A Psychological Similarity
Utah
Contents:
1. The Name Utah - Judah! and Yadi.
2. Ten Tribes Needed to Uplift the World, Rabbi Moshe David Valley.
3. 13 Tribes and 13 US Colonies as Founding States.
4. Utah - Healthy, Wealthy, with Good Families.
5. Similarites of Mormonism to Judaism (Wikipedia Excerpts).
6. The Chosen People - American Exceptionalism.
7. America in Mormonism.
8. Judaism and Mormonism.
9. Basic Differences Between Judaism and Mormonism.
10. Some History.
11. Missionary Acrtivity and Discrimination.
12. Items of interest and Demographics.
13. Biblical and Notable Names of Cities and Places.
14. Tribal Identification.
15. Judah or Ephraim? What can be Learned?
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1. The Name Utah - Judah! and Yadi.
The name UTAH (pronounced as "YOO-Tah") is said to derive from the name of the Amerindian Ute tribe, meaning 'people of the mountains', cf. the Apache word "Yuttahih," which means 'one that is higher up' or 'those that are higher up'.
The name "Utah" ("Yutah") is similar to a north European pronunciation of Judah, similar to the JUTES (pronounced ":Yoot") of Denmark whose name and derivations of it were often confused for the name Judah. In Biblical Times there was also a conclave of Jews from Judah in Cilicia in southeast Turkey and northern Syria known as "Yadi" and/or "Yati" and this name too was considered a version of Judah. This is referred to in the Bible,
2-Kings (NKJV) 14:28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did-his might, how he made war, and how he recaptured for Israel, from Damascus and Hamath, what had belonged to Judah - are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
This passage refers to King Jeroboam-2 who ruled over the Kingdom of Israel of the Ten Tribes. Jeroboam-2 is Jeroboam son of Joash who was co-eval with King Azariah if Judah. Jeroboam-2 is not to be confused with Jeroboam-1, i.e. Jeroboam son of Nebat the first King of the Ten Tribes after they separated from Judah. Jeroboam-2 expanded the borders of Israel. He reconquered the areas of Yadi and Smal that a foreigner power may have temporarily taken over. Yadi was a small enclave of settlers from Judah and its neighbor "Smal" was similarly an outpost of people from the Tribe of Dan referred to in archaeology as the "Dananu." The city Hamath was to their south but the term "Hamath" was applied to the whole area. Yadi was thereofre referred to as "Judah in Hamath." Later, the Jews in Yadi were to be taken into captivity by the Assyrians along with the Ten Tribes. Shortly afterwards Sennacherib the Assyrian King attacked Judah in the south centered on Jerusalem and took many from the outlying areas captive. He boasts of having taken into captivity more than 200, 000 from the region of Judah. In this and other ways a large number of Jews from the Kingdom of Judah were exiled by the Assyrians and joined the Ten Tribes. Despite this, as Nachmanides explains, the Bible emphasizes the Ten Tribes being exiled and the Jews remaining separate from each other since the two separate bodies were each destined to fulfil their own special task different from that of the other.
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2. Ten Tribes needed to Uplift the World, Rabbi Moshe David Valley.
The Ten Tribes had a separate destiny from Judah. Their task was to uplift the Gentiles by becoming like them and uplifting them as being part of them.
Rabbi Moshe David Valley, 1697-1777, Padua, west of Venice in Northern Italy,
opines on the above:
Hosea 14:2 Valley. # ... The impurity and debasement of the Ten Tribes was not their true nature. The Power of Repentance can elevate a Person to a greater height than he ever had before. The Israelites have an innate purity. They therefore do not have to try very hard to return to where they should have been if they had not sinned. .... #
The Ten Tribes needed to Reform the World!
Valley: # It is a known matter that Israel [i.e. Ephraim, the northern Ten Tribes] did not descend into the Realms of Pollution other than for the Need to Clarify his Destiny. He needed to fulfill the will of God and reform the world through redirecting its forces. When this is done they shall return to their Source. There will be no need to remain in that situation any more. This is the meaning of, ‘Ephraim shall say, 'What have I to do anymore with idols?'" (Hosea 14:8).
