Why should a Jew become a Mormon? Ask Marlena
Posted by Mark Paredes
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The proverbial “third rail” issue for a Christian blogger on a Jewish
website is Jewish conversion to Christianity. It is one of the few
issues that unites practically all Jews, and well-funded organizations
(e.g., Jews for Judaism) have been set up to keep Jews from converting.
Although many Jews who know me well have asked why a Jew would become a
Mormon, I have declined to blog on the subject because I considered it
too sensitive.
Until now. After more than two years blogging for the Jewish Journal,
I’m pretty confident that readers know that my purpose in writing this
column is not to convert Jews. A few weeks ago a prominent Jewish leader
asked me why Jews decide to become Mormons. I decided to pose a series
of questions to my friend Marlena Tanya Muchnick, a well-known
Jew-turned-Mormon speaker, author, and researcher. Marlena travels
around the country making presentations on Jews and Mormons. I am
grateful to her for taking time out from her Baltic cruise to compose
her answers. She and her wonderful husband Daniel live in the Seattle
area.
Q: How old were you when you converted to the LDS Church?
A: I often contemplated the gifts promised the human family in the
Tree of Life mentioned in Genesis 2. The Hebrew life giving tree motif I
found in a copy of Kabbalah (esoteric Judaic writings). It stirred in
me a deep curiosity about the mysterious connections of all things in
earth and heaven. I read of covenants, oaths, the patterns and behaviors
of men –blessings received, curses endured. Always the connection of
God to His children was tested and tried. The Hebrew people have always
been engaged in a love story (often also a tryst!) with their
Father/Lord. So, in a fashion, I was being spiritually prepared for my
transformation at age 47 – from Orthodox/Conservative Jewess to a
temple-attending Latter-day Saint.
Q: Jews believe the Abrahamic covenant still applies to them.
Mormons also believe that the Abrahamic covenant is applicable today.
Why is there a need for a Jew to become a Mormon if the Abrahamic
covenant is still alive and well?
A: Being raised an observant Jewess, I trusted that the everlasting
Avrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12, 15, 17, and 28) was the blueprint for
every life. An agreement between mankind and God, it is unconditional in
its nature to bless the tribes of Israel (see Genesis 12:2-3). Nations
and kings were to descend from that patriarch who would become father of
a “great nation”, receiving special blessings for their faithfulness,
including the Mashiach’s (Messiah’s) return into their midst. Many Jews
believe in these future events but have little idea of the profound
meanings implicit in them. Spiritual truth often lies in mystery, but to
ignore that tantalizing search is to remain dead to the potential for
life that waits hopefully within each soul.
Fortunately for me, through the teachings of the missionaries, I
discovered that Mormons understand covenants better than anyone, because
they realize the importance and urgency of gathering members of the
house of Israel through the restored, latter-day Gospel teachings as
reintroduced through the Prophet Joseph Smith; his translation of the
Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, and the restoration of the temples of God to the
earth.
[According to LDS belief] Jews are the “chosen” people according to
God’s covenant with Abraham. [Mormons believe that] Abraham wanted to
regain the true priesthood and gospel principles that had been lost
through apostasy. But neither the Jews nor anyone else can be
automatically saved. The Latter-day Saints have been charged with
finding those who are lost and teaching them the essential news of the
restoration of ancient priesthood powers which God has covenanted to
them unconditionally on His part. But individual faithfulness and action
are required to bring fulfillment. [I believe that] Judaism is the
foundation of Christianity, not the final product.
Q: What was it that attracted you to Mormonism?
A: How does a proper Jewess cross the seemingly uncrossable line to
Christianity, then venture further to the hallowed country of the
Gentilic, gentle Saints? For me, it was the hardest work my rebellious
soul has EVER done! I was 14 and just confirmed from Hebrew school when I
realized something was missing from my synagogue experiences. My
parents thought me mad. I was told to get over it. It was 1954.
