One day, many years ago, I was reading a book of the prophesies of Nostradamus. Nostradamus wrote in the mid-1500’s in France. He was a Catholic whose family had converted from Judaism. He was noted for his prophesies that were written in the form of quatrains, short poems of four lines, although Nostradamus never claimed for himself the title of prophet. I read Nostradamus with some interest but not with any conviction that he was in fact a prophet. When reading the book of quatrains of Nostradamus that I had I came across a reference to a book which supposedly inspired Nostradamus, Iamblichus’ “On the Mysteries.” Iamblichus was a 3rd century AD Syrian Neo-platonist. Neo-Platonists where really just what the name implies, new students or admirers of Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher. I ordered a copy of “On the Mysteries” from a bookstore in San Diego called “The Wizard’s Bookshelf.” It came in the mail. I was a very avid reader and in those days you couldn’t just google something you wanted to read about, or order a book from Amazon, you really had to search for what you wanted, with patience and conviction.
“On the Mysteries” was a revelation to me in my late teens, or early 20’s. It purported to discuss the ancient religions of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians. The form of the book is an answer by Iamblichus to some questions addressed to him regarding the nature of God and how an individual can communicate with God. The essence of the book is that an individual can only know the nature of divinity, thus know the mind and will of God, if an individual aligns his mind and will with God’s. “For every thing which is generated is generated from a certain cause, and that which is of a kindred nature derives its completion from a kindred nature. But a divine work is neither causal, for a thing of this kind is without a cause, and is not entirely arranged, nor is it produced by a human cause…All works, therefore, which have a similitude to divinity germinate from a divine cause…For if at any time we appear to be capable of effecting this, it is alone through participating of, and being illuminated by, the Gods, that we enjoy the divine energy.” On the Mysteries, Section III, Chapter XX. From Matthew 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Pretty simple in the abstract, much harder to do in practice.
Iamblichus and “On the Mysteries” prepared me for my introduction to Joseph Smith, Jr. Initially, I did not really have a sense that Joseph Smith, Jr. was a true prophet of God when I was introduced to the Book of Mormon, but I was very drawn to his teachings. It was while in Institute that I borrowed a copy of “Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith.” At that time it had been about 15 years since I had received my copy of and studied “On the Mysteries.” “Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith” was the first book that really gave me the same sort of revelatory experience.
What I discover in “On the Mysteries” and Joseph Smith, Jr. that resonated so much with me was that one cannot know God, or the nature of Divinity, by study nearly as well as one can know the nature of Divinity by practice. By way of analogy, you can’t learn the game of soccer nearly as well by watching it or reading about it as you can by playing the game. It is the difference between theology, the statement of the nature of God and religious belief, and the word I most closely associate with Iamblichus, theurgy, or religious practices like prayer, fasting, exercising faith, hope, and charity. In the Latter-day Saint landscape, Joseph Smith, Jr. in the Sacred Grove is theurgic, in my mind. From Matthew 7:7-8. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Joseph Smith, Jr. was not so much about knowing a canon or doctrine, but about figuring out how to communicate and build a relationship with God. “Nevertheless, efficacious union [with divine natures] is not effected without knowledge; yet knowledge does not possess a sameness with this union.” On the Mysteries, Section II, Chapter XI.
In the Book of Mormon, Alma 7:24 states it pretty concisely. “See that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.” Too often when we think of charity we think of it in monetary terms, giving a gift to charity. In this sense I think we should think of charity as giving others the benefit of the doubt, not rushing to judgment, being merciful. From our Heavenly Father, “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6. And from the Savior, “But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.” Matthew 12:7.