Posted on 12/23/2013 10:08:07 AM PST by Colofornian
Every river has its banks. What is the channel forged -- the definition of the river -- that we've come to know as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' "Smithmas"?
Every river has its tributaries; and when it comes to "Smithmas" it's the same.
As the Mormons annually celebrate Joseph Smith, his birthday, his advent, the Mormon Church adoration and over-attentiveness to Joseph Smith has openly competed with the focus Jesus Christ receives. The result? This continual cresting onto the banks of "Smithmas" has flooded our nation.
Its headwaters are multi-faceted:
And then, finally a KEY primary theological theme running rampant throughout the Mormon Church no matter what decade is discussed is this one discussed here: 'First vision visitation' of LdsIsm trumps Jesus' incarnational visitation via Bethlehem [Vanity]
In other words, 'Smithmas is but a seasonal outcropping – a mere symptom of a broader Mormon spiritual ailment whereby Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit have been usurped – substituted with Joseph Smith.
And this isn't always "worship" and adoration; for example, many Lds leaders talk about...
Other times, Lds leaders frame Smith's "restored priesthood" carries these same qualities. The third Lds "prophet," John Taylor was even quoted by the Mormon Church in 2001 book Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor (p. 119) -- republished from 1943: "What is priesthood?...I shall briefly answer that it is the government of God...It governs all things –it directs all things—it sustains all things..."
This type of quote isn't a one-time Mormon Church emphasis: Its publications of impersonalizing God's sustaining/directing power as an "it" has come out in...
...2004, 2001, and 1957 (citing Lds "prophet" Harold B. Lee);
...2002 (citing Lds "apostle" L. Tom Perry)
...2000 (its basic manual for priesthood holders)
...1946 (citing Lds "prophet" Joseph Fielding Smith)
...1941 (citing Lds "prophet' Brigham Young)
It's precisely because of these manifestations that Mormons are more accurately described as disciples of Joseph Smith vs. disciples of the Biblical Jesus Christ.
Per Lds "apostle" Bruce R. McConkie:
"Anyone who believes the doctrine, teachings, or philosophy of another and who follows that teacher is his disciple. He stands as a learner, a devotee of the one whose concept he accepts." (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 198, also cited by the Mormon Church in its curriculum study guide – "When Thou Art Converted, Strengthren Thy Brethren: 1974-75" published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church in 1974, p. 134)
Hence, Mormons believe Smith's doctrine, teachings, concepts and philosophy; they are learners – devotees of Smith more properly than Jesus Christ.
In other words, 'Smithmas is but a seasonal outcropping – a mere symptom of a broader Mormon spiritual ailment whereby Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit have been usurped – substituted with Joseph Smith.
And this isn't always "worship" and adoration; for example, many Lds leaders talk about...
Smiithmas is a good time to give undergarments to the unsaved.
It’s a magical time.
This is just trash, not once have I heard of worshiping Joseph Smith at this time of the year. We celebrate the birth of Christ for what happened that Easter Morning many years ago, nothing else.
There’s so much Shiz on FR concerning the Smithmas season.
;^)
The one thing I don’t hear about on websites with former mormons is how they talk about Jesus so often. According to them, it is hardly at all. There is no dedicated Christmas service and if Christmas falls in the middle of the week, there will be no service. There are services in most Christian churches on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas day or both.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705379702/Remember-the-Prophet-Joseph-Smiths-birthday.html?pg=all
LDS World: Remember the Prophet Joseph Smith’s birthday
At this busy and wonderful time of the year, many people’s thoughts turn to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, and rightly so as we seek to draw closer to him and find ways to help and serve others as he did.However, another important December date is often forgotten in the rush of the season.
On Dec. 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vt., the fifth child of Joseph and Lucy Smith, Joseph Smith, Jr., was born. While members of the church worship and acknowledge the divinity of Jesus Christ, yet they should revere Joseph Smith.From the tender age of 14 his purpose, growing ever more fixed as his life progressed, was to do the will of God and to reestablish on earth Christ’s church, the priesthood of God, and all attendant ordinances and covenants necessary for the salvation of mankind.
As the Doctrine and Covenants affirms, “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.” The breadth and depth of his accomplishments are astounding and as I more closely studied his life and accomplishments I came to revere him and to know that he was and is a Prophet of God.
I don’t understand the anti Mormon posts on FR. I am not Mormon. I’m not Jewish either, but if someone continually posted about the flaws in Judaism, it would bother me too. There are plenty of good conservative Mormons in this country. You want to point out the flaws in something? Aim your keyboard at obamacare.
To all my Mormon FR friends here, Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate the Saviour’s birth...Jesus Christ the Son of God.
(even the Mormon bashers on FR, especially Colofornian)
merry CHRISTmas skyman!
Judaism doesn’t pretend to be “christianity” or counterfeit itself as “christian”...therefore all that mormonism does in the name of Christ and Chrisstianity reflects back on Christianity to the unsaved world. This simply bears witness to what is highly distinctive about Mormonism
So idolatry and polytheism and heresy = mere "flaws", eh?
You know I have Mormon relatives; I am a descendent of Mormons. I am not against the Mormon personsystem of MormonISM.
That's an important distinction. Otherwise, anyone continually opposing the homosexual agenda would be in your eyes, "anti-homosexual." (And that's an argument used by liberals & Mormons like)
People who oppose homosexuality & the homosexual agenda are not against the homosexual person. Or do you think they are? Do you think Phil Robertson is "anti-homosexual?" I don't. But I suppose you would accuse him of that?
There are plenty of good conservative Mormons in this country.
