Kabbalah in a Surprising Place: Joseph Smith's Engagement with Jewish Mysticism

[@Phoenix-Tide]

Smith translated the book of Mormon long before he had any knowledge of Hebrew ideas. It becomes easy to show why Smith became interested in Kabalah. Not the other way around.

[@zionsredemptionradionetwork]

My Grandmother was Jewish. I was a Baptist who became a Mormon who keeps shabbat and the Holy days and loves hearing The Rabbi's and learning about my Jewish ancestry and beliefs. This lecture was enlightening.

[@Zevviews8]

Let me tell you brother as you may know already that halacha Jewish Law considers you to be 100% Jewish if your grandmother on your mothers side is Jewish thus making you Jewish. You have a holy Jewish Soul feed it by keeping the comandments as best as you can.

[@andrewclemons8619]

​@@Zevviews8 the Torah says a person can't be Jewish lest they have Paternal link Numbers 1:2,18 Ezra 2:59. Like Jesus said don't trust the Pharisees

[@BrittanyPlothow]

I'm currently working on an online content series about Mormons and Jews, this was so helpful!

[@jope2123]

How is it going? Interested.

[@prescottdk]

Did you ever finish this series? I would be very interested!!

[@jonathanfelt2529]

I am studying Hebrew New Testament manuscripts from Cochin India and the vatican.. there are kaballah ideas and references preserved in them. The Gospel of John also contains surprising parallels to kaballah and Joseph Smith. Thank you for taking the time to post this.

[@quincydaisy1820]

Professor, the translation took place of a few months, not several years.

[@davidlintonrecords7062]

True. From the sources and evidence available, it took place in a 3 month timeframe.

[@dinocollins720]

Great video! Also thanks for your respect of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!!!

[@judahmanasseh3152]

This was an insightful presentation that definitely leaves the door open for more research in the field. I am sure Gershom Scholem would approve of such an endeavor.

[@hartleylachter8197]

If you're interested in research on the relationship between Kabbalah and Joseph Smith, a good place to start is the groundbreaking article by Lance Owens, "Joseph Smith and Kabbalah: The Occult Connection," Dialogue 3:1 (1994), 117-194.

[@benjaminsmith6031]

Well done! You treated this topic with all the care and professionalism we could ask for. Please let us know if you have done any follow up research or presentations on this topic.

[@dvdcrndll]

I think this is a great presentation on the parallels between Restoration Christianity and Kabalic Judaism. It was very respectful of Joseph Smith.

[@UAJudaicStudies]

Thanks so much David. Please check out our other videos as well.

[@ruggedlifejewelry]

restoration Christianity is not true gospel from Jesus or His direct apostles. It is only a fallout of the rebellion against Catholicism, however, the protestants etc unfortunately kept much of the practices of the Roman Catholic belief system. The pure undefiled truth of Christianity is found in the gospels and NT of the KJV Bible

[@judahmanasseh3152]

@@ruggedlifejewelry I am not so sure about that. You can read the Patrologia Graeca and discover that the Church in close proximity to Christ's time on the earth taught all of what Joseph Smith taught about apotheosis, life before this earth, etc. The Council of Nicaea changed all that; many at that council decided to vote these doctrines out because they resemble Judaism or Hebrew religion in general--and because they were ashamed of them (Eusibius, John Chrysosdom, Augustine, just to name a few). They replaced it with the neo-platonic doctrines of Plotinus and Porphyry. The same thing happened to Judaism when Philo of Alexandria neo-platonized the religion's teachings. Catholicism is the epicenter of neo-platonic philosophy, spiritualizing everything and leaving no room for literal interpretations and filled with the hatred of anything material or corporeal. Protestantism is nothing more than the auxiliaries of the Catholic Church, thinking they are different but not really.

[@jesuschristmyking8644]

Joseph Smith was a Freemason...his brother was named Hiram...after Hiram Abiff.

[@CarlJohnson-kk4pr]

@@ruggedlifejewelry did You know king Usher James was a Grand Master Freemason and king of 2 lands Scotland and England where he had the Scottish Rite Freemason Temple. And he was of the luciferian Order .

[@annewandering]

Joseph was a friend of my husband's great + grandfather, Alexander Neibaur, who was Jewish, before he converted to Christianity. He had nothing to do with the Book of Mormon but he did teach Joseph Smith a lot about Judaism.

[@armourofcontempt]

Joseph Smith and the Kabbalah. The book is titled thus. The aquisition of this man by the Jewish organisation is well-documented. Much as the aquisition and induction of Meriwether Lewis into freemasonry, Joseph Smith's induction into the doctrines of faith is a very interesting prelude to the LDS and their subservience to the purposes of Judaism across the world today.