Arriving at age 40 I found myself alone and poor, a victim of many
abuses as a child and teen. During my growing years as a female in a
traditionally male cultural setting, I sought in the synagogues for a
deeper and especially a personal solace. Synagogue prayers are praises
to God and petitions for Israel - our traditional way of approaching
Deity. But I needed a personal witness. Finally, pleading with God
before the opened Torah scrolls, I challenged Him to bring me what He
knew I needed; then I determined to find it myself, if it took this
lifetime to do so. It took several years longer.
My only sibling, a younger brother, eventually accepted the Gospel
more or less against his will. Mark had married a Tongan whose father
translated the Book of Mormon into Tongan for the country’s royalty.
Mark’s wife and family were, of course, devoted Mormons. In 1975, he
brought me a Book of Mormon, to share the joy in the Gospel that he had
found. I immediately rejected it.“I have Torah. Why would I need another
book? No, thanks. I prefer to remain a Jew. Is this what our people
have fought to become? I think not.” I put the book in my bookcase and
left it there for years. Many years later, in 1985, I moved to Oregon
from L.A. to assist with care for my now widowed brother’s children.
Senior Mormon missionaries lived next door!
I was quite disturbed by this new and sudden interest of these
Christian people in my background and my beliefs as a Jew. Having been
taught by my parents that non-Jews (Gentiles) were off limits to me, I’d
never learned Christian ways or beliefs. They couldn’t pronounce the
gutteral ch. They didn’t like Jewish food, they didn’t know Hebrew
history or celebrate any Jewish holidays. But I was attracted to them in
ways that stirred my soul.
1. I found those Mormons I met and who befriended me to be genuinely
caring about each and every person and were gentle and forgiving folk.
They were genuinely kind to me and they related all their life
experiences to faith and love of God and Christ. What impressed me so
much was their close relationship with God. That gave them satisfaction I
had only dreamt of finding. They listened to my denials of Christ,
asked me about Judaism, and were genuinely interested in comparing
religions through scripture and through their own understanding. And
then there was the “look” in their eyes. Was it joy? True happiness?
Their constant relationship with the mysterious Holy Spirit? I wanted
it!
2. They patiently spoke of New Testament gospel writers, pointing out
that most were Jewish men, including the apostles of Christ. I had
never thought that important. I confess that at first I only allowed
them to entertain me with these things because my brother had earlier
brought me that book which claimed our ancient Jewish ancestors truly
came from Israel to these American continents and – would you believe –
accepted Jesus as the Christ? They told me that Jesus came to fulfill
the Law of Moses (Matt 5:17) and create a new covenant between God and
his people, that he visited the American continents (Book of Mormon,
3Nephi 11-28). The Book of Mormon is a sign that the gathering of Israel
and the fulfillment of his covenants with them was beginning.
3. These apostles learned there was a higher law than the Aaronic/
Levitical priesthood: the higher or Melchizedek priesthood. This man,
Melchizedek (Heb 7:2) was a notable prophet and leader who lived about
2000 BC. He was the first individual to be given the title of Kohen
(priest) in Torah. Father Abraham paid tithes to him. Melchizedek is
mentioned in many places in Torah and in latter-day scripture. Mormons
claim that these two priesthoods have been restored in our day, along
with prophets, temples, baptism and other ordinances by priesthood
authority, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost and
other blessings, and proxy work for the dead. I was finding a unity
between our two faiths; that we are connected by many things. Mormons
have more in common with Judaism than any other religion because Judaism
laid the foundation for Christianity and through the LDS church the
fullness of many covenants God made with the nation of Israel will be
realized. These include the Abrahamic (Gen 12:1-3, 15), Edenic (Gen
3:16-19), Palestinian (Deut 30:1-10), Davidic (2Sam 7:8-16, Luke
1:32-34), and the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34).
4. I was attracted to the notion that prophets and seers were once
again on the earth. In Torah many prophets are mentioned, some true,
some false. The greater ones were usually disbelieved and hated for
their unpopular messages. Some met with an untimely death. The last
Hebrew prophet, Malachi, lived at the end of the 70-year Babylonian
exile. Judaism today does not recognize anyone as having the voice to
speak for them. But the Mormons claim Joseph Smith was a prophet and
seer and that these chosen men of God will never again be taken from the
earth. Thomas S. Monson is regarded as the current seer and prophetic
voice among the Saints and he has two counselors. Together they form the
First Presidency of the church. Their writings, in my mind, equal and
often surpass those of many scholarly Talmudic sages.
