Did I not tell thee: Unite my people in Kabbalah? And thou didst seek to know the meaning of this. And at the first thou thought Kabbalah meant the power of God, then thou thought Kabbalah was a way to help mankind understand my Word, and then understood Kabbalah to be the holy traditions given to mankind of me through my servant Moses, and still thou thought Kabbalah to be something more. And I say unto thee: it is all these and more: Yea, Kabbalah is a mysticism, a theology, and a thaumaturgy; Kabbalah is the tradition of Israel, it is my doctrine, and thus it is a mysterious art, for my doctrine is too simple for mankind to comprehend.” —Doctrines of the Saints 125:4-8

Mormon Kabbalah isn’t really new. Joseph Smith’s magical world views were based on folk magic, Hermetics, and Kabbalah. As the religion progressed, forked, and grew, the new denominations that were birthed from the death of the original church forged new paths with new teachings and understandings.

“Mormonism” is defined as nearly any church tied to the movement founded by Joseph Smith Jr. Yet the term “Mormon” is a nickname that some offshoots reject for a variety of reasons. The Latter Day Saint movement has over 200 denominations. There are about 70 or more denominations within it that identify as “Mormon.” The largest and best-known Mormon denomination is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized by Brigham Young idenatifed as Mormons for generations. Under their current administration they reject this term, though many of its branches still embrace it. Community of Christ, among others, are also a part of the Latter Day Saint movement, but reject the title or nickname of “Mormon” mostly due to they term’s ties to Young’s churches. The oldest branch of the faith, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints started by James Strang also still embraces this term.

The term “Mormon Kabbalah” is used for a few reasons. For one, it’s easier to say than “Latter Day Saint” Kabbalah,” even though that would be more accurate. Also, Joseph Smith Jr. identified himself as a Mormon, thus it only makes sense to honor him by using the name of the holy book he brought into the world, through the power of God. And, the majority of Latter Day Saint denominations do still accept the term an identifier of their faith. Lastly, the Book of Mormon is a key scripture we use to teach Mormon Kabbalah, so again it makes sense to use this term.

Knowing what “Mormon” is and why we use it, let’s turn our attention to the second term: “Kabbalah.” Kabbalah is traditionally viewed or defined as a Jewish mysticism that teaches the hidden secrets of the Torah. However, it’s more than a “magical world view,” and more than a way of life, yet still a little of both, intertwined. The word itself is from the Rabbinical Hebrew “qabbālāh,” meaning “tradition,” and from “qibbēl” which is to “receive” or “accept” (Google dictionary).

Some say Kabbalah is a religion, some say it’s magic, others still say it’s a science. Regardless of each of these views, Kabbalah is a way of life. One way to look at Kabbalah is to say that churches teach one the religion of others’ spiritual experiences, while Mormon Kabbalah teaches one the religion of finding our own spiritual experiences.

It is important to note that Kabbalistic practices are deeply rooted in Jewish mysticism and should be approached with respect and understanding. (Mysticism is the belief that becoming one with God may be attained through subjective experience.) There are key differences between the Kabbalah of Judaism, the Kabbalah of Christianity, and Mormon Kabbalah. These differences will be reviewed and explained over time as we delve into Mormon Kabbalah. For now, the most important differences to point out are as follows: 

• The focus on Jesus Christ as the Father of our Salvation and our emissary.
• The focus on the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, and other works to understand the Torah.
• Focus on personal growth in Christ’s Grace to separate us from Ego, enabling our true altruistic nature.

Beyond this, all other differences only become relevant as we dig deeper into our studies. For now, the most important thing to know about Kabbalah is its fundamental doctrine: Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself. This is the key that binds Mormonism and Kabbalah.

And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy; but behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you that ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good. Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled. Old things are done away, and all things have become new. Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” —3 Nephi 5:89-92 RAV, 12:43-48 OPV

Questions: 

• In your view, how is Jesus Christ as the Father of our Salvation (Mosiah 8:91 RAV, 16:15 OVB; Alma 8:93-94 RAV, 11:38-39a OPV)?
• How is Jesus our emissary (John 12: 44-50; Moroni 10:4 RAV, OPV)? 
• What are your thoughts on Jesus Christ, on deepening your faith in and your relationship with Jesus Christ? 

Types of Kabbalah

There are two main misunderstandings I encounter over and over when talking about Mormon Kabbalah. The first is that Kabbalah is a book. The second is that there is only one type of Kabbalah. We will not be an exhausting look at Kabbalah here by any means. However, it is the hope of the author to help readers and students better understand Mormon Kabbalah in light of other types of Kabbalah.

