We currently have two Torahs: the Torah of Judah found in the traditional Bible and the Torah of Joseph found in the Plates of Brass, called The Torah of Moses (1 Nephi 1:157 [5:11a]). For many people, the Torah is one of the most misunderstood books in scripture. Some view it as a collection of ancient laws with little relevance to modern life, while others see it as a rigid legal code focused solely on rules and regulations. Yet the Torah preserved in the Plates of Brass presents a far richer and more profound vision that unlocks many of the secrets hidden in plain sight within the Torah of the Holy Bible. Beneath its commandments lies a spiritual path centered on love, covenant, compassion, justice, and transformation. Rather than asking merely, “What should I do?” the Torah repeatedly asks, “What kind of person am I becoming?”
Here, I will present ten teachings that introduce some of the most important themes in this sacred text. It is my prayer that this will give readers a glimpse into how the Torah continues to speak to seekers today.
(Click here to download a free PFD of The Plates of Brass, Volume I: The Torah of Moses)
1. The Great Commandments: Love YHVH and Love Thy Neighbor
When many people think of the Torah, they imagine a long list of rules, rituals, and ancient regulations. Yes, the Torah of Moses does contain mitzvoth (commandments). Yet Plates of Brass translation reveals something deeper at the heart of these instructions: love. The foundation of the covenant is not fear, but relationship. Moses teaches that we are to love YHVH with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our might (5 Moses 2:6). This love is not merely an emotion, it is a way of life. This means directing our thoughts, actions, and desires toward the Divine and learning to see the world through the eyes of compassion, justice, and mercy.
What may really surprise modern readers is that this mitzvah (commandment) is immediately linked to a second one: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” In Mormon Kabbalah, these are not separate teachings but two sides of the same coin. We demonstrate our love for God through the way we treat one another. Every act of kindness, every defense of another person’s dignity, and every effort to preserve the rights of our neighbors becomes an act of worship. The Torah’s message is refreshingly simple: if you want to know whether your spirituality is genuine, look at how you treat the people around you.
2. The Unity of YHVH (The Shema)
One of the most important declarations in the Torah is known as the Shema: “Hear, O Israel: YHVH is our Elohim; YHVH is Unity” (5 Moses 2:5). These words have echoed through generations of believers and remain central to understanding the nature of God. Rather than presenting a divided universe governed by competing powers, the Torah teaches that all creation ultimately flows from a single divine source. The many expressions of life, light, wisdom, and love are united within the Eternal One.
For readers familiar with Mormon Kabbalah, this idea of unity becomes especially meaningful. The universe may appear fragmented, full of competing voices and conflicting interests, but beneath the surface is a deeper harmony. The Shema invites us to see beyond division and recognize the interconnectedness of all things. In practical terms, it reminds us that our spiritual journey is not about separating ourselves from others, but about learning to participate in the unity that already exists within God. Think of it as the original reminder that everything is connected.
3. Honoring the Divine Parents (Father and Mother)
One of the most distinctive features of the Plates of Brass is its language regarding Divine Parents. The Torah teaches that everyone should honor and respect their Mother the Earth, and their Father in Heaven, identifying both as expressions of the Creator’s work (5 Moses 2:22). This perspective expands the traditional understanding of God by emphasizing that the Divine encompasses nurturing, sustaining, and relational qualities alongside authority and power.
For newcomers, this can feel both ancient and surprisingly modern. Mormon Kabbalah sees creation as emerging from a divine relationship rather than a solitary act of power. Just as a child flourishes through the care of loving parents, creation itself is sustained through the ongoing love of the Divine. This teaching encourages gratitude not only toward God, the Creator, but also toward the world around us, the creation. The earth is not merely a resource to be consumed; it is part of the sacred gift we have received from our Heavenly Parents.
4. A Nation of Priests and Priestesses
Many people assume that spiritual authority belongs only to a small group of religious professionals. The Torah presents a very different vision. Israel is called to become “a holy people, a nation of kings and queens, and of Priests and Priestesses” (4 Moses 7:25). In other words, holiness is not reserved for a select few. Every member of the covenant community has a role to play in bringing light, wisdom, and healing into the world. In the Kingdom of God, kings and queens serve the physical needs of the people. Priests and priestesses serve the spiritual needs of the people. This is not a call to rule, but a call to serve one another in Christ.
This vision is remarkably empowering. Rather than asking, “Who is qualified to serve God?” the Torah asks, “How can everyone participate in God’s works?” In Mormon Kabbalah, priesthood is understood less as status and more as service. A teacher, healer, parent, counselor, artist, or community builder may all participate in sacred work. The goal is not to elevate ourselves above others but to help one another draw closer to the Divine. The kingdom of God is built when ordinary people discover that they have extraordinary opportunities to bless the lives of those around them.
5. Teshuvah (The Path of Return)
The Hebrew word teshuvah is often translated as “repentance.” However, its meaning is much richer than simply feeling sorry for mistakes. Teshuvah literally means “return.” It is the process of turning back toward God, returning to our highest values, and rediscovering who we were created to become. The Torah calls believers to “walk in teshuvah before YHVH” and to wear the mantle of righteousness as they journey through life (4 Moses 31:4).
This concept changes the way we think about spiritual growth. Rather than viewing repentance as punishment or shame, the Torah presents it as homecoming. Everyone gets lost from time to time. Everyone makes mistakes. Teshuvah reminds us that God’s invitation is always open. The path back may require honesty, humility, and effort, but it is never closed. In a sense, the entire spiritual journey can be understood as a continual process of returning: returning to wisdom, returning to compassion, and ultimately returning to the Divine Presence from which we came.