5. The Mormon view of the afterlife attracted me greatly. Jews
believe there is an Olam Haba – the world to come after death. Torah
[the 5 books of Moses] emphasizes immediate, concrete, physical rewards
and punishments rather than abstract future ones. See, for example, Lev.
26:3-9 and Deut. 11:13-15. However, there is clear evidence in Torah of
belief in existence after death. Indicated in several places the
righteous with their loved ones will be reunited after death, while the
wicked will be excluded. Ideas about resurrection and reincarnation are
accepted, but there is much room for personal opinion, because Torah
does not mention this subject directly, though the early temples
practiced cleansing and vivifying rites. I was very concerned with what
hope there was for mine and my family’s death. Mormons have revealed
knowledge through prophets that explains and clarifies much about the
spirit world before and after mortal life, and I found it reassuring.
6. The missionaries read with me the Book of Mormon, enlightening my understanding of the Abrahamic Covenant.
Q: According to one of your websites, you engaged in five months
of “secluded studying” of Hebrew and LDS scriptures before converting.
What did you learn from this experience? A: I learned, in
essence, through totally independent study and prayer that the Gospel as
taught in the LDS church is completely correct. I found my personal
answers to the questions: Why am I here? Where did I come from? Where am
I going?
There is room here for several specific examples.
1. I learned about the priesthood of God, its purposes, duties and
ministrations. See Exodus 40, a detailed account of Aaron and his sons
receiving the Aaronic priesthood. After the fall of Herod’s Temple in 70
AD, that and the greater priesthood were lost, the Jewish nation
scattered. In these latter days that most precious gift has been
restored to the earth and all of us are blessed through the Aaronic and
Melchizedek priesthood of God in these latter days.
2. Exodus 34 gives the story of Moses (Moshe) receiving God’s
commandments. Moses asks the Lord to pardon the iniquity of his people,
to which the Lord replies in part (v.14) that the Jews shall have no
other god but the Lord, “…whose name is Jealous…” All others are said
to be false, and to Jews, that includes Jesus. But the New Testament
history of Jesus and his times is compelling. He converted thousands of
Jewish followers. This is not mentioned in Torah or Talmud. Why not?
3. When the missionaries told me that Joseph Smith received his
visitation from our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in April of 1820
and that the LDS church was established in April of 1830, I discovered
these dates coincided with the Jewish Passover. Joseph’s visit by the
angel, Moroni, and additionally when he visited the place the golden
plates were buried and retrieved them four years later - these
occurrences came during the annual Feast of Sukkot in September, 1823
and the Jewish New Year of 1827. Coincidences? These and numerous other
occasions in LDS history helped to convince me that the history of Jews
and Mormons was intertwined in the mind and heart of God and an
important clue to my understanding of how God works with mankind.
4. I learned through the Book of Mormon that God spoke directly to
the descendants of the Jewish people in America, introducing them to
Jesus Christ, His only Begotten Son. Since I do believe that God is in
charge and can do as He wishes, I understood and accepted that the
history of the Jews in the lands of America included the visitation and
teachings of Christ in the Americas. In the Doctrine and Covenants,
Section 29:31-33, I read that Heavenly Father’s works are without end.
This made sense to me.
5. I learned that both religions honor their ancestors and place them
in high esteem. Both believe in the principle of fasting and both have a
set of dietary laws that are sensible and spiritually conceived by
Deity. Both religions honor God and His commandments. Both revere and
celebrate the Sabbath and believe in keeping it holy. There are many
similarities between Jewish and LDS beliefs and religious observances,
but much has been lost of ancient truths through time.
6. Ezekiel 37 in part refers to the prophecy of combining the “two
sticks”, that of Joseph, by which is meant the Book of Mormon, with the
stick (record)of Judah – meaning the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible –.
The LDS “quad” contains those scriptures in one volume that also
includes more scripture, much of it dictated by Jesus Christ to the
Prophet Joseph Smith. I learned that this is a further evidence of the
message for unity between Mormons and Jews.
