Objective:

This week’s discussion we start looking into Section 6: Understanding the Mysteries.

We will start by considering a passage from Neum and a passage from Jacob, and ask “What are The Mysteries of God?” and “What must happen for us to understand them?”

This course defines Mysteries as teachings which are to be understood through exploring the depths of their simplicity.  If these ideas are complicated, you are approaching them wrong.   The biggest obstacle to learning and exploring and eventually understanding the Mysteries of YHVH are those traditions of our fathers which are not correct.   As Jacob Lehi-son said “Behold, great and marvelous are the works of [YHVH]! How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him.”

Beads:

Section 6, The Large Bead:

“O, that I might Receive Understanding,

That Thy Torah might uncover her mysteries before me.”

Passages to Ponder

Neum 14:20-23

20. Therefore, I do say unto you this day: To know the letters is to know the mysteries of YHVH;

21. Yea, teach the letters unto your children and they will know the secret doctrine.

22. The Torah is revealed to every generation, to those who love her; yea, her voice is as a still whisper, her message only given unto they that show her affection.

23. She does hide her face in a veil, for her beauty is like no other; for she is wild, and none may possess her;

Mosiah 1:7-11 [1:5-7]

1:7 [1:5a]. I say unto you, my sons: Were it not for these things (the Plates of Brass), which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief;

1:8 [1:5b]. And we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers which are not correct.

1:9 [1:6a]. O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true,

1:10 [1:6b]. And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now; and they are true, and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes.

1:11 [1:7a]. And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby;

Questions of Knowledge (What it says at the surface)

• The Hebrew word “Ot” (אות) means “sign” or “symbol”, and the building blocks of creation. In the Mystical Tradition, the 22 Otiyot (letters) were used to weave all of creation. What blessings does Neum say come to those who learn to know the letters?
• What does it say we must do before Torah will unveil her beauty?
• What does Jacob say is the only way to know the mysteries of God?

Questions of Wisdom (What it means below the surface)

• Based on the wording of this passage, do you feel that Neum is saying that the Mysteries of YHVH is the same thing as the Beauty of the Torah? Or are these two separate ideas?
• What is the Torah? Is it an idea? A philosophy? A collection of teachings? A Law we must adhere to? In what ways is it some or all of those? How do we go about showing her affection?
• Is learning the symbols (symbolism and letters of the Torah) the way to show her affection? Or is there some other way (like giving her our attention on a daily basis through daily study, or on pondering passages you find beautiful)?

Questions of Understanding (Likening it to Ourselves)

• Have you ever had a situation where you felt that the Word of God was unveiled to you? What were the circumstances, what understanding did you receive? How would you describe the unveiling?
• Jacob says that the only way we can know His Ways, is to have them revealed to us. Do you believe they can be revealed by reading, or by attending classes together? Or is revealed a “deeper” thing? If it’s more than just study and participation, what is it that must be done?

Questions of Mystery (What deeper meaning can be harvested)

• The imagery of showing affection to a beautiful woman hoping that at some point she will unveil her mysteries to you is a very suggestive image. Is the underlying message equally suggestive? What is it that is really being suggested here? What is the beauty of Torah that we should be seeking to behold?
• In what way is she Wild? And what does it mean that we cannot possess her?