“I directed my soul unto her, and I found her in pureness: I have had my heart joined with her from the beginning, therefore shall I not be forsaken.” -Ecclesiasticus 51:20 KJV Lishmah (לישמה), literally translated means “for her sake,” or “for her name.” In Kabbalah it is generally translated as “for its sake,” or “for its name.” “It” here refers to the study of the Torah, stating why we focus on the Torah and the Mitzvah—we study the Torah…
Returning to the topic of Jesus a Christ vs Jesus the Christ, we must ask the question: do we even need Jesus Christ? And if so, why? Why can we not merely “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12)?
“Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh their sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am; and that I am the true light that lighteth everyone that cometh into the world; and that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one—the Father because He…
The man asked for a commandment. For some dysfunctional reason, this man felt like he wanted, or needed, a commandment. He perceived light, and his first instinct was toward authority. Go figure. Jesus gave him what he asked for. Actually, he gave two of them. Or was it really just one?
Let’s focus briefly on the man, Joseph Smith. What kind of man was he? The man whom God used to commence the restoration in these latter days. What did he have to say concerning truth and doctrine?
“…Redemption cometh in and through the holy Messiah: for he is full of grace and truth…” –II Nephi 1:71
“…This day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him, and have become his sons and his daughters…” –Mosiah 3:9