Introduction

Why is Cosmism so important?

It’s only natural that inquisitive minds seek out things that most others seem to have missed or simply misunderstood. Discovery inspires human imagination. It expands our vision of ourselves and of the world around us. Inquisitive minds, free to explore and encouraged by new possibilities, are those most likely to develop into critical thinkers, discoverers, and innovators. They are the guarantors of tomorrow’s advances in the sciences, and deeper knowledge and understanding of our own history and spirituality.

For those of you that hunger and thirst for useful knowledge, here is a tool among the most useful in all the world. A tool that arguably adds more to your understanding of ancient history, cutting edge science, and the religious beliefs of mankind, than any other tool there is. It is the understanding of how cosmology fits into the big picture. We call it Cosmism.

Cosmism:

The cosmological or astral elements found in a subject, topic, or discipline. A method of knowledge acquisition through a cosmological or astral paradigm. Multiple disassociated disciplines like Science, History, or Religion complementing each other to acquire a correct knowledge of the truth.

In Science Cosmism includes:

Plasma physics, the Electric universe theory, Planets and other large bodies, including Earth, encountering each other. It also includes catastrophism, geology, archaeology, and psychology, among others.

In Ancient history it includes:

Philosophy, Art, Traditions, Rituals, Comparative mythology, Archetypes, Motifs, Hieroglyphs, Petroglyphs, and Symbolism, Our Solar system's history, among others.

In Religion it includes:

The Restored Gospel, Comparative religion, Prophecy, Visions, Miracles, Revelation, among others.

You now have a versatile tool you can use in your studies, weather your research be strictly science, strictly religion, or both. The signs and symbols of cosmic imagery really are everywhere. You will now begin to train your mind to see them more and more.

To those of you that research science:

“The most merciful thing in the world - is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but someday the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality… That we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.”

– H. P. Lovecraft

In a broadly interdisciplinary inquiry such as this, communication itself can pose quite a challenge. Typically, the greatest difficulties in communication will occur when one is questioning something already “known” to be true. On matters of underlying principle, the confidence behind established ideas can be so high that discussion itself may seem quite senseless. This difficulty is aggravated by fragmentation of the process by which information is gathered and evaluated. The specialization of intellectual inquiry carries with it certain risks when assumptions within one discipline rest upon prior assumptions in other disciplines. No one can be an expert on everything, and when considering possibilities outside one’s personal expertise, it is only natural to defer to what specialists in other studies claim to know. But what are the consequences of this when theoretical suppositions, though perceived as fact, cannot account for compelling new fields of data?

Given the extreme fragmentation of established science today it is difficult to imagine that the enterprise as a whole could ever “correlate all its contents.” Yet extraordinary strides toward that “someday” envisioned by Lovecraft may now be possible through a new approach – one in which electrical phenomena receive the full attention they deserve, and all appropriate fields of evidence are included. To some, the prospects may appear every bit as disturbing as Lovecraft imagined. But for those who instinctively seek out unifying principles, the new horizons will be at once breathtaking and hopeful.

This introduction will present a new “deep focus lens” for viewing the physical universe, from sub-atomic particles to galactic realms unknown before the Hubble telescope. The ELECTRIC UNIVERSE® is a holistic answer to myopia* -that narrowing of vision which naturally accompanies the fragmentation of knowledge and learning. For those with the courage to see clearly, the required “unlearning” of fashionable ideas carries no real cost whatsoever. The terror Lovecraft envisioned is only the first rush of uncertainty, when ideas long taken for granted are thrown into question by facts and simple reasoning previously ignored. The “piecing together of dissociated knowledge” will only require us to confront the deep contradictions in things experts have long claimed to know. With the courage to see clearly, the adventure itself could well be “the most merciful thing in the world,” adding new insights into the greatest dramas of early human history and vital perspective to humanity’s situation in the cosmos. Lovecraft did not realize that the “terrifying vistas” are but a mirage seen through an open door. The truth is always unified, and as such it can only be friendly to those who seek the truth first. As we pass through the door, it is not fear that goes with us, but the exhilaration of discovery.

~ Wal Thornhill / David Talbott

*Myopia – a disinclination to acknowledge the existence of something.