[@yuta5026]

May I adk what you mean by the LDS subserviance to Judaisms goals throughout the world? Ive never heard the two related until recently. Very interesting subject to me as one who was once LDS.

[@thebookofmormontheatonemen8495]

Interesting insight. A few mispronunciations, false statements and confusions about the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Also I’m still trying to find Joseph Smiths connection to Judaism prior to producing the Book Of Mormon.

[@loridavis7086]

I believe the mispronunciations are on our part. Ex: Nephi is an Egyptian name pronounced with Ne(eh)phi(long e sound). I imagine Moroni would end with the same long e sound.

[@karlshaner2453]

Judah is one tribe of many and not the source of the things of God but a (hopefully) joyful recipient of said knowledge. If you see a similarity in such things Jews believe, and that of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints count yourselves among the many others who see pieces of their faith as well. Ever wonder why this is? Some have pieces of the truth as passed down over many generations...God has revealed a plethora of truth in the restoration of the Gospel thru his servant Joseph Smith Jr. including a restoration of the Temple! Ever wonder how the blessing to Joseph(Joseph shall be a fruitful bough by a well whose branches go over the wall) was fulfilled? The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ is the testament of such things. If one seeks to do a study, one might look at all that is written about Messiah Ben Joseph and then take a look at the life of Joseph Smith. This was an excellent presentation overall. Enjoy your studies. May the God of our Fathers bless Israel forever. (One must remember that Joseph at the time of the first vision was a 15-year-old boy and at the time of the translation was a very young farmer with little education, not some religious texts, multi-lingual genius). The book is a gift from God to all the world.

[@stingfan284]

Very well said

[@brockjudge738]

Lol , i went to High School in Mesa at Mtn View. Crazy I found this Video through study Financial Markets of all things. Lot of weird connections here.

[@bryanduarte4895]

I'm in mesa and that's the same fucking thing that I thought!! Out of all the videos I picked this 1... Lol crazy

[@bryanduarte4895]

MESA RABBIT!! LOL

[@danbeaird3431]

Go Toros!

[@TawsifEC]

Fascinating disucssion, I had noticed this Kabbala connection when studying Joseph Smith's divinatory, masonic, and other theurgic ideas, practices and experiences.

[@didjesbydan]

The three degrees of glory is more easily attributable to Emanuel Swedenborg.

[@MegaJohn144]

It is taught in the Bible, and before than in Kabbalah.

[@greasyhandsauto-shaunbutte9726]

Have you ever heard of the apostle Paul? He taught it.

[@Sayheybrother8]

@@MegaJohn144 where in the Bible?

[@truthbebold4009]

@@MegaJohn144 What the Bible teaches, the Kabbalah teaches the opposite.

[@mccaf87]

@@Sayheybrother8 1st Corinthians 15

[@Hamboarding]

Very interesting! Thanks a lot!

[@castielgregory4915]

i guess I am pretty randomly asking but do anyone know of a good website to watch new tv shows online ?

[@stetsonizaiah4165]

@Castiel Gregory i watch on Flixzone. Just google for it =)

[@StressFreeDentistry]

Interesting idea although i for sure don’t see a connection. Yes you can stretch and make some very generalized correlations. But causality based on what I have seen doesn’t make sense to me after having been a life long Mormon and reading the Zohar.

[@DiscernmentNow]

That's because Kabbalah is Freemasonry, and Freemasonry is Kabbalah! "Freemasonry is the study of the KABBALAH." Albert Pike said that!! And Joseph Smith and his dad were freemasons! SMH

[@abeerjehan7039]

And this it's nothing to do with Judaism teachings of Dawood Ibrahims.

[@song8777]

So much is wrong here. Timeline all out of order. Lots of rationalization and guesswork, when the history is already written down.

[@ruggedlifejewelry]

If Kabbalah is what Jesus promoted than why did He harshly rebuke the heart and practices of the scribes and pharisees who indeed followed oral tradition which was also akin to the Babylonian Talmud which is clearly occult/satanic? The talmud is contradictory to Christianity or true pure Judaism. Also, there is no such thing as "reformed Egyptian" anywhere or at anytime.

[@jesuschristmyking8644]

@Chad Bolton Joseph Smith was a Freemason...his brother was named Hiram...after Hiram Abiff.

[@CarlJohnson-kk4pr]

I found by HASHEM that 2 of the sermon on the mount, are from the Oral Torah. The last 2 to be Spacific.

[@judahmanasseh3152]

Hmmm...well it appears you have not done your research, for reformed Egyptian does appear in North America. The traditional writing of the Algonquian tribe, meaning Native Americans, is almost identical with the few exceptions of one or two letters. Mi'kmaq (the language of a Native American tribe from Nova Scotia) too resembles much of Egyptian writing hieroglyphs.

