we are introduced to the overwhelming task of governing worlds without end. I believe that we are not all part of Adam Kadmon’s body of 600,000 pieces, but the story represents the individual like all “language of branches” stories. I believe that this represents the spreading out of our singular nature to exercise stewardship over a vast inheritance. Just imagine how a spirit is introduced into a physical body. It just doesn’t fit in it like a hand in a glove. The spirit must become intimately acquainted with every aspect of the physical; from each particle, atom, molecule, bone, muscle, organ, organ system, motor skill, language interpretation, possible addictions or illnesses, and so on. As the spirit’s concentration is spread so thin, the utmost effort must be made to run this complex organism. I’m sure it is so preoccupied it has forgotten much about pre-mortality, not to mention the fact that the physical body has never known God and there is a veil separating our spirits from His presence. Even with all of this complexity, aspects of our eternal personality still spill through our in our physical, emotional, and social behaviors. It is this same original intelligence that must be realized and built upon if it is to complete its promised inheritance to eventually become a god. Can you also imagine how hard it is for you now to govern the levels of your physical body that require conscious attention (subconscious not included)? Now pile on your work or school load. Now your family, church, and community responsibility (including health, personal spirituality, finances, etc.). Sometimes it can be quite overwhelming. Next image governing all the atoms, molecules, elements, minerals, plants, and animals on one planet. Now add the solar system in which that planet resides. Now add all the physical bodies that will people that planet and all of their spirits and the spirits of those who rebelled. What about the rest of the universe in which that solar system resides? Spread thin yet? Even if you are allowed to delegate some stewardship to angels and pre-mortal spirits, you still have to govern them with perfection. Your freedom of choice is never violated and you possess the greatest power and influence ever to screw it up and loose the confidence of all who have trusted in you. Somehow you don’t though as you are continuing to be successful in the same pattern of progression you have followed since the beginning, when you were “taken up” and “saved” (Moshe/Moses) by God from the realms of raw intelligence to the path of potential inheritor.
From raw intelligence to godhood, the original light and truth patterns are eternally followed. “For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things” (D&C 88:40).
Hey Brother,
Just wondering why you don't comment anymore on your blog site. I looked forward to some good conversation and spiritual feelings as we shared our experiences with God through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit over the table of mormonmysticism. Hope your family is doing well and yall are enjoying the best blessing of our God and Eternal Head.
Greatest wishes and prayers,
Michael
Hi Michael!
Thanks for coming by and checking out the site. I really miss posting here on a regular basis. With the financial meltdown business is taking a lot more of my time.
The little time I do have to devote to such things is being spent on my new book: Amazing Grace. It should be done in 2-3 months. Then I plan on spending time here again.
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