6. Circumcision of the Heart
One of the most surprising teachings in the Torah is that God is concerned not only with outward actions but with the condition of the human heart. Moses teaches the people to “circumcise the foreskin of thine heart” and to be no longer stiff-necked (5 Moses 6:16). While physical signs of the covenant had their place, the deeper purpose was always spiritual transformation. God desired a people whose hearts were open to compassion, humility, and truth. Israel was not to merely follow rituals while remaining unchanged within.
For modern readers, this teaching feels remarkably relevant. It is possible to attend religious services, recite prayers, and follow traditions while still harboring resentment, pride, or indifference. The Torah written in the Plates of Brass invites us to go deeper. In Mormon Kabbalah, the heart is often understood as the inner temple where the Divine Presence seeks to dwell. Circumcision of the heart means removing whatever prevents us from loving God and our neighbors fully. It is less about external appearance and more about becoming the kind of person through whom divine light can shine.
7. Strict Rejection of Idolatry and the “Elohim of Man”
The Torah repeatedly warns Israel against worshiping idols fashioned by human hands. “Thou shalt worship no other elohim” (4 Moses 5:4), and “Thou shalt make thee no molten elohim” (4 Moses 5:10) are among its strongest mitzvoth. At first glance, this may seem like an ancient concern about carved statues and golden images. Yet the principle reaches much further. The danger of idolatry is not simply worshiping a physical object. It is placing ultimate trust in something other than God.
In every generation, people create new idols. Wealth, power, status, ideology, and even religious institutions can become substitutes for a living relationship with the Divine. Mormon Kabbalah often speaks of the temptation to create an “elohim of man,” on in other words as man-made god. This is a god shaped according to our own fears, prejudices, or desires. The Torah challenges us to seek the Eternal One rather than the comfortable image we might prefer. It asks a difficult but important question: Are we following God, or are we following a version of God made in our own image?
8. Universal Sabbath Rest
The Sabbath is often thought of as a day of worship, but the Torah presents it as something even broader: a gift of rest for all creation. This mitzvah extends beyond individuals to include servants, strangers, laborers, and even animals. The purpose is clear: everyone deserves time to rest, recover, and remember that their value is not determined by productivity alone.
This vision feels especially refreshing in a world that often celebrates constant busyness. The Torah reminds us that we were not created to be machines. Even the strongest among us need renewal. In Mormon Kabbalah, Sabbath becomes a sacred practice of reconnecting with the Divine Presence and restoring balance to life. It is a weekly reminder that creation itself operates in rhythms of work and rest. Or, to put it another way, even God built a day into the schedule when nobody was expected to answer emails.
9. Compassion for the Vulnerable and the Creation
One of the clearest measures of righteousness in the Torah is how a community treats the most vulnerable. The stranger, the orphan, the widow, and the poor are repeatedly singled out for protection. Farmers are instructed to leave portions of their harvest for those in need. Judges are warned not to show favoritism or deny justice. The message is simple but powerful: a society reveals its true character by how it treats those with the least power.
The Torah extends this compassion beyond humanity to the natural world itself. Laws that prohibit needless cruelty toward animals remind readers that creation is not ours to exploit without restraint. In Mormon Kabbalah, the earth is viewed as a sacred gift entrusted to humanity’s care. Compassion, therefore, is not limited to charitable acts toward people. It includes stewardship of the world around us. The goal is to live in harmony with creation rather than domination over it, recognizing that every living thing reflects something of the Creator’s wisdom.
10. The Internalized Torah
Perhaps the most transformative teaching in the Torah is that God’s mitzvoth are meant to live within us. Moses instructed Israel that these words should be placed in their hearts, taught diligently to their children, discussed in their homes, and remembered throughout daily life (5 Moses 2:25-30). The Torah is not intended to remain on scrolls, tablets, or bookshelves. It is meant to become part of a person’s character.
This idea resonates deeply with the themes of Mormon Kabbalah. Spiritual wisdom is not merely information to be collected. It is truth that must be embodied. The goal is not simply to know the mitzvoth, but to become the kind of person who naturally lives them. When the Torah is internalized, kindness becomes instinctive, justice becomes habitual, and gratitude becomes second nature. The Torah moves from being something imposed from the outside to something written upon the heart. In the end, the Torah’s highest purpose is not to create rule-followers, but to help shape compassionate, wise, and God-centered human beings.
An Ancient Path for Modern Seekers
When viewed through the lens of Mormon Kabbalah, the Torah of Moses emerges as far more than an ancient legal code. It becomes a guide for cultivating a life of wisdom, compassion, reverence, and covenant relationship with God. Its teachings call us to love YHVH and our neighbors, care for the vulnerable, honor the creation, seek justice, practice teshuvah, and allow the Torah to be written upon our hearts. In many ways, the Torah found in the Plates of Brass presents a vision of what a healthy spiritual life and a healthy society can look like when rooted in divine love rather than fear, selfishness, or domination.
For modern readers, the value of this Torah is not found merely in learning what ancient Israel believed, but in discovering timeless principles that can transform our own lives. The call to return to God, to honor the sacred worth of others, to seek unity amidst diversity, and to become a blessing to the world remains as relevant today as ever. Whether you approach the Torah as a believer, a seeker, or simply a student of sacred texts, it offers an invitation to walk a path of continual growth and deeper connection with the Divine. Its ultimate purpose is not merely to teach information, but to help shape people who reflect the light, mercy, wisdom, and love of the Creator in their daily lives.
