Joseph Smith was basically a spiritualist. He talked to spiritual beings through a magic rock, which he put into his top hat. He'd stick his face into the hat and see visions. No, I'm not kididing, this is what the founder of Mormanism did. He was a spirit medium and a seer -- a failed one. As a young man he tried to make a living by getting hired by farmers to find buried treasure on their properties, but it wasn't a prosperous business model.
You might say Smith was in the vanguard of what we today call the New Age -- crystals, Tarot reading, yoga, witchcraft and the Kabbalah, among many other strings. I doubt, however, that Kabbalah played a large part in his thinking, since it was virtually unknown outside of Jewish circles in the period in which he lived. There was some information available on Kabbalah in English and other European languages, but not a lot. If he really had a Jew friend, maybe the Jew knew some Kabbalah and dropped a few points, but it is very doubtful that Smith knew enough Kabbalah to be influenced in any significant way by it.
The Kabbalah as a philosophy/theology is not original or unique to the Jews. It is drawn from Greek philosophy, Gnosticism, Hermetism, and other wisdom currents in the ancient world. The Jews just cobbled it together and applied it to the Torah. Smith could easily have derive ideas in the Kabbalah from non-Jewish sources, without ever knowing anything about the Kabbalah.
Agree that is somewhat possible... But wouldn't you agree that the Future of the Mormon Holy Land = Jewish Holy Land Everything except step 7 (where the Jewish back-stab will come in, they aren't becoming Christian) and possibly 14 are Zionist:
Jerusalem will come under the control of Israel.
A new temple will be built in Jerusalem.
The descendants of Judah will be attacked by their former conquerors, but they will be delivered.
The Messiah will lead the people of Israel to victory and later he will rule as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Two great world capitals are to be established—one in Zion [Salt Lake City?] and one in Jerusalem.
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ardvarcus ago
Joseph Smith was basically a spiritualist. He talked to spiritual beings through a magic rock, which he put into his top hat. He'd stick his face into the hat and see visions. No, I'm not kididing, this is what the founder of Mormanism did. He was a spirit medium and a seer -- a failed one. As a young man he tried to make a living by getting hired by farmers to find buried treasure on their properties, but it wasn't a prosperous business model.
You might say Smith was in the vanguard of what we today call the New Age -- crystals, Tarot reading, yoga, witchcraft and the Kabbalah, among many other strings. I doubt, however, that Kabbalah played a large part in his thinking, since it was virtually unknown outside of Jewish circles in the period in which he lived. There was some information available on Kabbalah in English and other European languages, but not a lot. If he really had a Jew friend, maybe the Jew knew some Kabbalah and dropped a few points, but it is very doubtful that Smith knew enough Kabbalah to be influenced in any significant way by it.
The Kabbalah as a philosophy/theology is not original or unique to the Jews. It is drawn from Greek philosophy, Gnosticism, Hermetism, and other wisdom currents in the ancient world. The Jews just cobbled it together and applied it to the Torah. Smith could easily have derive ideas in the Kabbalah from non-Jewish sources, without ever knowing anything about the Kabbalah.
mememeyou ago
Agree that is somewhat possible... But wouldn't you agree that the Future of the Mormon Holy Land = Jewish Holy Land Everything except step 7 (where the Jewish back-stab will come in, they aren't becoming Christian) and possibly 14 are Zionist: