Joseph Smith and Jesus Compared

11 January

Joseph Smith and Jesus Compared

Luke 22:54-23:33 is the focus of this article and for the sake of space we ask that you open your own Bibles to read along as we point out the significant events that took place in Jesus’ last few days of life here on earth.

Through Jesus’ death God manifested His great love for us and introduced to mankind that grace was available to all – no matter the tribe or race you belonged!  The grace of God brought with it a new lifestyle that was freer than anyone had previously known.

scalesWorks became an outward expression of our love for God and the concept that we had to work for salvation was nailed to the cross Jesus hung upon.

With these things in mind we turn our attention to what mankind can do in the name of God when he chooses to pervert truth and attempts to take the focus off the Creator.

 At the time of this writing it is December 2005.  During this great season of looking to God who gave us His Son, we are also striving to keep the LDS Church’s focus placed in the right direction.

 This year just so happens to be the 200th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Smith.  He was born on December 23, 1805 in Sharon, Vermont and you can read his testimony in length in the back of the Pearl of Great Price.  The Church has placed much emphasis on the birth of Joseph with pageants throughout the U.S. and various other celebration gatherings while praising the name of Joseph Smith.  Keep in mind they are not praising God that Smith was born; they are praising the man.

 We decided it’d behoove our readers to have a side by side comparison of the arrest of Jesus and Joseph.  Let’s see if the reasons for both these arrests were warranted, the outcome of each and their ramifications

                  Jesus Christ                           Joseph Smith 
Arrested in Garden on Wednesday of Holy Week Three main criticisms of Smith published in Nauvoo Expositor on June7, 1844.  Polygamy, exaltation & false prophecy.  He was mayor of Nauvoo, Lt. Gen. of the Legion of Nauvoo, Pres. of city council & Prophet of the Church
Taken to Annas, father in law of Caiaphas, questioned and beaten Nauvoo City Council declared the destruction of newspaper for June 10, 1844.
Taken to Caiaphas the high priest to answer for false charge of blasphemy, beaten Charged with riot by Illinois Governor Ford and issued warrant with guarantee of safety.
Questioned by Sanhedrin, beaten & spat upon June 25, 1844 Joseph & Hyrum Smith arrested and incarcerated in Nauvoo.
Taken on Thursday to Annas, Caiaphas & Sanhedrin again, beaten and spat upon Additional charges of treason are levied against Smith for declaring martial law.  This is a capital offense.
On Friday-taken to Sanhedrin Guns smuggled into jail & given to Smith brothers.
Taken to Pilate-found not guilty Jailor at Carthage takes a sudden leave of absence with family.
Taken to Herod-found not guilty Mob approaches Carthage jail, gets into gunfight with Joseph & Hyrum.
Taken to Pilate again to be condemned Joseph manages to shoot & kill two people.
Crucified Joseph & Hyrum are shot & killed.

 With the advent of the crucifixion of Jesus, people were set free from the Law, our sins were forgiven and God’s good news was spread throughout all the earth.  There was no deceit found in His mouth, no weapons smuggled into the courtyard for His defense and no witnesses who would stand to give a good account of our Lord.  He had committed no crime, broken no law, told no lie and came to set the captives free!

 Joseph on the other hand was charged with numerous violations he had committed, jailed and didn’t wait for his day in court.  Now you can say the mob didn’t wait either, but aren’t we supposed to wait upon the Lord and not our own understanding?  It is illegal for the prisoner to have possession of a gun while incarcerated.  What prisoners did Joseph set free?

After seeing a side-by-side account of these two men I’d like for the Mormon to tell me why it is they worship Joseph over Jesus…

 Praise to the Man, Hymn #27

 Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!

Jesus annointed that Prophet and Seer.

Blessed to open the last dispensation,

Kings shall extol him and nations revere.

 Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!

Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.

Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;

Death cannot conquer the hero again.

 Praise to his mem’ry he died as a martyr;

Honored and blest be his ever great name!

Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins,

Plead unto heav’n while the earth lauds his fame!

Great is his glory and endless his priesthood.

Ever and ever the keys he will hold.

Faithful and true, he will enter his kingdom,

Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old.

 Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven;

Earth must atone for the blood of that man.

Wake up the world for the conflict of justice.

Millions shall know “Brother Joseph” again.

 While reading over the words of that Mormon hymn there are many places one would think it was Jesus they are singing about, but sadly enough we all know the truth.  Let us remember the sacrifices that Jesus made for us and have those be the things we keep our minds upon!

The Scottish missionary Amy Carmichael, once said; “If I covet any place but the dust at the foot of the cross, then I know nothing of Calvary Love”.

 It looks as if the Mormons who have protested about this article are feeling as if they’ve been persecuted.  They want the attention placed upon them and Joseph Smith instead of the sacrifice that our Lord Jesus so willingly gave for us.

 Since the original posting of this article we have received several e-mails from angry Mormons condemning us for our work.  Most didn’t even know they could read about the shoot out at Carthage from their own documents in History of the Church 6:612-630.  Some had never heard that Joseph Smith had shot and killed two people before getting shot himself.  Again, if we would keep our focus where it should be then perhaps we wouldn’t be so quick to throw out the truth!

 Jude 24-5 says; “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

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