ADAM THE FIRST SCIENTIST
The history of this science that God delivered to The Fathers is traced to the foundations or the creation of this world. In fact, however, the science is actually much older than this earth and contains the laws and principles upon which all creation was organized. In Israelite tradition and lore, Adam and Eve kept a record of this knowledge and the revelations of God that were supposedly passed down from one patriarch to another. Over the centuries there have been some oral teachings passed down through various sects of Judaism that claim to have preserved various portions of this knowledge, but no single sect appears to have preserved all of the teachings-with many teachings being lost all together. It was also taught in the oral traditions of Israel that these records were preserved in the undefiled language of Adam and were the records by which his descendants were taught. (Of note there are still some books in Judaism brought forth in the middle ages that claim to be this record, but there is no proof that the extant texts that make the claim are valid or of ancient date.)
What is important is that both Mormon and Jewish teachings share this concept of an ancient record composed by Adam. This same tradition and teaching regarding the existence of the "first records" was also a teaching delivered by Moses:
"And a book of remembrance was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration; And by them their children were taught to read and write, having a language which was pure and undefiled." (Moses 6:5-6)
According to Israelite tradition and lore, the record of Adam tells of the creation of the earth and the descent of the souls of man from heaven to earth. It also supposedly detailed his interaction with different angelic beings assigned to this world and the eternal cycle of progression of God's children between the worlds. The record also supposedly contained a revelation to Adam entailing the beginning of creation to the end of the world and progression into "the world to come".
ABRAHAM THE SCIENTIST
In Israelite tradition, Abraham was also a great teacher and preserver of the Science of The Fathers. It is also told that he passed this knowledge through not only Isaac, but Ishmael, the Children of Keturah, and his many servants. It was taught the he was shown the wonders of creation, asked direct questions to God, and ascended to through the worlds above like Enoch. It was also told that he passed the knowledge and keys of how to ascend into these upper worlds to his descendants as well as a knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, and language, among many other things.
This same sentiment also exists within Mormonism as well. As it is recorded in the Pearl of Great Price:
" In the land of the Chaldeans, at the residence of my fathers, I, Abraham, saw that it was needful for me to obtain another place of residence; And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers." (Abraham 1:1-2)
MOSES THE SCIENTIST
During Israel's sojourn in Egypt much of the knowledge of the Fathers had become lost or corrupted with idolatrous influences. In response to Israel's condition, Moses was commanded by God to restore much of the Science of the Fathers to the various tribes of The House of Israel. His disciples such as Joshua the son of Nun and the 70 Elders of Israel being the primary students and teachers to dispense this knowledge to the rest of the nation. Unfortunately, due to Israel's rebellion, much of the great knowledge was withheld from the masses, but still preserved by the various disciples of Joshua and the 70 Elders for those who desired and qualified. Part of the transmission of this ancient science was the revelation of the Torah which included the instructions whereby Israel on earth could obtain what was known as the "promised land"/Atzilut/ or the presence of God. Written in a manner to both reveal and conceal, the Torah of Israel contains this ancient science written in true Israelite Fashion to convey a story so simple a child could remember it and yet so sublime that those who were taught with the keys of the ancient knowledge could unlock the deeper teachings.
"The words of God, which he spake unto Moses at a time when Moses was caught up into an exceedingly high mountain, and he saw God face to face, and he talked with him, and the glory of God was upon Moses; therefore Moses could endure his presence. And God spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name; for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless?
And, behold, thou art my son; wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands; but not all, for my works are without end, and also my words, for they never cease. Wherefore, no man can behold all my works, except he behold all my glory; and no man can behold all my glory, and afterwards remain in the flesh on the earth. And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth; but there is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all." (Moses 1)
To understand The Science of the Fathers, we have to understand the manner in which it written. While it is not necessary to read and write Hebrew, we have to understand that this knowledge was transmitted using stories to present concepts and ideas. Stories about the events, people, and journeys become a method of transmitting great principles and ideas of the celestial worlds. The symbols in the accounts describe how the forces of the celestial worlds interact with this world. They transmit knowledge of how this world and the universe work. When the Scriptures are approached in this manner the stories in the Book of Mormon in the Bible take on new meaning.
The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree
In the Science of the Fathers, one of the first principles taught to a disciple when reading an account in the Scriptures was to identify the causative actions and their effects in every story. Tree of life symbols, philosophies, and paradigms permeate the world and words of the Scriptures. For example, in the Israelite mindset, the symbols of a tree or a plant with both branches and roots represent a series of causes and effects. Literally and figuratively the roots of the tree are equated with the cause. The effects are literally and figuratively considered the branches and the fruits. This same principle is encoded in the Hebrew language as Hebrew words have both parent roots and children branches.
The same is true with the stories and accounts recorded in the Scriptures. The roots are equated with spiritual principles, laws, and ordinances that cause certain effects be produced in this world. The branches and the fruits that come from them are the effects that are connected and originate from these roots or causes. It is taught that the roots exist in the celestial worlds while the branches exist in this world. In other words, just as roots grow below the ground and cannot be seen, so are the spiritual principles, laws, and forces unseen. This is why the prophets defined faith as follows:
"And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." (Alma 32:21)
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
We exercise faith based upon promises that are expected to be fulfilled, spiritual laws, and principles which are unseen or not yet materialized in the world that we live in. This is why the words of the Prophet Alma are so important because his parable of the seed and the tree in Alma 32 are perfect examples of this eternal principle:
"Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.
