GOD'S MATH IS DIFFERENT THAN MAN'S: The Law of Tithing was given as a part of the plan to teach, by means of serving each other, how to develop a total commitment to serving Him. God's instruction is to bring the tithes, 10%, to him so that the remaining 90% will go farther than the 100% ever could. JEWISH VIEW OF TITHING: There is still some biblical meaning, yet Jews…

SABBATH, IDENTIFIES PEOPLE OF COVENANT. SABBATH, A COMMANDMENT EQUAL TO ALL THE REST. SABBATH, FOR ANIMALS. SABBATH, A DAY OF JOY. SABBATH, A DAY OF LIGHT. SABBATH, A DAY OF RITUAL. SABBATH, A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE. SABBATH, COMPLETION OF THE CREATION. Want More Doctrine and Covenants Gospel Doctrine Supplements?Download Our Doctrine and Covenants Gospel Doctrine Supplements Click for the full Doctrine and Covenants Supplement story Click for a summary of…

KEY TO RECOGNIZING THE MESSIAH: The true meaning of the Messiah's life and those who testified of Him is the SPIRIT. The word for spirit in Hebrew is Ruach Elohim, the breath, the wind of God. "And Moses said . . . Would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!" (Numbers 11:29) A GIFT: As previously stated, there are…

FIRST MODERN KIBBUTZ: The significant difference between the "United Order" and the "Law of Consecration," is that the "United Order" is like the modern version of the Jewish Kibbutz, reflecting similar "legislated" cooperative efforts as was done anciently. "In 1909, on land purchased by the Jewish National Fund, the first kibbutz, Deganyah, was established. By 1914, the yishuv . . . the Jewish community . . . numbered some 85,000."…

[caption align="aligncenter"]Mormon Travel To Capernaum[/caption] At Capernaum, there are two doorways in and out of the synagogue. After the temple was destroyed, all synagogue entrances (coming from Jerusalem) were closed and a back door was opened. The symbolism may mean that we are now coming from the Diaspora into the place of worship and must return to the Diaspora. Jews' synagogue prayers used to end with the hopeful words, "Next…

[caption align="aligncenter"]Sabbath Wine & Bread[/caption] To the Jews who commemorate the first two reasons for the Sabbath, a sip of wine is partaken, followed by bread. The prayers recited include a recollection of the past, with an eye to the future where an even greater deliverance is anticipated. In this sense, it is a chiasmus that focuses on the atonement in the center. The Savior’s atonement began with suffering and…

UNIQUE DOCTRINES TODAY REFLECT THE PAST: Doctrines that seem unique among the Latter-day Saints, provide, on closer examination of Jewish traditions and, Biblical texts, a verification of the principle of restoration. The following paragraphs show apparent links to the past. ". . . God is represented by the two names of God–Elohim and YHWH. The former stands for justice and the latter for mercy. Though they may seem contradictory, one…

JEWISH VIEW OF A LATTER-DAY JOSEPH: When the Chief Rabbi, Avraham HaKohen Kook was appointed in Palestine in the 1920's, Jews asked if they could now build the Temple (destroyed since year 70 A.D.). He said that priestly rights were gone and referring to the great 12th century rabbi Moses Maimonides, said, in effect, "We are waiting for a Messiah Ben-Joseph, to him will be given the keys of the…

KEEP IT IN MIND: Jews have traditional symbols which “keep God’s word in front of them” at all times by binding leather phylacteries (Tfillin) on the arm and forehead as well as a Mezuzah on all Jewish doorposts. The words in the ‘Mezuzah’ and in the ‘Tfillin’ are summarized in Deuteronomy 6:4-17. RETURNING AND PROSELYTIZING: Returning to the Land of Israel is like returning to the Lord. Those are as…

A VOICE OF CHEER: Just about every time the heavens open, those with the Lord’s spirit are brought up to greater “cheer.” To those, the Lord’s voice is comforting. “For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand . . . if ye will hear his voice . . .” (Psalm 95:7) GATHERING AND REMEMBERING: On one hand, the Jews,…

