MormonMysticism.com

The Zodiac in LDS Theology

2011-10-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

The masterpiece we refer to as the 88th. Section of the Doctrine and Covenants has some interesting connection to what I propose is the Zodiac. I know this makes some LDS fold recoil just a bit, but if we can free our minds and just see truth, truth will pour itself into us. I am not here supporting Astrology or any type of divination by looking at the cosmos.

“Unto what shall I liken these kingdoms, that ye may understand?” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:46)

Staring in verse 52 a parable is given to us, to help us understand these kingdoms and the people who reside in them.

The complete meaning of this parable is not completely understood by me, but a few points are observable and we can see some hints of the underlying truths. We see in the parable the Lord visits different people of different kingdoms in 12 different hours. This parable may raise more questions than it answers, and that may be it’s purpose.

We read in verse 47:

“Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power.”

The above must mean more than what someone could see with a telescope in their backyard. What a person can view from the backyard may whisper at God’s majesty, however, to really see God moving in His majesty a person needs to see this with spiritual eyes like Moses or Abraham did. In modern temples we receive a very short representation of this understanding of that we are to run with and expand, it should expand to where we understand that same thing, via a little different route, that Abraham and Moses received.

Even back to ancient Egypt the idea existed that man, in at least one stage is associated with the 12 part Zodiac, and passed through the Zodiac in his eternal journey. This association of the number 12 with the Tree of Life, and the many variation of the plan of salvation as found among the many peoples of the earth is distinct.

We see in the Sefer Yetzirah that a similar description of kingdoms is connected to the 12 stations of the Zodiac (At least in some versions). The Sepher Yetzirah is a commentary on the creation and the redemption. This commentary uses the Tree of Life as the backdrop for this explanation (like Solomon’s temple), and employs images of ten “Sephiroth” or number and twenty- two letters as the building blocks of creation.

(Ten are the numbers of the ineffable [or intangible] Sephiroth, ten and not nine, ten and not eleven. Learn this wisdom, and be wise in the understanding of it, investigate these numbers, and draw knowledge from them, fix the design in its purity, and pass from it to its Creator seated on his throne.” Sepher Yetzirah 1:4.)

The family used as the prototype of salvation is Israel. When a convert receives the gospel they are grafted into the Tree of Life - the House of Israel. Towards the end of the Book of Genesis we see that God set up the House of Israel to rule and reign on this earth. It is true that Israel has often struggled with it’s own periods of apostasy, yet between such periods it is Israel that has been the custodians of the rites of salvation and sanctification. A primary characteristic of the House of Israel is that it is divided into 12 tribes, the descendants of the 12 son’s of Jacob. But this employing of the number 12 did not start or end with Israel’s children. I would suggest that this usage was calling on a larger imagery less know to modern theologians. This larger imagery is the cosmos with all of it’s “worlds” and the people who inhabit them. The cosmos can be represented in shorthand with the Zodiac. The Zodiac can be thought of as a kind of Hypocephalus.

The visiting of the Lord to each kingdom is the millennial reign of Christ in each respective kingdom. Each earth or world receives it’s reign of Christ in it’s proper time. Joseph Fielding Smith spoke about this:

“During the millennium, the Savior will spend one thousand years here which is one day according to the Lord. In D&C, Section 88, it is written that the Savior will do the same thing in other worlds, visiting each in its turn.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 3:212.)

So, if this is speaking of other worlds or earths, are we to accept that there are a total of 12 of these earths, of which our earth is one? Abraham and Brigham Young taught us that there are millions of earths. So why the connection to the number 12? I suspect that it is using a related imagery in the macro; the cosmos (crated under the direction of the council of the gods). The next panning in towards the micro is the Tree of Life - the House of Israel (Jacob 5:3) with it’s 12 tribes. Further panning in is the 12 apostles that run the church, the custodians of salvation - the Tree of Life in our day and in the original church.

Just as the apostles have less to do with the actual number 12 than what that number represents, this holds true at each progressive level, micro or macro. We should not get stuck on 12 kingdoms, but embrace the understanding that we are part of a larger plan that includes many worlds, each of which will be visited in their time. This understanding will draw us to investigate the pre-earth life and the plan of all these kingdoms. It is likely this imagery of 12 apostles extends to each of these worlds, and that each world has it’s 12 custodians of salvation (at any given time).

Even keeping in mind my earlier discourses on Revelation 22:2 we see the correspondence between the number 12 and the 12 fruit and the Tree of Life in Revelation 22. A possible, at least partial explanation of the 12 different types of fruit people eat is that the 12 fruit are for the 12 divisions of the cosmos, which is consistent with Doctrine and Covenants section 88. If this is true, the symbol of the Tree of Life in the Book of Revelation is enriched to include a symbol of salvation not only for our world but as a shared source for all the cosmos. If we take that understanding and logically extend it to the rest of our Tree of Life images, all kinds of interesting possibilities begin to show themselves. For example, we could easily hang a Zodiac as a wreath on our Tree of Life.

(Notice that in Rev. 22:2 they eat 12 manner of fruit, one for each month. Months have to do with times or seasons. In Doctrine and Covenants 88:61 “...times, and in its season...” is used to describe the plan.)

Jacob’s Alligory of the Olive Tree does not include or end in the use of the number 12, but it does end in Jacob 6:13 with a reminder that we will meet again before the bar of Christ, which is a millennial setting, which is earth’s (one twelfth) turn for the presence of Christ. A rose by any other name...

In John 15, Jesus spoke to one branch of the 12 tribes, and to the 12 apostles, about the True Vine.

While no cosmic connection is recorded in John, the fact that He was explaining a Tree of Life image to the twelve was more than appropriate.

In short, the number 12 is associated with the work of redemption, be that that the keys of the mysteries of each dispensation are held by the 12 apostles, that the work of a separate unit of the church is lead by 12 disciples, that the work of this world is under the 12 that Jesus ordained, or that this world will have it’s part in the 12 part plan of the cosmos. In Solomon’s Temple and most authorized temples we find a baptismal font on the backs of 12 oxen. The abbreviated, but perhaps not the full explanation is that the oxen represent the tribes of Israel. The pattern of the 12 apostle is based upon the earlier imagery of the 12 tribes, which is based upon the cosmic plan of redemption, that can be represented by the Zodiac. Moving into the holy place of Solomon’s Temple we see the Menorah across from the Table of the Shewbread. Upon that table were 12 loaves of bread, these had a connection to the sacrament, which is a renewing of the lower ordinance of baptism, which in the temple is done on the backs of 12 oxen. The post-apocalyptic new Jerusalem is seen by John coming down out of heaven, and it had 12 gates and at each gate was an angel with his name upon him. The name of these angeles are the names of the 12 tribes of Israel (the son’s of Jacob). John’s vision goes on a little further connecting the 12 foundations of the holy city to the 12 apostles. The angel showing these things to John then measures the city, similar to how Ezekiel’s messenger did for Ezekiel. Carrying forth the imagery of the number 12, the city is 12 thousand furlongs (a furlong is 185.2 meters). This is clearly a symbolic measurement, like Ezekiel’s measurements were. Both employed the symbolic number 1,000 which has cosmic implications, as used from earliest times, [1] and right into Jewish and Christian imagery.

That's the way I see it - what say you?

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[1] See the Peril of Great Price, Book of Abraham, Facsimile 2, Explication 4. “Answers to the Hebrew word Raukeeyang, signifying expanse, or the firmament of the heavens; also a numerical figure, in Egyptian signifying one thousand; answering to the measuring of the time of Oliblish, which is equal with Kolob in its revolution and in its measuring of time.”

Three Sacrifices and Three Altars.

2011-08-19T10:39:00.000-07:00

The notion of four worlds which also includes three degrees of glory is well established in LDS theology. These three degrees of “glory” are three degrees of “salvation.” Frequent readers of my posts and other materials know that I contend that the three glories are three different “dimensions,” or groups of dimensions (as our current world is a group of three and a half dimensions). If you take this idea further, salvation is a very delineated proposition.

Let me propose this questions: Did the atonement take place in the garden or on the cross?

LDS folks are often quick to answer “the garden” because we have been taught about what happened in the garden, but was the garden the completing of the atonement? If you answered yes then you must believe that the cross was not necessary? Or perhaps it only had to do with accommodating the resurrection? If so why was it that Jesus waited until His experience at the cross was complete to say “it is finished.” The cross is prominently pointed to in scripture as the place of atonement.

I would suggest that the atonement happened in three different glories, and three different places. We see this pointed to in the plan of salvation in stone, the temple. We can observe the underlying structure that is shared with all true temples. Central to this structure is the existence of three levels of salvation, or holiness. For simplicity, let’s look at Solomon’s temple. There are three basic section; the Court representing the Telestial Kingdom, the Holy Place representing the Terrestrial Kingdom, and the Holy of Holies representing the Celestial Kingdom.

Each of these kingdoms has a prominent feature, and that is the altar for that kingdom.

In Solomon’s temple, the space designed to represent the Telestial Kingdom had an altar called the “Altar of Sacrifice.” It is here that the working out of the salvation of man is symbolized, and memorialized.

The gate into the telestial space is equated with membership into the church, or in other words, the Kingdom. To rightfully enter that space the initiate had to accept the principles and ordinances of that space. We are not told all of what went on in Solomon’s Temple, but we do know some things.

The altar in any given holy space represents the spot where God and man come together in that degree of glory, where the symbols of the covenant for that degree are expressed, and where a portion of the “Covenant of Creation” is renewed.

The symbols for a kingdom are not some unrelated abstract token, they not only symbolize of the underlying saving truth. they are emblematic of that truth, and in a likeness of that truth, which is the covenant.

The Altar of Sacrifice was the first order of business in the telestial space (The Court). It symbolizes the suffering and death that Christ endured on the cross. It is meant to impress upon us that in a telestial world that justice is achieved in brutal and violent ways. The Altar of Sacrifice is the space where the covenant, the cross, justice, mercy, man, and God come together in what some ancients thought of as a knot, where all of these things intertwine. What happened on the cross is symbolized by what happens on the Altar of Sacrifice.

If we then enter into the space representing the Terrestrial Kingdom (in Solomon’s Temple) we find another type of altar, the Table of Shewbread. It is at this table that the covenants belonging to the Terrestrial Glory, along with the ordinances are expressed.

We know [1] of only two places where Jesus atoned for our sins; the cross and in the Garden of Gethsemane, but certainly there are three. It is likely that the place that Jesus retired to with Peter, James, and John, that was farther into the garden than He allowed the other apostles, where He was “exceeding sorrowful unto death” (Mark 14:34) is the place that is represented by the Table of the Shewbread, and is the place of atonement in the Terrestrial World. This could rightfully be referred to that which saves someone into that kingdom, but it might be more properly be described as a level of sanctification.

The Table of the Shewbread has a strong resemblance to the modern LDS rite of Sacrament. The existence of the bread and the wine on each table leads us to believe this connection may exist. If this is a real link, we are forced to consider the Sacrament as a Terrestrial Ordinance [2]. Which would also make some symbolic or mystical link between the altar of the Terrestrial Kingdom, and the Sacrament tables of LDS meetinghouses. We could view this as an extension of the temple into our weekly worship. In the telestial realm our baptismal fonts clearly have a theological link to the temple sea on the backs of twelve oxen.

The priests and laymen (at least in the early years of Solomon’s Temple) killed the lamb and other victims on the north side of the Altar of Sacrifice in the Court, or the Telestial area of the temple. This was a playing-out, or theater of the Atonement upon the cross. When the participants burnt the offerings it was an invitation to deity to participate in or accept the sacrifice (like burning incense symbolizes prayers or petitions to God). The eating of the remaining parts of the victim has to do with internalizing the deity, or becoming one with God.

We can eat the flesh (flesh and blood) of the Telestial sacrifice, at the Altar of Sacrifice, and become one with God there, be identified with Him at that level, with that law, with those ordinances, or we can eat from the Table of Shewbread, drink the wine, and be sanctified and one with God at that level, glory, dimension, law, and ordinances. It’s our choice.

There is an additional choice. When Christ went further into the Garden of Gethsemane, there He suffered to the greatest degree. There he suffered alone. He left the area where Peter, James, and John waited, the place of “suffering unto death” and went in further. What exactly happened there we don’t really know [1], other than; for us He suffered to a very great extent:

“Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit...” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:18)
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1. Others may know, but it is not widely known.
2. Some may view this assertion differently, but I see this as a holy and inspiring thing.

Tents and Hebrewisms

2011-08-05T23:19:00.000-07:00

Never shying away from speculation, I have some observations that I would like to attempt here to tie together.

I have observed that there is a practice found among some older Hebrew writings where a person, but more specifically a prophet, equates a physical journey to his spiritual journey, and more specifically his ascension teaching and initiation. I am not sure that some of the stories as we receive them may not have even been adapted and adjusted to better demonstrate the points of the stories. This practice could be called a "Hebrewism."

In a prior post (click here) I described how Abraham considered going down to Egypt as going into a "deep [spiritual] pit." I described how he made that trip by holding to his "knot of faith" or a line going into the pit with knots that represented his covenants. He was not afraid to go into the pit because he was confident he could escape by pulling himself up grasping the knots. For Abraham this trip was a spiritual journey.

Jacob in his physical journeys stopped by a place called Beth-el and as he slept he dreamed a dream where he saw a ladder ascending up to God (see Gen. 28:12). Among LDS and Jewish thinkers it is understood that the rungs on the ladder represent the covenants, ordinances, or levels of ascension, that can also be applied to each of our lives (or the lack of such covenants). This is a temple/ascension motif (Gen 28:16-19) where Jacob called the place the "house of God" and poured oil upon a stone that created an altar. All true altars have a mystical connection to one of the three altars of the temple.

Moses meet God on the Mountain. Mountains anciently represented and physically presented ascension. Going back to Abraham we read in the Zohar:

"He [Abram] moved on from there (ha-harah), to the mountain. There he discovered (har he), Mountain of He. and all those rungs planted there." (The Zohar, Matt vol . II, pg 18 - Lekh Lekha)

Abraham climbed the physical mountain and built an altar, and the Lord added a "he" to Abrams name. The "he" represents the "Shekhinah" or divine presence resulting from covenants - it is a a sign of covenant. See THIS and THIS. Continuing on:

"He [Abraham] spread (ololoh), his tent, spelled with a (he) -spreading a spread, accepting the Kingdom of Heaven with all its linked rungs."(The Zohar, Matt vol . II, pg 18 - Lekh Lekha)

We see a couple concepts intertwined. When Abraham had the sign of the covenant (he) added to his name, he spread his tent. But the "tent" was spelled with a "he" instead of the normal "vav," indicating a tent of covenant or "the tent of Shekhinah."

From the above we see an association with covenants, temples, altars, and tents. A tent can be thought of as a "Tallit Gadol" reminiscent of the temple, with "tzitzit" tied at all four corners. The Zohar continues with Abraham:

"...Abram journeyed, continually journeying towards the Negev ... Continually journeying, rung upon rung until ascending to the South, where he was fittingly bound, ascending to his rung..." (The Zohar, Matt vol . II, pg 18 & 19 - Lekh Lekha)

It is a Hebrewism to connect like this the journey, the tent, the altar, the covenants, the ascension, and the temple.

My point has to do with 1 Nephi chapter 2. In a prior post I pointed out a few of my observations about 1 Nephi 2:6-9. See my post HERE. The points I tried to make there was that there was a Hebrewism pattern in the text. In 1 Nephi 2:6-9 here is what I see:

- Lehi and his family are on a journey. It is a real journey, but also a journey of ascension.

- They camp by the river. This is an association with other ascension - living water imageries.

- Lehi builds an altar - associating this with covenants, ordinances, and the temple, and the tree of life.

- Also of interest, but not of our present concern is the valley, the sea, and the fountain of all righteousness.

My point, in 1 Nephi 2:15 which reads:

"And my father dwelt in a tent"

Which critics have cited as being out of place in the text, and useless. I submit that it is very much in place with the preceding Hebrewisms.

I would bet a dollar that the Reformed Egyptian that conveyed the word "tent" contained a modifier that gave a meaning somewhere close to "a tent of covenant" or "a tent of Shekhinah." At the very least, the way in which "tent" was used would convey the idea to any readers of Lehi's day, but is not right on the surface in our translation.

That's the way I see it. What think ye?

The Holy Spirit of Promise

2011-08-01T00:41:00.000-07:00

I was teaching a class the other day in High Priests Group on the Plan of Happiness. I had proffered my contention that each ordinance we receive must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise (Holy Ghost) to be of force. It is my view that when a person receives an ordinance the Holy Spirit of Promise “seals” that the ordinance was performed correctly regarding form and authority, and the associated law was received and has been kept (assuming that person is living that law - or it is later sealed when the person does live the law).

I used a paragraph in the "Guide to the Scripture" under “Holy Spirit of Promise” which reads in part:

“He [the Holy Ghost] confirms as acceptable to God the righteous acts, ordinances, and covenants of men. The Holy Spirit of Promise witnesses to the Father that the saving ordinances have been performed properly and that the covenants associated with them have been kept.” 

This notion was challenged by one of the good brethren, because of the following paragraph that reads:  

“They who are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise receive all that the Father has, D&C 76:51–60 (Eph. 1:13–14).”

The distinction being where I contend that each law and ordinance must be sealed upon a person, he read the reference to mean that at some point, all at once they are all, including exaltation sealed upon a righteous person.

I would argue that the next line also needs to be considered to understand this concept:  

“All covenants and performances must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise to have force after this life, D&C 132:7, 18–19, 26”

I believe that baptism is a critical ordinance, even for a person who never has “all that the Father has” or exaltation sealed upon him. But, that each ordinance and its corresponding law, including baptism, must be sealed upon each of us. If not, we are son’s of perdition (in the case of baptism).

The same would hold true for each ordinance and law.   I would further contend that what ordinance and corresponding law we receive (we receive law by ordinances) dictates the resurrection we will receive. This is clear in the Doctrine and Covenants. Regarding the Holy Spirit of Promise we read:

“...All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise ...are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead.” (Doctrine and Covenants 132:7)

And then to the point of the law we keep or abide determines our resurrection:  

“22For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.

23And he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory.

24And he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory.” (Doctrine and Covenants 88)

I suspect that for most of us we receive the ordinances and the laws, and we grow into the law some time in the future. When we do, we have some spiritual experience and don’t even know that it was the Holy Spirit of promise sealing those ordinances upon us. And like those who receive “all the Father has” or have their calling and election made sure in this life, we may spiritually digress and return many times. But, we have proven that we can live the law, and only a full rebellion will separate us from that kingdom sealed upon us. 

What think ye?

Ezekiel 47 and Lehi's Vision of the Tree of Life

2011-06-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

In my most recent book on the Tree of Life I attempted to tie a number of biblical images to the hugely significant image of the Tree of Life.   One of the biblical images I covered was the vision of Ezekiel 47. The importance of this chapter, to me, is staggering. Yet it seem largely ignored by LDS scholars and laymen (and completely undecipherable by the non LDS world). In my view, it is the very same vision that Lehi and Nephi saw of the Tree of Life. It is not usually seen as such because certain components of the imagery are swopped for other theologically equivalent images. For example, in Lehi’s vision there is a Tree, and in Ezekiel’s vision there is a temple at the head of the vision - but if you understand the vision you will see they both represent the same underlying principles. They are theological equivalences.

They both have a river. We are told by Nephi that the tree of the river both represent the same thing (1 Nephi 11:25). They both represent the “love of God” which is meant in the wide sense, the creation, the Plan of Happiness, the atonement, and the redemption.

We see the Plan of Salvation portion in Ezekiel with a little more detail. The river is the emanations of God flowing from Heavenly realms, that as Ezekiel walks in them they first rise to his ankles, representing the Celestial Kingdom. Then they rise to his knees, representing the Terrestrial Kingdom. Next, they rise to the level of his loins, representing the Telestial Kingdom. As the waters flow into the sea and salted marshes they represent Outer Darkness.

Both of these visions are of the same genre, and if they are laid one upon the other they bring tons of understand to each other. We see the Lehi’s vision right at home with the imagery of Ezekiel’s vision, in fact they can elegantly intertwine to bring us a picture that is greater that the sum of it’s parts.

Genesis 50 - The Cords That Bind Us.

2011-01-07T14:25:00.000-08:00

One of the things we can learn from ancient Hebrew mysticism is that if we pay attention to the text we can learn more than the casual reader. And if we can free our minds from the cords that bind us to our puny views, truths are in front of us. For example:

I have always enjoyed and believed the text of the Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis chapter 50. It describes what some would consider convenient doctrine about the restoration, the prophet Joseph, and the tribes of Israel.

However, I always felt a little uncomfortable with the notion that it was ever on the end of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible.   So when I read Genesis I had a conflict reconciling the existence of chapter 50 with the fact that Genesis is the undefiled base of religion. I always considered Genesis to be the standard to judge all other texts with. Now, if I had explored that uneasiness earlier on, I would have come to my current view by a much shorter route.   I would have come to the conclusion that many bible scholars are coming to, that what we have in Genesis is a rewrite of one or more earlier records. And, that this rewrite may not be completely free of bias.

David Larsen and Margaret Barker have expressed views that what they term the “Deuteronomist” may have had a political bias in rewriting some of the biblical books.

I am of the opinion that Genesis 50 never was in the Hebrew bible, but should have been included, that it existed as a part of an earlier text, and was excluded. But a proper render of the Genesis story should have included it, and so the Prophet Joseph tacked it on.

If my hypothesis is correct, I have to ask the question, what else could I understand today if I only opened my eyes? My spiritual journey could really pick up speed if I could loose these bands a bit faster. What bands are holding you back from the truth?

My Best Posts

2010-12-21T14:10:00.000-08:00

As the year comes to an end, I thought I would make a post of some of my favorite posts.

I know that we get new visitors to this site all the time, and I would like them to see some of the best we have to offer, that may be buried back aways.