But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me." (Alma 32: 26-28)
The seed is the word that is planted below the ground-the unseen world of the spiritual. Being nourished it begins to take root. The roots representing the spiritual principles, laws, and forces of the unseen world. The results or effects of these spiritual principles, laws, and forces being the seen trunk, branches, and fruit.
That which happens in the celestial or unseen worlds shows up in the material world. Stated another way, that which happens in the roots manifests in the branches and fruits (i.e. the kind and type of fruit or lack thereof). If the seed is nourished according to the principles, laws and forces of the celestial, they produce the desired fruit or effects. As man is both spiritual and physical, he exists as the link and mechanism between these two worlds being able to influence the spiritual and manifest in the physical.
As they read and studied the accounts given in the Scriptures, the disciples of the Science of the Fathers were to discover causes and effects or roots and branches of every story. Each event, occurrence, and outcome of the particular story that occurred in their physical world capturing principles and laws of the Science of the Fathers. Adam partaking of the tree of knowledge, Moses parting the Red Sea, Nephi obtaining the plates from Laban, Lehi finding the Liahona at the door of his tent, Nephi breaking his bow, or Nephi obtaining food, or building a ship to sail to the promised land being stories that both reveal and conceal great principles of this eternal science. In feasting upon the words of the scriptures, they learned the celestial principles to transform their hearts and the world around them. This concept of unseen and seen or cause and effect being the Israelite understanding and practice communicated by Moses;
"And I, the Lord God, formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul, the first flesh upon the earth, the first man also; nevertheless, all things were before created; but spiritually were they created and made according to my word." (Moses 3:7)
The various accounts in the Scriptures relate many stories and events. In addition to the literal rendering of the stories, the events were written in such a manner to preserve and teach the laws and principles behind the spiritual forces that govern the Heavens as well as mankind and world around us. Men and women such as Abraham and Sarah, Joseph in Egypt, Moses, Lehi, Nephi, etc are not only to be considered as people but also represent but spiritual elements/forces that work on and transform the desires of the heart.
For example, let's take the story of the Exodus. Besides being an account of the physical events, the story was written in a manner to communicate certain teachings regarding The Science of the Fathers. As they were delivered from Egypt (Mitzraim-representing the trouble and tribulations of the World), they commenced their journey to ascend the Holy Mountain of Sinai into the presence of God. The physical leaving of Egypt into the Wilderness being what was taught as a separation of the spiritual child of God from the world of the Natural Man. Each event of the Exodus revealing and concealing the process and principles by which men ascend into the presence of God.
THE BOOK OF MORMON AS A SCIENCE BOOK
The purpose of the Book of Mormon was to preserve and restore many of the plain and precious truths of the Science of the Fathers as transmitted by the prophets Lehi, Nephi, and their descendents. In doing so Nephi follows the ancient method and pattern of transmission by communicating his journeys in a manner that captures both the literal events and preserves the principles of this ancient science. When Nephi obtained the Record of the Jews, he not only obtained the physical record, but also preserved teaching of how to obtain the Record of Heaven. When Lehi obtained the Liahona he not only obtained the ball of curious workmanship but also preserved teaching regarding the ancient Paths of Wisdom. When Nephi came to the land Bountiful and worked timbers of curious workmanship, he not only built the ship, but also preserved teaching of how man constructs his vessel to reach the promised land or the presence of God. Each word and event of the stories carefully preserved and chosen specifically to be communicated in a way to both reveal and conceal this ancient science. This is why Nephi draws upon various stories and teachings from the Torah of which the Exodus is but one:
"Therefore let us Go up; let us be strong like unto Moses; for he truly spake unto the waters of the Red Sea and they divided hither and thither, and our fathers came through, out of captivity, on dry ground, and the armies of Pharaoh did follow and were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea." (1 Nephi 4;2)
This portion of the Torah cited contains the primary teaching regarding the overcoming of our Mighty Adversary in the obtaining of the Record of Heaven. In the Exodus, Pharaoh and his armies represent a Mighty One in his forces who attempt to prevent the children of Israel from leaving spiritual Egypt to obtain the Torah of God and his presence. In Nephi's account Laban and his 50 representing a Mighty One who attempts to prevent Nephi and his brothers from obtaining the
Record of Heaven before their Exodus into the wilderness and their ultimate goal of reaching the land of promise. The fullest purpose of the story not being that the Exodus happened, or that Nephi just obtained plates, but that these events are happening to you. Not only that they are happening to you, but the stories contain the path and principles by which you are to obtain the same.
The Scriptures in general and specifically the Book of Mormon when understood in true Israelite manner really are a Great and Marvelous Work. The message being communicated in a multi-dimensional format. Many of the keys to understanding the Scriptures have either been hidden, lost, or disregarded because of the ignorance and stupidity of men throughout the ages. Yet despite this predicament, God has preserved these teachings and in his mercy extends them to us in our day. The language of Israelite symbols is a discipline of deep thought, revelation, and study. Where one may read the simple story of Adam and Eve and the serpent, another sees the ancient meaning of Adam as the desire to give/bestow while Eve is seen as the desire to receive with the serpent being the ego or natural man.
"And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will.
And in that day Adam blessed (blessing - bestowal) God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed (i.e. woman being a receiver of the seed which brings life), and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient." (Moses 5:9-11)
To Be Continued
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