“And it came to pass that Adam and Eve did teach their peoples, or their children, that journey back towards the garden that they should behold the radiance of the Shekinah.”
–Prophecy of Enoch 1:5
Have you ever taken two steps back just to launch forward? Have you ever hit rock bottom, only to find your soul rising stronger, deeper, more alive? If so, then you’ve experienced Yeridah Letzorech Aliyah. This ancient Hebrew phrase means “a descent for the sake of an ascent.”
- Yeridah (יְרִידָה): Descent, falling, going down.
- Letzorech (לְצוֹרֶךְ): For the sake of, in order to.
- Aliyah (עֲלִיָּה): Ascent, rising, going up.
Put together: “You fall in order to rise higher.” In Mormon Kabbalah, it is not just a mystical idea, it’s a divine truth written into the blueprint of the universe and into your personal journey.
Falling to Rise Higher
In Mormon Kabbalah, Yeridah Letzorech Aliyah is not just a hopeful saying, it’s how the Plan of Salvation works. Creation itself was built on this principle, the concept is woven all throughout scripture. In fact, the entire story of the Gospel is a series of sacred descents and divine risings.
The Fall of Adam and Eve?
“And in that day, the Spirit of The LORD fell upon the man Adam… saying: …Even as thou hast fallen, thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind—even as many as will receive… And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our trespass, we never should have had seed and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our teshuvah, and the eternal life which YHVH giveth unto all the obedient.”
–1 Moses 6:22-23, 27
After reading this passage from the plates of brass, Lehi taught his family:
“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”
–2 Nephi 1:115 [2:25]
Their descent was not a disaster. It was the beginning of human joy, agency, and eternal progression. A descent for the sake of ascent. The scattering of Israel? Same. Even your daily struggles? You guessed it, opportunities for holy rising. Even the Messiah followed this pattern. His lowest moment (Gethsemane and the Cross) made the highest joy (Resurrection and Redemption) possible.
“He [Jesus] who ascended up on high, as also He descended below all things, in that He comprehendeth all things, that He might be in all, and through all things the light of truth therefore, which truth shineth: This is the light of Christ.
–Doctrines of the Saints 53:15-16
(Doctrine & Covenants 85:2b-c RLDS/CofC, 88:6-7 CJCLdS)
Every heartbreak, doubt, setback, or dark night of the soul is not wasted in Mormon Kabbalah. Each one has the potential to be a sacred setup for a greater return.
Why Yeridah Letzorech Aliyah Matters
Satan loves to use guilt and shame against us. But Yeridah Letzorech Aliyah takes ways his weapons by reframing failure. You didn’t “ruin everything.” You’re in a process of becoming. Mormon Kabbalah reminds us: the breaking is part of the blessing.
In this, Yeridah Letzorech Aliyah brings purpose to pain. Your trials are not random. The descent holds a hidden spark of ascent, waiting to be revealed through repentance, service, humility, and faith. And it reminds us of our role. Just as Christ rose, so must we. And not just once, but daily, seasonally, eternally.
Practicing Yeridah Letzorech Aliyah
Here are a few ways you can start using Yeridah Letzorech Aliyah in your daily life and spiritual practice:
Step 1: Name Your Descent
Is it burnout? A broken relationship? Loss of faith? Admit where you feel like you’re falling.
Step 2: Ask the Question
Ask: “What could this fall be preparing me for?” This is not spiritual bypassing. It’s spiritual reframing.
Step 3: Take Holy Action
Pray with intent. Serve someone else. Create beauty from brokenness. Forgive. Repent. Rebuild. Every one of these is a rung on the ladder back up.
From Fall to Zion
Mormon Kabbalah teaches that Zion itself is born from descent. The scattered tribes, the broken covenants, the fallen world, these are all part of the divine plan to bring forth a more radiant, unified whole. You’re not separate from that, you are part of the return. Every step of your life can participate in the rising.
The soul does not descend to be punished, it descends to become light. Falling doesn’t mean you’re failing. It may mean you’re about to rise in ways you never imagined. So next time you’re in a dark valley, remember: The tree’s roots grow deep before it grows tall. The seed breaks before it blooms. Christ descended before He ascended. And you, too, were meant to rise.