[caption align="aligncenter"]Desert in Israel[/caption] On the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, an old inn has been restored to represent a New Testament parable Jesus told. Modern Christians call it the "Good Samaritan Inn." The truth is that Jesus never used the term "good" Samaritan. Let’s take a closer look . . . A lawyer, challenged Jesus, the Lawgiver: "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25) Jesus, who…

GOD CHOOSES THE DAY: To better understand the miracle of the restoration and the day that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially organized, let us go back to Biblical times. Isaac, a miracle child, was born of barren Sarah who was ninety-years old. “According to the Aggadah, Isaac was born to Sarah on the first day of Passover.” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) RESTORATION ON JESUS’ BIRTHDAY, PASSOVER:…

[caption align="aligncenter"]The Sea of Galilee is Calling![/caption] Israel is a good land, where Jews, Moslems and Christians raise their families. A feeling of peace and youthful growth exists even though its history is almost as old as civilization. The country itself is about 65 miles wide and 200 miles long. There's no gold or silver here to make the land worth conquering. Even the late Golda Meir chided Moses, "He…

ANCIENT JOSEPH GIVEN AUTHORITY: Ancient Joseph was authorized by his father when Jacob laid hands on Joseph’s head. “. . . parents place their hands on the heads of their children when they bless them. (. . . in the Bible, Jacob blessed his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, by placing his hands on their heads.) Placing the hands on another person is symbolic not only of transferring blessing but also…

AS VIEWED BY JUDAISM, FAITH (AND WORKS): “Belief in God's existence . . . is taken for granted and is the basis of the Bible. The biblical word emunah (and its other forms) which is often translated as ‘belief’ means ‘trust’ or ‘confidence,’ which is something quite different. “Judaism insists on belief, faith and good deeds (which are also called mitzvot); but by themselves they are not enough.” (Encyclopedia Judaica…

CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF THE HOLY GHOST: The Hebrew word for breath and wind (ruach) is closely related to the word spirit. Ezekiel spoke of breath bringing life into dead bones (etzemot). As the sticks (ETZ-emot) of the body are clothed again with flesh and come alive again, so shall the stick (ETZ) of Judah, the dead skeleton of a once true and living religion, come together with the stick of…

WITHOUT ACCEPTING REVELATION, WE FORGET: In modern Jewish thinking, “looking to God” and “revelation” are almost figurative and have become unexplainable. “. . . various phrases are used when describing appearances of the Divine, for example kavod (‘glory’) or shekhinah (. . . ‘Divine Presence’) or davar (‘word’ of God).” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) PAST REVELATION, A GUIDE FOR THE FUTURE: “The same Prophets who have contemplated and described the .…

PATTERN OF PREPARATION: The preparation that Joseph Smith went through is part of a pattern identified throughout the scriptures and also evident in Jewish tradition. Many of the Jewish holidays have extensive preparations that are as important as the holy day itself. “The Sabbath before Passover is known as Shabbat ha-Gadol . . . a . . . [reading from the Prophets] referring to the day on which Elijah the…

HEAVENLY VISIONS THROUGHOUT TIME: Whether it was Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Ezekiel or any of the prophets of old, the people’s reaction to vision was either very negative or supportive. Some of those visions happened outside of Israel (Ezekiel) and even came to what Jews call a “Gentile Prophet,” (Baalam). Many of those visions foresaw the time of the restoration. EZEKIEL’S VISIONS EQUATE RESTORATION AND RESURRECTION: “Ezekiel prophecy starts on a…

THE MESSIAH: Looking at the sacred event that redeemed us from the sins of life, bruises of experience, captivity of conscience, blindness of bigotry, hurt of hearts broken, poverty of stinginess and the imprisonment of self pity, we are drawn to the Mount of Olives. Two thousand years ago, He sank below all things, experiencing deeper depths than we would ever reach so that we would never have to. Bleeding…