To those of you that study the gospel:

The typical reaction of church members when first exposed to Joseph Smith’s use of cosmological imagery is one of disbelief. “You mean there is more to the gospel of Jesus Christ than I have been taught?” is a typical reaction. This is mostly due to the fact that their previous gospel education or belief system did not include this aspect of gospel study. It was one of the first concepts lost in the widespread apostasy after the death of Christ’s apostles, so other Christian denominations know nothing of it. Nephi, in the Book of Mormon, wrote at length about how the “plain and precious” parts of the gospel were suppressed in the apostasy. Along with all that is taught publicly, there is more to the Restored Gospel than meets the eye.

This information cannot harm you, nor detract from your testimony. There is no need to fear it. Rather, it can only expand and complement your present grasp of the gospel, as well as markedly strengthen your conviction that you are a member of the one true church of Jesus Christ, restored by a prophet in these latter days.

The Restoration saw the reinstatement of these concepts, along with the other vital concepts you have learned in your time as a latter-day saint. They are explained in the teachings of Joseph Smith, and they are employed in his revelations, including the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. In addition, this very same information allows us to understand the otherwise arcane and odd symbolic imagery used by all the prophets and in our modern temples.

This information is not taught to investigators. We leave that task to our capable and inspired missionaries, who are called to carry the basic gospel principles to the world under the direction of church leaders. They teach the vital essentials that most Christians can understand, enough to convince them of the validity of the Restoration if they choose to listen. Of course, sincere inquiry confirms these truths via the Spirit to all who ask with a sincere heart and real intent.

However once one has obtained a conviction of the Restoration and a testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith and the church he founded through personal revelation, this information becomes the next step forward in one’s ongoing efforts to master gospel principles and concepts.

You will not find this instruction in church manuals, nor will you hear it in General Conference talks. It is not taught in Sunday School nor from our pulpits on Sundays. The information presented in those venues is for investigators and newly confirmed members. It’s also vital for longtime members to review regularly. Those are the first principles. This is additional information we are meant to search out for ourselves as part of our eternal progression.

Yet this additional information should be approached the same way as the basics taught by missionaries and in church, with diligence and earnest prayer to confirm its validity and value to our understanding of the “fullness” of the Restored Gospel.

This fullness, this ancient knowledge, includes a rich set of metaphors—graphics and word images—that were used anciently by prophets, down through time. Mastering the use and meaning of these metaphors and this imagery requires time and effort. It simply cannot be done in one sitting or with a brief explanation. It requires considerable study and practice, as with any new skill.

It’s missing entirely from our cultural and religious training and tradition. Therefore, church members must begin with the basics, including the ancient history of the heavens, as taught by the prophets, and how things seen there by our ancestors, at the very dawn of time, spawned this cryptic set of metaphors and icons. One simply must master the history of this imagery and how it was used in ancient cultures worldwide, not just by the prophets, to understand its implementation in sacred texts.

To the newcomer, it all seems odd and unfamiliar. Yet it is the key to all prophetic and temple imagery, including prophecy and the sometimes bizarre imagery used by the prophets—things like horses, wheels, eyes, mountains, candlesticks, beasts, etc.

 It’s much like learning a new language. You must start with a few words, and then work and study to build your vocabulary. But once mastered, anyone can read and understand the scriptures and temple rituals. (Yes, temple icons and rituals can be “read,” just like scripture!)

Why should we settle for less? After all, this was a restoration of “all things,” including that which was lost in the apostasy.

Unlike the interpretations proffered by our Christian cousins, where a verse from this vision and another from that vision are cited and then cobbled together to create a strained interpretation, this is a simple and systematic way of reading and understanding prophecy and temple imagery that anyone can understand, given the proper training. Other ministers and scholars use a distorted, piecemeal and disjointed method of interpretation, “cherry picking” scripture. That is a methodology foreign to the prophets, the apostles and the Savior’s way of teaching.

One need not be a prophet to understand prophecy. A little training and study, using Joseph Smith’s guidance and direction, suffice to help anyone read and understand the most puzzling of prophetic utterances. The meaning literally leaps off the pages of scripture, once mastered. What is more, the imagery and ritual in our temple endowment, which has little meaning to our untrained eyes and ears, becomes part of the rich tapestry that constitutes gospel imagery and iconography, meanings and understandings that are virtually invisible without this training.

So, this is your invitation to move forward in your gospel knowledge and instruction, opening the meaning of scriptural and temple imagery to your mind, strengthening your existing testimony and adding to your conviction of the Restoration, the prophet Joseph Smith and the church he founded.