The Purpose of Mysticism
What Science Should Have Known
Salvation is Free
Holiness
The Word, Twenty-Two Letters of Creation
Oil of Gladness

The Seed of Faith
Are Mormons Christians?

HOUSEKEEPING II

2010-12-14T21:24:00.000-08:00

This post is meant as an extension of Housekeeping.

I see Yosef has been trying to post, I see the emails, but they are not sticking for some reason. And it may be because of the amount of comments.

Anyways, this should be easier to navigate.

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I FOUND THE POSTING PROBLEM - BLOGGER HAS ENABLED A NON-OPTIONAL COMMENT SPAM FILTER. I CAN'T TURN IT OFF - BUT I CAN MANAGE IT - AND I WILL (AT LEAST TILL I GET ANOTHER BLOG FORMAT IN-PLACE). SO IF YOUR COMMENT DISAPPEARS, JUST GIVE IT TIME, I WILL MANUALLY FLAG IT AS NOT BEING SPAM, AND IT WILL RE-APPEAR. SORRY, AND THANKS! -DAVE
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Some of Yosef's comments below may be out of order.

Amazing Grace (my new book)

2010-12-13T16:27:00.000-08:00

Announcing the first release candidate of my new book, Amazing Grace, One Mormon's View of the Atonement.

It's a short 117 pages.

This is my view of the Plan of Salvation. Your comments, constructive or otherwise are welcome.

To download it in PDF format CLICK HERE.

To see "Amazing Grace" in HTML, click HERE But for some reason the graphics are not working.

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Of Course I recommend my other books as well: Mormon Mysticism and Kingdoms That Clash.

As soon as I get the finishing touches on this book, I will begin my next researching the Tree of Life. So Stay Tuned!

HOUSEKEEPING

2010-11-11T09:35:00.000-08:00

Hello All!

I appreciate the vigorous debate and discussion. And I don't want to interfer with any of that. And I try not to censor the discussion by cutting things out.

But, discussions of Masonry should be on the posts regarding Masonry;

http://mormonmysticism.blogspot.com/2008/03/did-temple-ordinances-come-from-masons.html

http://mormonmysticism.blogspot.com/2008/02/mustirra-master-mason-clang.html

http://mormonmysticism.blogspot.com/2007/10/templar-papers-to-be-released.html

http://mormonmysticism.blogspot.com/2007/08/mormon-masonic-clang.html

http://mormonmysticism.blogspot.com/2007/08/masons-friends-of-foes.html

And of course: http://mormonmysticism.blogspot.com/2007/09/why-i-apostatized.html

And I will be cutting out name calling, or disrespectful comments of LDS church leaders, like referring to the Prophet Joseph as "old Joe." You can disagree all you want, but on this blog, we will not be disparaging the prophets, whether or not you agree they are prophets.

Thank you, and let the debate resume 8-)

The Telestial Kingdom

2010-11-07T20:51:00.000-08:00

“Wherefore, he [Christ] saves all except them [Son’s of Perdition]—they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, which is eternal punishment, to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched, which is their torment—” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:44)

The Telestial Kingdom is part of the Kingdom of God, it is a kingdom of salvation, bought and paid for by the blood of Christ and His infinite atonement.   Like all kingdoms of glory, the only way to achieve this kingdom, resurrection, and glory is through the mercy, merits, and grace of Christ.

No one can pay for their own sins and receive a kingdom of glory. The only people paying for their own sins are the son’s of perdition. No one receives mercy and grace unless they repent and willfully take upon themselves Christ.  

To see what is required to inherit the Telestial Kingdom we can go to our examples of the Plan of Salvation made of stone, the temples, and observe what is happening there in that sacred space. The temple space representing the Telestial Kingdom in Solomon’s temple was known as the “court.” Seeing the temple experience as a series of increasing commitments by men, and promises by God, memorialized by ritual acts know as ordinances, we can see what laws (the commitments by men) and ordinances must be kept to enter any particular kingdom.

  Obedience is the first law of heaven. When we enter the the court area we first see the altar for animal sacrifice. The entire Mosaic sacrificial system is symbolic of Christ. To enter the telestial space we must be attached to, affiliated with, or joined with Christ. We do this by covenanting to, and keeping the law of the court, the Telestial Kingdom.   The law of the Telestial Kingdom is the “Law of Obedience and Sacrifice.”

Whether we ritualize our commitment to the Law of Obedience and Sacrifice with animal sacrifice in Mosaic pre Messiah temples, or post Messiah temple, it is in effect the same. This is the “gate” and rejection of this is a rejection of the kingdom, and a rejection of Christ and his atonement.

Without Christ we are son’s of perdition.  

In Solomon’s temple the initiate would ritualize his alliance with Christ by making sacrifice at the altar of sacrifice. He would then move on to the bath which sat upon the backs of twelve oxen, which we know is a baptismal font. The oxen represent the twelve tribes of Israel, which is a representation of the Kingdom of God. When we are baptized we become the blood of Israel, a citizen of the temple, or the kingdom.

Baptism is the initiation ordinance.   There were other things going on in Solomon’s temple, in the court, that are not fully explained in scripture. These are the ordinances corresponding to the Law of Obedience and Sacrifice that must be kept to inherit a Telestial Resurrection.

If these ordinances are not sealed upon us by the Holy Spirit of Promise before the time of our resurrection, we will not receive a Telestial Resurrection. The ordinances must be done, and we must live the law of the telestial kingdom to dwell there:

  “And he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory.” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:24)

We can see that keeping the telestial law is akin to what is require to join the church at baptism. A newly baptized convert must only meet a certain minimum threshold of sanctification, but the church envisions increased commitments, ordinances, and levels of sanctification.

How do we reconcile the idea that a person must be baptized to reside in the Telestial Kingdom when we read about an innumerable<1> (appears to be a majority) amount of souls that inherit that kingdom, when they are described as “...liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:103) On it’s face, baptism does not seem to relate to the above list of sins. The resolution comes in understanding the time-line of events.  

The majority of people who come to earth can’t even reach a telestial law while residing here. Telestial laws do not include; lying, witchcraft, adultery, whoring, or any such things.<2> The Law of Obedience and Sacrifice exclude such things. Those who can not live the telestial law in this life, when they die, will be “...cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God...” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:106)

This “hell” is the Spirit Prison where the wicked post mortals reside preparing for a resurrection. While there they are vessels of God’s wrath and vengeance.   It is the authors understanding that when the vessels of wrath repent, they may leave prison and join the residents of Spirit Paradise. If they refuse (rebellion) to repent after receiving a full knowledge of essential things (revelation), they will be resurrected, but remain filthy still, and join the other Son’s of Perdition.

No unclean thing can enter the Kingdom of God, in any of it’s glories. No one is forced to repent, mercy comes only through Christ, only through Christ can we be cleansed of sin.  

“And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins.” (Alma 11:37)  

  It is the law a person can and will live that determines his or her resurrection and kingdom of glory, not lingering degrees of sin. All recipients of a glorious resurrection are cleansed in the end.   

“These all [telestial recipients] shall bow the knee, and every tongue shall confess to him who sits upon the throne forever and ever;” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:110)

  The bowing of the knee is a symbol of allegiance and subjection. We must all be allied with Christ, we must take him upon us, and repent, or become Son’s of Perdition.

The first degree or level of the temple is associated with being cleansed, and identification with Christ,<3> an allegiance with Christ, and bowing the knee.

“They [Telestial Kingdom recipients] have no part in the first resurrection and are not redeemed from the devil and his angels until the last resurrection, because of their wicked lives and their evil deeds. Nevertheless, even these [Telestial Kingdom recipients] are heirs of salvation, but before they are redeemed and enter into their kingdom, they must repent of their sins, and receive the gospel, and bow the knee, and acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of the world” (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:22)

  Many faithful saints fret upon the fact that loved ones leave this world in a state of rebellion, and scared with sin. While a portion of that fret may be justified, much stems from a misunderstanding of the plan. The vast majority of those who enter mortality will at one point or another reconfirm the Covenant of Creation, that they agree to take Christ upon themselves. Most will inherit all they are willing and capable of inheriting, the Telestial Kingdom, part of the Kingdom of God.
----------------
<1> Doctrine and Covenants 76:109
<2> These things belong to a fallen sinful world, not a redeemed mansion in God’s Kingdom. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” Corinthians 6:9 & 10.
<3> “Then, when you were stripped, you were anointed with exorcised [blessed, made holy] oil, from the very hairs of your head to your feet, and were made partakers of the good olive-tree, Jesus Christ. For you were cut off from the wild olive-tree , and grafted into the good one, and were made to share the fatness [blessing and goodness] of the true olive-tree. The exorcised oil therefore was a symbol of the participation of the fatness of Christ...” Cyril on the Mysteries, Lecture 2, verse 3.

The Fall of Adam and Eve

2010-10-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

The presence of the two trees in the garden provided the necessary choices for Adam and Eve to keep their agency, or break their covenants. It was given to Adam to choose, but God forbad the eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  

In the pre-mortal life God instructed Man and Woman to have children:

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth...” (Genesis 1:28)40  

“...[F]or they [wives] are given unto him to multiply and replenish the earth, according to my commandment, and to fulfil the promise which was given by my Father before the foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds, that they may bear the souls of men; for herein is the work of my Father continued, that he may be glorified.” (emphasis added Doctrine and Covenants 132:63)

  This commandment and promise in the pre-mortal world are part of the Covenant of Creation. Family associations are central to the gospel plan.<1> In mortality Adam was again commanded to have Eve stay with him, to multiply, and the replenish the earth.

Lucifer, also know as Satan had been cast out of the pre-mortal realm, to a spirit realm in which he could interact in earth.   Satan told a partial truth and Eve bought into the lie, and she ate the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (she was beguiled, or tricked). She approached Adam in an attempt to have him sin along with her, and he first refused. After a discussion, he realized two things:  

1.) He would be alone in the world, and would not be able to keep Eve with him, and not keep that commandment (which was not his fault and would not have been a sin for him). Because of Eve’s sins Adam was faced with a problem, he could still keep the commandment, but some of the purposes of another commandment would not be met, he would be alone.  

2.) Adam also understood that having children was central to God’s plan, and he would be alone in the Garden of Eden, yes there would have been no fall, but there also would have been no children (because Eve would not be there).<2>   Adam made a choice, ate the fruit and brought sin and death into the world. “...Because that Adam fell, we are; and by his fall came death; and we are made partakers of misery and woe.” (Moses 6:48)  

Adam could have kept all of God’s commands, it was within his power. The dichotomies came into play after Eve disobeyed.   

Just as the atonement was in effect prior to the crucification (applied to many worlds), the effects of the fall existed prior to Adam’s arrival to earth too.  <3>   The fall was a universal fall, it applied to all the world, for the time of the temporal world, forward and backward.   The justice, or reaction, for the sins in the Garden of Eden was:

• Physical death. Death came upon man and all of earthly creation. God said that man shall surly die.  

• Spiritual death.<4> God can not dwell with the least amount of sin, man could no longer dwell in the Kingdom of God, in any of it’s degrees. Without some intervention Adam and the rest of us are all going to hell, outer darkness, and endless separation from God. (Moses 5:57)   Spiritual death is the same state of being that the Sons Of Perdition are in. LDS theology includes a “Universal Fall.”  Adam and Eve explained their reasons for the fall to God. And God explained to them the consequences (justice) of their actions. Their eyes were opened, they would die physically, they would be cast out of the Garden of Eden, they would be separated from God, they were spiritually dead, Eve would suffer in child birth, and Adam would have to work by the sweat of his brow. Thus, the state of man.   This spiritual death that Adam and Eve experienced brought some changes to them and to us. Man inherited a fallen nature, we became devilish, carnal, sensual, and sinful. We became subject to, and servant of the devil:

“For they [the wicked] are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.” (Mosiah 16:3)

This is the state of mankind, unless and until a change takes place, we are sons of perdition. It is critical that we understand our fallen nature and position before God. We did not become recipients of the Terrestrial or Telestial Kingdoms because of the fall, we are justly cast out to outer darkness, separated from God forever.

“Wherefore, I, the Lord God, caused that he [Adam] should be cast out from the Garden of Eden, from my presence, because of his transgression, wherein he became spiritually dead, which is the first death, even that same death which is the last death, which is spiritual, which shall be pronounced upon the wicked when I shall say: Depart, ye cursed.” (Doctrine and Covenants 29:41)

  The “first death” or the spiritual death is the “same” thing that is pronounced at the final judgement on the sons of perdition at the “second death.” And, unless there is some intervention we are all sons and daughters of perdition.  

“And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence.” (Alma 42:14)

“Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be...” (1 Nephi 10:6)

  “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned...” (Romans 5:12)  

“...the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord.” (2 Nephi 9:6)

“Wherefore, it came to pass that the devil tempted Adam, and he partook of the forbidden fruit and transgressed the commandment, wherein he became subject to the will of the devil, because he yielded unto temptation.” (Doctrine and Covenants 29:40)

  “...Now we see that Adam did fall by the partaking of the forbidden fruit, according to the word of God; and thus we see, that by his fall, all mankind became a lost and fallen people.” (Alma 12:22)

  “...spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual.” (Helaman 14:16)

  “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless...” (Mosiah 3:19)  

The fall that came upon Adam and Eve, and to each of us is real, and drastic. God did not spare the fallen angels in the pre-mortal life for their sins, and if we don’t find a resolution, he will not spare us.

The resolution is Christ.
-------------------------------
<1> “We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

<2> “And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden [alone]. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.” 2 Nephi 2:22

<3> “[plants and animals] ...lived and died, age after age, while the earth was yet unfit for human habitation." (Elder James E. Talmage, The Earth and Man.)

<4> “...from my presence, because of his transgression, wherein he became spiritually dead, which is the first death...” Doctrine and Covenants 28:41

Agency and Choice

2010-10-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

In the pre-mortal world of spirits, the great Michael was chosen to come and represent all of us, and by our signing onto the plan, Michael represented each of us vicariously.  

In Hebrew, Adam (אדם) means “man” and means “human.”<1> We are all Adams, following the path of the fall and redemption of our father Adam. In Hebrew the phrase “the man” is the word “the Adam” (חאדם).   Michael’s spirit was breathed into a body on earth, and his earthly name was Adam. This was true with Adam with his mate Eve. They were introduced into a garden that represented a Terrestrial Glory.

  Pursuant to the Covenant of Creation Adam and Eve were given their agency, “...in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency.” (Moses 7:32) God gave this agency specifically to Adam and Eve, and that gift extended to all humanity since they represented all men and women.   

Agency is not the same as free choice. The concept of free choice implies a choice without repercussions. If a person meets a beggar on the street and is asked for charity the person may choose to give or not give, but if the possible donor has made a covenant to give to the poor, he is an agent of that covenant and can’t withhold charity without a violation of the covenant.

God deals with man, and builds a relationship with man, by covenants, one covenant upon another, till a full reconciliation is achieved.   Adam and the rest of humanity were never given “free choice,” we were given agency, and the choice to choose to keep our covenants, or turn away from them.

We all entered into the Covenant of Creation, and thereby accepted Adam as our representatives before God in the garden. This was a family event, our father Adam and his children.   Adam was given commandments that defined the limits of his agency. Adam and Eve received the two commandments, one that Adam and Eve remain together, and second, that they do not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

A part of true agency is choice. Within the garden humanity was given agency and the choice to keep the agency or turn away from it. Without the choice to keep our agency or not, the purposes of the Covenant of Creation can not be met.   “And to bring about his eternal [Covenant of Creation] purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.”  “Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself.

Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.” (2 Nephi 2:15 & 16)

In this life we have choice and agency, and we should understand each.

---------------------------

<1> Strongs Hebrew #120

Consecration

2010-10-22T13:02:00.000-07:00

In the pre-mortal world there was a plan put forward by God the Father that we now call the Plan of Salvation. Lucifer responded to the plan with a counter offer. His counter offer masqueraded as an acceptance, it contained limits and changes to the plan, and was geared to his personal benefit.  

Lucifer is the archetype of an non-consecrated heart.

  The Law of Consecration is the law of the Celestial Kingdom. If we wish to inherit a celestial glory we need to start demonstrating that we can live this law.  

We follow Satan’s example when in our lives we wish to have, or attempt to negotiate a change from the plan. Before this world was created, certain rules were set in place that we must all abide by, that we trust will bring certain results.(1)

When we refuse to live by these rules we attempt to institute our own laws. As we become the instituter of new laws, we think to change the rules in opposition to God’s will. This is called becoming a law unto ourselves. The Plan of Salvation is the only way to Salvation and Sanctification.

  “That [whoever] which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself [themselves], and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment. Therefore, they must remain filthy still.”(2) (Doctrine and Covenants 88:35)

  If someone in this life decides they don’t want the saving ordinance of baptism for example (assuming it has been properly presented to them), thinking that they have some unique relationship with God, and they can have the blessing of salvation, and reject the ordinances, they seek to become a law unto themselves. Thinking they have carved out some special rules for themselves, and that God will have to take them as they come. What they will find is that they will either repent, or be cast off to outer darkness.

  A consecrated heart is born of the understanding that there is not more than one plan, and that any counter offer is a rejection of the plan. A consecrated heart doesn’t resist God at some point of opposition (The trials of this world) and in effect say “this is as far as I go” as though they can stop the plan from working upon them. In the throws of opposition, a consecrated heart seeks strength, relief, healing, enlightenment, sanctification, patience, and the determination to endure to the end. A sanctified heart clings to the covenants, ordinances, and the knowledge of the plan.

The temple is where we receive the covenant of consecration.

(1) “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.” Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21.

(2) These people can’t be sanctified by law because they break the laws. They can’t be sanctified by mercy because they reject Christ and His mercy. Justice would condem them. They can’t be sanctified by judgment because they will be judged worthy of outer darkness, being filthy still.

Like a Fire Is Burning!

2010-04-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

I want to apologize for my slacking on posts. To you faithful visitors that come in once in a while to see if I have posted anything lately, thank you!

I was going to keep today’s experience to myself, because it seemed a bit personal. But, I reconsidered, and thought that what I learned today is germain to the topic of this blog.

But first for those of you who do not know me, I am not easily flatted by rank, position, and so on. I try to live by Shakespeare’ s words, “to thine own self be true” which I take to mean; tell yourself the truth. I don’t pretend to be inspired when I am not, and pomp, circumstance, and crafted moments don’t inspire me. I don’t care if the crowd seems inspired, I try to see things clearly myself. In fact when I hear others speak I often arrogantly think to myself something like “if a truth fell from heaven and bonked you on the head you wouldn’t know it.”

I was invited to a priesthood leadership meeting this afternoon with Elder Bednar of the twelve apostles. I was looking forward to it a bit, even though it was a training meeting.

There was no hype, or silliness, just pure truth. The things that he said resonated so deeply into my spirits it changed my life. And that is the topic of this blog.

I am not going to share the things he said, but tell you a funny situation in my family. Almost two weeks ago my son Luke left to preach the gospel to the people of South Africa. Before he left we discussed that Elder Bednar was coming to our stake. He mentioned that he had never seen an apostle in person, but only on television. He joked, that since he had never seen an apostle, he will have to witness that if they do exist, they are true.

  I have seen apostles before, and they have always been worthy of the highest respect, but never was I impacted as I was today. I can’t think of a time when the spirit touched me deeper than it did today. Elder Bednar’s apostolic promises and blessing will make me a better person.

I can witness that today I saw an apostle and the spirit witnessed that what he said was true. It is these experience that make the journey!

Fruit of the Tree of Life - D&C 88:24

2009-12-27T00:24:00.000-08:00

I received for Christmas (Thanks Ryan, Jamie, and Sterling) a “Revelations and Translations” version of the new Joseph Smith Papers (JSP). I feel as though I should apologize because as soon as I opened the book, within five minutes I am correcting the Doctrine and Covenants.

Now there may be back-story that I don’t know about, and perhaps Joseph Smith corrected it, and it is correct as it currently reads in the scriptures. But, from the information I currently have, it appears a correction is in order for Section 88:24.

From page 294 of the JSP which is a copy of the handwritten original text written by John Whitmer we read:

“...Therefore he is not fruit [and then a little arrow pointing up] for a kingdom of glory...”

[Click on Graphic Above To Inlarge]

But above and a little to the left of the word “fruit” there is a “revision” by John Whitmer in Parenthesis. The “translation” provided by the JSP says the words are “(or meet)” By it look much more like “(or meat)” to me.

Again from the information I currently have, it looks to me as the “meat” is a better translation, both by direct observation, of context.

First, the entire section uses the Tree of Life as a backdrop, it is the imagery used for the ascension doctrine being conveyed. In the section heading it announces itself as the “olive leaf...plucked from the Tree of Paradise.” So the fact that “fruit” was written in the original text seems to be more at home than most alternatives.  "Fruit” is at home in a tree motif.

At some point it was decided to drop the word “fruit” completely and use the words in the parentheses. The word “fruit” does not appear in our current scriptures.

Now if you go down the road of dropping the word fruit, then the whole tree-fruit motif is gone, and no longer a factor in understanding the words in the parentheses.

Again, the JSP translates the words as “or meet.” But if you use the context of the tree-fruit motif the word “meat” fits better. Plus as I observe the word, and the letters “e” and “a” as used here, compared to the rest of the text, I am convinced the word is “meat.”

Also, the text is discussing the Telestial glory of kingdom, which is a definition of salvation, each kingdom above that is sanctification, not salvation. The fruit of the Tree of Life is salvation. However, from a cabalistic point of view we each eat from the tree at one of the three levels that correspond to resurrections of glory.

Luke's Going On a Mission

2009-12-16T16:15:00.000-08:00

My youngest son Luke is going on a Mission!

He recently received his mission call to the Johannesburg South Africa Mission. He will report in April 2010.

It's a great thing for a young man to serve in this way. He has already had some great missionary experiences going out with the missionaries in the ward.

