Tis the season for Smithmas; Whom do you worship?
‘TIS THE SEASON for Smithmas
(Originally posted in December 2008)
1. Choice seer |
9. Voice crying/wilderness |
17. People studied at feet of |
2. Joseph and God partners |
10. Has more to boast of |
18. Smith’s greatness |
3. Brings purpose to life |
11. Is meek and lowly |
19. Gospel according to Joe |
4. Did more than anyone |
12. Is needed, foreordained |
20. Superior intelligence |
5. Is god to all |
13. Not always a prophet |
21. Praise to the man |
6. Helped save world |
14. Not armed |
22. Knowledge of God from |
7. Holds keys of authority |
15. Related to Jesus |
23. Greater than Isaiah |
8. Was a Mason |
16. Smith’s consent needed |
24. Is both Jew and Gentile |
his heart the witness of the divine truth embraced in the contributions of the
Prophet Joseph, I charge him to be true,-true to his testimony, true to the
Prophet, the founder, true to the cause… If any man has not received this
witness, I appeal for his thoughtful, prayerful, sympathetic consideration. I
offer to him…assurance that if he will receive and apply the teachings of
Joseph Smith he will be made happy. Doubt and uncertainty will leave him…”
– Various Authors
communication with the heavens in his youth. He brought forth the Book of Mormon,
which contains the fullness of the Gospel… In a word, he did more in from 14
to 20 years for the salvation of man than any other man save Jesus only, that
ever lived. (JD 24:14-15.).” – Comment by Joseph F. Smith. Also D&C 135.
mouthpiece for the children of Israel, and He will make me be god to you in His
stead, and the Elders to be mouth for me; and if you don’t like it, you must
lump it. I have been giving Elder Adams instruction in some principles to speak
to you, and if he makes a mistake, I will get up and correct him. (April 8,
1844.).”
of Joseph Smith’s contributions to the salvation of men in this world was the
bringing forth of “. . . the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the
gift and power of God. . . . ” (D&C 135:3.).”
before the coming of the Lord…Malachi has said that the Lord would send Elijah
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. The Prophet Joseph
Smith said he (Elijah) came to him and Oliver Cowdery with the keys of that
power. If he did not, and they have told a falsehood….”
Smith and many of the leading brethren of that day were Masons. The question implies that there is something secret or sinister in their Masonic affiliation. This was hardly the case. The Saints who built Nauvoo built a Masonic lodge there. It is among the buildings that have been restored in Nauvoo, and visitors are encouraged to visit it…It is not inconceivable that the Prophet, sensing something about the ancient roots of Masonry, inquired of the Lord about it. In that sense it may have been one of the influences that
prepared the way for the revelations that restored the ceremonies of the temple…The idea that the kind of faith and courage common to our pioneer forebears grew out of rituals copied from a fraternal organization is ludicrous.”
over the minds of mankind which I hold, I would say, It is in consequence of
the power of truth in the doctrines which I have been an instrument in the
hands of God of presenting unto them, and not because of any compulsion on my part…Why do not my enemies strike a blow at the doctrine? They cannot do it: it is truth, and I defy all men to upset it. I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Repent ye of your sins and prepare the way for the coming of the Son of Man…”
or false prophet. False prophets always arise to oppose the true prophets and they will prophesy so very near the truth that they will deceive almost the very chosen ones. (HC 6:364.)”
passage has been given by Joseph Smith in D&C 113:1-4. The stem of Jesse is Christ. The book of Revelation also identifies Jesus as such (see Rev. 5:5; 22:16). The rod is “a servant in the hands of Christ, who is partly a descendant of Jesse as well as of Ephraim” (D&C 113:4). That the servant is Joseph Smith himself seems evident.”
the flesh, and was a martyr to his religion and to the name of Christ…”
doctrinal foundation he laid.”
“Praise to the man who communed with
Jehovah!
Jesus annointed [sic] 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.
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.”
22. Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 546; “Though Latter-day Saints extensively use the scriptures to learn about God, their fundamental knowledge concerning him is based upon the Prophet Joseph Smith’s first vision, the Prophet’s subsequent revelatory experiences, and individual personal revelation.”
23. Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 7; “In thirty nations are men and women who look upon him as a greater leader than Moses and a greater prophet than Isaiah; his disciples now number close to a million [the present figure is over 3.5 million]; and already a granite shaft pierces the sky over the place where he was born, and another is in course of erection over the place where he is credited with having received the inspiration for his Book. (John Henry Evans, op. cit., introduction.)”
24. Answers: Straightforward Answers to Tough Gospel Questions, pg. 48; “… Joseph Smith was told that he was a descendant of Abraham…He was also told that he was a lawful heir, “according to the flesh,” to the priesthood…Prophecy further identified him as a direct lineal descendant of Joseph of Egypt… More particularly, he is represented as being a descendant of Ephraim and as having some of the blood of Jesse… title page to the Book of Mormon, which was written by Moroni, says that it will come forth by the hand of a Gentile. Reference here is to his citizenship in a Gentile nation… Thus Joseph Smith was a literal descendant of the house of Israel while at the same time being a citizen of a Gentile nation.”
So we’ll ask the question again. Doesn’t this sound like worship? We’ve listed more than enough examples where various leaders have claimed Smith is greater than Moses or Isaiah, he is related to Jesus, has done more than any other man on earth except Jesus, people studied at his feet and don’t forget, he saved the world! The most startling evidence is taken from their hymn book, Praise to the Man. To the average member of the Church it may not seem as if you’re worshipping Joseph and I can remember thinking and feeling the same way. I encourage the members to take another look after reading this and then ask yourself; “who am I worshipping”?
We see in Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:1-4; “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation….For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”
It is impossible for man to please God without the blood of Jesus Christ. This doesn’t mean that we work for salvation because Jesus died for us! It means that Jesus did all the work alone! If you love Jesus like you say you do, please, take one day in the next week and think about everything He did for you! Think about the time He spent on the cross, read the gospels, see what He said, where He walked, what did He do? These are the things we set our minds upon as members of the body of Christ. We think about what Jesus did, the various titles that are given to Him and why, people’s reaction to Him, the patience that He portrayed for people and His unselfish love. As a Mormon can you name Jesus’ favorite place to pray?
Why would you as a Christian place a mere human between yourself and Jesus? This is exactly what the LDS Church has done with Joseph Smith! Many times members of the Church don’t even use Joseph Smith’s last name. Most refer to him as just “Joseph” and everyone knows who is being spoken of; yet when was the last time you heard a Mormon use the name of just “Jesus”? If a Christian were to use just the name of Joseph when speaking about “religious” topics they would think of Joseph from the Bible, not Joseph Smith!
Oh, He so wants for you to know Him! For just one day think upon only Jesus, if you’re really a Christian this shouldn’t be a problem. See if you can name 24 facts about Jesus in regards to His birth, how He fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy, what if anything did He say about His own death, what significant things took place when He died, a miracle He performed and why, etc. Use just the Bible for your investigation and find out first hand if it really does contradict itself.
If you’re a Mormon know that we’re praying for you. If you’re a Christian who has a friend or family member who is LDS, let us know how we can pray for you and him/her! We’re not here to bash the LDS people or to bring shame upon them publicly; we are here to contend for the faith as it says in Jude 3 and to share the truth about God’s Son, Christ
Jesus!
With Love in
Christ;
Michelle Grim
1 Cor. 1:18
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