In Judaism

As stated above, Kabbalah, Hebrew קַבָּלָה, comes from the root קבָּל meaning “reception.” While there are many meanings to the term Kabbalah, including “reception,” “tradition,” or “correspondence,” the idea of receiving is one common understanding between all the various schools. Historically speaking, Jewish Kabbalists developed their own sacred texts and use classical Jewish scriptures to explain and use mystical teachings. Though there are many schools, in modern Judaism Lurianic Kabbalah is most widely taught and practiced.

Jewish Kabbalah came out of what is known as Merkabah mysticism and Hekhalot literature. These were focused in part with the idea of descending to the throne of God. With ideas of using signs, words, and keys to get past angels to get into heaven and gain access to the throne of God, ideas found in Merkabah mysticism and Hekhalot literature might have been very at home to the early Brighamites, and to many fundamentalists in that branch of our movement today. Though practitioners generally believe that Kabbalah is from an oral Torah given by Moses or even from Adam, coming out of the garden of Eden itself, Jewish Kabbalah actually came to be around the 12th century.

However, this doesn’t mean that Jewish Kabbalah isn’t as old as it claims to be. The main text of Lurianic Kabbalah is the Zohar, a collection of writings that include a commentary on the mystical aspects of the Torah, more especially Genesis. The Zohar focuses on mysticism, mythical cosmogony, and mystical psychology. It is attributed to Shimon bar Yochai, also known as the Rashbi. However, it is more likely written by Moses de León in Spain. But, like the Book of Mormon, that doesn’t mean that Moses de León wrote it. It may have been given by God to the Jews as a form of restoration of their religion. One of the main points of the Zohar is strict observance to the Torah and it is written as a type of Midrash, making the style more familiar to the Jewish people.

Kabbalah in Judaism has gone in and out of style. It is currently seeing a resurgence.

Christian Cabala & Hermetic Qabalah

During the Renaissance, Christian scholars became very interested in Jewish mysticism, especially Kabbalah. These scholars saw the Jewish people as having secrets that they believed they, the Jews couldn’t understand because of their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. They then took Jewish ideas and reinterpreted them to fit with Christian theology. For example, the upper three Sephirot on the tree of life became the Trinity, with the other seven the earthly world. And this does fit, as the lower seven are the days of Creation. One of the beautiful things about the Sefirot is that they can be interpreted in so many ways.

During this same time period, Hermetic Qabalah arose alongside Christian Cabala, creating what we see today, a variety of Esoteric Christian, non-Christian, or even anti-Christian schools. Hermetic Qabalah draws on not only Kabbalah, but astrology, Alchemy, Pagan religions, Neoplatonism, Gnosticism, hermeticism, and more. Hermetic Qabalah differs from the Jewish form in being a more admittedly syncretic system, however it shares many concepts with Jewish Kabbalah. It is the underlying philosophy and framework for a number of magical societies, like the Golden Dawn, and the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross. It would be impossible to go into detail on Hermetic Qabalah without getting into a number of esoteric and occult ideas, practices, and philosophies. And remembering that occult means secret, the task is even more difficult.

Mormon Kabbalah

Mormon Kabbalah is a new concept that arose in March of 2018 when the Lord told me to unite God’s people in Kabbalah. This may seem a contradiction to God’s command to Latter Day Saints to “preach unto the world, saying: You must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (DoS 12a:59; DaC 16:6c2-d1 RLDS/CoC, 18:41 CJCLdS). But with the understanding of repentance as “teshuvah,” returning to God, and the Kabalistic understanding that Israel means “Yashar-El, the path Straight to God,” then the idea that we would be united in receiving makes perfect sense (DoS 2g:20-26).

What is teshuvah? It is a Hebrew word, normally translated as “repentance,” but in reality it means “returning.” One of the Hebrew words for sin is chet (see Chapter 5, What is Sin?), meaning “to go astray.” Rather than seeing repentance as the fear of God, in Kabbalah teshuvah is the return to the path of righteousness. Mormon Kabbalah is about building a personal relationship with God, the very nature of true repentance.

We have been told that Kabbalah is a mysticism. Mysticism is the understanding that union with God may be attained through contemplation and surrendering ourselves to God. Or as Jesus put it, “not my will, but thine, be done” (John 22:42). Kabbalah and mysticism, according to the same revelation, is a theology, and a thaumaturgy. Theology is the study of who God is, the nature of God, and religious beliefs in general. We are to build our own theologies, our own personal understanding of God. Thaumaturgy is miracle working, the gifts of the Spirit.

Questions

• What is mysticism to you?
• What is theology to you, and how do you see it working with mysticism? 
• What is thaumaturgy, and how does it help us bring mysticism and theology to life?
• How does this idea of the Gospel in action help us grow or deepen our faith in and our relationship with Jesus Christ? 