His mother is a bit worried, but I am confident he will be fine. It will be the adventure of a lifetime. I understand he may have the opportunity to learn some of the "click" language.

This is a sharp kid. In the last year he as read the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Temple In Cosmos, Approaching Zion, Mormonism and Early Christianity, Lectures on Faith, and a bunch more. I wonder what I could have achieved on my mission if I was half as prepared?

We expect to see great this from this young man!

Good Sons Of Perdition?

2009-11-16T22:19:00.000-08:00

I was invited last Sunday to read the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. This invitation was an attempt to reclaim me from my false ideas regarding who the son of perdition are.

Admittedly I have some minority views on a few Plan of Salvation matters. I will here attempt to defend the views I have that are associated with identifying the sons of perdition.

The question was asked “what happens to a good gentile man who rejects the gospel and Christ in this life, and in the spirit world?”

First, there is a logical fallacy within the question itself. What makes one thing or person “good?” By definition, if one would reject Christ in the spirit world, he would not be “good.” There Christ is revealed unto every person. Nobody is condemned for choices they make in ignorance. The beauty of LDS theology is that everyone gets a fully informed choice to accept or reject the gift of Christ.

But since that is the way the question was asked, I responded the best I could, “that person would be a son of perdition.” To which a light roar of disapproving comments were made. This surprises me a bit. Is it not clear in LDS theology that without Christ, there is NO SALVATION?

Salvation, in LDS theology, is clearly a resurrection to any degree of glory. While we hope to be saved into the Celestial Kingdom, a Telestial resurrection is still salvation.

Second, we can not atone for our own sins. We may suffer for them, but that suffering is unto repentance, but does not atone one bit. The penalty for sin is eternal separation (forever) from God. When would a sinner ever complete the punishment? The answer is “never.” Only Christ’s atonement can meet the demands of justice.

“Behold, he [Christ] offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered” (2 Nephi 2:7)

I believe Christ died for the world.

“41 That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;

42 That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him;

43 Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him.

44 Wherefore, he saves all except them…” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:41-44)

Before every person’s final judgment, the Father will “reveal” Christ, in some way. We qualify as son’s of perdition if we reject Christ with a fully informed decision, after He has been “revealed,” whether in this life, the spirit world, or the resurrection.

The gift of Christ is offered to all.

“And they [son’s of perdition] who remain shall also be quickened [resurrected]; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.”

“For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.” (D&C 88:32&33)

So, upon conclusion, pursuant to my invitation, I did again read Doctrine and Covenants section 76 and remain of the opinion that salvation cometh only through Christ.

Congradulations Sterling!

2009-11-10T08:36:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Sterling Beck!

Sterling recently fought a hotly contested race for a seat in the Provo City Council and won the election (shown here with Jamie). He takes his position on January 5, 2010.

Not bad for a young man of his tender years. He also recently graduated from BYU.

He is very talented, we expect to continue to see great things from Sterling.

Mormon Mysticism - The Book - Newest Version

2009-11-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

I wrote my second book “Mormon Mysticism” back a couple years. When preparing to write the book I was listening to the radio program “Dennis Prager” and he said something to the effect that any book worth writing should be written in under 100 pages. So I was determined to trim my thoughts down to 100 pages. But many of my readers thought the book was not complete and there were to many holes, and things left without explanation.

I worked up a second addition still trying to keep the size down.

I have just finished my final writing, it’s now 290 pages. I have to admit I am proud of this work. It’s the book I wish someone would have given me 15 years ago (I was not ready for it till then).

You can see it online in html form HERE (free). Some of the formating is funny in html, but it’s good for references.

Or, you can download a pdf HERE (free).

I have not yet updated Lulu.com, where you can buy paper back copies, or Amazon.com. I will let you know when the latest version is available there.

NOTE: If you purchased an earlier version in paperback, and would like an updated copy, send me an email, and when I get my first batch of paper backs I will send you one for free.

Mark is Home!

2009-10-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

My son Mark Littlefield arrived home yesterday from the Columbia South Carolina Mission.

It's nice to have him home. It's a great thing for a young man to serve. Besides the benefit to the young man, and the converts he finds, the church creates a population of capable leaders.

And Marks brother Luke just put his papers in and will likely leave at the beginning of the year.

Anointing - Oil and Blood

2009-10-07T00:53:00.000-07:00

There is a theme in Old Testament and other religious writings of that day regarding anointing. There are many instances of sacred anointings from Adam seeking to be anointed with the oil from the tree of life, to Moses anointing the implements of the Tabernacle and so on.

Baptism is usually and rightfully thought of as the initiation ritual of ancient Israel, with symbolic stories of Adam standing in the Jordan River for forty days as his repentance and baptism. We know as Latter-Day Saints that Adam was actually baptized. (Moses 6:64&65)

Ancient Jewish converts had to be baptized, circumcised, and perform sacrifice as initiatory rites. Ancient Israelite thinking about anointing was also associated with these introductory rites.

“The solemn setting apart of a person or thing to a special use or purpose. According to Fleischer (Levy, "Neuhebr. WÃ¶rterb." ii. 206), the word "hanak" (to initiate) is derived from the "rubbing of the throat" of an infant for the purpose of cleansing it and enabling it to take the mother's milk, and is therefore applied to every form of initiation. It appears, moreover, that the "rubbing" remained for a long time an essential feature of the rite of initiation, for "every consecration in Biblical times was accompanied by rubbing or anointing with oil the object to be consecrated. Thus the pillar at Bethel was anointed (Gen. xxviii. 18; compare the "dedication" of Nebuchadnezzar's image, Dan. iii. 2 et seq.). The priests and the vessels of the Tabernacle were anointed with oil (Ex. xxviii. 41, xxx. 26; Lev. viii. 10-12; Num. vii. 13), and by this rite they were "hallowed." "Mishát Adonai" is, therefore, "consecration to the Lord" (Lev. x. 7).” JewishEncyclopedia.com

In temple symbolism; sacrifice, baptism, and anointing were all contiguous in their area of the temple, which represented the Telestial Kingdom.

"Teleiomai [relating to the telestial kingdom] means to be introduced into the mysteries... [a] teleiotes is a person who has been initiated into some degree or other of the mysteries, and the completion of the degree qualifies him as complete..." (Temple and Cosmos, Hugh Nibley, Deseret Book, Pg# 28)

Initiation into some degree of the mysteries is analogous to being initiated into some level of the temple worship system.

There is a relationship between oil and the blood of the sacrificial victim. In gospel themes the two are sometimes interchangeable.

In a temple setting, relating to sacrifice, a “filling of the hand” is closely related to the anointing. A priest “fills his hand” with his sacrificial offering, and that demonstrates his part in the sacrificial system. Aaron filled his hand with the sacrificial meat and burnt it upon the altar. (Leviticus 9:17)

Anointing is for “consecration.” What we read in the King James as “consecration” is often “fills the hand” in Hebrew, as in Ezekiel 43:26. The Hebrew word MLA (mala) is defined in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (word 4390); “...to fill up...to be ordained... consecrate... to unite together... ‘to fill the hand’ means to ordain or consecrate for service to God... consecrated...”

In Hebrew, covenant (brit - BRYT) literally means“cut-where-blood-flows.” When a sacrificial victim would be cut the blood would be caught in cups and passed from one priest to another, not to be sat down. In this way the the priests' hands were filled, and the people were consecrated and sanctified by the sprinkling of the blood upon the people.

And what did blood represent? Messiah, or the anointed one.

Mark Paredes - Jewish / LDS Classes

2009-09-21T15:56:00.000-07:00

ANNOUNCEMENT.

Our friend Mark Parades will be teaching a few classes over at the American Jewish University (Los Angeles). Two are identical lectures (one morning, one evening) on Jewish themes in LDS theology, and the other is a series of interfaith theological dialogues with Conservative Rabbi John Borak.

CLASS 1
CLASS 2
CLASS 3

They are wonderful opportunities to promote LDS-Jewish understanding, and I hope that you will encourage interested friends and contacts to attend.

The Question of 1 Nephi 2:6-9

2009-08-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

This post is more of a question than a explanation.

Learning to study patterns in scripture can be a great tool to see associations between passages. These associations provide clarification, or additional insight into each other.

To me, a most prominent example of common patterns between scriptural motifs is the idea of ascension. The scriptural references to ascension that I would easily associate would be:

Genesis 2, where the Tree of Life is described, and from it flows a river that flows into the world and breaks into four parts.

Ezekiel 47, where the temple is described, and from it flows a stream goes into the world and expands into four levels.

Nephi 8, where the Tree of Life is described, that has a river that flows from it through the world and become polluted as it proceeds.

Now the above are the main anchors of this thought, but I would also associate the Parable of the Olive Tree (Jacob 5-6), The True Vine (John 15), Tree of Faith (Alma 32:40), Revelation 22, Jacob’s Ladder, The Parable of the Sower, and so on, But the point is easier to make with the anchors.

So we see the pattern of the temple, or the Tree of Life being the place or origin. And this is all clearly a temple setting, with a water flow descending from the source into the world.

When we begin to notice a pattern we need to use restraint and not make association that are not there. But this is where my question starts.

I see the pattern of ascension described above in 1 Nephi chapter two verses 6 through 9. I don’t know if anyone has ever pointed this out before.

It is usually not seen as any great revelation, but a simple teaching example used by a father to teach his sons.

Lehi and his family camp beside a river, and from there he builds his example.

In verse 7 Lehi builds an altar that I would contend is a place of covenant and has an ideological equivalence or at least an association to a temple or Tree of Life.

“And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God.”

This imagery is a little more difficult to reconcile, but we have in 1 Nephi 2 an altar, a river, a valley, the sea, and a connection to the “fountain of all righteousness.”

(see 1 Nephi 11:25, Ether 8:25, 12:28, 1 Nephi 8:20, 32, Ps 36:9, 68:26, prov. 14:27, Jer. 2:23, 17:13, Joel 3:18, Rev. 7:17, 21:6)

I am unsure of the importance, but I can’t shake the idea that this imagery was purposefully incorporating aspects of other ascension vision. Now was this being used to get them in the mindset to receive the Tree of Life vision that would follow? Or just pure coincidence? Or for some other reason?

What do you think?

David Larsen - Ph.D. Program

2009-07-21T21:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends:

I don’t sell books on this site, I don’t do google ads, and I haven’t asked for money, until today!

I want you to consider an investment into the education of my friend David Larsen, of HeavenlyAscent.com. He is just starting his work on his Ph.D. in Religious Studies at St. Mary’s College in Scotland.

It’s expensive, and he could use the help.

David Larsen has a fantastic insight into the deeper things of Mormonism. He has a rare combination of raw talent and professional training.

Check out his web site for his impressive full bio here:

Email David Larsen here: david@heavenlyascents.com

Donate HERE.

Thank you!

Jewish & Mormon Fireside 7/19/09

2009-07-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

Announcement!

There will be an Interfaith Dialogue Fireside with Rabbi John Borak, and LDS Stake President Robert Keeler.

The topic is: Interpreting Isaiah (Specifically Ish. 6:1).

Evidently we have become good enough friends to mix it up a bit. This is one of a continuing series of dialogues.

The dialogue will be presented as the monthly mid-single adult fireside sponsored by the LA and SM stakes. The public is welcome.

DATE, TIME, PLACE:

Sunday, July 19 at 7:00 p.m.
LDS Westwood Chapel
10740 Ohio Avenue in Los Angeles.

Special thanks to Mark Paredes.

Check out our Jewish friends visiting Utah here.

See You There!

Happy 4th. of July!

2009-07-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

I just finished my short talk I am giving for our ward pancake breakfast tomorrow, and decided I would share it here too:

From before, when the foundations of the earth were laid, our Father in Heaven, looked forward, and foresaw the day when religious and governmental tyranny and darkness would grip this world.

When the first century Church of Christ left the earth, she took with her certain underpinnings of civilization, which left humanity groping for truth, freedom, opportunity, free agency, and fairness.

During what is commonly called the Dark Ages, not only was the gospel absent from the earth, governments reigned with blood and horror. People, families, tribes, and nations were looked upon by governments, as chattel to be enslaved, and disposed of as would benefit the pretended sovereigns.

A light began to break out in that age of darkness, heroic souls chosen by God, struggled to reform the false religion of their day, and to re-insert the underpinnings of equitable government. This struggle was long and hard. The blood of good and innocent people covered the lands of Europe.

This bloody struggle called the Reformation, eventually created a small and rare opportunity for real and lasting change.

Those seeking religious freedom fled to the New World.

Those seeking political freedom came to the New World.

Many came seeking riches and prosperity.

And, some came in chains.

Some came in obedience to dreams and visions, believing they were part of some great work that was taking place in this New World.

To simplify a more complicated history, the New World began to thrive.

As the principals of righteousness were progressively instituted in the new land, it became a shinning beacon of hope to the rest of the world.

From the nations of the world came the good, in wave after wave. Yes, we get the cream of the cream.

But this was not by chance; it was instituted from the pre-existence. When God showed Abraham the righteous spirits, God said that from among these He would make his rulers, or priesthood holders. And God promised that from Abraham’s prosperity all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

As Latter-Day Saints we know that the gathering of the cream of the cream, was in fact part of the plan, the great vision, for the call of Israel to gather for the last time.

As we gathered into the New World, the tentacles of the Old World refused to let us go, but attempted to institute those old way, here in our new land.

But, “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them…” a separation or independence becomes necessary.

For a separation to have the meaning sought by the pilgrims, it had to be built upon righteous principles.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

It is these principals that eventually brought freedom to all people in America, even those brought here in chains.

The idea that God granted certain unalienable rights to each and every individual is central to good government, and the plan of salvation. In LDS parlance we call this “Agency.”

And, I quote: “to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

In July of 1776 a new government was formed, the United States of America.

She has been an island freedom in the world from that day until now. Good men have sacrificed to make our nation live up-to our first national creed.

This creed, the Declaration of Independence created the framework that allowed the restoration of the gospel.

As Latter-day saints we know this land is a promised land, and has become a land of inheritance for you and me.

With freedom, and blessings come responsibilities.

The Pilgrims fled the old world for the blessings of America.

Immigrants came from around the world for its blessings.

And, Mormon Pioneers came west to realize America’s blessings.

But as Elder James E. Faust said:

“So now we find ourselves in a situation where, unlike the Pilgrims, the Mormon pioneers, and others, we have no where to go in order to escape a new civil de facto secular state religion that continually limits public religious expression and fosters secular values and expressions. How do we preserve the essence of our humanity?” (Finding Light In A Dark World, Elder James E. Faust, Deseret Book, pg 67.)

America is the last stand of freedom, there is nowhere left to go. We must stand here with the heroes of the past, and help America realize her full potential, as the land of freedom.

So today, enjoy the pancakes, the BBQ’s, and the fireworks, but keep a place in your heart for the vision, which is America.

Can We Suffer For Our Own Sins?

2009-06-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

Today’s Sunday School lesson was on one of my favorite subjects, the “Plan of Salvation.” This topic is thought by many to be elementary, but I find it deep and riveting.

When we got to the point of discussing the three kingdoms of glory I asked the question; are those who inherit the Telestial or Terrestrial kingdoms fully forgiven of their sins, or just partially cleansed? I always ask that question at that point to anchor the discussion should a debate ensue (which is not uncommon for me on this topic).

As the discussion continued, the view was shared by a couple brethren that those who go to the Celestial kingdom enter by the atonement of Christ. But, those who enter the two next kingdoms do so by suffering for their own sins.

I reject this idea. I know why they believe that, it is based upon a misunderstanding of a few verses, however, it flies in the face of the rest of LDS theology. Yet this idea is not unheard of.

Let me first state my views on these issues, which surprisingly I find controversial among my fellow members.

I believe that Christ died for the world.

“41 That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;

42 That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him;

43 Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him.

44 Wherefore, he saves all except them…” (D&C 76:41-44)

Salvation is the redemption of the soul, or in other words the spirit and the body. In fact, Christ redeems the bodies of all men pursuant to the primordial covenant of creation.

I suggest that the resurrection of the dead is the redemption of the soul, body and spirit, of all men, even the son’s of perdition.

“And the spirit and the body are the soul of man.

And the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul.

And the redemption of the soul is through him [Christ] that quickeneth all things, in whose bosom it is decreed that the poor and the meek of the dearth shall inherit it.” (D&C 88:15-17)

In other words, all are saved, body and spirit in the resurrection (OK, calm down, you don’t need to call my bishop).

The son’s of perdition are in the process of redemption in the resurrection, but until the final judgment, post-resurrection is given, the crowns of the kingdoms are not given. The son’s of perdition reject the gift of redemption at the final day.

Speaking of the resurrection of the son’s of perdition we read:

“And they [son’s of perdition] who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.

For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.” (D&C 88:32-33)

The gift of redemption is given to all, but is not received by the son’s of perdition.

These son’s of perdition can’t reject the gift of Christ, and pay for their own sins, and receive a kingdom of glory, nor can anyone else.

The punishment for sin is endless separation from God. We can never pay for our own sins! We can never come to a point at which the penalty has been fully paid without Christ.

“Behold, he [Christ] offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.” (2 Nephi 2:7)

To overcome sin and its consequences, the price paid must be an infinite atonement, see 2 Nephi 9:7. Men can’t provide that. Without a savior we will languish forever in separation from God.

“…[T]here is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.” (2 Nephi 2:8).

The 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, verse 35 lays out the ways people can be saved.

Mercy – But unless we accept Christ, how can we receive mercy? Mercy is given through Christ. Otherwise law and justice are frustrated.

Justice – But we all fall short and have broken the law, so law only brings death to us sinners.

Judgment – The same problem as justice.

No matter what else we have done, without Christ, we remain filthy still. There are not several, competing, or parallel ways to be saved, there is only one way. This is basic Mormon doctrine.

The people who inherit the Telestial Kingdom suffer the wrath of God in this life, are cast down to hell after this life to suffer Gods wrath in spirit prison, but in the end accept Christ.

Christ paid for the sins of the world, and salvation is free. What determines where we spend eternity is what law we are willing to live.

“All sins shall be forgiven, except the sin against the Holy Ghost; for Jesus will save all except the son’s of perdition.” (Joseph Smith, The Miracle of Forgiveness, pg 119)

It's a great plan!

The Olive Leaf - Doctrine and Covenants 88

2009-06-04T09:44:00.000-07:00

The restoration, through the Prophet Joseph Smith is an interesting study. Joseph grew up in a protestant family and community, and certainly assimilated some of those understandings of religion, some for good, and some that needed correcting. The progression and order of the truths that are revealed are worthy of note.

The first thing that is established is the basic nature of God at the First Vision. Then through the translation of the Book of Mormon and the Bible the Prophet confronted a number of issues, and truths were revealed. Many of these revelations are found in the Doctrine and Covenants.

Certain truths, when revealed had associated ordinances that were simultaneously revealed, authorized, and administered.

In the First Vision the nature of God is revealed. In the 76th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants the Plan of Salvation (Plan of Happiness) is revealed (restored the knowledge) with the three degrees of glory and the promise that God will “reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom…” someday in the future.[D&C 76:7]

Then in the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants Joseph was given the promise of the Celestial Kingdom:

“This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom;” [D&C 88:4]

It appears to me that the “promise” of the celestial kingdom is associated with ordinances, and these things are the point of the temple. We don’t ascend to exaltation outside of or independently from the temple.

The LDS Guide to the Scriptures define the “Holy Spirit of Promise” as:

“The Holy Ghost is the Holy Spirit of Promise (Acts 2: 33). He confirms as acceptable to God the righteous acts, ordinances, and covenants of men. The Holy Spirit of Promise witnesses to the Father that the saving ordinances have been performed properly and that the covenants associated with them have been kept.”

“They who are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise receive all that the Father has, D&C 76: 51-60 (Eph. 1: 13-14). All covenants and performances must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise to have force after this life, D&C 132: 7, 18-19, 26.” [REF.]

I believe it is probable that what we have in the Doctrine and Covenants, the 88th section is an outline of teachings Joseph received as he received his endowments. That when understood represent the finest and deepest section of canon we have.

Further, that Doctrine and Covenants 88 is akin to Moses’ vision of eternity, to Abraham’s vision of Eternity, to Jacob’s vision of the Ladder, or to Ezekiel’s vision for the temple.

And further still, that it should be used as a supplemental handbook to the temple experience. Most of us are not going to see the heavens open in this life, but we can attend the temple and receive the ordinances of ascension, and apply the teaching of an almost contemporary description of a Merkabah experience, the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants.

We can know the mysteries of God.

Holy Kiss

2009-05-10T23:09:00.000-07:00

We read in the King James New Testament five times the exhortation to “Greet one another with a holy kiss..” (Ref.) In the Joseph Smith translation the prophet changed “kiss” to “salutation.” I don’t know if that means there was not a kiss involved, and the translation is a transliteration (actual word meanings), or a true translation where the intent of the text is presented. I suspect the latter. Ancient Mediterraneans commonly greeted each other with a kiss. Still today, many people great each other with a kiss to the check. (Ref.)

We know that many of our social gestures have their genesis from a temple setting.

“One could even say that the handshake greeting is also of biblical origin: it is mentioned in Galatians 2.9d: ‘They gave me and Barnabas their right hands of fellowship.’" (Ref.)

A ritual embrace in the Catholic “Tridentine Mass” likely has its roots in the temple, where the embraced is told “Peace be unto you.” Which in theological terms could mean “be reconciled.”

In Todd M. Compton’s paper “The Handclasp and Embrace as Tokens of Recognition,” he associated the kiss with the embrace.

