Selected Writing of Daniel H. Ludlow: Gospel Scholars Series, pg. 488; “Elder Neal A. Maxwell suggested that the word venerate might be appropriate for Joseph Smith: “The Prophet Joseph Smith, of course, was not a perfect man. There has been only one such—Jesus Christ. But Joseph Smith was a special witness for Jesus Christ. . . . We do not, as some occasionally charge, worship Joseph Smith, nor place him on a par with Jesus. But we do venerate him, remembering, hopefully that the highest and best form of veneration is emulation.””

1 Corinthians 2:2; “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

www.dictionary.com;

Venerate:  “to regard or treat with reverence; revere”.

Emulation:  “imitation of another”.

Would you venerate a murderer?  Would you try to emulate a liar?