You know there are plenty of decent Muslims in this country...and I've seen literally hundreds-->to thousands of anti-Islam comments on FR.
But I have yet to see those of you making these kinds of comments go on ANY of those FR threads and begin defending Muslims the way you defend Mormons. Where have you been on those threads taking a LOT worst shots at Islam???
And where are your comments & others accusing those posters of being "anti-Muslim?"
You see, I don't see most of those FR comments against Islam and militant Islam as being against the Muslim. (apparently you do)
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:7-11
See that? Just seeing the star filled these men with joy. I pray that God remove judgment from your hearts and replace it with utmost joy, in the precious name of Christ, Lord Jesus.
C'mon Hoodat. (You're not that obtuse)
It's precisely because Mormonism disrespects, disses and dismisses Jesus and too oft' replaces Him with Joseph Smith THIS TIME OF THE YEAR that this is indeed the perfect timing to address it.
If Mormonism did that more -- say, in August...I'd post about it then. But they've gone out of their way to do this more in December thru the years. I've documented that on these series of posts.
So, I've noted you're not upset with the real original December provocateurs on this...just me because I've actually responded within the same month they tend to promote Joseph Smith in favor of the Christ child. Well, so be it. Continue the flak toward me -- and the heretics can simply continue to have their way with the spiritually vulnerable and gullible.
...judgment from your hearts
Hoodat, did it ever dawn on you that when you accuse somebody else of being "judgmental" -- you yourself are making a "judgmental" assessment? (So where do I get that platform of yours that allows you to judge others -- without coming across as judging others?)
Btw, you call it "judging"...I call it exercising spiritual discernment.
Btw, Hoodat, do tell us: Exactly how long have you carried this "issue" of Charles Dickens having three ghosts appear to Ebenezer Christmas Eve overnight into Christmas? I mean, c'mon, here they assess Ebenezer's past, present, and future prospects...and it's not like they held anything back "out of respect for the fulfillment of God's promise to us through the birth of His Son." (Did they?)
I suggest, Hoodat, that you get a contingent of like-minded FREEPERs together -- and then complain vigorously to the publishers of Charles Dickens' book A Christmas Carol.
You then could serve a vital role (you know like the advocates attempting to change the Washington Redskins to the Washington Impeachments or something or other).
Your contingent could suggest that Dickens' book be historically revised -- changing the scene-setting of the book of Christmas to say, Guy Fawkes Night in Great Britain (Nov. 5).
(Of course, the title would then need to be revised, too...to A Guy Fawkes Carol...but, hey, at least you'd then get your revisionistic way!)
Way to protect that Christmas "spirit" from the likes of Charles Dickens!
“There are plenty of good conservative Mormons in this country. “
And not one of them is getting into heaven, because they believe that Jesus is the brother of Lucifer, who, as an older brother, did not save anyone, but only opened up the way for Mormons to enter the Celestial Kingdom and become polygamous gods of their own planets. And this, they claim, will be accomplished through their own personal righteousness, contrary to all scripture which says “There is no one good, no, not one.”
That these “good” people are going to hell really should bother you, assuming you’re a Christian at all.
2Co 11:12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.
2Co 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
“See that? Just seeing the star filled these men with joy. I pray that God remove judgment from your hearts and replace it with utmost joy, in the precious name of Christ, Lord Jesus.”
Which precious name of Christ? The polygamous god of Mormonism Jesus, who has multiple wives and is just one of many other gods?
Or is it the God of Christianity, and of Paul, who writes:
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
I have a feeling that you’re a bit confused over which Jesus we are celebrating here. If it’s the Mormon Jesus, go ahead, but don’t bind us to worshipping a false God.
As for suggestions, I suggest that you press in and ask God to reveal to you what you are responsible for and what He is responsible for. Then let Jesus in your heart to show you how He would handle the Samaritan 'problem'.
So while you are dwelling on what Dickens wrote, I will be contemplating how Jesus lived and His instruction for us, especially at this time when we acknowledge the fulfillment of God's promise to us.
Oh, sure...you could put down any servant of God in the entire history of the church with this comment. (So, hey, ya better keep it handy on file for future usage)
But, hey, I'm just a servant...so "putdowns" don't place me any lower than I already am.
As for suggestions, I suggest that you press in and ask God to reveal to you what you are responsible for and what He is responsible for.
Well, not sure what "privyness" you might have to my prayer life, but hey, I'm always open for suggestions...even when they reiterate a current pathway already afoot. Besides, Ephesians 3:12 indicates as much: "12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."
As far as what we're responsible for, it's not like God has remained silent in letting the ENTIRE Church know those purposes.
Some of them include:
(the two verses before Eph. 3:12):
* His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Eph. 3:10-11)
* Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. (Jude 3)
* 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:4-5)
(Not exactly sure where you were apparently able to garner an exemption from including these directives within your Christian life)
“As for suggestions, I suggest that you press in and ask God to reveal to you what you are responsible for and what He is responsible for. Then let Jesus in your heart to show you how He would handle the Samaritan ‘problem’.”
I can’t help but to notice that you ignored my question. I guess it’s safe to say that your a relativist, much like the liberals, and don’t care about the eternal state of lost?
Do you believe that the LDS is a legitimate church and that those who believe in its tenets are saved, and are equal in every way to any Christian church that upholds the Trinity and other fundamental doctrines?
Actually, that's why I suggested that your consistent self engage in...
Remember, (gotta loop you back to your original objection) the "issue" you had again was the "timing" of this thread.
Since you have timing objections with what others write, why stop with me? You wouldn't want to simply raise random objections that don't only apply to me without following thru on them, do you?
You can focus on Dickens' work next...
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