“The kiss of peace of the New Testament apparently always included the embrace. Sometimes the kiss and the embrace were both specified: Cyprian writes, "Holding to this faith, and meditating thereon day and night, let us too aspire to God with all our heart, disdaining the present and thinking only on the things that are to be, the fruition of the eternal kingdom, the embrace and the kiss of the Lord [complexum et osculum Domini], the vision of God." A specific example appears in Luke 15:20: "And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." Sometimes the kiss disappeared, leaving only the embrace: "The kiss or pax was eventually reduced to a mild embrace occasionally accompanied by a touching of the cheeks." 95 John Chrysostom writes of the holy kiss (1 Corinthians 16:20) exchanged by Christians that it "unites and makes one body." He tells us that when we exchange the kiss as a symbol of love with our neighbors the Lord wants our souls to kiss and our hearts to embrace. The kiss was used in baptismal initiation and in the mass (cf. fig. 5).” (GospelLink, pg 24, The Symbolon: Unity, Separation, Unity)

What I am suggesting is that handshaking, embracing, and kissing in certain social situations, while the meaning is largely lost to us today, come from antiquity, where they represented at-one-ment, pointing to temple activities. An outside symbol of that which happens inside.

Hugh Nibley has many references to the “Ritual Embraces” among several ancient civilizations.

Quoting Mayassis about the Egyptian initiation rites, Nibley said:

“The ritual embrace is ‘the culminating rite of the initiation.’" (Hugh Nibley, Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment, Part VII)

Nibley goes on to explain; “But by far the most significant embrace is that of the Father as he appears under various names already in the Pyramid Texts. The rites of Unas reach their culmination when at the center-niche of the Serdab on the far side of the "celestial room" "the Creator Himself" embraces the candidate to represent "the fusion of the heaven-bound deceased with the Sungod Re."

The embrace is the act of at-one-ing fallen man with the Gods. It is becoming one with God, the act of true consecration.

In Bishop Cyril’s “Lecture on the Mysteries” he gives a very insightful, mid initiation, teaching about higher ordinances.

Starting with “On The Mysteries,” lecture 5 a call is made to “Receive ye one another; and let us kiss one another.” Which I take as a cryptic reference to the ritual embrace. Delineating this “kiss,” salutation, or embrace from a common meeting the text continues:

“Think not that this kiss is of the same character with those given in public by common friends. It is not such: but this kiss blends souls one with another, and courts entire forgiveness for them. The kiss therefore is the sign that our souls are mingled together, and banish all remembrance of wrongs” (Ref.)

Meaning an act of forgiveness, and unification.

Cyril then draws upon a New Testament temple text to explain what this kiss does:

“For this cause Christ said, If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there rememberest that your brother has anything against thee, leave there your gift upon the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift . The kiss therefore is reconciliation, and for this reason holy: as the blessed Paul somewhere cried, saying, Greet ye one another with a holy kiss…”

I speculate that Cyril’s sometimes vivid, and sometimes cryptic description of an initiate’s trip to the Holy of Holies that describes the “holy kiss” is a reference to the sacred embrace. That the holy kiss of New Testament times is an allusion to a final act of reconciliation of the temple.

The Four Corners of the Earth

2009-04-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

In Sunday School this week we were discussing the “gathering” or the "gathering of Israel." The question was asked about the “four quarters” of the earth, or the “four corners” of the earth.

I did not volunteer my answer because I thought it too complicated for a one-sentence answer, and concluded it would be better not to appear as the crazy guy in the back of the room, again.

I see these phrases as part of a larger, and mostly lost understanding of Israelite theology and imagery. In Kabalistic thought there are really only two things in physicality; “Creation” (existence, dividing, and scattering), and the “Chariot” (gathering, uniting, at-one-ing).

The imagery of the Tree of Life first shown in Eden has a river that flows from it, and it flows to the entire physical universe. It is the blessings of God. It is the power that maintains existence, it’s the laws of physics, it is the knowledge that saves, it is the power to exalt, it is covenants, it’s our gospel heritage.

This river immediately divides into four parts. These parts correspond to the four estates of man, or the Celestial, Terrestrial, Telestial Kingdoms, and Outer Darkness (non-redeemed state). All of these, even outer darkness is maintained by this flow.

Some would argue that tribes of the earth generally, as a group, adhere to one of these kingdoms.

Going to the four corners of the earth, would be analogous to following one of the four rivers to where that tribe exists, and preaching the gospel there. This is associated with the prophecy that the gospel would go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people (tribe).

Going to every tribe is a fairly new phenomenon. It was not always so. Even Jesus resisted teaching the gospel to those of questionable breeding. This latter-day process of taking the gospel to all four quarters is associated with the Abrahamic covenant. The Abrahamic Covenant is the means of salvation and exaltation. You can’t be a child of God and reject the Abrahamic Covenent.

The seed for this covenant is inserted by the blood of Israel being planted into each tribe by the scattering of Israel (intermarrying)(linage), or by individuals accepting the covenant and being adopted. (see Israel, LDS Topical Guide)

This idea of the four rivers is demonstrated in Ezekiel 47 where the river coming from the Temple exists in four depths. Nephi saw the river coming from the Tree of Life in levels of purity (REF). This water is also associated with final things as we see in Revelation 22. This idea can also be soon in many simple teachings and parables such as the Parable of the Sower, with its four outcomes.

Through this process, all the world will be blessed.

Believe all Things

2009-03-01T16:32:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed I have been a bit preoccupied lately and have not been attending to my blogging as I should have. But I have been saving up topics to write on.

Today I did have a few minutes to spend browsing blogs, and one blog really caught my attention. I have seen it before, but did not fully appreciate it. Most of you have probably been there before, but in case you missed it, “Believe all Things” is really a great web site. It covers a wide variety of topics of interest to LDS folks, from What is an Endowment? to IG Farben and Hugh Nibley.

I found this little political clip there:

New LDS Web Site!

2009-02-25T15:55:00.000-08:00

Welcome MormonsMadeSimple.com!

We have a new and welcomed addition to the LDS world of blogging.

This is a great little site to introduce people to the church. It explains what you may forget to tell them to prepare them for a new church experience. It has some basic entertaining videos, and more on the way. Welcome, Doug & Laurel!

Levels of Learning

2009-02-10T23:43:00.000-08:00

I have been contemplating last week’s Sunday School Lesson. It was about receiving revelation, and the class started with a quote from the Prophet Joseph Smith:

“This principle ought (in its proper place) to be taught, for God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what he will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them…” (HC 3:379-80.)

In my spiritual journey I have observed with great interest this process of receiving knowledge, and the importance of knowledge. We are taught:

“1st key: Knowledge is the power of salvation. 2nd key: Make your calling and election sure.” (HC 5:403.)

“It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.” (D&C 131:6)

So knowledge is associated with salvation, and I would suggest the knowledge we are willing to receive is directly connected to the kingdom we inherit.

“And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions. All beings who abide not in those conditions are not justified. 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 88:38-40

Knowledge is associated with wisdom and law. What is the knowledge we are required to receive to progress? It is the Wisdom of the temple. This is the key to exaltation. Margaret Barker has pointed out a number of times in her writings that "Wisdom" is associated with an anointing, and the temple. (Barker, Temple Themes in Christian Worship - See the index for "Wisdom")

If we keep the same law as Joseph or the Twelve, the same knowledge will be revealed to us. The same ordinances will be sealed upon us, the same mysteries will show themselves, and we will be crowned with the same kingdom. God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34)

Not keeping the law is what prevents us from acquiring knowledge. We may receive the form, but not receive the law upon our hearts, hence we then lack the Holy Spirit of Promise.

In my personal journey I can look back and see things I did not know, and can usually pinpoint why I did not know them, why I was not “able to bear them.”

I suggest one reason we resist learning is because we defend what we think we know against further truth. For example the bible teaches us that Christ went and preached unto the spirits in prison. (1 Peter 3:19) While that scripture is true, it is really only true on one level. A fuller understanding of that topic is almost contrary to the original understanding:

“But unto the wicked he [Christ] did not go, and among the ungodly and the unrepentant who had defiled themselves while in the flesh, his voice was not raised; Neither did the rebellious who rejected the testimonies and the warnings of the ancient prophets behold his presence, nor look upon his face.” (D&C 138:20 & 21)

Sometimes by clinging to strongly to what we think we know prevents us from understanding things at a deeper level. The Zohar teaches us:

“There was a man who lived in the mountains. He knew nothing about those who lived in the city. He sowed wheat and ate kernels raw. One day he entered the city. They offered him good bread. The man asked “What is this for?”

They replied, “it’s bread, to eat” He ate, and it tasted very good. He asked, “What is it made of?”

They answered, “Wheat.” Later, they offered him thick loaves kneaded with oil. He tasted them, and asked, “And what are these made of?”

They answered, “Wheat.”

Later they offered him royal pastry kneaded with honey and oil. He asked, “And what are these made of?”

They answered, “Wheat.”

He said, “Surely I am the master of all these, since I eat the essence of all of these: wheat!”

Because of that view, he knew nothing of the delights of the world, which were lost on him. So it is with one who grasps the principles but is unaware of all those delectable delights deriving, diverging from that principle.” (Matt, Zohar Vol. 2, pg 176)

My suggestion, let’s clear away our pathology as quickly as we can, and learn what we are able to bear as soon as we can. (Healing)

My Wordie

2009-02-10T12:32:00.000-08:00

I did not want to be left out, everyone is doing it, so I thought I would get one too!

Here is a visual representation of my blog from Wordie.

Click Here To Enlarge

Light Divided by Darkness

2009-01-02T21:48:00.000-08:00

Ancient Hebrews sometimes thought of the creation as beginning in a spiritual realm (Ein Sof) and the our physical creation as being an extension of that “world” (Keter is the gate to that world), and as that power extended downward to make creation it was divided. This divided power can be likened unto images of Solomon’s Temple. The Holy of Holies (Celestial Room) was a cube, the Holy Place (Terrestrial Room) was a larger room representing the expanded, divided, or dilution of the law. Then the Outer Court (Telestial Room) which was even larger.

In Ezekiel 47 the imagery is extended into the world in three degrees of salvation, where a trickle starts at the temple. At thousand cubit lengths the trail of water expands, or divides until it becomes a rushing river. (see HERE)

The same idea is present in Nephi’s river, see my post on: ”Filty Water”.

I know this idea may be foreign among many LDS folks. Think of it this way. We know that the imagery of the Tree of Life is central to the LDS view of the creation, it is there at Eden and heals the nations of the world during the Millennium.

In the Garden of Eden this overwhelming symbol, the “Tree of Life” was shown to Adam. But there was another tree there, “The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.” This latter tree had no power on man until he partook of the fruit. It appears the partaking of this “The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil” is what divides or dilutes the influence of the Tree of Life, at least as it now effects man. It is man’s choice to partake of the forbidden fruit that causes the levels or degrees of creation. In a nutshell, it is what law we live that creates the purity of the water, and the corresponding kingdom.

The powers of the Tree of Life are divided or split to the level we wish to partake at. Within the thinking of ancient Egyptians, regarding the creation and redemption of man this idea is played out over and over. Hugh Nibley teaches us about this teaching as found in the Book of the Dead.

“The custom is mentioned in the Book of Breathings: ‘I am the one before whom Atum [Adam] has announced the Annals under the noble Ished-tree of Heliopolis’ … When the initiate ‘witnesses the splitting of the Persea-tree in the midst of Rostau,’ in the B.D. version, that, according to Thausing, represents the Creation, among other things the ‘splitting of 'good' and 'evil' ’…, the law of opposites set forth in the Shabako Creation text.” (Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment, Hugh NIbley, Deseret Book, 2nd addition, pg. 290)

The pillars of Jachin and Boaz stood in Solomon’s Temple representing these trees. The temple is a playing out in ritual form of these ideas of healing and death, justice and mercy, law and choice.

The choices of man have created an inequality in the universe. Things are at odds, there is no reconciliation, things are dying or running down to destruction.

It is the atonement of Christ that heals this splitting or dividing. It is in him that we must trust.

“I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.” (Ecclesiates)

It has long been held by some that this splitting or dividing is what is being spoken of in a symbolic way when God divides the light from the darkness during the creation narratives. This Idea has support from a reading of the Book of Abraham. In Abraham chapter 4, through 5:3 the seven creative periods (days) are described. The first act of creation is the creation of light (good) and it being divided by the darkness.

“And they (the Gods) said: Let there be light; and there was light. And they (the Gods) comprehended the light, for it was bright; and they divided the light, or caused it to be divided, from the darkness.” (Abraham 4:3&4)

Then verses 5 through 13 describe two more periods of creation. But then in verse 14 forward is when actual lights in the heavens are set up, which is the FOURTH CREATIVE PERIOD.

“And organized them to be for lights in the expanse of the heaven to give light upon the earth; and it was so.” (Abraham 4:15)

So the first day of creation can be thought of as the dividing of light and darkness, which in gospel terms is good (law) and bad (wrong choices), And the fourth day of creation is the placing of the actual luminaries in the physical heavens. (1)

What amazes me is when we learn more about ancient understandings of the plan of salvation, even as they come to us in fragment and corrupted condition, they can cause epiphany after epiphany when we read modern text such at the 88th. section of the Doctrine and Covenants where we are taught about light, law, choice, mercy, and kingdoms.
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1.) In actuality the fourth chapter of Abraham is the spiritual creation, it is not until a few verses into the fifth chapter that the physical creation is described. However, the spiritual creation works as a template to aid our understanding.

By The Power Of His Word

2008-10-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

I would like to pose a few questions to my readers:

Established in LDS theology is the idea that before this world, we lived as spirits in the pre-earth life. There, we did not have physical bodies, but we were spirits. We also know that all spirit is actually matter, but more fine or pure.

We have some limited knowledge of what went on there. There was a plan put forward, some accepted it, and some rejected it. There was a great council, and so on.

For all of this to happen, we would have had to been able to communicate with each other. In this life a large part of our communication is spoken. We take air and modify it into varying waves or patterns. We can do this in our throats, or by machine. These spoken patterns have meaning. Our written words indicate, symbolize, or even attempt to mock our spoken words.

Speaking is placing intelligence into discernable and transferable patterns.

In the pre-earth life, how did we communicate? Did we breath a finer air and make intelligent patterns similar to what we do here?

What kinds of patterns of intelligence would we expect to see there? Light? Sound? Something else?

Christ is known as the “Word.” The “Logos.” He was the creator of the world. Was it by the patterns of intelligence that He created? Did these patterns make up the “spiritual creation” that is the foundation of physicality?

The Sepher Yetzirah teaches that all things that exist are founded upon “letters” or parts of speech, along with the numbers.

“Ten are the numbers, as are the Sephiroth, and twenty-two the letters, these are the Foundation of all things. Of these letters, three are mothers, seven are double, and twelve are simple. “(Chapter 1:1)

What say ye?

Built Upon a Foundation

2008-10-09T16:47:00.000-07:00

In my earlier post Is God In The Spirit World?, I unilaterally decided that:

1. The (what we used to call) Pre-Existence (pre-mortal life) is not the Celestial Kingdom.

2. The Spirit World is not the Celestial Kingdom, or the Pre-Existence.

If you accept this, there is a Pre-Existence, Mortality, Spirit World, and kingdoms of glory in the resurrection. These are all different places.

I present two questions:

* Did God create the earth from Celestial Kingdom where He resides, or from the Spirit World?

* From an ancient Jewish Mystical point of view, looking at the Cabalistic Tree of Life, does creation come from Malkhut, or from Keter?

I see these as the same question.

I propose one answer to both questions.

As I have proffered many times before, the terms “glories,” “worlds,” or “spheres” (intelligences, Pre-Existence, Mortality, Spirit World, Celestial Kingdom, Terrestrial Kingdom, Telestial Kingdom, Outer Darkness) are just another way of saying different dimensions. Just like we know the spirit world is here on earth, but we can’t see them, they are in a different dimension.

We are taught in LDS theology that our world was created spiritually before it was created physically. But these descriptions mention the Pre-existence, and not the Celestial Kingdom.

Cabalist always have a problem with Malkhut (kingdom), and Yosod (foundation) coming before higher worlds. The foundation is created last? So they flip the tree upside down, and do all kinds of other gyrations in an attempt to make the teachings of the Tree of Life flow logically.

So, I ask: What kingdom (dimension) is “Higher,” The Pre-existence, or our current physical world?

I suggest that God directed the creation of our physical universe from the Celestial Kingdom, by directing those in the Pre-Existence. Christ was the leader of that work, in that kingdom or dimension.

Further, that God dwells in the Celestial Kingdom, but all lower kingdoms are before Him, He can traverse not only time, but dimensions themselves. He has had all Kingdoms added unto Him.

“And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory [dimensions] added upon their heads for ever and ever.” (Abraham 3:26)

This is how God is both a caporal being, and still all things are before him. How He is in the Pre-Existence, and the Spirit World without leaving Celestial Realms.

How Prop 8 Protects Rights

2008-10-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

Here is a very good video about how gay marriage will infringe on our rights:

LINK TO VIDEO

See my earlier post regarding rights and Prop.8.

2008-09-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

I am usually a bit leery of such things. But I received an email about this Tool Bar for Firefox.

I tried it, and I like it. Give it a shot, I think you will like it too.

Check it out at LDSToolbar.net.

Here is the LINK to take a look.

The Great Secret

2008-09-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

I will herein use a couple quotes by the Prophet Joseph Smith, in his great King Follett Sermon (KFS) (LINK), and discuss them a bit,

Joseph said about God that He is “…not trifling with you or me.” This is all very serious, we are not on vacation, nor should we be preoccupied with feeding our bellies. There is a real plan from the beginning, and this is our time on stage.

Joseph quotes the New Testament, "This is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." But Joseph goes further and teaches that not only must we know God, we must understand our true relationship with God. If we miss this, we really know nothing.

“There are but a very few beings in the world who understand rightly the character of God. The great majority of mankind do not comprehend anything, either that which is past, or that which is to come, as it respects their relationship to God. They do not know, neither do they understand the nature of that relationship; and consequently they know but little above the brute beast, or more than to eat, drink and sleep. This is all man knows about God or His existence, unless it is given by the inspiration of the Almighty.”

So what was our relationship with God in the “past,” and what will our relationship be in that which is “to come?” What do we know?

We know that we always existed like God:

“The intelligence of spirits had no beginning, neither will it have an end. …That which has a beginning may have an end. There never was a time when there were not spirits; for they are co-equal with our Father in heaven.” (KFS)

What made Him our Father is that He reached back into eternity, to bring us forward.

“The first principles of man are self-existent with God. God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with Himself, so that they might have one glory upon another, and all that knowledge, power, glory, and intelligence, which is requisite in order to save them in the world of spirits.”

This ability to be “exalted,” to receive “knowledge, power, glory, and intelligence” is the promise of God, from before creation, through the atonement, otherwise known as the Abrahamic Covenants, or our inheritance.

We know that before this world was created there was a grand council, made up of the Head (rosh) God, Eloheim, and the other Gods in the council. These are the noble and great ones that Abraham saw (LINK), the priesthood holders of this life. Some of these achieved the rank of god before the world was, as Christ did. The Hebrew word “El” means God. The Hebrew “im” is the plural suffix.

“In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it. When we begin to learn this way, we begin to learn the only true God, and what kind of a being we have got to worship. Having a knowledge of God, we begin to know how to approach Him, and how to ask so as to receive an answer.”

So we existed forever like God. He is our Father because He brought us forth from intelligences, to spirits. He is our Father because He created our physical bodies, as planned in the Council of the Gods. This is the present or the past. What is our relationship “to come?” If worthy:

“…[A]lthough the earthly tabernacle is laid down and dissolved, they shall rise again to dwell in everlasting burnings in immortal glory, not to sorrow, suffer, or die any more, but they shall be heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. … To inherit the same power, the same glory and the same exaltation, until you arrive at the station of a god, and ascend the throne of eternal power, the same as those who have gone before…”(KFS)

This is all a family affair. Parents passing on an inheritance to the children. Elijah said:

“And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.” (JSH 1:39)

And modern prophets said it this way:

“All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.”

“In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.” (LINK)

The Prophet Joseph said “That [this] is the great secret.”

More on California Proposition 8

2008-09-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

I wanted to clarify a couple last things regarding the California Proposition 8. I am urging a YES vote.

In the year 2000 the people of California passed Prop 22 by a 61% voice of the people, which made the following words the law, this is the entire law:

"Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."

Recently the California Supreme Court overturned the law (prop. 22) and the voice of the people. Proposition 8 will restore the law that was already past by making the above words part of the state Constitution.

Here a link to the official web site: ProtectMarriage.com. You can donate there, or download fliers and other materials.

One of the reasons I home schooled my children was because of Project 10 in the Los Angeles City Schools. Where the schools were mandated to teach homosexuality to ALL grade levels. And they had mandatory meetings with junior high schools kids and informed them that ten percent of them were homosexual, that they should consider if they may be homosexual, and provided information how to integrate into the homosexual community.

In California we have domestic partnership laws, that give homosexual couples the same rights as heterosexual couples regarding medical benefits, medical rights, property and inheritance rights, and so on. I don’t know anyone opposing these rights. Because hurting homosexuals is not the point of Prop. 8. What is at issue is third parties rights in relation to homosexual marriages. Please see my last post.

If Proposition 8 does not pass there will be a devastating effect on schools, adoption agencies, churches, and some businesses. No matter where you live, we need your help.

By the way - this is my 100th. post!

Proposition 8 - The Fight is On!

2008-09-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

I don’t usually share my political opinions on this blog, I reserve it for spiritual concerns. However, I am going to make an exception in this case. Perhaps it is not really an exception at all, because this topic strikes at the heart of eternal pursuits, the topic of this blog.

Let me state here that these are solely my opinions; they do the represent the church’s views, or the views of any political group.

For those of you outside of California, let me inform you, the fight is on! The fight for what we politely call “Traditional Marriage.” For clarity, what it really is over is if the state will issue marriage licenses to same sex couples and force third parties to honor those marriages. Something is wrong about this whole paradigm, people can sense it, but not put their finger on it.