[@onewotldgovernmentonlywhen9044]

Kabbalah is witchcraft and it’s not from God

[@JaakkoJohannes]

Luke 11:52 "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering." Matthew 23:2 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. Also the Talmud has nothing to do with Kabbalah. It's the opposite of Kabbalah. According to the Zohar the sages of the Mishna (Talmud, gemara etc.) don't know the faithful shepherd and write compilations void of Wisdom and kabbalah(Talmud etc.). From the Zohar: "But the sages of the Mishnah do not know the faithful shepherd. Elijah, an oath upon you in the name of Yud Hei Vav Hei and in the explicit name, reveal him to all the leaders of the Mishnah sages so they will recognize him and he shall no longer be violated. "But he was wounded(or violated) for our transgressions." (Yeshayah 53:5) You do not have to receive confirmation from THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, because I am a messenger from the Master of the universe and I know that if you do that, the Holy One, Blessed be he, will thank you for it and your descendants shall be exalted for it above and below. Do not tarry in doing it, neither a week nor a month, nor a year, but do it immediately."

[@lemueljr1496]

I'm honestly more upset that every damn LDS church in the West has maintained luscious green lawns all the way through the massive drought that has basically signed the death warrant of the Great Salt Lake and the millions of people who live near it.

[@jacquiblackburn743]

unbelievable 🙏♥️

[@foozlefop]

The BOM was not translated iver the course of several years. It was two months. This man's scholarship is lacking.

[@Sayheybrother8]

That’s what Joseph said but he did talk about the Book of Mormon stories after his first visit with Moroni. It also seems likely he told similar stories even before that.

[@realjamsrecords]

Kabbalah's roots stem from the 4th century (if not before) with merkavah, Sefer Yetsirah, etc. and is strongly influenced by pagan gnosticism, notoriously neoplatonicist metaphysics and hermeticist theurgy. Quite instructive however.

[@samael3395]

Wrong!

[@ruggedlifejewelry]

@@samael3395 can you say what is wrong with the comment? thanks

[@abrotherinchrist]

​@@ruggedlifejewelry Freemasons and Rosicrucians claim that the mystical knowledge of their teachings stem back to Babylon and Egypt. When one looks at the common threads of theo-philosophy all forms of esoteric mysticism can be traced further and further back until we come to the Garden of Eden, where Eve ate of the fruit thinking she could be like God. That idea is at the heart of Luciferianism. Lucifer was the first to desire God's throne for himself. He wanted to rise above his station to usurp God's will and design. His persona is seen in Prometheus stealing fire from Heaven to bring it to mankind. This is the fire of enlightenment and as the Bible says, the devil comes disguised as an angel of light. All attempts to ascend or transcend this fallen flesh to obtain our original Adamic state is vanity. Our only hope is in the "second Adam," who is Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of all creation. Kabbalah, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, Hermeticism, Theosophy, New Age, Eastern philosophies/religions, Catholicism, even modern Protestantism... all are walking the wide path of destruction. What we see is a merging of the world's religions into one, not so much in practice but in philosophy and psychology. This is what they tried to do at Babel. We are heading towards a one world government, religion and economy, all united under the Antichrist. Revelation 18 tells us what happens to that effort.

[@ruggedlifejewelry]

@@abrotherinchrist I agree fully with your statement. I think I've been confused at understanding not so much what people claim, but actually where their doctrines came from originally, so it can get sticky. Most who follow think they have original thought but I have seen how it came from Babylon also. I think what I'm looking for is a time line, of how each morphed and the people around each movement and how it has come down through the ages. I cannot find anything like this. Walter Veith has a chart but it isn't as detailed as I'm searching for. I believe with this information, it is easier to show lost people their doctrine's roots and then the connections between satanism and what they practice (thinking they are doing what is right). Would you interested in working on this project with my husband and I? Thanks :)

[@whittsroofing1867]

@@ruggedlifejewelry I'd be delighted to help. Fair warning though, there's a lot to wade through. It's a huge undertaking and if not done in the Spirit of truth it can wind up being more of a hindrance to the truth than a help. There are a lot of problems in the historical accounts and interpretations of the archaeological record that are nigh impossible to overcome with apologetics. The Bible says no one can come to the Son unless the Father calls them. Each in their own order. The Spirit of truth is not often received with a whole heart because of logical fallacies and cognitive biases (cherry picking). The picture of historical syncretization is clear to those who are paying attention. There are certainly a lot of breadcrumbs to make that case.

[@henochparks]

AMEN!

