For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
(Isaiah 55:8-9)
Compiled with comments by Marlena Tanya Muchnick
Excerpted from full article:
The commandments of God to the Hebrew people regarding observance of
holy days can be seen as a type and shadow of the birth and mission of the
Prophet Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and
Covenants. They teach necessary saving ordinances for exaltation as found in
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Many significant LDS Restoration events occurred on days of major Jewish
observances according to the Gregorian calendar. The purpose of this paper is
to show a few of these important matches and to inquire why these seminal
events fell upon Jewish holy days, assuming that chance or serendipity was not
a factor. We cannot assume how and when in times past, present or future that
many other matches can be made. This pattern seems to be one of the Lord’s
tapestries for communicating heavenly/earthly messages.
I have based my suggestions on the doctrines of the LDS church and on
investigation into the beliefs and rituals of Judaism. Accordingly, I have
identified themes of Jewish holidays and other important dates throughout the
year that are linked to SOME important LDS events, with an eye toward
understanding possible significances between the two.
It appears that Heavenly Father honors the building of his Church by having
events coincide with several Hebrew holy days and other important dates that
were specifically given by God to his earliest prophets as recorded in the Old
Testament. This coordination between ancient and modern occurrences can be
seen as a theme of restoration and restitution of all things anciently in force, a
time when the Lord may “gather together in one all things in Christ, both which
are in heaven and which are on earth; even in him.” (Ephesians 1:9,10).
Several general themes stand out. The first is that of honoring the history of
a people – from the birth of Judaism to present-day members of the tribes of
Israel – with the knowledge that Heavenly Father and those beyond the veil of
time observe a world view that presents all things at once. His foreknowledge
may be a factor of prophecy and/or warning. He is still communicating with us,
for He is ever near. Secondly, there is a natural brotherhood between Jews and
Mormons – Judah, Ephraim and the other ancient tribal families of Israel. They
were that we may be. From Orson Hyde’s prayer in Israel in 1841:
To you, our friends of modern Judah, we declare, “We are Joseph, your
brothers.” We claim kinship with you as descendants from our fathers,
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We belong to the same family. We, too, are the
House of Israel.
Another purpose for the circumstances surrounding both the Hebrew and
modern events may suggest a broader vision. There are two orders in creation:
worldly (human) and spiritual (divine). Perhaps, by seeing through the Lord’s
eyes, mankind will come to understand and abide, putting spiritual things first,
last and always. To do this we must acquire wisdom and a view of our
everlasting future. Then our understanding of this life’s events may well affect
everything we do.
Why was one holiday chosen over others to represent any LDS event?
Patterns will appear as one ponders the following section. The reader is
encouraged to investigate the circumstances of LDS events matched with
important dates and events in the Hebrew calendar, to provide his or her own
reasoning to this most interesting quest. It will lead to ever more questions as
we endeavor humbly to discover God’s reasoning, and thereby we will gain
increased appreciation for Heavenly Father’s messages to modern day Israel.
Note: All Jewish Holy Days of observance begin at moonrise the night before.
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Page 1 of 11:
Joseph Smith born December 23, 1805 (HC, Vol 1:Ch 1) Chanukah: December 15-23, 1805
Jewish observance description
Rededication of Temple after Assyrians defeated by the Maccabee family. Olive
oil enough to burn one day lasted for eight. In similitude, candles are lighted for
eight days in a holder (menorah).
A servant candle, the shammus, is lit first, then it lights the others. Prayers are
said throughout the eight days of holiday thanking God for miracles and for the
restoration of the holy Jerusalem Temple.
Traditional song: Mao O’Tsur:
In every age a hero arose to save the people.
Who can tell of the feats of Israel
Who can count them?
In every age a hero arose (and arises) to save the people.
Hear! In those days at this time
Maccabees saved and freed us
And in our days the whole people of Israel
Arise united to save ourselves.
Possible significance
The birth of Joseph Smith was foretold anciently. Through him was to come the
Restored Gospel, a new dispensation, temples covering the earth. He would
become the Lord’s servant, eternally lighting the way for all mankind as a latter day
prophet.
A significant work of Joseph Smith is that he turned people to the true Gospel in
its fullness through revelation from God, away from confusion and error in their
choice of churches.
Part of the fullness of the Gospel is temple worship, which includes the
ordinances
of salvation, saving ourselves with our dead. Correspondingly, a
prime theme of Chanukah is called the “resuscitation of the dead”, the ultimate
redemption, demonstrating that all things depend upon God.
Correspondingly, Heavenly Father, in choosing Chanukah for the birth date of
the Prophet, may have made metaphorical comment on what Joseph would
bring to pass. Jewish synagogue services stress that the Greeks turned Israel
from her Torah observance. It took a warrior to return the people to their faith
and their temples. LDS prophets may be seen as “spiritual warriors”.