Why Cosmology?

8/3/2019 Why Cosmology?

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THINGS ASTHEY ARE,WERE �

ARE TO COME

Why Cosmology? ANTHONY E. LARSON



THINGS AS THEY ARE,WERE AND ARE TO COME

Why Cosmology?Copyright © 2011 Anthony E. Larson

At frst glance, cosmology, or the study o the universe as a whole, may

seem like an odd topic or the aithul to study. Aren’t inspired teachings

rom scripture and living prophets sufcient or our salvation? Remarkably,

Joseph Smith taught that a clear understanding the gospel requires a clear

understanding of our physical universe.

Why Cosmology? I get that question all the time. “Why study all

this cosmology and symbolism stu when today’s prophetsand apostles emphasize gospel principles? Isn’t that an indication o where we should spend our time and eorts?”

I respond:

Yes. Te brethren ocus on the basics or the beneft o potential

converts and the newest church members because their mission is

worldwide conversion and the building o the kingdom. Tat’s why

their message is repetitive. Tey consistently emphasize the basics.And there is great wisdom and virtue or each o us in revisiting those

basics on a regular basis. Tat’s why we consistently hear that same, vital counsel.But once frmly grounded in the aith, the responsibility

to move orward is wholly ours. Te brethren are not there to do what

we can do or ourselves. We are responsible or our own salvation.

Tis has always been true.

Inquirers then ask, “Ten, why bother with cosmological imagery?

How is this useul? Isn’t this inormation really irrelevant to our salva-

tion, just a curious sideline?”



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Here’s my response:

Te whole purpose o studying the Restored Gospel rom a cosmo-

logical perspective is to allow us to easily and correctly distinguish

what is spiritual (the undamental truths) rom what is temporal (theorigins and meaning o symbolism). I we cannot easily and correctly

dierentiate between what is symbolic and what is literal in the scrip-

tures and the teachings o the prophets, then we run the very real risk

o reaching incorrect conclusions about their pronouncements.

For example, this is precisely what has happened to the interpreta-

tion o prophecy in recent times: In the apparent absence o a clear

methodology or examining prophetic imagery, the whole enterprisehas been hijacked by speculation and bad interpretation rom thosewithin and without our ranks. Yet surprisingly, we nd that Joseph

Smith gave us a concise and workable method or interpreting prophe-

cy, based in cosmology, that nearly everyone seems to have overlooked.

Tat’s just one reason why we should have at least a passing ac-

quaintance with cosmology. Another is the incontestable act that our

scriptures, the Pearl o Great Price being the best example, is chock ull o cosmological imagery. How, then, can we ully understand our

scriptures i we don’t understand cosmology?

Perhaps the best reason is that our temples, inside and out, are

replete with that same cosmic imagery. In act, the whole temple

experience is geared to show us the cosmological components o theprophetic experience, beginning with the creation. Te visions o

Moses and Abraham, flled with the cosmic imagery o planets, stars,suns and moons just like our temples, are the best examples o this

ascension experience, which we duplicate in our temple ceremonies.

Tus, each o us is aorded the marvelous opportunity within our

temples to vicariously experience the visionary odyssey o the proph-ets. In so doing, we share the awe-inspiring, cosmic vision revealed

to them. So, how can we ully understand the endowment messagei we don’t see its cosmological components? Te tragedy is that so

ew Latter-day Saints recognize that truth and thus miss the vital andmind-expanding message the endowment is meant to convey.

As aithul, believing church members, we need to return to our

cosmological roots. We should revisit the basic principles Joseph gave



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us in order to ully understand our own religion. He, in act, wrote: “I

also gave some instructions in the mysteries o the kingdom o God;

such as the history o the planets [cosmology], Abraham’s writings

upon the planetary systems [cosmology], etc.” (eachings o theProphet Joseph Smith, p. 118)

Tere is yet another reason why we should study cosmology. Tecosmological elements once seen in Earth’s ancient skies gave rise to

a universal, sacred language o myth, tradition and religion the world

over. Tis system o symbols and metaphors became the common

denominator o all sacred thought and teachings in whatever ancient

culture. Tus, any prophet could capitalize on these commonalitiesto convince prospective converts that he had the “truth.” Te Savior

taught it that way, as did his apostles. We see Peter, or example, in the

New estament, rehearsing the cosmological history o the world rom

the Flood orward to both the Jews and the Gentiles about the change

in Earth’s heavens, a key principle in their pagan belie system that

enabled them to accept what Peter subsequently taught about Jesus.We see John, in his marvelous Apocalypse, doing the same by insert-ing Jesus the Christ into pagan traditions common to the Hellenistic

culture o the day, making it easy or Greeks, Romans, Egyptians,Persians and Jews to see the Savior in their own, particular cultural

traditions. Once a missionary, prophet or apostle had succeeded by this artifce in convincing the people he had the “truth,” he could

then go on to teach the higher, spiritual concepts and precepts o thegospel—convert them, in other words.

Tis made teaching the higher, spiritual truths much easier. Tecommon cosmic traditions o people everywhere became the univer-sal language or conversion. It was a tool employed by every prophet

and apostle down through the ages. Even the Savior used it, calling

himsel “Alpha and Omega,” relating himsel to the “I Am” o antiquity,

the “Word o God” or claiming to be the cosmic “Messiah”—all titles

derived rom sacred cosmology o the past.

Joseph Smith did something similar, only in reverse order. Unlikethe ancients, our culture knew nothing o the past cosmological history

o the heavens. Science had seen to that, and religion had ollowed

suit. So, rather than starting with the ancient cosmological traditions,



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as his predecessor prophets had done, Joseph turned to repairing the

tattered, soiled and misused remnant o Christian doctrine prevalent

in his day. Only later, once he had convinced converts o his Christian

roots, did he venture to re-institute cosmological tradition in moderntemple worship, the universal theme o all temple worship anciently,

as a vital and traditional part o the gospel o Jesus Christ.

So, this is the straightorward answer to those common questionsI get. Restoring the “ullness o the gospel” required including the

cosmological traditions and their respective rituals that were honored

and repeated by all the prophets. Again, Joseph wrote: “I also gave

some instructions in the mysteries o the kingdom o God; such asthe history of the planets, Abraham’s writings upon the planetary sys-

tems, etc,” (eachings o the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 118, emphasisadded.) Tis was done so that we can understand the arcane allusions

and reerences o the prophets and apostles as they meant them to be

understood, not as our emasculated, spiritualized and Christianized

versions had them beore Joseph Smith. Clariying these symbolic

and metaphorical usages was as much a part o restoring the truth asinstituting the correct manner o baptism or the reality that God has

a body o fesh and bone.

Te next question asked is, “So, is this knowledge vital to our salva-

tion or exaltation?”

I answer with proound conviction:

It most certainly is i we intend to ully understand the prophets,

comprehend prophecy itsel and inherit the blessings promised in theEndowment. Otherwise, Joseph Smith, under God’s tutelage, would

not have restored it to us. At some point in our eternal progression,we will have to come to this knowledge and understanding. Sooner

or later, in this lie or the next, we will be required to include this inour worldview.

So, why not get an early start? Why not ollow Joseph Smith’s

counsel to get as much correct knowledge in this lie as possible toour greater benet in the next?



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For more essays rom this series:http://mormonprophecy.blogspot.com/

For online classes, videos, newsletters and published books exploringthis material in depth:http://www.mormonprophecy.com/prophecy,_ancient_history_and_the_restored_gospel_002.htm

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Why Cosmology?