7. The Book of Mormon opened my eyes to profound teachings, truths
about the history of my Hebrew ancestors in the Americas, the true
nature of the spirit of mankind, Jesus in America. It is testimony to
how the Holy Ghost works in our lives, the divinity of Jesus Christ and
presents undeniable evidence that the book was translated by the gift
and power of God. It is truly a second witness of Jesus Christ and
contains the fullness of the Gospel that Jesus tried to teach the Jews
in Israel millennia ago. I could not deny its truthfulness. The Holy
Ghost testified of these things to me in an undeniable way, even to the
extent of giving me a vision, words from an angelic source, and a
transformation of spirit.
8. Importantly, I discovered the Doctrine and Covenants, a book of
scriptures containing revelations from the Lord Jesus Christ to the
Prophet Joseph Smith. This book amazed me. It is not a translation but
claims to be a witness of Jesus Christ. Indeed, as I read the first
section, dictated to Joseph by the Lord Himself, I was amazed that I had
not known of this book. I now had the problem of believing or denying
that Jesus was indeed the Messiah of the world! The book proclaims that
the heavens are open again. It contains revelations for LDS church
governance and the essential beliefs of the organization of the Saints.
While reading it I realized the voice of Jesus was the same voice I read
and felt in Torah. Now it became impossible to deny that Jesus was the
one who made the Exodus from Egypt possible.
9. The Pearl of Great Price is another enlightening collection of
scripture that is invaluable in understanding the way Heavenly Father
works with humanity. The Joseph Smith history is also undeniably true,
and from it I learned of the First Vision. The book of Moses and book of
Abraham teach the doctrine of plurality of gods. I read about the
doctrine of exaltation and learned of its significance to us. Jewish
canon does not include any of the information found in the Pearl… This
is a vast treasure trove of information that really opened my eyes to
the mysteries of God.
10. The most important thing I discovered in my reading, pondering
and praying was that God is in charge. Consistently, in all scripture,
He tells us that. He does what He wants in His time. He is not subject
to human rules or traditions, whims, requests, threats, pleadings, etc.
Q:
You’ve said that personal revelation has inspired you to facilitate
mutual understanding between Jews and Mormons. In what ways do you do
this?
A: My mission, bestowed upon me in 1989 under a priesthood calling,
was to “be as an Esther to my people” by bringing the Jews to God’s true
church, mainly through the tribe of Ephraim – the preponderance of
members of the LDS church are of that tribal affiliation. I am to teach
them about the genesis of their religion and how to fellowship and
understand their Jewish neighbors, thereby to “help them come to the
salvation of their souls through their Mashiach, Jeshua, even Jesus
their Christ.”
To this end I have embarked upon a mission:
writing books for the Mormon reading public: about my conversion to the
church, about the Jewish people - their history, beliefs, culture and
language. I also have published fiction that highlights their plight in
America and in Eastern Europe. I give firesides, lectures and classes
to LDS congregations on these subjects, as well as maintaining several
blog and websites featuring many useful articles on Jewish life. I point
out the many similarities and connections (see listing) between the two
religions and cultures. I tell my audiences to reach out to their
Jewish neighbors, embracing their culture and making as many connections
as possible with them in various settings.
Q: Has the Jewish community been receptive to your work? How do Mormons react to your presentations?
A: The work that I do is strictly for the LDS population. Jews do not
want me to speak to their congregations because I have embraced
Christianity, though many Jews are fond of Mormons. Having a Jew convert
to “the other side” of the Jewish world and, in effect, become a
“Gentile” (a non-Jew) is anathema to a Jew. My conversion makes them
very uncomfortable.
Happily, those to whom I have spoken and written are very pleased
with my books, blogs and presentations. Many Mormons are genuinely
interested in their Jewish neighbors and have lots of questions I help
them to answer. I tell them I am only a messenger. They must do the real
work of investigating and understanding to make the connections.
Q: You’ve written “A Mormon’s Guide to Judaism.“What is one thing
that every Mormon should know about Judaism? What should every Jew know
about Mormonism?
