Yes Joseph Smith was a man just like any other. We all will await and receive judgment at the had of God Almighty.
However, if we have received of The Son of God and accepted His sacrifice, repented of our sins and done all we could to follow Him then, the Lord will say on that judgment day “he is mine, I purchased him with My blood”.
Now, do you think Popes, nuns and priests have some other faith than you and me? They don’t.
Like it or not, the Popes are what is left of the church Peter administered. the Popes have been handed down the priesthood that Christ Himself held on the earth. Peter received the keys of the kingdom that allowed him to bind in Heaven whatever he sealed on earth.
Until some other person comes along that has that power I think you shouldn’t be making such fun of Popes, priests and nuns, unless of course you have become a special judge to judge them before they stand before God. Unless of course God’s judgment is not needed since you have already judged them.
From before the time of Abraham there has been a priesthood of God on the earth. At Christ’s first coming in the flesh that priesthood was still on the earth, John The Baptist’s father held it and likely so did John. Christ held it and gave it to the Apostles. Where is it now? If one of the Catholic churches don’t have it then is it not on the earth? So it has been needed for thousands of years, including after the Law had been fulfilled but now we don’t need it?
Most nuns like most priests live a very lowly existence. There are plenty of bad apples in any barrel but most priests and nuns are people it would be good to emulate. They are unselfish, kind, generous and loyal to their Lord.
I find it very rude and unkind to vilify them or belittle them.
I always say “Live and let live”. If you are a believer in Christ, then preach Christ, don’t preach hate of those that try their best to serve Him. Mormons can Worship & serve Christ as well as anyone, Catholics can Worship & serve Christ as well as anyone, Methodists can Worship & serve Christ as well as anyone, stc., etc.
I have a feeling that many of us will have a very rude awakening on judgment day. Wise council is that you judge not that you be not judged.
Merry Christmas!
Goody for you; it appears you are quite tolerant; but the BIBLE says something a bit different:
Acts 17:18-19
18. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
19. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?Acts 18:11
So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.Romans 16:17
I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.1 Corinthians 4:17
For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.1 Corinthians 11:2
2. I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.Ephesians 4:14-15
14. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
15. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.2 Thessalonians 2:15
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.2 Thessalonians 3:6
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.1 Timothy 1:3-4
3. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer
4. nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith.1 Timothy 1:7
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.1 Timothy 2:7
And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.1 Timothy 4:1-2
1. The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
2. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.1 Timothy 4:6
If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.1 Timothy 4:11
Command and teach these things.1 Timothy 6:3-5
3. If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
4. he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions
5. and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.2 Timothy 1:13
What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.2 Timothy 2:15-17
15. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
16. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
17. Their teaching will spread like gangrene.2 Timothy 3:16-17
16. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17. so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.2 Timothy 4:3-4
3. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.Titus 1:11
They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.Titus 2:1
You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.Titus 2:15
These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.2 Peter 2:1-3
1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.2 John 1:10
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.
Good luck!!
Ezekiel 33:6
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.
You don't understand that verse..........if that's what you took from it.
That's a liberal stance...btw. Used over and over again when Billy Jeff was impeached.