The Plainness

Anyone can study Kabbalah as the Lord has said that it is “too simple for mankind to comprehend” (DoS 125:8). This reminds me of Nephi:

I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.” —2 Nephi 15:7 RAV, 33:6 OPV

 As said above, the teaching of Kabbalah can be summed up in “love God, love thy neighbor.” Beyond this, Mormon Kabbalah is perception. It is putting an end to looking at the scriptures to support the ideas of men, to use the Word of God as weapons against our fellows, or to build churches of men. Rather, it is to see the world as a mirror, to fix our broken selves, and understand that this is enough.

Mormon Kabbalah is a return to the marriage covenant between Israel and God, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. As we build our own personal relationship with God, our evangelism becomes our actions, rather than our words. We don’t need to seek out those looking for God, the Lord will send them to us. And by returning to God personally, we are doing our part to heal the creation. Mormon Kabbalah is an invitation to receive God, personally, into your life.

Questions

• What does the Law of Love mean to you?
• Which are more powerful to you, words or actions? Why? 

The People of Israel

His word was made known to the Prophets, and his sacraments were established in Israel.” —Book of the Law of the Lord 2:20

In the Latter Day Saint movement, the terms “Zion” and “Israel” come up a lot. Sometimes they are even used interchangeably. But what do these words mean? And what do they have to do with us, today?

Israel

In the Old Testament, Jacob, son of Issac, is given a new title, Israel, after wrestling with an angel (Genesis 32:28). The ancient people of God and modern state of Israel took their names from this title given to Jacob. But commentators differ on the interpretation of its meaning. The Hebrew name יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra’el) is said to mean “God contends,” or “God judges.” This is from the roots שָׂרָה (sarah), “to contend, to fight,” and אֵל (‘el), “God”.  In the Second Temple period of Judaism the name was understood to mean “a man seeing God.” This idea comes from the ʾyš (man) rʾh (to see) ʾel (God).

In Kabbalah, yet another meaning is added to the title Israel: “Straight to El,” or in other words, “the straight path to the Creator.”

 One who wishes to go by the path of the Creator is called Yashar-El, which is considered Yashar [straight] LaEl [to God], meaning that he wants everything he does to rise straight to the Creator, and does not wish to have any other aim.” —Baruch Shalom HaLevi Ashlag (The Rabash); He who Hardens His Heart, Article No. 20, Tav-Shin-Mem-Hey, 1984-85

This makes more sense when looking at Israel both as Jacob’s new title, and as the name of God’s people. Jacob was unrelenting, wrestling the angel until morning, his path was straight. Yes, God will judge His people, God will judge all. This doesn’t really set God’s people apart from anyone. What sets us apart is that we are on the path of teshuvah, “straight to the Creator.”

Questions

• What does Israel mean to you?
• What is teshuvah in relation to Israel and does it have any impact on your relationship with Jesus Christ? 

Kabbalah and Israel are a State of Mind and Heart

The word YsarmEl (Israel) is the letters of Li Rosh (the head, mind, is mine). This means that he believes he has a mind of Kedusha (Sanctity) although he is only discerned as “just,” meaning that he is in a state of diminution and lowness.” —Baal HaSulam, Shamati [I Heard], 143, Only Good to Israel

To be God’s people is more than merely joining a church, denomination, or group of people. We must do more than merely be baptized, confirmed by the laying on of hands, or following a set of rules. We must humble ourselves and be brought low to be taken upon high as joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17, Isaiah 2:17, Matthew 23:12). We must follow Christ, and he descended below them all (Ecclesiastics 24:45, Ephesians 4:9-10). This requires more than being a mere follower of others, but one born again with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Then, as one⁠—as Israel⁠—we will be Zion.

In a revelation received on November 30, 2019 (Doctrines of the Saint 2g), we are told that to be Israel is to be on the path Straight to God, to seek God’s face and taste of the fruit of the Tree of Life and not look away from either. To love God and our neighbors, to care for the Earth and her creatures. And we are told that if we do these things, we will not just be Israel, we will be good and faithful servants. We were further commanded then not to quarrel with one another, but to be one. And isn’t this Zion, to be one?

Zion

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.” —Revelation 14:1

What then is Zion? Zion is צִיּוֹן Tsiyyon in Hebrew, the term often used as a synonym for Jerusalem. Jerusalem meaning “the place of peace.” Some say that Zion comes from the Hebrew root ṣiyyôn or “castle.” It is a feminine term, which makes sense as we are the bride, Christ the groom. For both the Rastafarians and the Latter Day Saints Zion is a Utopian society of the righteous. It is a people or place of unity, peace and freedom—the exact opposite of “Babylon.” The worldly Babylon representing the oppressing and exploiting forces of materialism, the world of pride and Ego; a place of evil.