A: Through the years I have asked many fellow Jews why they do not
wish to believe in Christ. Their responses span their range of
involvement in religious worship. By far, their responses included an
avowed devotion to Judaism alone - showing little or no interest in any
other religion. I have also noticed that relatively few Mormons have any
more than a surface understanding of other religions and do not
investigate the similarities and differences between their religion.
This puts them in the same category with most Jews.
So, in my view, it is essential that Latter-day Saints become aware
of the underpinnings of their belief system; Jesus was a Jew. The
original Gospel evolved through Mosaic Law. Judaism is the language and
belief system that propelled Christianity into being, though it was soon
and continually corrupted by many factors. A knowledge of Jewish
prayers, group and individual worship, holidays, culture, language,
dietary laws and other elements of their sub-civilization should be
sought after by the LDS population. This will increase Mormon
understanding and appreciation of their own religious life.
As for my first people, I would advise them of the many similarities
of the Hebrew religion and current Jewish congregations to LDS ways of
life and urge them to investigate these. The Jews are increasingly
positive about the LDS church and generally believe Mormons to be
helpful, accepting, loyal, supporting and who accept their Israelite
progenitors as brethren without prejudice or anti-Semitism. That is
especially helpful in the present dangerous political situation in
Israel and elsewhere in the world. I would ask them to consider learning
of Christ with an inquiring and searching spirit, rather than to be
forever satisfied with their centuries-long traditions. I think that
the Jewish people in the main resist Christianity because of centuries
of persecution, forced conversions and ostracism.
It is important for the Jewish people to understand that the ancient
tribal identities and relationships have been restored; that those who
are descendants of the Hebrews enslaved in Egypt, Babylon, etc. , and
now scattered throughout the earth – are in the process of being
gathered again, according to ancient prophecy (Isa 54:7, Ezek 11:17, Jer
50:4 and others). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
pursues the literal gathering of Israel throughout the world and the
restoration of all the tribes (families) of Jacob prior to the coming of
the Mashiach. The fullness of the early Gospel taught by our first
prophets is here upon the earth today and available to each of us.
Without the birthright tribe (holding the priesthood keys through Christ
and his church) of Ephraim, the lineage of Judah (protector of the
temples and the people) is as a sword of undirected energy.
Q: You speak often on the symbolic connections between Mormon and Jewish worship. What is the most important connection?
A: That is an easy answer. It would be our holy temples, those that
once stood in Jerusalem and those built by the Latter-day Saints. It was
and is now Beit YHVH or YHWH, the house of the Lord. The history of the
temple in Jerusalem begins in 957 BC with King Solomon’s construction.
It was destroyed and rebuilt twice more. It was the center of Jewish
civilization and all things in life revolved around that holy shrine
built to God. In the temple, offerings were made, blessings and
benedictions pronounced, ritual cleansings performed. Isaiah spoke of
the importance of prayer in the Temple, calling it God’s “holy
mountain”. The loss of the temple in a.d. 70 brought on the Diaspora of
the Jews which has lasted to this day. Jews believe they no longer have a
temple in which to worship, but that is no longer the case.
The first temple structure built by the Mormon people was in
Kirtland, Ohio. It was dedicated in March 1836 and the Lord accepted it.
As of May 2012 there are 137 operating, 15 under construction, 14
announced temples. See
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/temples/.
These houses of the Lord are clear and direct links between Judaism
and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They provide a
place set apart for eternal covenants, a place that is sacred and
suitable for the performing of holy ordinances that bind on earth and
heaven. They provide ordinances for living and dead that assures the
possession and association of families, worlds without end and
exaltation for ourselves and our families in the kingdom of God. They
contain emblems of ancient Judaic worship. When I first saw these, my
heart jumped and I knew I had finally “come home”. LDS temples are
based on the fact of the atonement of Jesus Christ, without whom all
mankind would be irretrievably lost. In ancient and modern times, the
“work” done in Mormon temples is binding, the “glory and honour”
referred to in Psalm 8:3:
“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and
the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful
of him? …For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast
crowned him with glory and honour” .
[At the suggestion of Jewish Journal editors, a few edits have
been made to Marlena’s interview in order to clarify Judaism’s beliefs]
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