First, homosexuality is sin (Rom. 1:27). And while that sin may have some more exotic twists, it will get a person to hell about at the same speed as straight fornication, and a list of other bad behaviors. Gender is a part of us from the preexistence and is central to our eternal progression. Gender confusion, is one of the wounds of mortality that must be healed to receive our full spiritual inheritance ( Healing).

All people are children of God. We are all born with certain unalienable rights (Declaration of Independence, D&C 134). Rights are some of the rules we are given to play by. Without rights, there is no objective right and wrong; we are ultimately just spiders eating one another with no moral consequence. In LDS theology we believe the Light of Christ will tell us if something is right or wrong.

As individuals or nations, we have no right to stop anyone from having sex with anyone they want. We all have agency, and as long as we do not interfere with anyone else’s agency and rights, what we do is not rightfully subject to control by anyone else. God still says it is sin, and prophets and ministers can still call it sin, but the perpetrators of the sin can choose to hear or not hear the calls of repentance. [1]

Another right we have is to believe what we want is sin and choose to associate or not associate with whomever we want, or to limit our associations in whatever way we want. This is called freedom. A thing found less and less in our growing socialist state.

One of the rights we were born with is the right to marry. If it is a right, we don’t need to ask for permission (license) from government or anyone else. And when the government started licensing marriage this fight was lost. If something is rightfully licensed, it is not a right. Joseph Smith nor Brigham Young ever got a marriage license, they refused to do so.

In a fair and just society, people can marry by what means they desire. They could marry in the Holy Temple, or by jumping the broom. They could choose to record those marriages for public notice, like a deed. And people would be free to accept or reject those marriages as they choose (plural marriage included). If people wish not to rent a house to an LDS couple because they reject a temple marriage, so be it. The house is the landlord’s to do with as he pleases, and he should be free to refuse to rent to those he deems as living in sin. Agency is central to the plan of salvation.

Truly, my view is we should not interfere with homosexuals marrying, except to preach repentance to them. The problem is that the state is granting a license that should not be given to anyone. By giving these licenses to homosexuals, they force the rest of us to honor these marriages, which is an infringement of our rights. This infringement will grow in society in un-imagined ways.

In a socialist state you may as well take the free cheese, you paid for it to begin with. Meaning, we need to deal with the real situation we are in. We need to fight the fight where we are, not where we would like the fight to be. If I had my rathers we would be joining ranks with homosexuals to defeat marriage licenses altogether.

We have a sick society; government does grant licenses to heterosexual couples, which is bad enough. If proposition 8 does not pass, homosexual marriage will sweep the land. Further rights will be taken from the rest of us exponentially, and we will look back on this as a milestone of the destruction of the family and of America.

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YesOnProposition8.com

[1] “We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.” [ The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Is God in the Spirit World?

2008-08-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

This last week’s Gospel Doctrine lesson was on the Plan of Salvation. It covered Alma 40 - 42, which is a great section for understanding the Plan of Salvation. But, for Latter-Day Saints it may settle some questions, and raise a few more. For example:

“Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.” (Alma 40:11)

The chapter goes on to explain more about the spirit world, all of which aligns nicely with most LDS people’s views. In my Sunday School class, I asked:

“If we are taken “home” (sounds like a returning) to be with God, is the spirit world the same place as the pre-existence (pre-earth life)?”

The class was adamant that they are not the same place, but offered no explanation of how we go home to God, but only that it is not the same place as the pre-existence.

Our teacher, always prepared, was ready with a commentary on the topic. But frankly, all of the arguments in the commentary fell flat in my opinion. The commentaries basically said that God is not in the spirit world, that the spirit world is really just a place where you prepare to see God, a concept that I reject.

I believe that our usual shallow views on the Plan of Salvation pose many unavoidable questions, just from Alma 40.

We are taught that God was in the pre-existence. But for many, they are still in the pre-existence, is God there? Or has He left there and went to the Spirit World?

Is the spirit world the same as Kolob? Has He left Kolob for the Spirit World?

Is our pre-existence home the same as Kolob? Is the pre-existence a celestial glory?

If we are fortunate enough to go to the celestial kingdom, will God be there, or will He still be in the Spirit world, or the pre-existence? When will He come to the celestial kingdom?

Where is the Spirit World?

“When you lay down this tabernacle, where are you going? Into the spiritual world…Where is the spirit world? It is right here. Do the good and evil spirits go together? Yes they do…. Do they go beyond the boundaries of the organized earth? No, they do not…. Can you see it with your natural eyes? No. Can you see spirits in this room? No. Suppose the Lord should touch your eyes that you might see, could you then see the spirits? Yes, as plainly as you now see bodies.” [Brigham Young, quoted by Widtsoe, pp. 376-77]

And in the resurrection, if we inherit the celestial kingdom, we are told we will reign forever on earth. But what about if we inherit the terrestrial, or telestial kingdom? Where will we reside?

I believe that all existence is stacked, one sphere, or dimension upon another. They all exist at the same time (relatively). I would also say at the same place, but dimension or glories divide space.

Of course the temple is the template of this whole thing of multiple glories or dimensions in creation.

I submit a couple of my prior writings towards the answers: HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Mark Paredes - Fireside

2008-07-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

Announcement!

Mark Parades will be speaking at an LDS fireside this coming Sunday evening. This should really be good!

TOPIC: Mormons and Jews in the Last Days: A Zion Relationship.
WHERE: Thousand Oaks Stake Center
ADDRESS: 1600 Erbes Road, Thousand Oaks
DATE: Sunday, July 27th.
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
COST: Free

Mark is a great speaker! This will be a treat. The public is invited. It is especially appropriate for Mormon and their Jewish friends.

See you there!

Ryan is Home

2008-07-18T10:34:00.000-07:00

On a personal note. My son Ryan just returned home from his mission. He served in the Manchester, New Hampshire Mission, but was in Maine and Vermont the whole time. It is a great thing for a young man to serve in this way.

His Brother Mark is currently serving in the Columbia, South Carolina Mission. We missed him for the get together.

Jamie and Sterling are in Provo, Luke has a year to go (just finished the work for his Eagle and Duty to God), and he will be ready to go serve also.

And of course Mary keeps them all marching forward.

More Knots

2008-07-15T22:49:00.000-07:00

I would like to continue on with the concepts of an earlier couple of posts. In my post Tying The Knot I said:

“Some ancients thought of the plan of salvation as three worlds or kingdoms stacked one above the other. Spanning these three worlds was a rope descending from the highest kingdom bringing connection to the lower worlds. Each of the three worlds is tied to the rope by a knot, and the knot is fastened with a nail (Vav). The temple is a knot symbolizing the connecting place between the worlds. Each level of temple worship has an altar which represents the Vav or nail in that world.” and

“The knot alludes to covenants. When people are married, the have tied the knot, they have made promises that bind them. In the case of the temple the knot or covenant is made binding by the nail or Vav, which represents the atonement.”

Now there is in reality no physical rope hanging from the heavens that is fastened to the altar in each kingdom of glory by a nail, nor is it physically tied by a knot. These typify some “other thing” that actually does span these kingdoms and fastens a connection between the worlds. This “other thing” is symbolized by knots and nails.

The symbolic use of knots and nails clearly trace back to the temple. Adaptations of these symbols have permeated Jewish culture and to lesser degrees Mediterranean and Western cultures. Usage of these symbols appear to be authorized by God in some cases. They may be cultural uses accepted by deity, or even inappropriate applications of earlier teachings. Where the excesses being is beyond the scope of this post.

In a theological macrocosm the rope of the heavens (Tree of Life - Vine) is tied to the altar of each kingdom of glory by the nail (vav). In a microcosm each justified person is tied to the rope of the heavens symbolized by his belly button. This belly button connection is the source of all life, including the resurrection (As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4). Recently Bryce Haymond over at Temple Study did a series of fantastic posts about the Egyptian “ankh” also known as the symbol of life (and knot of Isis). Haymond quotes Nibley discussing the possible origins of the ankh describing it as a “...knotted cord, [it] was a naval sting.” and further saying that the word “...ankh also means “oath,” the idea being, as Jan Bergman suggests, that one swears by one’s life, so that if the oath is broken, so likewise ‘the cord of life’ - the umbilical cord - is broken. (Hugh Nibley, The Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri, Deseret Book,Page 454)"

So in the ankh we see an association of knots and covenants, and in this case they are fastened to the individual by the knot. Another nuance of the ankh is the tie of family relation. This is an allusion of tying families together, by this “other thing.”

The idea of wrapping mummies appears to be an application of the symbol of knots. But, with regards to the wrapping mummies, it appears to also be connected to the final embrace by the gods. Which is thought of as the culmination of all initiation. When an initiate is embraced by the gods, he is thereafter identified with them, it is a family embrace. This embrace is the final act of the atoning, the lost child has become one with his family again.

“Rich meaning is found in study of the word atonement in the Semitic languages of Old Testament times. In Hebrew, the basic word for atonement is kaphar … Closely related is the Aramaic and Arabic word kafat, meaning ‘a close embrace’—no doubt related to the Egyptian ritual embrace. References to that embrace are evident in the Book of Mormon. One states that ‘the Lord hath redeemed my soul . . .; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.’… Another proffers the glorious hope of our being ‘clasped in the arms of Jesus …’ I weep for joy when I contemplate the significance of it all. To be redeemed is to be atoned—received in the close embrace of God, with an expression not only of His forgiveness, but of our oneness of heart and mind.” (Perfection Pending, and Other Favorite Discourses, Elder Russell M. Nelson, Deseret Book)

Mummies are wrapped in knotted linnen. Some Jews wear, and are eventually buried in an undergarment with four corners (tallit katan. See Haymond’s post HERE), at the corners are specially tied knots called “Tzitzit.” You may recall Jesus condemned ancient Jews for enlarging the fringes of their garments. What they were doing was showing off the tokens of their covenants. Some Jews also wear a larger garment as an occasional outer garment called a “Tallit Gadol” which is a prayer shaw, if large enough it can be used to cover the canopy for marriage. It also has Tzitit or knots on the corners. These Tallits appear to be a symbol like the panther skins worn by Egyptian priests.

Some Jews wear leather straps called “Tefillin.” One on the head to hold a box containing the verses of scripture, with a knot tied afresh daily. There is also a Tefillin tied onto the arm and hand.The knots are tied to form Hebrew letters (Dalet, Shin, Yod). On the hand the traps are arranged to form the letter Shin (resembling a “W” bringing to mind El Shaddai).

Again, Bryce Haymond recently did two good posts on related topics. He discussed a Jewish practice of tying the hands of a bride and grom (Handfasting). I suspect this practice arose when the children of Israel did not have access to have their hands fastened together, and to the altar with a vav, they made a likeness with a knot. He also posted about crowns (HERE). He discussed how strings or ribbons are used to secure the crowns. It is clear that where the string is tied depicts the glory (degree) of the crown.

““…[T]he crown of sanctification… is added (the round linen cap was to act as a cushion for a metal crown during a long ceremony). Later the cap alone would suffice, since it showed that the owner was qualified to wear the ‘crown of justification.” (Hugh Nibley, Don E. Norton, Temple and Cosmos, Deseret Book, Pg#55)

“The culmination of all initiation is coronation… every individual person may experience his own coronation… [t]here is a fusion of personalities in the coronation situation, he who assumes the crown being identified with whoever else wears it.” (Hugh Nibley, The Message of The Joseph Smith Papyri, Deseret Book, Pg. 353)

This family identification Nibley is referring to can also be called “sealing,” which is associated with the ideas of nails and knots. Most of modern Christendom sees salvation as individual thing, but we see it as a family affair.

When we kneel upon any of the three altar of the temple, one for each glory represented therein, our covenants need to be tied there in the knot that binds the heavenly rope to that kingdom. This is done by that “other thing,” the atonement. The knot is the covenant of creation and redemption made before in the pre mortal life.

“Whatever the blessed Holy One does is intended to revolve revolutions to fulfill the covenant of existence” (The Zohar, Matt,Vol 3, pg. 200, Mi-Qets)

Abraham’s Knot of Faith

2008-07-03T10:07:00.000-07:00

A while back a wrote a post titled “Tying The Knot.” In that post I wrote:

“Some ancients thought of the plan of salvation as three worlds or kingdoms stacked one above the other. Spanning these three worlds was a rope descending from the highest kingdom bringing connection to the lower worlds. Each of the three worlds is tied to the rope by a knot, and the knot is fastened with a nail (Vav). The temple is a knot symbolizing the connecting place between the worlds. Each level of temple worship has an altar which represents the Vav or nail in that world”

The Zohar is a medieval attempt to pass on the oral teachings of the Jews in story form. It teaches about Abraham preparing to go down into Egypt, a sinful place. Abraham was fearful that it was like a spiritual pit from which he would not be able to escape. We read:

“So Abraham cleaved to faith when he went down to Egypt and when he went to the land of the Philistines. This can be compared to a person who was about to descend into a deep pit. He was afraid he would not be able to come back up. What did he do? He tied a length of rope above the pit, saying ‘since I have tied this knot, now I can enter.’ Similarly, when Abraham was about to go down to Egypt, he first tied a knot of faith, so he would have something to grasp; then he descended. Likewise when he entered the land of the Philistines.” (The Zohar, Matt vol. 2, pg 165, Va-Yera)

Abraham feared for his spiritual welfare. As a lifeline, he clung to the “knot of faith” that he created. What was that knot? It was his covenant, his endowment, inheritance, or the promise of deification.

We see in the Book of Abraham that that is exactly what happened. When Abraham left Ur, God appeared to him and:

- Gave Abraham the priesthood.
- Blessed him with eternal seed.
- Gave him land.

These blessings are described in Abraham chapter 2. Chapters 3 through 5 are excerpts of Abraham's teaching of creation that correspond to their temple covenants. These covenants and blessings are the “knot” that Abraham held to in a troubled time.

When we feel ourselves descending into a spiritual pit, do we hold to our knot, our covenants, our temple inherence? We need to reach up, take ahold of our knot, and pull ourselves up, from time to time.

Ein Sof - A Matter Of Semantics?

2008-06-27T23:45:00.000-07:00

There is a well developed understanding in LDS theology that:

“There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes...” (D&C 131:7)

I wonder if our firmness in this teaching can prevent us from understanding a fuller understanding of this teaching? What I mean is if we out-of-hand reject the apostate teaching of "creatio ex nihilo" without understand the possible origins, we may be missing something.

Some of the so called “church fathers” of the first few century A.D. propagated the idea of “creatio ex nihilo”, meaning "creation out of nothing."

This topic has been hotly debated over the centuries, and laid to rest by Joseph Smith in the minds of many fine LDS folks. But a mind at rest is not always the sharpest. Theophilus, Justin Martyr, and Origen believed matter was pre-existant with God, while Irenaeus, Tertullian, etc. believed otherwise.

I submit that only a highly inspired mind could have seen beyond “creatio ex nihilo.” But to swing from there to a fundamentalist view that the mud of the universe always existed in it’s physical form, is an unnecessary swing.

Joseph Smith taught that matter “can not be created nor destroyed” but that it only changes form. In short, the prophet taught matter is simply stored energy (long before Einstein came to the same conclusion). And that matter is only one of the forms energy can take. The LDS view is often, in my opinion, mistakenly reduced to thinking the physical matter is used and reused, but I believe it is the eternal underlying energy that always existed (and perhaps eventually recycled), not necessarily the mud.

The bones of dinosaurs are not left over from other worlds, this is a silly, childish, and pedestrian view.

I further submit that much of the centuries of debate stem from misunderstanding the intent of words like “creation,” “beginning,” “matter,” and so on.

In ancient Hebrew thought they had the same problem. And in-fact I suspect it was their problem that spilled over to the “church fathers.” The Hebrew term “ein sof” is often thought of on one level to mean “nothingness,” a shapeless, lawless, non-physical, immaterial existence that God resided in prior to creation. It is from here that Irenaeus and Tertullian believed creation began.

But on another level, a fuller understanding of Hebrew thought resembled the prophet Joseph’s teaching that in Celestial spheres a highly organized being, a material being of “fine or pure” matter created our physical world. He is a being of light, intelligence, or energy. Where He lives is “ein sof” or the “Endless,” the “Eternal,” the “Boundless.”

That when He extended His arm downward it created the lower kingdoms of existence. The Cabalists describe this with the idea of the “sephirah” which create the Tree of Life (which is the pattern of creation and the path of return. The pattern of temple architecture).

When God extended a portion of His light into our sphere it created the big bang, or creation. That light carried with it all the laws of physics we now observe and experience.

So, was the creation from something or nothing?

Fear and Faith

2008-06-19T12:47:00.000-07:00

The idea of a fear of God has fallen out of vogue. But anciently people understood that a fear of God, which really just means we have some understanding of, and are serious about what is going on here on earth, is a good thing. If we are going to understand the finner points of doctrine we must fear God. The unholy do not receive the holy, and not fearing God is unholy.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

“..fear of God is faith.” (The Zohar, Matt vol. 2, pg 280, Teledot)

Whirlwind - The Stuff of Creation

2008-06-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

I was listening to the Dennis Prager radio program this morning and he was interviewing an atheist scientist. The scientist described how he suggested that we do not look for life on certain planets because they were motionless, stagnant, and still. That for life to exist there needed to be movement. He contrasted the earth, in which things are moving and mixing. It appeared as though entropy had overtaken those planets.

This drew my mind to a few things. In the Sefer Yetzirah it described the motion of this physical existence as a whirlwind:

“These ten Sephiroth which are ineffable [intangible], whose appearance is like scintillating flames, have no end but are infinite. The word of God is in them as they burst forth, and as they return; they obey the divine command, rushing along as a whirlwind, returning to prostrate themselves at his throne.”[1]

In ancient Jewish thought the Sephiroth are the powers of God that create the differing kingdoms of existence. As they extend into the kingdoms they create the whirlwind, or the motion necessary for our life.

Perhaps Abraham saw the heavens and they appeared as a great whirlwind. This would be a macro application. Perhaps he saw into an atom and saw the microcosm of creation. These forces of creation play out in the souls of men.[2]

The whirlwind is thought of as another symbol of redemption like the Tree of Life.

Clearly this corresponds to the whirlwind of Ezekiel 1:4 which is a play on the same theme. The whirlwind is the outside force inserted into a closed system that creates and maintains life

Once this motion has completely went forth and completed the plan of salvation, then the returning beings.

We are told this whole process is like a coal of fire, both the coal and the flame are conjoined.[3] Existence is not being improvised as we go, this is one plan, the Plan of Salvation.
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[1] Sepher Yetzirah 1:6

[2] Sepher Yetzirah 2:4 “These [Mem, Shin, and Aleph] three mothers again represent in the Microcosm or Human form, male and female; the Head, the Belly, and the Chest; the head from the fire, the belly from water, and the chest from the air lieth between them.”

[3] Sepher Yetzirah 1:7

Joseph Smith in the Zohar?

2008-06-03T14:19:00.000-07:00

The Zohar is a medieval book, which I think is largely successful in capturing and preserving the thought and teachings of ancient Israel. It put into story form much of the oral teachings of the Jews.

In the Zohar there is a teaching that describes the seven thousand years of man upon the earth, the milleniums. The Zohar ascribes a letter to each of the milleniums (which may have significance beyond what we are discussing here), the letter “vav” is associated with the sixth millenium. The letter “vav” is the sixth letter in the Hebrew alphabet. It then gives us what amounts to a prophesy:

"Every sixty years of that sixth millenium, he is invigorated, scaling its rungs. In the six hundreth year of the sixth, springs of wisdom will open above, springs of wisdom below, and the world will prepare to enter the seventh..." [1]

The Zohar scholar, Daniel Matt, calculated this time for us in his commentary as corresponding to the year 1839. [2] We could talk about the happenings of 1839 and the 121st. section of the Doctrine and Covenants, but I think I would take a little larger view, and allow for an allusion to the period of the restoration generally.

I don’t know the ultimate origin of this “prophesy,” but it does seem to point to the time that the heavens opened, wisdom, or revelation was poured out upon man (Joseph Smith in particular), and that this was being done in préparation of the seventh period know as “The Millenium.”

Many angels visited Joseph Smith, including Moroni. For a period Moroni visited Joseph each year and instructed him:

“... and [Joseph Smith] received instruction and intelligence from him [Moroni] at each of our interviews, respecting what the Lord was going to do, and how and in what manner his kingdom was to be conducted in the last days.” [3]

This was part of the “preparing to enter” the final millenium the Zohar teaches about.
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[1] The Zohar, Daniel Matt. Vol. 2, pg. 180, Va-Yera
[2] The Zohar, Daniel Matt. Vol. 2, pg. 180, Va-Yera, Matt's note #501, "Corresponding to 1839/40 C.E.."
[3] PGP, Joseph Smith History.

David J. Larsen - HEAVENLY ASCENTS

2008-06-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

David Larsen has started a new blog HEAVENLY ASCENTS. You need to Bookmark his new site! This will be a first rate site dealing with the topics related to the topics we discuss here at MormonMysticism. David Has been a commenter here, on The Backyard Professor, and Temple Study. He always has insightful things to say. He passes me good information from time to time. He introduced me to Dr. Andrai A. Orlov's work.

I can't tell you how excited I am to see David entering the Blogernacle. There is a small but growing group of us who blog on these topics, Heavenly Ascent is a welcomed addition.

TO GO TO HEAVENLY ASCENT CLICK HERE: HEAVENLY ASCENT

The Abrahamic Covenant

2008-05-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

In my recent post “Penalties and Blood” I wrote about how anciently covenants were sometimes made between people, and with God. Some of these covenants were made by ordinances, which may include an allusion to the penalties if the covenant is broken. Such an allusion is the rite of circumcision. To break the covenant of circumcision is to lose eternal seed.

Circumcision is a sign to the Israelites that they were the children of “the covenant” or the “Abrahamic Covenant.” When Abram received his endowment a “h” (heh) was added to his everyday name, illustrating that he had entered in the covenant. The Hebrew name for Jesus, was YHVH, and is known as the Tetragrammaton (YHVH or יהוה).

