Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World
“We believe… that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.” -Tenth Article of Faith
When we come to Christ, we’re Born Again. Our broken hearts, and contrite spirits recreate us into new spiritual beings. As we know, the changes of teshuvah are about returning to who we truly are. Thus, we are reborn in Christ as our true selves. This leads to obedience to God. Our hearts are pierced, the kli (vessel) within is filled, and the light of God’s Love pours from us though altruism. This outward expression of our inner change is known as tikkun olam.
Aleph Kaf Aleph
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” -Psalm 103:8
one of the 72 Kabbalistic names of God, Aleph Kaf Aleph is known as the root of the soul. It is used to help one bring order to their life by helping them connect to their soul, the Born Again new life created the moment one’s heart is pierced.
Baptism as a Part of Rebirth
“Therefore, come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.” -Alma 5:25 RAV, 7:14b RAV
When Nicodemus came to Jesus to learn about salvation, he was told he would need to be born again (John 3:1-8). Baptism is a Sacrament offered to those that have covenanted with God to be His people. When we were born again we were washed clean and made members of God’s one true Heavenly church through this covenant. When moved by the Holy Spirit, we will wish to be baptized as a symbol of this covenant, thus it is called the baptismal covenant. As above, so below; as below, so above.
Born that Way
“And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediation of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil.” -2 Nephi 1:120 RAV, 2:27b OPV
I was talking to someone once about a sin they were trapped in. They stated that they were “born that way,” that God had made them with that sin (think lying, stealing, etc.) and so they didn’t need to repent of it. The idea was that if God is perfect, then His creations are perfect, and there is no sin in what they were “born to do.”