Air, Earth, Water, and Fire
“And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord, I beheld a large and spacious field. And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.” -1 Nephi 2:48-49 RAV, 8:9-10 OPV
Before we go any further into Teshuvah, we need to go over some more advanced information. We’re going to dive into the Mormon Kabbalah’s Tree of Life, and the elements, and introduce some of the Sephirot. While the Godhead or Trinity, however one sees Him or Them, are all one in purpose, They are still divided as to Their roles and how we understand Them. We need to understand these differences before we move any further.
Temple Altar
“And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God.” -1 Nephi 1:34 RAV, 2:7 OPV
As disciples and worshipers of Christ, the first temple in our lives is our bodies. To create a sacred space for home worship, meditation, and other spiritual needs, our second temple is our home temple. For this, members and ministers may have a temple altar in their homes. There they may bless and pass the Sacrament of Communion, receive and share Initiatories and Endowments, and gather with other saints around the altar in the various orders of prayer.
The Temple of God
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” -1 Corinthians 3:16
The “magical world” is an abstract idea used by fantasy and religions alike. Methods may vary, but the main difference comes from the argument over who has the better story or philosophy. This is not to say that what the world calls “magic” is not real. It’s simply to state that one’s path is not the same as another’s, and that’s okay. There’s no reason to fight over paths that work. God’s vineyard is far larger than one denomination. And, those that haven’t heard the Law, yet have it written in their hearts, will still be saved (see Romans 2:11, 14-15, DaC 76).
Latter-day Saints’ Doctrine & Covenants 129
The instructions given by Joseph Smith Jr., as recorded by William Clayton February 9, 1843, are mirrored by the June 27, 1839 entry in Wilford Woodruff’s journals. Both are presented here.
1886 Revelation
The following is a revelation received by apostle of the Church of Christ, and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor.
What is the Church of Christ?
“Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.” – Jesus Christ (Avahr 17:39)
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” – Jesus Christ (Matthew 18: 20)
How do I Pray?
“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” -Psalms 55:17
A prayer is a plea to God. The True Prayer is written in our hearts. When our hearts are pierced, we plea to God and he restores us. From here we may speak to God in the name of Christ. If you are new to prayer, that’s okay. Everyone has to have their first prayer vocal prayer, and Jesus taught us how to do it.
Why are We here?
“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” – 2 Nephi 1:115 RAV, 2: 25 OPV
We were with God as spirit children of our Heavenly Parents before we were born. We were born to help one another to come unto Christ that we may return home to that God who created us.