In Mormon Kabbalah, Zion refers to the spiritual point from which reality emerges. It is the Holy of Holies of the Temple of God. We seek the unification of “Zion” (here meaning Glory or Foundation) and “Jerusalem” (here referring to Kingship). We wish to bring Heaven to the earth. Zion then is born from within us and used to repair and transform the world. We can only become Zion by displaying the Pure Love of Christ, meeting everyone where they are and loving them as God does. And in this we become one, we become Israel: those on the straight path to God.

Questions

• What does Zion mean to you?
• What is teshuvah in relation to Zion, and does it have any impact on your relationship with Jesus Christ? 

Kabbalah and the Spiritual Path

One question I am often asked is how one can strengthen their relationship with God, particularly during periods of doubt or when one is feeling disconnected from God. As a Mormon Kabbalist, I generally endorse Kabbalistic principles. Kabbalah is the mystical arm of Judaism. Like Mormonism, it seeks to understand the truth of God and the universe. It incorporates a variety of spiritual practices, including prayers, meditation, and scripture. The idea is that anyone can achieve greater spiritual awareness and connection with the divine. Like Mormonism, Kabbalah places a strong emphasis on personal revelation and direct communication with God.

A common misconception is that Kabbalah is only for the Jewish people, or that it is a secret tradition. In reality, Kabbalah is open to anyone who is interested in studying and practicing. The key teachings of Kabbalah are centered on spiritual growth and accessing a deeper understanding of the universe and our place within it.  While there are mystical practices associated with Kabbalah, like Mormon temple rituals, they are often part of a broader framework of ethical and moral teachings.

There are a variety of Kabbalistic practices that can help one deepen their spiritual connection and understanding of the divine. These include engaging the Lord through prayer and meditation, studying the scriptures, visualization exercises, acts of kindness and charity, and attending religious services, rituals, or retreats. Talking with fellow Saints and/or trusted spiritual advisors can also be helpful, as it is a form of fellowship. What is truly important is finding what works best for you and meets your individual needs.

Everyone’s spiritual journey is unique, what works for one person may not always work for another. It may take some time and experimentation to find out what works best for you. It’s important to listen to your intuition and let your heart guide you in your spiritual journey. Keeping a journal to look back on can also be very helpful in tracking progress and reflecting on what helps you feel more connected to God.

Mormon Kabbalah teaches that acts of kindness and charity are essential components of spiritual growth. Giving to those in need and showing generosity and kindness cultivates a deeper connection with the divine. Helping others will help individuals develop a greater sense of empathy and compassion. In other words, the more we serve others the better we understand God as by serving others we only serve the Lord.  This is because we will attain a deeper understanding of the interdependence and interconnectedness of all things.

Kabbalistic teachings are all about unity, love, and harmony. And as those that spend their lives helping others will tell you, practicing acts of kindness and charity not only helps individuals build positive relationships, but also creates a more fulfilling sense of purpose in their lives. By developing qualities like empathy and compassion we will find greater spiritual growth.  Mormon Kabbalah teaches that through acts of kindness and compassion towards others, individuals can  overcome negative qualities such as pride, selfishness, and egoism. As we overcome these negative traits we will develop a more expansive and altruistic perspective on life.

As we develop empathy and compassion we cannot help but recognize the divine spark within ourselves and others. This cultivates a sense of unity with all of creation. As we grow in Christ’s Grace through the teachings of Kabbalah, we will let go of egoism, that human perspective of self-serving motivation. We will instead begin to focus on the well-being of others. Practicing acts of kindness and charity can also help to develop empathy and compassion. These actions foster a deeper understanding of the needs and struggles of others.

Recognizing the divine spark within ourselves and others means acknowledging that we all have intrinsic value and worth, simply by virtue of being alive. This recognition can lead to greater empathy and compassion. This is because it helps us to see others as fellow human beings who are also deserving of love, respect, and kindness. When we view others in this way, we can be more patient, tolerant, and understanding.

The more we practice Kabbalah the easier this will be, even in difficult or challenging situations. We become more likely to extend a helping hand when someone is struggling when we truly see others. This helps us offer real support and encouragement to those who need it. This is the goal of all Saints and all that would call themselves Saints, and thus it is the goal of Mormon Kabbalah.

Questions

• What does Kabbalah mean to you?
• What are some differences between Mormon Kabbalah and other types of Kabbalah that stood out to you in this chapter? What similarities? 
• Do you see Kabbalah as something that can help you on your path? Why or why not? What draws you to it? What concerns do you have? 
• Do you see Jesus’ teachings in Mormon Kabbalah as it has been presented to you in this chapter?