Abinadi
ConcreteAngel
Eteponge
I'm a Gnostic Christian (Perticularly Valentinian) and a Student of Jewish Kabbalah and Jewish/Christian Mysticism. I'm also a member of the LDS Church, and have been for over three years now. I have one foot in the Ancient Church and the other foot in the LDS Church. I love The Book of Mormon and the Gnostic Elements of the Mormon Temple and many of the Advanced Doctrines which closely resemble my own Gnostic Christian beliefs. I can finally find Fellowship on a local level in the LDS Church. I also recognize Joseph Smith as a Gnostic/Kabbalist in his own right. I know that I'm not the only Gnostic in the LDS Church by a longshot, I've met several.
That was kinda confussing. lol Welcome to the guild. Hope you have fun
yeah it was, but i have a question, what does Gnostic and i know that Kabbala is a cult or so people say but what do they believe.
Kabbalah is Jewish Mysticism. Ancient Jews kept two traditions, one was written tradition (Old Testament) and one was oral tradition (Kabbalah).
The word Kabbalah literally means "that which is received." It's used in the Talmud to mean tradition in general, though more often these days it means books of mystical study that include thoughts on the nature of God.
Kabbalah is an aspect of Jewish Mysticism. It consists of a large body of speculation on the nature of divinity, the creation, the origin and fate of the soul, and the role of human beings. It consists also of meditative, devotional, mystical and magical practices which were taught only to a select few. In keeping with its own mythic claims, Kabbalah has been accorded fairly early origins in Judaic culture.
There is an Ancient Jewish Kabbalah prophecy which states that a "Yosef Ben Yosef" (Joseph Son Of Joseph) will restore the Priesthood Authority. Who do you think that is? Joseph Smith Jr.
There is evidence that Joseph Smith did know some elements of Kabbalah and had access both to the Zohar and to a Jew familiar with a wide range of Kabbalistic materials. He even referanced from the Zohar in the famous King Follet Sermon and refers to information found within it. Some of LDS Doctrine appears to be influenced from Jewish Kabbalah.
As for Christian Gnosticism, Gnosticism is comprised of the Post-Resurrection teachings of Jesus Christ which He imparted unto His Holy Apostles during the 40 day period following His Resurrection. (As mentioned in Acts 1:3 in the New Testament.) Here is some selected writings from Early Christian Gnosticism...
"And he gave many honours to those who had worshipped him. And he exalted them over those who had opposed him and withstood him. And he spread out the land on the right side into many lands. And he made them each into ranks, and each into aeons, and each into worlds, and each into heavens ', and each into firmaments, and each into heavens, and each into places', and each into places, and each into spaces. And he appointed laws for them. He gave to them commandments: "Abide in my word and I will give to you eternal life '. And I will send you powers. And I will strengthen you with spirits of power, and I will give you authority as you will.
And no one will prevent you in what you wish. And you will beget for yourselves aeons and worlds and heavens, (so that) the intelligible spirits come and dwell in them. And you will become gods, and you will know that you are from God, and you will see him, that he is God within you, And he will dwell in your aeon." And the Lord of the All said these words to them. And he withdrew from them and concealed himself from them '."
[The Untitled Gnostic Text] (Discovered among the Bruce Codex in 1769 after being sealed since ancient Christian times; Possibly dating from First Century Christianity; The first avalible translations of this ancient Christian Gnostic Text began in the mid-1800's. The above citation is from the 1892 translation of the text)
Any of that sound familar? How about this...
The 1st & 2nd Books of Jeu/Ieou and The Pistis Sophia describe how Jesus instructed the apostles regarding the seals, names, and ciphers (hand-signs) they must use in order to prompt the "watchers" or guardians of the various heavens to open the veils and allow them entry.
In the Gospel of Philip it is said, "The Lord revealed unto me what the soul must say as it goeth up into heaven, and how it must answer each of the powers above." The initiates in [the Acts of John] have entered into the godhead, fused with it. The voice of the mystery god imparts unto them the symbols, the marks of recognition and passwords . . .
In the Apocalypse of Paul, we find the apostle encountering angels at the gate of each of the ten heavens, who open to him because he was accompanied by the Holy Spirit. When he arrived at the seventh heaven, he encountered an old man who interrogated him. The Spirit instructed the apostle, "Give him the sign that you have, and he will open for you.' And then I gave him the sign . . . and then the seventh heaven opened."
In the Second Apocalypse of James, Jesus tells the apostle that he would reveal things to him, then told him "stretch out your [hand]. Now, take hold of me."
"Many new emerging religions in the West have adopted some ancient Gnostic beliefs and practices. By far, the most successful of these is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- the LDS or Mormon church, centered in Salt Lake City, UT." - ReligiousTolerance.Org
Now do you see why I joined the LDS Church? That and I love the Book Of Mormon, Book Of Moses, and Book Of Abraham. :3
The Prophet Joseph once declared concerning the Apocrypha, "There are many precious truths in these books - just as true as any of the Bible - but it requires much of the Spirit of God to divide the truths from the errors which have crept into them." (As cited in Remembering Joseph, 112).
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