~Anthony E. Larson

Acknowledgments:

There are good reasons why Cosmism was taught by so many scholars, scientists, researchers, and religious leaders throughout history; Teachers such as Jesus Christ, Gautama Buddha, Confucius, Krishna, Zoroaster, Abraham, Moses, and Joseph Smith referred to cosmology on a regular basis. And why is it so prevalent in nearly every religion, every myth, and Philosophy all through man's history?

Modern researchers and scientists such as David Talbott, Wallace Thornhill, and Anthony E. Larson, along with many others have spent most of their lives opening peoples minds to Cosmism, the answers it provides, and the vast and vital treasures of knowledge in encompasses.

Table of contents - 12 general reasons for the relevance of Cosmism...

Part 1 - The Standard and Commonality

Part 2 - The Bridging of Disciplines

Part 3 - A Deep Research

Part 4 - Excitement and Interest

Part 5 - Electro-Biology

Part 6 - A Correct Scientific Paradigm

Part 7 - Knowledge

Part 8 - The Psychological Impact

Part 9 - History and Symbolism

Part 10 - Temples and Megaliths

Part 11 - Prophecy

Part 12 - Hearts and Minds

The Relevance of Cosmism - Part 1 of 12

The Standard and the Commonality

A standard of Truth

Whether we are religious or not, those of us trying to achieve a better life, and be a better person, and make the world a better place, seek after the truth. Regardless of the consequences, we want the truth. Regardless of weather it goes against our beliefs, or causes us to drastically change things in our lives, we work hard to know the truth. We know that the truth is a solid, immoveable foundation that frees us from any man made narrative or misguidance.

“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” ~Joseph Smith.

Joseph Smith never finished his mission of establishing this Standard of truth. We are still establishing it today. We will never achieve this standard with closed minds, excluding truth because it comes from strange places. No standard can be fully established if a part is missing. To leave Cosmology, which all great teachers throughout history taught, out of this standard of truth, is to create an inclomplete standard. Many religions claim to be the only true religion, but those that dont include cosmology, are missing a huge piece of their own gospel, and therefore lack the authority to make such a claim.

The knowledge gained through the paradigm of Cosmism must always be carried on from generation to generation. It is man's responsibility, not God's, to make sure this knowledge is never lost to mankind.

The Electromagnetic standard

"From the smallest particle to the largest galactic formation, a web of electrical circuitry connects and unifies all of nature, organizing galaxies, energizing stars, giving birth to planets and, on our own world, controlling weather and animating biological organisms. There are no isolated islands in an electric universe."

~David Talbott and Wallace Thornhill

The Electric Universe theory highlights the importance of electricity throughout the Universe. It is based on the recognition of existing natural electrical phenomena (eg. lightning, St Elmo’s Fire), and the known properties of plasmas (ionized “gases”) which make up 99.999% of the visible universe, and react strongly to electro-magnetic fields. Much of the material considered by the Electric Universe is peer-reviewed, but not all. It describes what produces the unique behavior of plasma, and how electricity contributes to the complex and dynamic structure of the universe. Not gravity alone, but electricity and gravity have shaped and continue to shape the universe we now observe.

Plasma physics, and Plasma cosmology are necessary sciences of the Cosmism model. Pioneered contributions like Anthony Perratt's systematic, rigorously scientific work to reconstruct earth-altering electrical events in the ancient sky by matching pictographs from rock art with plasma discharges produced in the laboratory provides a very useful piece to the Cosmism model.

Catastrophism; the theory that the Earth had largely been shaped by sudden, short-lived, violent events, possibly worldwide in scope is another important piece to Cosmism. This is in contrast to gradualism, in which slow incremental changes, such as erosion, created all the Earth's geological features. This also includes biology, in which plants and animals can be altered in short-lived catastrophes, instead of evolving over millions of years.

Cosmism suggests that almost all languages, and symbolism originated from cosmic events seen in the skies by our ancestors. This would include Rock art, petroglyphs, hyroglyphs, etc.

Ancient architecture is more clearly explained through the Cosmism paradigm as well. Massive stone structures were likely built to withstand world scale catastrophes. They were also astronomy observatories, temples, star charts, and some might have even been electric conductors.

Many geological features on Earth, the other rocky planets, moons, and even the patterns in the clouds of gas giants can easily be explained, and even proven with the inclusion of Cosmism. The history of the movements of planets, stars, moons, and comets are also more accurately recorded.