See:
Destined to Rule. The Future Tasks of Ephraim
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/biblical-proof/attributes/ruling/destinedrule.html
The Ten Tribes were exiled by the Assyrians, lost awareness of their Hebrew Ancestry but stayed together. They reached Western Europe. From there they colonized North America. The USA today is an Israelite nations. All the Israelite Tribes are represented in the USA even though Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) are predominant and within Joseph Manasseh is more salient in the USA.
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3. 13 Tribes and 13 US Colonies as Founding States.
There were 13 Israelite Tribes when the Tribes of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) are each counted separately and Levi is also included. These are paralleled by the 13 original colonies.
The sons of Leah; Reuben (Jacob's firstborn) - New Hampshire, Simeon - South Carolina, Levi - Maryland, Judah -New Jersey, Issachar - North Carolina, and Zebulun - Georgia.
The sons of Rachel; Joseph (father of Ephraim - Virginia, and Manasseh - Massachusetts) and Benjamin- New York.
The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan - Delaware, and Naphtali - Connecticut.
The sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad – Pennsylvania, and Asher - Rhode Island.
We identify Judah with New Jersey.
Each and every US State links to one of the 13 original colonies and also to one of the 13 Israelite Tribes. Apart from New Jersey Judah was also represented by UTAH.
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4. Utah - Healthy, Wealthy, with Good Families.
Slightly over half of all Utahns are Mormons, the vast majority of whom are members of The Church of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), which has its world headquarters in Salt Lake City. Utah ranks among the highest in total fertility rate, lowest in percentage of births out of wedlock, lowest in number of abortions per capita, and lowest in percentage of teen pregnancies terminated in abortion. Utah has the lowest child poverty rate in the country, despite its young demographics. According to the Gallup-Healthways Global Well-Being Index as of 2012, Utahns ranked fourth in overall well-being in the United States.
[The Top Ten in overall well-being are: 1. Hawai, 2. Colorado, 3. Minnesota, 4. Utah, 5. Vermont, 6. Nebraska, 7. Montana, 8. New Hampshire, 9. Iowa, 10. Massachusetts].
Problems.
A 2002 national prescription drug study determined that antidepressant drugs were "prescribed in Utah more often than in any other state, at a rate nearly twice the national average.[The data shows that depression rates in Utah are no higher than the national average.] The capital, Salt Lake City, suffers seriously from smog in the winter and from Ozone Layer problems in the summer.
Economy
Major industries of Utah include mining, cattle ranching, salt production, and government services. Petroeum production and tourism are also important. Utah has received high rankings for Economic Dynamism, for being one of the "Best States For Business," and for "small business friendliness."
Utah is ranked number one in the USA for volunteerism.
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5. Similarites of Mormonism to Judaism (Wikipedia Excerpts).
The LDS at the beginning was quite close to Old testament Judaism in many respects. Utah is important in Brit-Am Studies since it proves the potential for a change of heart in "Ephraim" exists. The people of Utah at one stage came close to Judah and could conceivably, under different circumstances, have gone all the way. What applies to Utah is pertinent to all of Ephraim in general.
Wikipedia tells us:
Although Mormons do not claim to be part of Judaism, Mormon theology claims to situate Mormonism within the context of Judaism to an extent that goes beyond what most other Christian denominations claim. The faith incorporates many Old Testament ideas into its theology, and the beliefs of Mormons sometimes parallel those of Judaism and certain elements of Jewish culture. In the earliest days of Mormonism, Joseph Smith taught that the Indigenous peoples of the Americas were members of some of the Lost Tribes of Israel. Later, he taught that Mormons were Israelites, and that they may learn of their tribal affiliation within the twelve Israelite tribes. Members of the LDS Church receive Patriarchal blessings which declare the recipient's lineage within one of the tribes of Israel. The lineage is either through true blood-line or adoption. The LDS [latter-Day Saints] Church teaches that if one is not a direct descendant of one of the twelve tribes, upon baptism he or she is adopted into one of the tribes. Patriarchal blessings also include personal information which is revealed through a patriarch by the power of the priesthood.
