Defending Joseph Smith

Thinking back to all the years I was totally devoted to Joseph Smith and then to the years I began questioning reminded me of how ambiguous I was before I accepted the truth.  Leaving Mormonism isn’t easy for anyone.

Many times jobs, homes and families are lost or ripped apart when we follow Jesus exclusively, but the rewards far outweigh the temporal losses and are minute in comparison to what we’ve gained not only eternally, but for the here and now.

I also vividly remember how I felt and behaved when I was LDS. My devotion ran deep for any of the leaders, but especially for Joseph Smith. Nothing could or would deter my devotion to him while there were times I purposefully lied to defend my heritage.

Our Facebook page reminded me of these back and forth feelings with the posting of how the Mormon Church doesn’t recognize or celebrate Good Friday. We heard an earful from one of our readers who happens to be LDS and in no uncertain terms were told that they do indeed celebrate Good Friday.

While an individual family or member of the LDS Church may engage in such activities it is still our position that the official statement made by the Church runs counter to that philosophy.

The LDS member who wrote in reminded me of how I used to jump to the defense of the Church and at the same time reminded me of the words of Joseph Smith. Now whether or not this person knows the Church is false and they’re defending it anyway is not for me to say as I have no idea.

A month before Smith was shot and killed in a gun battle while imprisoned at Carthage Jail he gave a sermon daring pastors and Christians to refute the new prophecies he had given as well as the new teachings that God was once a man. Smith’s bragging and the words in the exchange on Facebook were very similar. We post this not to demean but to educate and also so you can pray for this person.  Here in part is what he said and just below his statement is an excerpt from Smith’s sermon:

Speaking of Christ what does he say about the truth? Any time you want to enlighten me go for it. But I do not need to know anything about what an ex member say…Come on prove me wrong after I really don’t know you but I know a lot of ex Mormons so I should be and expert right. You must know as an ex Mormon that we respect all truth and are respecters of religion and truth.

Arrogance of Joseph Smith

History of the Church 6:408-409; “Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on the top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.”

Deut. 34:10; “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.”

Deut. 28:66; “And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life.”

At the time of Smith’s boastful speech people had indeed left the fold.  As a matter of fact it was an address towards the dissenters of the Church on Sunday, May 26^, 1844.