[@donattridge1356]

THERE WERE TWELVE TRIBES WITH MOSES AT SINAI.. NOT JUST JEWS OF JUDAH 79 YR OLD FROM THE TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS ISAIAH 2

[@ronaldoalvarado5242]

I was in for at least a good case but never mind i get it, that is not your field.

[@fireinice3954]

Angel Moroni ...Moe Row Nigh ...

[@donattridge1356]

JOESPH SMITH DID NOT NEED KABBALAH... HE HAD ELOHIM ANDJEHOVAH 79 YR OLD FROM THE TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS ISAIAH 2

[@eoghainoneill7195]

Calling the LDS/JWS is stretching a very long bow in my opinion.

[@MysticRainDrops]

Jesus was a kabbalist and a mystic.. you don't have to go ro Mormons to find tnat the trinity itself is mysticism The pharisees got him crucified to stop Him from teaching it to the gentiles

[@williambrewster8112]

And it’s funny how he double talks he says that he doesn’t wanna say that Joseph didn’t receive these things. He doesn’t wanna say that they’re not true but at the same time he’s saying that Joseph got all his information from Kabala. Lol 😂😂😂 and yes, there is a scripture in the Book of Mormon where it comes forth from a Jew, but it also says the Jews killed the prophets even all the way back to Abel…

[@donattridge1356]

THE TEN TRIBES WERE NOT IN THE BOOK OF MORMON PEOPLE'S... LEHI WAS OF THE STICK OF JOSEPH.. BENJAMIN AND MENASSAH 79 YR OLD FROM THE TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS ISAIAH 2

[@onewotldgovernmentonlywhen9044]

Doesn’t Kabbalah practice human sacrifices!?

[@osuosubi3379]

Wow, I didn't know that, please enlighten me on this subject matter.

[@judahmanasseh3152]

@@osuosubi3379 The foremost scholar on Jewish Mysticism, Gershom Scholem, shows in his research that there are a few branches of Kabbalah , with the original form being quite benigning. Then, appeared the teachings of the Lurianic Kabbalah during Medieval times. This is where the trouble emerges. If you are interested, try to find a 2nd Edition copy of Gershom Scholem's work, "Sabbatai Sevi: The Mystical Messiah." The 3rd edition has many redactions and is not worth buying. This work details the influence of these teachings on certain Jews and how they are still in play today. From this text you'll learn that kabbalah is not one monolithic body of teachings but that there are various branches. I must warn you, it is a 929 page tour de force, though very informative with a colossal bibliography.

[@dougrossi9467]

Every...single...time...shut it down

[@MrTerrrrible]

They subverted everything

[@donattridge1356]

CHRIST SAID WE WOULD BE JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST.. ROMANS 8:17 79 YR OLD FROM THE TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS ISAIAH 2

[@neocount6397]

They got it from the Masons. He didn't know Hebrew.

[@donattridge1356]

KABBALAH IS OVERATED 79 YR OLD FROM THE TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS ISAIAH 2

[@donattridge1356]

AND THOSE ARE THE FATHER AND THE SON.. TWO SEPARATE BEINGS. 79 YR OLD FROM THE TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS ISAIAH 2

[@armenhart7655]

CELESTIAL MARRIAGE The form of non-monogamous marriage practiced in heavenly places and shadowed on earth in the marriages of the Family of the Firstborn. A term used erroniously by the tribe of Ephraim (Mormons) to denote their temple marriages which are but watered down shadows of true temple sealings of Suns Ahman Israel. PELEGHESH Hebrew term meaning "concubine", referring to a marriage mate one light level above a Shiphghah or maidservant, but inferior to the status of a Shegal or queen wife-husband. The modern slang word Polyg or Plig, referring to polygamous fundamental Mormons, may have its root in this ancient word.

[@user-kf6vj7we9v]

Those are the ten Nephilim kings

[@vincentvos3434]

Should have researched your pronunciation for many lds names and terms. Cringe worthy..

[@mattalex2113]

be nice

[@KoriEmerson]

He did his best. BUt.. he could have researched a smidge

[@rhondasisco-cleveland2665]

You have to consider if they were Hebrew names, it’s possible we are actually the ones who are mispronouncing the names and he is pronouncing them correctly.

[@loridavis7086]

I believe he’s actually pronouncing them properly according to their origins. Nephi is Egyptian and properly pronounced Ne (eh) phi (phee). Moroni (ee) would be the same … we did our best at pronunciation with no Egyptian language knowledge… and I don’t see us changing …

[@JoshFranz]

Come on bud. Just ask ONE LDS person how to pronounce some common LDS terms.

[@bennettshulze2496]

Don’t worry. He pronounced Hebrew terms incorrectly too.