The Mormon affinity for Judaism is expressed by the many references to Judaism in the Mormon liturgy. For example, Smith named the largest Mormon settlement he founded Nauvoo, which means "to be beautiful" in Hebrew. Brigham Young named a tributary of the Great Salt Lake the Jordan River. The LDS Church created a writing scheme called the Deseret Alphabet, which was based, in part, on Hebrew. The LDS Church has a Jerusalem Center in Israel, where students focus their study on Near Eastern history, culture, language, and the Bible.[87]
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6. The Chosen People - American Exceptionalism.
The LDS doctrines are considered an expression of "American Exceptionalism."
Wikipedia:
American exceptionalism is the idea that the United States is inherently different from other nations.[2] Proponents of it argue that the values, political system, and historical development of the U.S. are unique in human history, often with the implication that it is both destined and entitled to play a distinct and positive role on the world stage.
"The concept of the United States as an exceptional society has a long history, sometimes traced back to French writer Alexis de Tocqueville or to the ideas espoused by the Founding Fathers of the United States during the American Revolution."
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7. America in Mormonism.
Wikipedia. ... (LDS Church) believes that the Americas, including the United States, are a unique place,[27] populated by a chosen people composed of Lamanites (Indigenous Americans)[28] and Mormons for a singular destiny, linking the United States to the Biblical promised land in the Book of Mormon, with the Constitution of the United States being divinely inspired. Joseph Smith argued that the millennial New Jerusalem was to be built in America.
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8. Judaism and Mormonism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism_and_Mormonism#:
Joseph Smith the founder of Mormonism among other things claimed to have received a visitation from Moses.
The Church of Latter-day Saints has several unique teachings about Judaism and the House of Israel. The largest denomination in the Latter Day Saint movement, The Church... of Latter-day Saints, teaches the belief that the Jewish people are God's chosen people and it also teaches the belief that its members share a common and literal Israelite ancestry with the Jewish people. It also teaches the belief that God is perpetually punishing the Jewish people for their part in the crucifixion and they will not be forgiven until they are converted.[2][3] Their conversion is connected to "the literal gathering of Israel", as stated in one of the faith's articles of faith.[4]
Mormons have a health code which eschews alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, and addictive substances. They tend to be very family-oriented and have strong connections across generations and with extended family, reflective of their belief that families can be sealed together beyond death. They also have a strict law of chastity, requiring abstention from sexual relations outside heterosexual marriage and fidelity within marriage.
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9. Basic Differences Between Judaism and Mormonism
In Judaism, God is strictly monotheistic, an absolute one, indivisible, incorporeal and incomparable being who is the ultimate cause of all existence.
Jews do not believe in the Christain Messiah in any way, not as God, not as part of God, and not as an prophetic emissary of God.
Jews accept ONLY the Torah as the Direct Word of God. All other holy works accepted by Judaism emanate from the Torah.
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10. Some History.
Joseph Smith Jr. (1805-1844) was born in Vermont .
He claimed to have received visions and a sacred text inscribed on golden plates near Palmyra, New York, close to where he then lived.
The text of the plates was given as "The Book of Mormon" published in 1830. His followers became known as Mormons.
Smith later claimed to have received a visitation from the Hebrew Prophet Moses.
Smith set up Mormon communities in Missouri, Ohio and Illinois.
Mormon teaching, financial problems, and their practice of polygamy (involving the proselytizing of women and then marrying them in extended families) aroused the hostility of outsiders. Smith was incarcerated then killed when a mob stormed the jail.
After Smith died, the church divided. Many Mormons followed Brigham Young.
During the 1850s, Young organized the migration of about 16,000 Mormons from Illinois to Utah which was then officially part of Mexico but soon was ceded to the USA.
Young founded Salt Lake City which as of 2020 had about 1,200, 000 inhabitants. Smith became the first governor of the Utah Territory.
