The Hebrew Roots of Mormonism

[Kingdom of ZION]

Thank you, Rob, for the insights. One of the things that it brings to my mind is the reality that Joseph Smith could not have known the prophecies and symbolism of the various dates on which events fall. He did not start studying Hebrew until sometime well into the Kirtland period, IIRC. Yet there is tremendous symbolism.

I love that the Succoth (Sukkot) fell on the times that he was learning about and receiving the BoM. What a Feast of Harvest it is for the world; what a symbolic gift from God.

Interestingly that he was command to return each year, and it became four years that he did so.

• September 21, 1823 (Sukkot I) – Joseph prays and is visited three times during the night by an angel named Moroni. Moroni tells him about a hidden book and quotes scriptures from the books of Joel, Isaiah, and Malachi.

By the Jewish reckoning of time, at sunset it was the 22nd, where all three visits came on.

• September 22, 1823 – Joseph goes to the place where the gold plates are concealed, but is instructed by the angel Moroni not to retrieve them, as he was not prepared to receive them.

• September 22, 1824 – Joseph goes to the place where the gold plates are concealed, but is instructed by the angel Moroni it is not yet time to retrieve them.
• September 22, 1825 – Joseph goes to the place where the gold plates are concealed, but is instructed again by the angel Moroni not to retrieve them, the time has not yet come.
• September 22, 1826 – Joseph goes to the place where the gold plates are concealed, but is instructed by the angel Moroni not to retrieve them yet.
• September 22, 1827 – Joseph goes to the place where the gold plates are concealed, and is instructed by the angel Moroni that the time to retrieve them had arrived. This was a Jubilee year into Adonai (the Lord).

The autumnal equinox brings the fall season to the Northern Hemisphere on September 22. This is Rosh Hashanah/"Head of the Year", also called the Feast of Trumpets. It is the Jewish Yom Teruah/New Year (1 Observance Day). This is the first of the High Holidays or Yamim Noraim/"Days of Awe" (10 Observance Days).

Of course the symbolism of Elijah's return on Passover has been commented on by more than one GA in Conference talks. It is indeed a great and amazing gift for our day.

Elijah's coming on Passover was his coming as 'John, the Baptist'. It was that the Jews were to look too! However Elijah's coming on Rosh Hashanah as the Messiah's forerunner, follows in the footsteps of Joseph Smith who was the Elias.

To me, these are simply testimony further that Joseph Smith was indeed chosen by God to restore the blessings of the priesthood in the last days, and that we are in the very last days.

Aman...

[WarMonger]

Off topic here but would like your opinion on the star of David. Many years ago while doing youth seminary we had a major punch up over the meaning of the symbolism. Some saying the 12 tribes of Israel if on counts the inner point/cross. We approached the chief rabbi of the area - he said it is simply two Greek triangles superimposed on each other meaning strength in all directions and King David used it on his shield when he went to battle??.

Any comment will be appreciated.

[Kingdom of ZION]

Off topic here but would like your opinion on the star of David. May years ago while doing youth seminary we had a major punch up over the meaning of the symbolism. Some saying the 12 tribes of Israel if on counts the inner point/cross. We approached the chief rabbi of the area - he said it is simply two Greek triangles superimposed on each other meaning strength in all directions and King David used it on his shield when he went to battle??.

Any comment will be appreciated.

Most point to it being a upright triangle pointing to G_d and a inverted triangle pointing to man. In this six pointed star you find the unity of both or a Man G_d. The Mogan Daved (Star of David) is the star of the Father, and is given in connection to Adam. The five pointed star is the Messiah star and is given in connection with Yehoshua (Yahweh). Five points of fellowship is also a sign of the Messiah. A box does not make a very good star, but you can twist it into an hour glass and find that pattern on the Garments of the Holy Priesthood. One is generally unable to draw a seven pointed star naturally, as it points to the Great Jehovah whom rest from all his labors, and does not come down into this world. The Prairie Star that was so popular among early Mormon Pioneers is a eight pointed star and is given in connection with Elohim.

I was not sure who you were directing the question too...

[WarMonger]

Kingdom of ZION: Thanks for the response - never heard of the Prairrie star before.
See now even more interpretations of the star of David!!!

A common claim is that the upward triangle represents female sexuality, and the downward triangle represents male sexuality; combined, they symbolize unity and harmony. In alchemy, the two triangles symbolize "fire" and "water"; together, they represent the reconciliation of opposites.

Some historians have attempted to trace the star back to King David; others trace it to Rabbi Akiva and the Bar Kokhba ("son of the star") rebellion (135 CE); still others trace it to the kabbalists, especially Rabbi Isaac Luria (16th century). However, there is no documented evidence of these claim. Instead, evidence suggests that the early use of the star was limited to "practical Kabbalah", probably dating back to the 6th century. It is connected in legend with the "Seal of Solomon," which was a signet ring used by Solomon to supposedly control demons and spirits.The original ring was inscribed with the Tetragrammaton; but medieval amulets imitating the ring substituted the six-pointed star or five-pointed star, often accompanied by rampant lions. Hence, the star was called the "Seal of Solomon."

The Zohar (3:73a) states, “There are three knots connecting [three entities] one to another: the Holy One, blessed be He; Torah; and Israel.” The Jewish soul connects to its Creator through the study and observance of Torah. The triangle represents the connection between these three entities.1

The essence of the soul connects with G‑d’s essence through the study of the teachings of Kabbalah
These three entities are each comprised of a pnimiyut (inner dimension) and a chitzoniyut (external dimension). The Torah is comprised of both exoteric teachings (the Talmud, Jewish law, etc.) as well as esoteric teachings (the Kabbalah). G‑d’s “revealed” energy permeates and provides existence to all worlds, but His essence is completely hidden,

[PatriotMadeSure]

Mormon Rabbi, love the material you are sharing very much thank you. I would love to learn more about this subject. Are you familiar with D&C 84:54-59, if so what are your thoughts? also, is there any other way to contact you?

[firstfruit]

I've been researching whether Jesus, the apostles like Peter and Paul and the early Jewish believers kept Torah and if so why and what that means for the rest of us. It's clear Jesus kept Torah otherwise that would have been sin but we know that as the spotless Lamb of God he did not sin. We see the apostle Paul keeping the Sabbath, attending the festivals in Jerusalem as required by Torah, circumcising Timothy as required by the Torah. Paul also asserts that he keeps the Law as a Pharisee of Pharisees. Peter we see in the Clementine Homilies and Recognitions texts also saying that he kept the Law since Jesus said "not one dot or title of the Law will by no means pass away till heaven and earth pass away and all things be fulfilled". Furthermore, the early Jewish believers are said to be zealous for the Law meaning they believe they are to keep it (read Acts 21:20). So even early Jewish believers in Jesus believed the Law and kept it.

But why? The only Biblical answer is because God commanded the Israelites to keep the Law of Moses. So this is not something that only applies to Jews per se but on a more broader context to Israelites in general. The Jews or the House of Judah is composed of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and some Levites. But there were others from the 10 tribes to the north of the House of Israel that joined the Jews when Jereboam started to sin against God by instituting a golden calf idol, an unauthorized priesthood and festivals.

There are many of the lost 10 tribes of the House of Israel in LDS. Many know they are of the tribe of Ephraim or Manasseh. So my question is if Torah or the Law of Moses is required to be kept by Israelites then why do those who know they are Israelites (like those who know they are from the tribe of Ephraim or Manneseh) not keep the Law of Moses?