The “Yud” is a picture of a penis (and an arm or hand) and means creation. The “Vav” is a picture of a nail and means to bring together, bind, or seal, and the “Heh” is a picture of a man praying with upheld hands. (LINK)

"YUD" and "Heh" means “covenant of creation.”
and
"Vav" and "Heh" means “covenant of atonement.”

The Anointed is both creator and redeemer.

This is why in ancient Hebrew literature it discusses how the heavens and the earth were built upon, and are maintained by the covenant of circumcision. This can be a little hard to understand at first. It is not talking about circumcision at all, circumcision is alluding to the covenants of creation and atonement. Without this covenant the earth would be utterly wasted.

“Come and see: Once Abraham was circumcised, he abandoned the foreskin and entered the sacred covenant... entering the covenant upon which the world stands.” [1]

Without implying any dilution or degradation of the terms, we see in gospel teachings a purposeful evolution of certain terms. For example; the term “House of Israel” means the “Camp of Israel,” which means “Army of Israel” (“he struggles with with God” which could point to an embrace of covenant), which means “Army of Heaven” , which means “Army of God.” These are the ones Jesus said he would make His rulers in this world. (Abraham 3:23)

When we speak of the Melchizedek Priesthood, what are we talking about? We are talking about the authority given to “Melchizedek”, which is the authority of the “Fathers” (or the patriarchs), which is the Priesthood of Adam (HC, Vol. 3, pp. 386-387), which is the authority after the “Holy order of the Son of God.”

All things hang upon the covenant of creation and the promises made there, which include the covenants of redemption or atonement. When we are circumcised, baptized, take the sacrament, or go to the temple, we are only pointing to, and recommitting to the covenants of creation and redemption made in our pre-earth life. Understanding these covenants is the heart of the matter at hand.
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[1] The Zohar, Lekh Lekha, Matt. Vol. 2, pgs. 74 and 75.

Jews & Mormons - Bridges Being Built

2008-05-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I had the pleasure of attending a very nice celebration of the sixtieth year since the founding of the state of Israel. I was a guest at the invitation of Mark Paredes who is the LDS Public Relation representative to the Jewish community in Southern California.

Clearly, the founding of Israel (1948) is a miracle and an unmistakable sign of our day.

It was a very nice celebration. If I understand correctly it was hosted by the church and was at the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles. Forgive me for not geting the names, but there was a Seventy there, a number of other church leaders. Leaders from different parts of the Jewish community, some consulates, some press, and so on.

It was good to see Valeria G. ("like a canon") there!

A beautiful LDS young lady lead the group in singing the national anthem of Israel (Hatikvah), it was very touching. It’s nice to see Judah and Joseph getting along so well.

Penalties and Blood

2008-05-09T19:39:00.001-07:00

I am at a loss of how to exactly say what I want to convey in this post. I understand it, but it is a little hard to put into words. Here is my best attempt.

The plan of salvation is administered unto us by covenants, including; baptism, sacrament, priesthood, and of course the temple. These covenants come with blessings, and with penalties if the covenant is not kept.

Pre-messiah circumcision, the cutting, was a sign of the covenant of Abraham, and an illustration of the penalty. Modern folk don’t care much to be reminded of penalties. While a reminder of the possible penalties may not be an essential part of the covenant, historically the gospel has included such reminders. In the 84th. section of the Doctrine and Covenants, known as the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood we read:

“But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come.” (D&C 84:41)

Circumcision is an outward sign of the covenant, and a penalty. Many Old Testament covenants where attached to or received by the killing of an animal, usually by cutting. In Old Testament times a priesthood covenant may be attached to the ritual of cutting an animal in two, then walking the path between the parts. When we “cut” a deal, we have made a two way promise.

The Hebrew word for “covenant" is “brit.”

“ [brit] ברית ... [C]ovenant, treaty, compact, agreement, an association between two parties with serious responsibilities, benefits, and penalties; ‘to cut a covenant’ is to ‘make a covenant,’ a figure of the act of ceremonially cutting an animal into two parts, with an implication of serious consequences for not fulfilling the covenant...” [1 - also see this LINK]

In Hebrew, “covenant” literally means “cut-where-blood-flows.” In times past, when a covenant of blood was made, a cup, or cupping hand, sometimes by a priest, would be held underneath to catch the blood. This blood in the cup would sometimes be mixed with wine and consumed by the participants. The wine and the blood are often interchanged in gospel themes (the rite of the Sacrament for example - see LINK). I find it interesting that American Indians practiced this Hebrew custom or rite.

“According to Pirḳe R. El. xxix., it was Shem who circumcised Abraham and Ishmael on the Day of Atonement; and the blood of the covenant then shed is ever before God on that day to serve as an atoning power. According to the same Midrash, Pharaoh prevented the Hebrew slaves from performing the rite, but when the Passover time came and brought them deliverance, they underwent circumcision, and mingled the blood of the paschal lamb with that of the Abrahamic covenant, wherefore (Ezek. xvi. 6) God repeats the words: ‘In thy blood live!’”(LINK)

The blood of the covenant is taken upon each of us in true temples, in a symbolic way. Ancient Israel also symbolically received the covenant by being sprinkled with blood. This sprinkling conveyed the blessings, responsibilities, and the penalties associated with the covenant.

“The animal was slain on the eve of the Passover, on the afternoon of the 14th of Nisan, after the Tamid sacrifice had been killed, i.e., at three o'clock, or, in case the eve of the Passover fell on Friday, at two. The killing took place in the court of the Temple, and might be performed by a layman, although the blood had to be caught by a priest, and rows of priests with gold or silver cups in their hands stood in line from the Temple court to the altar, where the blood was sprinkled. These cups were rounded on the bottom, so that they could not be set down; for in that case the blood might coagulate. The priest who caught the blood as it dropped from the victim then handed the cup to the priest next to him, receiving from him an empty one, and the full cup was passed along the line until it reached the last priest, who sprinkled its contents on the altar.” (LINK)

All these covenants we make are just renewing the covenants of creation, upon which heaven and earth rest. We need to remember our blessings, rights, privileges, responsibilities, and the associated penalties.

The promise of the Abrahamic Covenant is that our seed will continue forever.
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[1 - The Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible, 21st Century Edition, page 1483.)

Two Creations - Two Yuds

2008-04-25T15:59:00.000-07:00

Starting in Abraham chapter three, verse 22, God shows Abraham the pre-existence with the spirits of men. 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. (LINK)

The doctrine of two creations, a spiritual and a physical, is well established in LDS theology. Supporting this doctrine is the Book of Abraham. Genesis is less clear, at least in the English.

However, as Rashi points out, that when describing the one creation the Hebrew word וַיִּצֶר (“Yasar” - with one Yud - the first creation) is used. “Yasar” is rendered “formed” in our King James version. The letter “Yud” (י) is a symbol of creation. When man is described as being placed on the earth, the word has a spelling of וַיִּיצֶר (with two Yuds). This alternative spelling signals that this is a second creation (the physical). A point that is overlooked in English, but pointed to in the Hebrew. And of course this is all clarified in the Book of Abraham. (Rashi on Gen 2.)
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Thanks to Kerry Shirts and Prof. Hamblin for directing me to Rashi's commentary.

Two Story Temple

2008-04-23T18:05:00.000-07:00

Check out the new web site by Professor William J. Hamblin over at THINGS UNUTTERABLE. He just posted a great post about the possibility that there was a second story on the Jerusalem Temple, and some other interesting insights. Here is the link: A Second Story to the Jerusalem Temple?.

Be sure to bookmark his site. Prof. Hamblin's work, in my estimation, is the best coming from Provo these days. He has the insight that so many scholars seek, pretend they have, and yet never achieve.

Three Adams

2008-04-11T12:31:00.000-07:00

Prof. Hugh Nibley said the following about the three stages of Adam:

“We are taught in the Kabbalah a great deal about the three Adams. There is the celestial Adam, who was Michael before he came here; the terrestrial Adam, who was in Eden; and the telestial Adam, after he had fallen, who was down low. The Kabbalah also tells about Jacob's ladder. Joseph Smith taught that it represented the three stages of initiation in the temple, the three degrees of glory…” [1]

Adam is the type that we humans follow in life. We come from a pre-earth life, from holier spheres. We come to this life and take upon ourselves a fallen and mortal nature. Then through the atonement of Christ, we repent and are sanctified to receive one of the three degrees of glory. The degree to which we are sanctified is up to us.

This is the purpose of the temple. We have the model in stone. The plan is taught. The ordinances of each degree are administered therein. The law that is required to receive each degree is taught and accepted by covenant.

And if we are faithful, we follow Adam to join the Family of God, as a joint heir with Christ.
There is no other way.

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[1 - Hugh Nibley, Don E. Norton , Approaching Zion, Chapter 11, Deseret Book.]

Baptism and Kingdoms of Glory

2008-04-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

One of the many doctrines for which I find no allies, is the idea that a person must be baptised, either in person, or by proxy, to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. By “Kingdom of Heaven” I mean heaven with its three main degrees of glory. ( See John 3:5)

I approach this topic carefully, I am fully aware of church leaders who have had a different opinion on this topic, President Joseph Fielding Smith, being the main one. However, I am unaware of any official declaration from any First Presidency on this topic, so I feel free to see things differently. Add this topic to the list which includes; death before the fall, evolution, the earth’s age, etc..

My thesis is that the temple is the template of the Plan of Salvation. It is the Plan of Redemption laid out in stone. It is how the universe and eternity work. Prof. Hugh Nibley said:

“This scale model of the universe is the temple. Of course, the word for temple in Latin, templum, means the same thing as template: a plan marked out on the ground by the augur's staff…” [1]

All true temples mark out four divisions of space, three are sacred space, and one is reserved for the profane. Three are inside of the sacred space, and one is without. In common LDS parlance they are the Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial kingdoms. Each of these kingdoms has a direct correspondence to one of the three sacred spaces in the temple. This is the message of the temple. The Holy of Holies is the Celestial Room, The Holy Place is the Terrestrial Room, the Court is the Telestial Room. These are all descriptions of the resurrection. The baptismal font or "Laver," or "Molten Sea" are located in the Telestial section.

In Solomon’s Temple, the first section within the sacred space corresponds, by illistration or imagery, to the Telestial kingdom. This space was outdoors, suggesting to the mind that it is related to this world in which we live. How does it differs from the world outside of sacred space? It is redeemed, saved, or atoned for. Only those within the sacred space are heirs of salvation, and that is done through repentance and baptism (principles and ordinances). Within the sacred space of the Telestial portion of the temple baptisms are preformed. An initiate can’t advance to the Terrestrial sacred space until the ordinances of the Telestial kingdom are complete. The same is true for entering the Celestial portion of the temple.

The Prophet Joseph Smith is criticized for making up the word “Telestial.” It was his made-up word. It has to do with receiving the initial ordinances, or mysteries.

“ Teleiomai [relating to the telestial kingdom] means to be introduced into the mysteries… [a] teleiotes is a person who has been initiated into some degree or other of the mysteries…” [2]

"Telos" means initiation, it is the gate, the first degree.

Baptisms, whether for the living or the dead are always done in the Telestial Kingdom (this life, or the space in the temple that corresponds to the Telestial Kingdom).

All this being said, the church is charged with building the Celestial Kingdom. The work of preparing the worlds of the Terrestrial and Telestial kindoms will not be done until the millenium.

We will inherit the kingdom that is represented by the place in the temple, that teaches the principles we are willing to live. When we live those principles, we accept the ordinances of that level of sanctification, and inherit that kingdom or glory. We can’t go to that kingdom of glory and reject the principles or the ordinances of that kingdom. (see D&C 88:24)
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[1] Hugh Nibley, Don E. Norton, Temple and Cosmos: Beyond This Ignorant Present, Deseret Book, The Meaning of the Temple.
[2] Temple and Cosmos, Hugh Nibley, Deseret Book, Pg# 28

Angels Who Stand As Sentinels

2008-03-31T19:52:00.000-07:00

President Brigham Young taught us that the temple is where we learn about eternity, and where we prepare to pass certain angels that are standing gard. What we don’t always get is that they are guarding against us, not for us. When The Father had a flaming sword (& Cherubim) placed in the Garden of Eden it was to stop Adam from returning unchecked. Symbolically is was teaching that all of mankind (ha-adam) can only pass when we are ready (sanctified). We often think of angels guarding us, but in this process they are guarding the way back, so we don’t attempt to enter glories what are not yet ready to inherit.

"Your endowment is to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which are necessary for you after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell." (Brigham Young, J. D. 2:31.)

The Zohar is preoccupied with idea of gates we enter when we are ready, and at each gate is an armed guard. Egyptian initiation imagery is also loaded with example of stations (like rungs of a ladder) that the deceased must pass through to gain his full inheritance. Truth and fidelity are the initiates defenses against these destroying angels.

In Egyptian imagery, those who have not had fidelity to their covenants (“key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood”) in the mortal world, are slashed, cut, or otherwise destroyed if they try to pass. Perhaps this is the origin of the Tyler of Masonry?

Prof. Hugh Nibley discussed the Book of Breathings, and the Book of the Dead.

Here is an excerpt:

“it is permitted to wonder whether khrw-paw (faces-of-fire) with its Hebrew plural ending -im might be the source of the mysterious word Cherubim of the Bible. Or is the root the Egyptian Cherep, "to have control over," as in the long Book of Breathings: "Thrice welcome! say the Cherebneset-priests," i.e., "those who are in charge of the throne," they being the guardians of the gate (T 32, I, 22, O.M.R.O., 31:56)? Apophis is confronted by the Keepers of the Pylons standing with swords in their hands before a gate from which flames shoot forth, and is repelled by both sword and flame (Bremner-Rhind, 30:11-15). No one else can enter the place as yet either, excepting Re, since to enter it is to breathe the air of eternal life (Gr. Tb., 48-49), and man is not yet ready to live forever in his sins. The Jewish doctors, at least, made such a discrimination, telling us that when Adam was driven out of the place of delights, "the Watchers were placed there so that none could enter unless they had been first purified by the hand of the Cherubim" (B. Gorion, Sagen d. Juden, I, 118). From the earliest times, then, fire and the sword or the flaming sword prevent the serpent from returning to the garden. The serpent must remain in outer darkness (L. Kakosy, ZA, 97:104-105), being himself the mystery of non-being, the negation of all that is (E. Hornung, Ein.u. Viel., pp. 171-72). The Pistis Sophia gives the same explanation for the flaming sword: The time will come, it says, when the sword will be removed for Adam and he may reach forth his hand and partake of the fruit of the tree of life. But the serpent may never do so; in the end the flaming sword was for his benefit.” [Prof. Hugh Nibley, Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri, Part IV, The Garden Story]

Ancient temple initiations contained feathers of truth (Ma’at), swords of judgement, and angels guarding the way. Today we have an abbreviated version of what was Adam's ascension, which is our inheritance (endowment). Traces of a longer version, a deeper teaching, and fuller laws, give us hints of the path back. This is why the endowment can only truly be understood by revelation. The profane waste their time trying to understand it, only by revelation can we “get it.”

“Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.” [D&C 84:20]

“If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.” [D&C 42:60

Three Degrees of Glory - Now!

2008-03-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

So much of what I blog about has to do with the three degrees of glory, because that is the template of the temple, displaying eternity. When I say eternity, I mean forever, and the here and now.

I was going to here give some of my best posts to the three degree pattern, but they are almost all based upon this insight. That insight is usually focussed on the eternities, not the present. With some exceptions; Fasting, and Shin, Aleph, & Mem.

Most of my posts are a little esoteric for most people’s tastes. So, here is my (given to me by my sweet wife) highly recommended link to understanding how the three degrees of glory affect you here and now, where the rubber meets the road.

This is good stuff, share it with your kids.

Three Realms of Law, Light and Life by Lili Anderson, Brigham Young University–Idaho Devotional, February 1, 2005.

Gnosticism

2008-03-27T16:10:00.000-07:00

No study of mysticism can be complete without a mention of Gnosticism. Gnosticism is the mother of modern, so called, Mystery Schools or Mystery Religions . While all of them may not be direct descendants, they are at least stepchildren, receiving nourishment from the many philosophies spun-off from Gnosticism.

First century Christians understood that the life of the church depended upon the existence of apostles. [1] This dependence is due to the keys that the apostles held. [2] Among the keys, that if lost, would signal the end of the church, were the keys to the mysteries or ordinances. Even a modern day bishop, who has some keys, can only rightly exercise those keys under the eventual direction of an apostle (an apostle holds all the keys).

Before leaving the first century church, Jesus gave Peter the authority to bind the mysteries or ordinances on earth, which shall be binding in heaven:

“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 16:19)

When the Prophet Joseph was given those same keys in this dispensation, the associated instructions tied the keys to the mysteries:

“And I have given unto him the keys of the mystery of those things which have been sealed , even things which were from the foundation of the world” (D&C 35:18)

When the apostasy of the original church began, and there were no longer apostle available, there was no one to correct the doctrines of men, and administer the mysteries.

The mysteries are the center of the church. The true church is built upon the mysteries. When the first original church fell:

“… a horde of deceivers ‘who up until then had been lurking in dark corners,’ as soon as they saw that there were no more apostles left to call them to account, came boldly forth, each claiming that he alone had the gnosis which the Lord had secretly imparted to the apostles after the resurrection.” [3]

The reason for this claim of the gnosis, hidden knowledge, or ordinances; is because the authorized (keys) holder of the true gnosis is the prophet of God on earth, and the leader of God’s church. [4]

The false prophets lured membership by a claim that they had the gnosis. To convince onlookers a whole arsenal of tricks were employed. They put on airs with pomp and circumstance, wearing robes, fancy hats, ringing the bells, making smoke, and burning incense. All of which were hollow gestures because they had no authority and only a corrupted version of ordinances.

These would be usurpers divided into groups, and come down to us today as the Mystery Schools .

Since the beginning of the apostasy, even until today they have fed off of each other by integrating each other’s claims into their own philosophy. They have become a hybrid of hidden and occult practice, a great “esoteric sponge.”

Gnostics, Rosicrucians, Theosophist and others initiate their members into what fragments of the gnosis they can find, mingled with the philosophies of men, and the doctrines of devils.

The watered down versions of these Gnostic views are the modern esoteric and New Age movements.

The well-grounded, mature saint can study Gnosticism and find truth, and all truth is beneficial. But, a steady diet of Gnosticism, without a daily good portion of a gospel meal, tends to sicken the soul.
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[1] Ephesians 2:20
[2] Matthew 16:19, Revelation 1:18, Doctrine and Covenants 13:1, 27:6, 9, 12, 13, 42:69, 65:2, 81:2, 90:2 and so on.
[3] Hugh Nibley, Todd M. Compton, Stephen D. Ricks, Mormonism and Early Christianity, Deseret Book, Chapter 5.
[4] Apostles are prophets, seers, and revelators. Each one holds all the keys necessary to maintain the church on earth. If there is more than one apostle on earth, the senior (by setting apart date) is the leader of the church.

Back Yard Professor - Kerry Shirts

2008-03-17T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, the long lost Kerry Shirts is back posting at the BackyardProfeesor.com (LINK).

And he has started a commentary on the Zohar, which should really be good.

Did The Temple Ordinances Come From The Masons?

2008-03-13T22:36:00.001-07:00

For you Masonry student, there is a good post over at “Temple Study” that you should take a look at. Here is the link: Did The Temple Ordinances Come From The Masons?.

Of course I did have a good discussion with Joe Swick on this topic over: here, which I think is a pretty good overview of the topic.

Enoch & Metatron (by: Dr. Andrai A. Orlov)

2008-03-13T20:39:00.000-07:00

I don’t have permission to mention his name, but his initials are “DL,” he is a fellow who visits my site from time to time, and is particularly insightful.

He gave me a list of links that contain certain excepts from the writings of Dr. Andrai A. Orlov, who teaches at the Theology Department of Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Dr. Orlov is not LDS as far as I know (he should be), but he has a lot of insight to the topics of this blog. I present the list for your reading pleasure:

Enoch as the Heavenly Priest

Enoch as the Expert in Secrets

Enoch as the Mediator

Enoch as the Scribe

The Etymology of the Name "Metatron"

Metatron as the Mediator

Metatron as the Prince of the World

Metatron as the Deity: Lesser YHWH

Metatron as God's Shiur Qomah

Metatron as the Prince of the Presence

Metatron as the Youth

Metatron as the Expert in Secrets

Metatron as Sar Torah

Metatron as the Scribe

Back before Kerry Shirts had to get a job, he use to mention him on a regular basis.

He does not give his books away, so these links are a real treat. If you like what he has to say, then buy a book.
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I thought maybe you might like this too: Metatron

The Picture above is not a picture of Dr. Orlov's book.

Tying The Knot

2008-03-05T22:04:00.000-08:00

Jacob saw the plan of ascension, one kingdom to another, as a ladder. Moses experienced it in the form of a mountain. Some ancients thought of the plan of salvation as three worlds or kingdoms stacked one above the other. Spanning these three worlds was a rope descending from the highest kingdom bringing connection to the lower worlds. Each of the three worlds is tied to the rope by a knot, and the knot is fastened with a nail (Vav). The temple is a knot symbolizing the connecting place between the worlds. Each level of temple worship has an altar which represents the Vav or nail in that world.

“The temple is thus thought of as the ‘bond of heaven and earth,’ as the ‘navel of the earth,’ and as the ‘pillar of the earth,’ that is, the central axis around which the world revolves. The temple represents ‘the Pole of the heavens, around which all heavenly motions revolve, the knot that ties earth and heaven together, the seat of universal dominion.’” [1 or LINK]

The rope is the center line of the temple, or the path to Lehi’s tree, or the straight and narrow path. The knot alludes to covenants. When people are married, the have tied the knot, they have made promises that bind them. In the case of the temple the knot or covenant is made binding by the nail or Vav, which represents the atonement.