In the beginning the Mormons were known for polygamy. It has since been officially forbidden by the Church but some Mormons still practice it. Joseph Smith himself had wed as many as 40 wives, some as young as age 14.
Early Mormon history is full of armed skirmishes between the Mormons and their neighbors.
In September of 1857, a Mormon militia killed about 120 people who were part of a wagon train from Arkansas passing through Utah. This event became known as the "Mountain Meadows Massacre."
There was also initial fiction with the US government but an accommodation was reached. Utah officially became a State of the USA in 1896.
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11. Missionary Acrtivity and Discrimination.
The Mormons are active missionaries and in the beginning had much success. At first they restricted themlseves to areas within the USA and Northern Europe but nowadays look much further afield. All Mormons upon reaching adulthood engaged in a year or more of missionary activity.
Nearly half the Mormons complain of discrimination against them by others.
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12. Items of interest and Demographics.
Population: 3,271,616
Motto: Industry
Symbol on flag: Bee Hive with eagle overhead.
Nicknames
o Beehive State
o Mormon State.
o Friendly State (in disuse) (formerly used on license plates).
o Greatest Snow on Earth (formerly used on all license plates; now an alternate slogan on license plates alongside the state's current tourism slogan, "Life Elevated").
The largest ancestry groups in the state are:
26.0% English
11.9% German
11.8% Scandinavian (5.4% Danish, 4.0% Swedish, 2.4% Norwegian)
9.0% Mexican
6.6% American
6.2% Irish
4.6% Scottish
2.7% Italian
2.4% Dutch
2.2% French
2.2% Welsh
1.4% Scotch Irish
1.3% Swiss
In 2011 one-third of Utah's workforce was reported to be bilingual, developed through a program of acquisition of second languages beginning in elementary school, and related to Mormonism's missionary goals for its young people.
In 2011, 28.6% of Utah's population younger than the age of one were ethnic minorities, meaning they had at least one parent who was of a race other than non-Hispanic white.[13
Utah has the highest total birth rate and accordingly, the youngest population of any U.S. state. In 2010, the state's population was 50.2% male and 49.8% female. The life expectancy is 79.3 years.
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13. Biblical and Notable Names of Cities and Places.
West Jordan River
South Jordan River
Goshen, UT
Joseph, UT
Levan, UT
Lewiston, UT
Moab, UT
Salem, UT
West Jordan, UT
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14. Tribal Identification
We were told that the Mormons today believe they too are destined from the Israelite Tribes. Each member at some stage goes before an 'Elder' who tells them what Israelite Tribe they belong to. Most are told they pertain to the Tribe of 'Ephraim.' Some (especially the colored ones) are allocated to Manasseh or another Tribe.
They also have all kinds of ceremonials, vestments, a special diet, etc.
This is in effect almost like being Jewish without Judaism. If a Mormon ever decided to keep the Jewish religion the psychological adjustment would not need to be a great one.
Religious Jews on a daily basis might learn more comparatively but here again it is only a matter of degree since Mormonism also seems to encourage research and individual effort.
On the other hand, in the other direction, for a Jew to become a Mormon might be tantamount of commtting idolatry so we should NOT emphasize the similarity overduly.
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15. Judah or Ephraim? What can be Learned?
The name of Utah is similar to that of Judah when pronounced as how it once was in some areas. The rank-and file accept an identification as Israelites and specifically as belonging to one of the Israelite Tribes especially that of Ephraim. It may be that physically many of them do come from Ephraim. Nevertheless their religious practices, psychological adjustments, and social attitudes seem closer to those of Judah. We may therefore classify them as in some way belonging to Judah within Ephraim within Manasseh.
Another point is that the Americans who became Mormons were basically ordinary citizens before then. They accepted the fact that they were Israelties, that they belonged to a specific Tribe, and that they had to keep a Divinely-appointed Law. That the Law in question was not exactly that of the Hebrew Bible but rather a rough adaptation of parts of it is another matter. An attempt that may have been in the right direction had been made and relatively speaking had succeeded within the framework of its inbuilt limitations.
Deuteronomy 29:
29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.