“We stand in the middle position. This earth is the Old English middan-(g)eard, the middle-earth. The markas & scheckecirc; u er .s ti of the Babylonians means the knot that ties heaven to earth, the knot that ties all horizontal distances together (cf. fig. 37H, p. 151), and all up and down, the meeting point of the heavens and the earth. It is the middle point at which the worlds above and the worlds below join. This scale model of the universe is the temple. Of course, the word for temple in Latin, templum, means the same thing as template” [2 or LINK]

Sometimes this connection between the higher and lower worlds is a rope, trunk of a tree, vine, ladder, river, or even a spinal column. It is always the same template, showing the way back to God.
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[1] Prof. Hugh Nibley, What Is a Temple? Chapter 8.

[2] Temple and Cosmos: Beyond This Ignorant Present, Hugh Nibley, Don E. Norton, Deseret Book, The Meaning of the Temple.

Also see: Water, Air, & Fire

Ascension - Do you get it?

2008-02-28T22:29:00.000-08:00

As a missionary I taught the Plan of salvation so, so many times, but I really never “got it,” until much later in life. I mean I was good at quoting the scriptures (served in the bible belt) and arguing for it. You could not tell, but I still really did not get it. I mean I understood the mechanics, but not the deep meaning.

I look at the prophets, most of them initially had some training in the gospel, but at some point in their lives they got it. They usually got it in the form of a vision, they saw the Plan of Salvation (pre-earth, earth, spirit world, the resurrection, and the degrees of glory).

Abraham stopped by Bethel (Beth = House, EL=God) and made sacrifice. Abraham received the promises that we currently call the Abrahamic Covenant. He then sees all about the pre-existence and the creation, all the way to the end of creation. What he learned included:

“[T]he grand Key-words of the Holy Priesthood, as revealed to Adam in the Garden of Eden, as also to Seth, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, and all to whom the Priesthood was revealed.” [Book of Abraham, Explanation of Facsimile No. 2]

The Plan of Salvation when personalized is tied to the temple (alter, sacrifice, ordinances), promises, covenants, and a vision of the Plan. In fact it is a revealing of God to the individual.

Moses “got it,” the Lord took Moses to an “exceedingly high mountain,” which is a cosmic temple. There, Moses is taught of the Messiah, he saw every particle of the earth and every soul who had or will live upon this earth. He saw the creation, all the way to the end of creation (including the Garden of Eden drama). He saw the pre-existence and the war in heaven. Moses saw the “Plan of salvation.” Moses saw that all of these were “confirmed unto Adam, by an holy ordinance…” [Moses 5:59]

Nephi got it in the form of a tree, Jacob go it in the form of a ladder, and the list goes on.

Today, we receive the ordinances in the temple, we receive an abbreviated teaching of the Plan of Salvation which stands for the full plan, and if ready, God can reveal Himself to us there. But usually it is somewhat a mass production. Most of us receive the ordinances and the teaching when we go to the temple, but we don’t really get it.

If we are blessed, at some point in our life, we get it. When you get it, it will change your life.

Do you get it?

Fasting

2008-02-27T16:44:00.000-08:00

Fasting can give us insight into spirituality. Again, we know that there are three degrees of glory, and a kingdom of darkness, these make up the final estates of men.

This life is a mortal, temporal, physical, and telestial life. Earth is a telestial life. Within this temporal life there may also be degrees of reality, or levels of consciousness that we are able to experience. A dog has a physical and temporal existence. Dogs share our mortal world with us. Now dogs do not have the problems of agency and accountability, but they share the problems of this world, which includes eating. They also seek love, comfort, security, entertainment, and procreation. These are all things that belong to this world. But, most men do not experience this telestial existence the same as a dog, even those who only live a telestial law experience some finer things. These finer things are a result of the intelligence that the person uses. Intelligence is the glory of God. (D&C 93:36)

When we act in a more intelligent way, we live in a higher degree of glory, which may only be within the telestial kingdom, or can be in a higher kingdom.

As we have discussed, we will all be resurrected into a body that is built to function in the glory we ultimately receive. And the glory we receive is a result of the law we are willing to live.

Since in this life we are stuck in a telestial body and are subject to the physical laws of a telestial dimension, we must pay attention to the cares and concerns of this world. We must eat, we seek love, comfort, security, entertainment and procreation, and this is all part of the plan.

When we seek guidance, help, or answers from God, we should understand we are seeking answers that are above this telestial world. We don’t need a telestial instruction of how to procreate; man and beast have always been able to figure this out. When a person who wishes to be a follower of righteousness seeks a mate, and takes that issue to the Lord, he is seeking intelligence that is above the telestial level. The seeker’s heart will determine which degree of intelligence he desires.

Speaking on the levels in the commandments to men, God said:

“Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal ; neither any man, nor the children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created. Behold, I gave unto him that he should be an agent unto himself; and I gave unto him commandments, but no temporal commandment gave I unto him, for my commandments are spiritual ; they are not natural nor temporal, neither carnal nor sensual.” (D&C 29:34 & 35)

While God’s commands are of a Celestial nature, they are given in a language that we can grasp.

“Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.” (D&C 1:24)

This is a continual dumbing-down of things with the plan that eventually we might catch-on.

God does not give us telestial or temporal commandments. God’s desire is to bring about the exaltation of man(Moses 1:39), and He does not do that by giving telestial commands and instructions. These higher instructions may be carried out in the telestial existence (because that is where we are), but the commands are according to higher laws designed to elevate.

And when we keep the law of a higher kingdom, we have effectively entered that kingdom; we just have not changed dimensions yet (that will happen in the resurrection).

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways , saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9, see Psalm 94:11)

So, why do we fast? Because we are in telestial, mortal bodies and forced to concern ourselves with the cares of this world. But when we deprive our bodies of our basic temporal needs, food and water, our souls begin to struggle for survival. Instinctively, our soul (the body part) knows that unless something changes the end is coming. This should cause our soul (the spirit part) to seek and to stretch.

When we subdue the body by refraining from serving the temporal desires and needs, we temporarily force away from the forefront our temporal needs, which requires our soul to seek answers from above. This is faith, causing sanctification.

“The choice is given, whether we live in the physical world as animals, or whether we use what earth offers us as a means of living in the spiritual world that will lead us back to the presence of God.” ( David O. McKay, Teaching of Presidents of the Church, David O. McKay. LDS Church, pg. 15.)

We all have a mortal telestial body. But where our spirits live is according to our hearts and desires. Our spirits climb the rungs of eternity while our bodies reside in mortality. Having our body in the telestial kingdom and our heart and spirit in another kingdom, is a cause of conflict. It can be a struggle between the flesh and the spirit (Romans 8:4&5). We are enticed between two influences. 246

By fasting we put our lower self into submission, and our spirit is then freer to seek from the hidden glories. Not only do we deprive ourselves from food and water, we should avoid all temporal pleasures while fasting. It is contrary to the purposes of fasting to visit a carnival, or to engage in other recreational pursuits. Paul taught the saints not to withhold sexual intercourse from a spouse except for fasting:

“ Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” (1 Corinthians 7:5)

When we seek commands and instructions from God, we are seeking revelation. Without personal revelation we will never obtain the required sanctification necessary for a celestial resurrection.

We all have two natures. We have our telestial (or temporal) nature, because we live in this world. We also all have another nature, which is the law that we keep, corresponding to one of the degrees of glory. Now for most, they have both a temporal physical body, and only keep a telestial law, and therefore have a telestial spiritual nature. Others have a telestial body/nature and keep a terrestrial spiritual law. When this terrestrial person puts aside the temporal body by fasting, they quickly begin to see, understand, and receive in the terrestrial realm. For them the stretching comes in trying to achieve living a celestial law, by receiving celestial instructions.

One, whose spiritual self is celestial, seeks light and knowledge from the celestial realm during the fast.

A person living the law of any given kingdom of glory who is new or uncomfortable there must struggle to receive at that degree. Another that has rested at that rung for a while can move there more quickly. Yet, resting at any given rung is not the goal, it’s just part of the process.

When we climb the rungs, we become progressively more like God. Through this sanctification process our minds imitate the mind of God, we become more godly. The more godly we are the more our prayers will be for godly things, and lower things will seem base, crude, and course. If we have the mind of God, and seek righteous things, and our hearts and hands are clean, how can He deny us our prayers?

Asking for the right things, and accepting answers with full purpose of heart enables us to ask and receive. Fasting is an important part of the process.

The problem is most of us do not fully have the mind of God and we seek lower, selfish, carnal, and devilish things. Our hearts and hands may not be clean.

As we fast we push to new and higher rungs. We become more and more like God, from grace to grace. At some point, if we climb far enough in this world, God will no longer withhold anything for which we pray, because we know the mind and will of God and seek only righteousness.

We learn from the Zohar:

“The blessed Holy One focuses only on the soul [spirit], not the body; for soul resembles soul, while the body is incapable of uniting above – even though the body’s image abides in supernal mystery. “
“Come and see: when the blessed Holy One delights in a person’s soul, deriving pleasure from her, He strikes the body so that his soul can dominate. For as long as soul corresponds with body, soul cannot prevail; but once the body is broken, soul becomes dominant.” (The Zohar, Matt, vol. II, pg. 277.)
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This post is modified from the chapter on Fating in Mormon Mysticism: LINK.

Mustirra - Master Mason - Clang

2008-02-21T16:45:00.000-08:00

In a prior post title “Mormon-Masonic Clang” I discussed how people sometime make connections between words that have simular or even rhyming sounds, when they really have no etymological relation ("Mormon," “Mahan,” “Mason,” “Mayhem,” “Man,” ”Ham,” OK, even “Sam I am.”).

I specificly mentioned the old anti-Mormon chestnut “Master Mahan.” I discussed how it was clear that neither Joseph Smith or faithfull, early, Latter-Day Saint leaders thought they were entering into a pact with Satan when they joined Masonry.

Prof. Hugh Nibley gave us some direction on the etymology of the phrase “Master Mahan.” It has nothing actually to do with the English word “Master” but is an approximation of the sound of the word “Mustirra.” Which has to do with secrets. And the root of Mahan is clearly connected to the English understanding of “great.” Hence, the "great secret keeper."

“This is a very interesting etymology here. The word secret is sirra in Arabic; the eighth form of the verb, mustirra, means "to hold a secret, to keep a secret." It's the same as the Greek word sathra for secret. The Egyptian word is seshet; meseshet is "to hold a secret." Sether is the Hebrew word for keeping a secret (the master of the secret). So this word master may not be our word master at all, but master means "keeper of secret," and Mahan means "great." In any language maha means "great." In Arabic, English, Greek, Sanscrit, or anything maha means "great." Words like magnus, mighty, might, many, maharaja; anything that's big is ma. So this could mean Master Mahan, the "great secret keeper." ...This was the secret: converting life into property.” (Prof. Hugh Nibley, Ancient Documents and the Pearl of Great Price, Adam and Eve, Lecture 19)

Which fits exactly into the context in which it was used, and not into the contrived link to Masonry.

Notaricon - Emet - Truth

2008-02-15T13:56:00.000-08:00

One of the Hebrew literary tools that exist is "Notaricon." It is sometimes used to form, or understand words, the letters in a word work as an acronym.

The word in Hebrew for truth is אמת (Reading from right to left) which is known as “emet .” “Emet“ is written with three letters, the first א (Aleph), and middle מ (Mem) , and last ת (Tav) in the Hebrew alphabetical order. "The Rabbinical tradition is that these letters refer to the concept of past, present, and future.” [1] In other words, the word “truth” is made up of the letters placed at the beginning of the Hebrew alphabet, the middle of the alphabet, and the end of the alphabet. The placement of the letters in the alphabet represents the letters' meanings of past, present and future, which aligns nicely with Doctrine and Covenants 93:24:

"And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come…”

The Greek letters Alpha (first letter of the alphabet), and Omega (last letter of the alphabet), is a name for Christ (the beginning and the end), or truth. Two posts back we discussed the Tetragrammaton, which has a meaning deciphered through Notaricon.[2]

Those who are familiar with the “learning of the Jews,” as was Nephi, see a lot going on in scriptural text. You can read a sentence and understand it’s meaning, on one level, then learn gospel principles from the words themselves on another level. Certainly there are hidden treasures of knowledge for us here.

“In notarikon letters of words are interpreted as abbreviations of whole sentences, and letters are varied or interchanged according to certain systematic rules” [3]

Here is what Wikipedia says about Notaricon: [LINK]

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[1] Joe Sampson, Written by the Finger of God, Wellspring, pg. #29.
[2] “…I [Jesus] am the Spirit of truth…” Doctrine and Covenants 93:26 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. … I Jesus…” Revelation 22:13-16.
[3] John M. Lundquist, Stephen D. Ricks, By Study and Also by Faith, vol. 1, #18 Deseret Book.

Secretive Mormonism

2008-02-14T17:39:00.000-08:00

I was surfing around and stopped by Temple Study. They linked to a good article by John Tvedtnes, titled “Secretive Mormonism?” that is over at Meridian Magazine.

I thought this article would be of interest to my readers as well. He covers some topics about temple secrecy, and mentions a favorite topic of mine, Bishop Cyril, and his lectures.

Here is the link: [LINK]

Tetragrammaton

2008-02-11T23:23:00.001-08:00

The word “Jehovah” is a complicated word. In ancient Hebrew you would not pronounce it, but would substitute the word “Adoni,” or “Lord” in English (sharing similar vowel points in Hebrew).

In Hebrew the name YHVH is known as the Tetragrammaton. The flow between Hebrew and English, as it has to do with the word YHVH is a little hard at first. There is no “J” in Hebrew, a “Yod” is the first letter (in Hebrew reading right to left) in the Tetragrammaton, and symbolizes creation. And since “J” was not known in any language until the 14th century, an “I” was sometimes used to approximate the Yod. So you have to be a little fluid in this study.

JAH … These are component letters of the name “Jehovah” or YH, or YHVH (יהוה), or Lord of Hosts. This is the name of the pre-earth Jesus. The attached illustration shows the name of Jehovah in different truncated forms.

The "Yod" symbolizes creation, The "heh" is what was added to Abram's name when he received the covenant, and the "Vav" represents reconciliation, mediation, tying down, sealing, the nail, or Tiferet.

The is a topic touched upon in the Book of Creation, the Zohar, and the Bible.

Shin, Aleph, and Mem - 3 Mothers

2008-02-04T18:27:00.000-08:00

In the Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Creation) which is attributed to Abraham, the creation of the world is described in several ways. Creation is described with the ingredients of ten numbers (Sephiroth), and the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. How these numbers and letters play out in different combinations against other combinations is the whirlwind of creation, or the tree of life.

The Book of Creation says that the alphabet has three mothers, or foundation letters. These are; Shin, Aleph, and Mem. This is a macro description of creation. We are taught:

“The three mothers are A, M, SH; and in the beginning as to the Macrocosm the Heavens were created from Fire; the Earth from primeval Water; and the Air was formed from the Spirit, which stands alone in the midst, and is the Mediator between them.” (Sefer Yetzirah 3:3)

Aleph the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet is thought to correspond to Tiferet (like vav ties them together) as the mediator, of not only mem (water), and shin (fire), but of all the Sephiroth.

What does this all mean? It is a description in ancient Hebrew thought, of the creation, the three degrees of glory – both in the macro and how they apply to man in the micro or in his soul.

Shin corresponds to the Celestial Kingdom (everlasting burnings), to the mind of man. Aleph corresponds to the Terrestrial Kingdom, to the heart of man. And Mem corresponds to the Telestial Kingdom, to man’s belly. Where we make our decisions from, the belly, heart, or mind, largely will determine which kingdom we inherit.

“These three mothers again represent in the Microcosm or Human form, male and female; the Head, the Belly, and the Chest; the head from the fire, the belly from water, and the chest from the air lieth between them.” (Sefer Yetzirah 3:4)

Now, what does this have to do with mysticism? A description of the creation, and the Plan of Salvation with the differing kingdoms is a description of the temple, the center of mysticism.

The universe testifies of Christ, which is the macro, and the sanctification of the individual testifies of Christ in the micro.
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Jewish & Mormon Dialogue Group

2008-01-28T17:22:00.000-08:00

There will an initial meeting of an LDS-Jewish dialogue group in Los Angeles. I suspect that people interested in the topics of MormonMysticism.com would also be interested in these meetings. Here is the information:

DATE: Sunday, February 10th. 2008
TIME: 7:00 PM
PLACE: Sinai Temple
ADDRESS: 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024
WEB SITE: Sinai Temple

SPEAKERS:
Rabbi John Borak, of the Amud Ha-Shachar Foundation
And
President Robert Keeler. of the Santa Monica Stake

Thanks to Bro. Mark Paredes for the information.

See you there!

Farewell President Hinckley

2008-01-27T19:56:00.000-08:00

Our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley has passed away from this life, and into the next.

He will be greatly missed.

Here is the churches office link: LINK

Temple Study - New Site!

2008-01-25T11:11:00.000-08:00

There is a new site on the web that deals with many of the same topics we discuss. I listed them in the Recommended Blogs a few days back, but I wanted to make sure you did not miss it.

The site is owned by Bryce Haymond. I like this guy, he is doing a good job. Leave some comment so he knows you are there.

Here is the link: Temple Study.

The Nail and The Tree

2008-01-23T20:33:00.000-08:00

The Tree of Life imagery began in Eden and has become a universal symbol. This symbol has become highly adjustable to convey certain truths.

In Eden, and the Book of Revelation, it represented the healing and resurrection of mankind. In Alma 32 it was a seed planted in the heart of the faithful that would bring forth the fruit of Eternal Life.

The prophet Zenos adjusted the Tree of Life imagery into, or applied its symbolism to an Olive Tree, which can represent an individual, family, tribe, or nation, as in the case of the parable of the Olive Tree found in Jacob 5 & 6.

In the Book of Creation (Sefer Yetzirah) Abraham described the Tree of Life as having ten emanations (fruit) known as Sephiroth. Jewish Mysticism teaches that some of the Sephiroth are on one side of the tree (branches), and some are on the other, and they are in fact opposing forces (for example, Justice and Mercy). That between them on the trunk of the tree are certain sephiroth that reconcile the opposing forces.

The center and primary reconciling sefira is “Tiferet” which is Hebrew for “Beauty.“ But it means more than beauty, it means reconciliation, atonement, balance, and peace. Tiferet is the stalk or the trunk of the tree. It is the symbol Christ.

In Hebrew the letter “vav” is thought of as a nail that ties things together (it is shaped like a nail). Tiferet is symbolized by the letter vav. It is the nail in the tree, that is associated with Christ, that reconciles things, to bring about salvation and exaltation.

With this learning of the Jews in mind, what must have went on in the minds of the Disciples when Jesus said He was the True Vine? He was saying that He was Tiferet.

If it is an Olive Tree, a Vine, a Sycamore, or a Cross, because they are all the same thing, Jesus the Messiah can today show you the token of the Vav in His hands.

We will get to the Tetragrammaton another day.

CLICK HERE TO ENLARGE IMAGE

Notaricon, Gemetria, and Temurah

2008-01-20T22:03:00.000-08:00

My last post was on Hebrew Literary Form in the Book of Mormon, centered primarily on chiasmus, but there are a number of these ancient Hebrew literary forms that existed (see the linked material in the prior post).

The precision, neatness, and simplicity of these literary forms are proof of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, it is an elegant work.

How chiasmus was found in the Book of Mormon was that the young John Welch learned of chiasmus in the bible as a missionary, and began searching for the same patterns in the Book of Mormon, and there they were.

There are three tools in Jewish mysticism that orthodox LDS scholars may steer clear of, because the mere mention of them could create a perceived link between the author and the dreaded and feared Cabala (Kabbalah).

Within Cabalistic teaching there are three tools (among other tools) that are employed; Notaricon, Gemetria (Gematria), and Temurah. To the degree they are properly used, and where the excesses start, I will leave that to the reader to decide. My purpose here is only to demonstrate that beneath the surface of the scriptures, there is a lot going on. (Explanation of Notaricon, Gemetria, and Temurah)

These tools work in Hebrew, but not in English, and the Book of Mormon was written in Reformed Egyptian. So there are some major complexities, but I think someone qualified should study these Hebrew Literary Forms to see if any of these forms ever existed, and if they survived, in the Book of Mormon.

This study could also argue for or against the legitimacy of the study of Notaricon, Gemetria, and Temurah in the bible.

And, if these forms are found in the Book of Mormon, what insights could they convey? This could be a gold mine, or an empty cave, but we will never know until we take a look.

Chiasmus - Hebrew Literary Forms in the Book of Mormon

2008-01-14T17:51:00.000-08:00

I’m really excited about this years course of study in Sunday School, the Book of Mormon.

One of the observations that we should make as we read the Book of Mormon is the chiasmus (or chiasms) word structures that exist in the text. Chiasmus is one of many ancient Hebrew literary forms that were not known to Joseph Smith or local scholars of his time, yet they are interweaved throughout the Book of Mormon. If we fail to see these layers that exist, we are not reading the Book of Mormon for all it’s worth.

For a good, short introduction to this topic, I suggest the work of the late Elder Hugh Pinnock, Finding Biblical Hebrew and Other Ancient Literary Forms in the Book of Mormon, available online at the Maxwell Institute. Here is the link: HTML LINK

"It is these kinds [chiasmus] of textual studies that are proving to be the most effective defense of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.” (Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins, Chapter 7, Noel B. Reynolds, Deseret Book)

Also see my link to "The Onion."

Keter - The Crown

2008-01-10T17:38:00.000-08:00

In Jewish Mysticism there is an idea that is symbolized by the word “Keter” or crown. Cabalistic Tree of Life imagery includes ten stations (Sephiroth) in ascending order, like rungs on a ladder. The top rung on the ladder is Keter, or exaltation.

However, we see in ancient Jewish literature that at each stage of sanctification the initiate receives a crown for that stage, meaning that he receives all the rights, responsibilities, privileges, and powers belonging or corresponding to that stage or rung. The top rung means you have received all the Father has. Keter is the crown over all.

When we receive a crown over a kingdom, or a rung, we are from then on associated with whoever else wears that same crown (Glory).

“[At the resurrection of the dead] …they shall come forth—yea, even the dead which died in me, to receive a crown of righteousness, and to be clothed upon, even as I am, to be with me, that we may be one.” (Doctrine and Covenants 29:13)

Hugh Nibley wrote:

“…[T]he crown of sanctification… is added (the round linen cap was to act as a cushion for a metal crown during a long ceremony). Later the cap alone would suffice, since it showed that the owner was qualified to wear the ‘crown of justification.’” (Hugh Nibley, Don E. Norton, Temple and Cosmos, Deseret Book, Pg#55)

Here are a few more:

James 1:12 1 Peter 5:4 Rev 3:11 D&C 20:14 D&C 66:12 D&C 78:15 D&C 81:6 D&C 88:19

Shaatnez (Mixing Wool and Linen)

2008-01-04T19:23:00.000-08:00

Within Judaism there is a law and a teaching regarding combining wool and linen. This law is known as Shaatnez (Wiki Link).

Scholars have argued endlessly regarding the purpose of this law. I am afraid that my Jewish brethren as a whole never seem to learn the lessons taught in either Shaatnez, or the Kosher laws. They often keep the form, but they missed the lesson.

The lesson is that there is opposition in all things, or there are opposing forces in our existence, holy and profane, good and bad, light and dark, and life and death. We exist at the point where these oppositions intersect. How these opposing forces are ultimately reconciled is the lesson.

Messiah is the lesson of Shaatnez, Kosher, the Law of Moses, and Book of Mormon chiasmas’.

After a discourse on Messiah being the intercessor for all men, Lehi taught Jacob that things exist by opposition, and that things are reconciled by Messiah.

“For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.

And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.” (LINK)

The Book of Mormon (This Years Study in SS)

2008-01-03T00:23:00.000-08:00

This Sunday in the LDS Church, we begin studying the Book of Mormon in Sunday School. There are two topics that I fear are usually overlooked, that can greatly enhance our understanding of the Book of Mormon.

The first is the significance of the teaching of “opposition in all things.” This principle is often glossed over as some tangential teaching that is really not that important. Nothing could be further from the truth. Opposition in all things and how forces are resolved is the core of the gospel, and until we get this, we are sipping milk. Without understanding this “opposition in all things” there is no purpose in a “chiasmas." The point of a chiasmas is to demonstrate the opposition and the resolution of a thing. The purpose of much of the Law of Moses was for the same reason. (Mormon Mysticism on Opposition)

Second, the Tree of Life can also be under appreciated. The scriptures are laced with Tree of Life teachings. Understanding that the Tree of Life, the Temple, The Love of God, and Christ are all the same thing can give so much depth to our understanding (Link).

If we could somehow read the Book of Mormon for all it’s worth, most of us could not stand it. There are levels of meaning in the Book of Mormon, like an onion, and most of us only just nibble the dry skin on the outside.

In the student guide, it asks about the four positions people find themselves in, in relation to the Tree of Life. This is critical to understanding the gospel. Here are some clues: (Rev., Temple, Water, Ezk., Seed, Bread).

This is going to be a good year!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2007-12-27T12:29:00.000-08:00

I had a very nice Christmas get together of my wife's side of the family. We all stayed at the Agate Cove Inn, a bed and breakfast in Mendocino, California (Northern California). This picture is what I saw from inside my room (actually I was a little higher and could see more of the beach). It was great, I can not describe how nice it is there. If you really want a nice get away, go there. Here is their link: Agate Cove Inn

And have a good new year!

-David

Mark Paredes (Reminder!)

2007-12-18T09:48:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder about Bro. Mark Paredes speaking to a Jewish group 12/20/07 @ 7:00 PM, here is all the information - See you there! (Information)

Hot and Cold Water (Enoch)

2007-12-14T16:55:00.000-08:00

A while back I wrote a couple posts about the water that flowed from the Tree of Life in Lehi and Nephi’s visions (Filthy Water). I described how in ancient thought it was understood that the pure water flowed from celestial realms into lower realms (kingdoms or glories). That these waters represent the blessings of God.

That these waters, or blessings include law and judgment, that at some point divide the righteous and the wicked. In-fact the water changes into three levels of purity (or impurity) as it flows into lower kingdoms.

This idea has not always been embraced by every reader. I found a similar idea that may be an earlier text, The Book of Enoch (2 Enoch).

The context is Enoch describing some disobedient “angels” that are punished in a valley where they reside. There is a river or waters running through the valley.

“And in those days shall these waters be to kings, to princes, to the exalted, and to the inhabitants of the earth, for the healing of the soul and body, and for the judgment of the spirit.” (The Book of Enoch, Wizards Bookshelf, 1983, pg. 81)

At one point the waters are flowing, then they turn to ice, then:

“For these waters of judgment shall be for their healing, and for the death of their bodies. But they shall not perceive and believe that the waters will be changed, and become a fire, which shall blaze for ever.” (The Book of Enoch, Wizards Bookshelf, 1983, pg. 82)

Another major homerun for Joseph Smith! How could he have known and used this flexible imagery from the ancient world without revelation?

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The Book of Enoch, Translated by Richard Laurence, html: [Link]
The Book of Enoch, [Download PDF]
Related Posts: Ezekiel 1, Revelation 22

Reincarnation

2007-12-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

I have been having an email discussion with a fine fellow who describes himself as an “orthodox protestant Christian.” He has nicely taken me to task for the LDS view of reincarnation. He came to the conclusion that the LDS church and I believe in reincarnation because of statements made by apostates like Michael Quinn, and because the Zohar has several references to reincarnation.

First, it is not now, nor ever was LDS doctrine that people reincarnate!

The Zohar makes some references to reincarnation. But I don’t hold to every idea the Zohar teaches. The Zohar is a medieval attempt to record the “oral traditions of the Jews,” in story form, which I think was largely successful. But, it is not without errors. I don’t require things to be pristine to learn from them.

Here are a few statements on reincarnation from LDS leaders.

“Every once in a while believers in reincarnation spring some story about persons who have returned to earth in another body. The Prophet Joseph Smith says that reincarnation is a doctrine of the devil…” (Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 5, Purported Visions)

“Reincarnation is a false doctrine. Men are born, die, and are judged once.” (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, vol. 3)

Here is a story from Joseph Smith's life, from his journal:

“He [Robert Matthews, alias Robert Matthias, alias Joshua the Jewish minister] said that he possessed the spirit of his fathers, that he was a literal descendant of Matthias, the Apostle, who was chosen in the place of Judas that fell; that his spirit was resurrected in him; and that this was the way or scheme of eternal life—this transmigration of soul or spirit from father to son.
I told him that his doctrine was of the devil, that he was in reality in possession of a wicked and depraved spirit, although he professed to be the Spirit of truth itself; and he said also that he possessed the soul of Christ. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 2:307)”

There is nothing in the Plan of Salvation which supports reincarnation.

Tragedy and Hope

2007-12-05T16:25:00.000-08:00

This site is dedicated to spiritual topics. But I am going to make an exception here. Well, maybe it’s not really an exception because this book helped me form my theological/political views of the last days.

I am talking about the book “Tragedy and Hope” by the late Professor Carroll Quigley, of Georgetown University.

It was hard to find and expensive. But, here it is in an html format (great for searching).

If you want to know what’s really going on in the world you need to read this book.

Here is the link: Tragedy and Hope.

And if you just can’t read such a monsterous sized book, read the light version: The Anglo-American Establishment.

Note: I do not share Quigly's values and I interpret the data differently than he does, he only explained what is happening, and defined who the real enemy is. Do you want to know who the members of the "secret combinations" are? They are not Masonry. Ether said, speaking to us:

"Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get apower and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be. Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this asecret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up." [link]

Here is your chance to understand these verses.
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UPDATE: Here are some current links for those two books:

http://www.pdf-search-engine.com/tragedy-and-hope-pdf.html

http://www.pdf-search-engine.com/anglo-american-establishment-pdf.html

Happy Chanuka!

2007-12-05T14:37:00.001-08:00

I think all of Israel, well, the world for that matter, can enjoy the celebration of Chanuka (Hanukkah), or the Festival of Lights.

The eight days of Chanuka represent the rededication of the “Second Temple” in Jerusalem at about 167 BC, when the oil lasted eight days instead of the expected one day.

“Hanukkah, from the Hebrew word for "dedication" or 'consecration', marks the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the forces of Antiochus IV and commemorates the 'miracle of the container of oil.' According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate fresh olive oil.” [Wikipedia]

Ezekiel 1 - Four Creatures

2007-12-04T20:45:00.000-08:00

We had previously discussed Ezekiel 47 and its significance in teaching about the four kingdoms (three of glory and one not of glory). This teaching of the four kingdoms is a the major theme in scriptural books that some might call “mystical” (ie Gen., Ezk., Zac., Heb., Rev., D&C 76, 88 and so on).

But you don’t even have to put a mystical spin on it, it is just plan old Plan of Salvation teachings, and in-fact that’s all true mysticism really is.

We see the same basic concepts being taught in Ezekiel chapter 1. That chapter is worth many books being written about it, but we only have a couple column inches.

In verse 4 we see the common symbol of a “whirlwind,” as in the Sefer Yetzirah it represents the commotion which is the creation, and the continuance of heaven and earth. In verse 5:

“Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.”

In verse 10 we can see the creatures had the faces of a man, lion, ox, and an eagle.

These are the same creature that John the Revelator saw as described in Revelation 4:6. In Doctrine and Covenants 77:3A the prophet Joseph told us what the four creature represent:

“They are limited to four individual beasts, which were shown to John, to represent the glory of the classes of beings in their destined order or sphere of creation, in the enjoyment of their eternal felicity.”

Otherwise known as the degrees of glory.

Both Ezekiel and John began their revelations with a view of the Plan of Salvation, the heart of Jewish Mysticism.

On a future post I will discuss the four creatures and the “wheels” as they turn. Stay tuned.

Mark Paredes (again!)

2007-11-29T15:33:00.000-08:00

There will be a presentation on LDS theology to a Jewish congregation on December 20, 2007. Last time I did not give you much advanced notice.

The last such event that I attended was very pleasant. The Rabbi (sorry I forgot his name) at the Wilshire Temple (Los Angeles) was a most gracious host.

The Speakers will be:

Bro. Mark Paredes (link)

and

Sis. Rachel Vincent, Santa Monica Stake Director of Public Affairs.

Specifics:

TOPIC: LDS Theology
DATE: 12/20/2007 - Thursday
TIME: 7:00 PM
PLACE: The Santa Monica Synagogue (aka, Sha'arei Am)
ADDRESS: 1448 18th. Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404 (Directions)
THIER WEB SITE: Link
COST: Free
OPTIONAL: Kosher meals available for $10.

Let’s show up and be gracious guests.

Hebrew Book of Mormon

2007-11-28T19:02:00.000-08:00

I came across an interesting site for those who love all things Jewish like I do.

Here is the first part of a transalation of the Book of Mormon in Hebrew: Download PDF

Here is the Web Site

And more on the topic here at Common Consent.

Are Mormons Christians?

2007-11-26T23:25:00.000-08:00

The Olive Tree represents the Tree of Life. Exactly when that imagery began, I don’t know, but it was a very long time ago. There was an Old Testament prophet only mentioned in the Book of Mormon named “Zenos” (Holy Enos?). This is the earliest use of the olive tree imagery, and interestingly it is also called a vineyard (Jesus is the True Vine), and appears to be the root (or source) of both uses of the imagery in both Book of Mormon and biblical records. This imagery is used in Old Testament, and New Testament times. And in-fact is a major theme throughout scripture.

The olive tree represents the salvation of families, tribes, and individuals (macro and micro).

Olive oil represents the anointing of the Christ or The Anointed One, by it we are healed. It represents the Holy Ghost.

In The Gospel of Phillip we read:

“…it is from the olive tree that we get the chrism [anointing oil], and from the chrism, the resurrection [total healing]… for it is from the word ‘chrism’ that we have been called ‘Christians… For the father anointed the son, and the son anointed the apostles, and the apostles anointed us. He who has been anointed possesses everything. He possesses the resurrection, the light, the cross, the holy spirit. The father gave him this in the bridal chamber… This is {the} kingdom of heaven” [1]

When we call for the Elders of the church to anoint us, it is a re-application of each blessing up to, and including, the Bridle Chamber.
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[1 - The Gospel of Phillip, The Nag Hammadi Library, Harper Collins, Pg. 153-4.]

The Great Returning

2007-11-21T12:01:00.000-08:00

{Click To Enlarge Graphic}

In Moses 4:30 is says:

“For as I, the Lord God, liveth, even so my words cannot return void, for as they go forth out of my mouth they must be fulfilled.” [Also see Isaiah 55:11]

In the scriptures, and even more prominently in Jewish Mysticism, there is a principle about this “returning” of God’s words. But, what does this mean? How does a word return? And, what is the purpose of this returning?

First, God’s words are commands.

Second, to understand this, we need to understand the Plan of Salvation [Alma 42:5] and the creation. The Book of Creation gives us some good information (from Chapter 1):

“These ten Sephiroth which are ineffable…” Which describes creation, “whose appearance is like scintillating flames…”(Flames… Or lightning. This imagery reminds us of “everlasting burnings.” Joseph Smith, King Follett Sermon, 7-DHC 6:302-317. See Ezekiel 1:13-14.), “have no end but are infinite.[1] The word of God is in them as they burst forth,” [2] This bursting forth is the creation. “and as they return; they obey the divine command, rushing along as a whirlwind, returning to prostrate themselves at his throne.”

This “returning” is part of a whole theological understanding of things. The cabalistic thinking is that God set into motion the Sefirot, or laws, or powers, and they cause the “whirlwind” (from the opposing forces) or motion necessary to bring about Gods work and glory. When the creation is finished, and every man and woman has come to earth, there is a great “returning” to God at which time they (Sefirot) bow before the throne to report. This returning begins with Adam-ondi-Ahman and ends up with Christ presenting the worlds to the Father before His throne.

“Then cometh the end, when he [Christ] shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." [1 Corinthians 15:24 & 25]

“At this great gathering, the modern prophets will return their priesthood keys to the apostles and prophets from whom they received the keys. The ancient prophets, in turn, will return the keys to their predecessors until all keys are delivered to Adam himself. Adam, as the Ancient of Days, will then restore the keys to Christ, who will use them to personally establish his kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.” [Victor L. Ludlow, Principles and Practices of the Restored Gospel, Deseret, Chapter 37]

“…before the Son of Man can present His kingdom to His Father. This work has got to be accomplished before the Son of Man can come and receive His kingdom to present it to His Father. Every son and daughter of God will have the opportunity necessary for exaltation and glory, either by themselves or by their friends. ...These and other ordinances are absolutely necessary for exaltation and glory…” [Lorenzo Snow, April 6, 1895, Gen. Conference]

Inanimate mater does what it must, but man has agency. We come to this life to see if we will do whatsoever the Lords commands us to do.

This prostrating themselves before the throne is the final reporting, and the final returning. We will all give a report. While there is a great returning, individually we begin our personal returns one at a time.
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[1] Infinite… They, the Sefirot, come from God who dwells outside of time, in the infinite, or in another dimension where time is not a restrictive force. The Sefirot were with God, or Ein-sof , the infinite, before the creation of our current habitation. Part of the creation was the inserting of the power of God into this universe and splitting His power into the Sefirot.

[2] The word of God is in them… As the powers or emanations of God are sent forth from heaven they created this physical existence in which we live. “... [T]he spirit of the living creature was in the wheels [sefirot].” Ezekiel 1:20. They are the laws. Christ is the center (Tef’eret) of this power of creation and sanctification. “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” Ephesians 3:9, “ In the beginning [pre-existence] was the Word [Jesus, see verse 14], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life ; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4.

We are in the sixth creative period

2007-11-15T14:15:00.000-08:00

Over at The Back Yard Professor (a fantastic sIte), Kerry Shirts was kind enough to give me a plug.

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.

The Power of Godliness

2007-11-14T18:43:00.000-08:00

Are the ordinances of the temple really necessary? Could we not just conform our lives to good principles and achieve the same ends?

Let’s start in the 84th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, verse 19:

“And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.” [D&C 84:19]

The “key of the mysteries” is the right [keys] to administer the mysteries, meaning, the right to administer the ordinances. Hugh Nibley said:

“…but that is what Christ meant by the mysteries of the kingdom. He meant ordinances, which were necessary; and these he revealed to the apostles during his very confidential teachings of the forty days after the resurrection.” [1]

If you accept what Nibley is saying, Doctrine and Covenants 84:19 is equating the ordinances with the ability to know God. As is plainly stated in the next verse:

“Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.”

What is this “power of godliness” that is given in the ordinances? Power to do what? Verse 22:

“For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.”

If we ever wish to see God, the ordinances must be done, because that is where the power is manifest. That is where the pre-earth covenant is renewed, and salvation is dispensed.

[1 - Hugh Nibley, Temple and Cosmos: Beyond This Ignorant Present, Deseret Book, pg. 28.]

The Tree of Life in the Book of Revelation

2007-11-14T13:40:00.000-08:00

Continuing on with the discussion of the four kingdoms (three of glory, and one not of glory), let’s discuss the Tree of Life in the Book of Revelation. With the understanding that the New Testament Books are not in chronological order, it is interesting to note that the Bible begins with the Tree of Life in Genesis, and ends with the Tree of Life in the Book of Revelation.

We see the image of the water with the source being God and Christ, which is associated with the Tree of Life:

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” [Revelation 22:1-2]

We see that the tree (the leaves) was for the “healing of the nations.” And, in the next verse we see this is all somehow associated with the removal of the curse that was put upon man in the Garden of Eden at the fall. This is the healing of all the wounds of mortality (the role of the Anointed from the pre-earth life Plan of Salvation) .

In verse 11 and 12 we read:

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

Or, four divisions of men:

1.) Holy
2.) Righteous
3.) Unjust (the description of telestial beings)
4.) Filth (Son’s of Perdition)

“Filthy still” is a perfect description of the Son’s of Perdition.

“And another trump shall sound, which is the fourth trump, saying: There are found among those who are to remain until that great and last day, even the end, who shall remain filthy still.” [D&C 88:102 also see 88:35]

There is no getting around it, whether we are reading from the Old or New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, or the Peril of Great Price, a major theme is the Tree of Life, and the kingdoms of glory.

This imagery is the icon of salvation and sanctification (like a symbol to the entire plan of salvation). Understanding this will bring many other parts of the scriptures alive.

Mark Paredes - What Makes A Mormon - 11/13/07

2007-11-13T15:21:00.000-08:00

I am attending today (November 13, 2007) a presentation by Mark Paredes (invited by The Center For Religious Inquiry) at a Jewish Temple.

The topic is, “What Makes A Mormon.”

If you love all things Jewish, like I do, this should be good.

Hope to see you there!

Date: 11/13/07
Time:7:30 PM
Address: 3663 Wilshire Blvd. , Los Angeles, CA
COST: $10
Link: 11/13/07
Map: Click Here For Map

The Temple and The Tree

2007-11-09T20:58:00.000-08:00

Click To Enlarge Kircher's Image

We discussed in a recent post that in Ezekiel’s temple the water running from under it into, or even creating, the three kingdoms of glory, is the same imagery that Nephi used, but Nephi exchanged the Tree of Life for the Temple.

In ancient Hebrew thought, they were the same thing (another home run for the prophet). In Jeannette Miller's paper she says: "I will equate the tree of life with the temple." [Link]

Click to Enlarge Image

If the imagery of both the temple and the Tree of Life are depicting the same thing, could we overlay the two images and see a pattern?

Actually the bottom row of three sefira on the second image should probable be outside the temple, being law (which creates creation) and agency (man’s interaction with creation) is not redeemed creation. It is not until justice and mercy are mediated that we enter the court, or the telestial kingdom.

The Great Pyramid - Cheops

2007-11-09T20:10:00.000-08:00

Click to Enlarge Graphic

Here are a few points about Abraham and Cheops, you decide.

1.) Abraham went into Egypt after he received his ascension ritual.

2.) At the time of Abraham, the Pharaoh was a descendent of Ham, and not then eligible to hold the priesthood. [1]

3.) The Hyksos (Shepard kings) ruled Egypt part of the time, and were kin of Abraham (if not Abraham himself and/or his descendents). As such they were candidates to hold the priesthood. [2]

4.) To at least a great degree, the Egyptians had knowledge of the ascension ritual at some point and passed it along, in degrees of corruption. To the degree of the corruption that was passed-on, I will leave to the reader to decide.

The Great Pyramid (of Pharaoh Cheops) was built sometime around the period that Abraham was in Egypt. The pyramid was permanently closed with a plug, and there was never a body interred there.[3] The pyramid included all the necessary symbolism for use in ascension rituals. It had three basic levels. At the bottom, which was subterranean (representing the telestial kingdom), is found a pit that could have been used to store water for washings. The next level up is called the Queen’s Chamber, representing the terrestrial kingdom. It was higher in the structure and larger. You then ascend to the King’s Chamber (representing the celestial kingdom). It is larger and grander. There are two basic sections. The first could be used for teaching and initiation, then, as you go through a section meant to divide the two rooms, the final room is entered. There was a box (or ark) in the room. It does not take much to assume this ark contained the law, and that the initiates would kneel at this ark or alter.

[ 1 - Abraham 1:27]

[2 - See Joseph of Egypt, Elder Mark E. Peterson, Deseret Book, The Land of the Nile. See Improvement Era, 1923, Elder J.M. Sjodahl, Tut-Ankh-Amen and Sun-Worship.]

[3 - “Two air vents (M, N) passing through the entire body of the Pyramid ventilate the King's Chamber. In itself this is sufficient to establish that the building was not intended for a tomb.” Manley P. Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages.]