From the article:

...“One other idea that was revolutionary and is still revolutionary is to take away the idea of the limitation that one supposes exists for man...He replaced it...there is no limit to how high man might go...he could go beyond any limit...”

Yes, indeed. When you have a Mormon god who didn't start off as "divine" ... but worked his way up from manhood to godhood, indeed, you have a religion with THE ultimate human potential. (In fact, the human potential movement...full of cultic activity left and right, has nothing on the Mormon Church!)

The above was spoken by an Lds general authority on this date -- December 15 -- almost six decades ago...
...at the THEN 15th annual "Joseph Smith Memorial" firesides...
...In fact, Joseph Smith was THE focus of these December firesides from 1944 through 1973. (The memorial firesides were kept up thereafter; however, with general authorities' busy seasonal schedules, they were moved to first January and some were even scheduled for various February calendars

As Lds author Thomas E. Thunell recounted the various "highlights" over the years of these Memorials...
...(1) instead of focusing on Jesus Christ's birthday the third week of December -- too oft' inn Mormonism, Smith's Dec. 23rd "birthday is heralded around the world..." and "People of every land and of every race are coming to honor the birthday of the Prophet Joseph Smith...”
...(2) Per Elder David B. Haight, in the Mormon presentation of Joseph Smith, "the Lord" plays the role of the "shepherd" pointing to Joseph Smith...(versus a shepherd in the field pointing to the Christ child)
...(3a) I would have THOUGHT from reading my Bible that Jesus Christ is the one who "lives in the hearts" of God's people...
...And (3b) that Jesus Christ "lies at the heart of it all"...
...And (3c) that Jesus Christ is the ONE for whom we are to "obtain" a "personal witness" to...
...And (3d) that Jesus Christ's "work and mission" is to be the True Source of "the greatest activity in this world or the world to come..."

But after readin' all these rave oft-December reviews about Joseph Smith, I guess I was wrong! The Mormons say it's to be Joseph Smith!

And (4)...also from the article: ...This being the case, appropriately we sing, “Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!...Praise to his memory...Honored and blest be his ever great name!” For the time is not far distant when “millions shall know Brother Joseph again...”

You might think this common Mormon hymn in the Mormon hymnal, "Praise to the Man" is about Jesus Christ. But then, you'd be wrong. It's praising Joseph Smith!
Praising the memory of Joseph Smith.
Honoring and blessing Joseph Smith.
And in the hymn, is the "key" to know Jesus Christ?
No.
Wrong again.

Per the hymnal's lyrics:

..."the time is not far distant when 'millions shall know Brother Joseph again...'"

OK, who will be the first poster to come in and say to ALL of the above Mormonesque nonsense, "Ba! Humbug!"??

This image seems appropriate: Oh Yeah! And Don't Forget Jesus!

OK, who will be the first poster to come in and say to ALL of the above Mormonesque nonsense, "Ba! Humbug!"??

How about:

Merry CHRISTmas!

Mormons just accepted queers, so could “BA! Himbuggery!” be more what you meant?

Don’t tell me, let me guess. “A Christmas Carol” Joe Smith style?

Merry CHRISTmas, indeed!

I see a parallel with Kwanzaa, which was designed to compete with and replace Christmas. Celebrating Joseph Smith’s birthday at this time of year, focusing on Joseph Smith rather than Christ, does the same thing.

BTW, a number of years ago I went into the visitor’s center connected with one of the Mormon temples. I was shocked at the almost total focus on Joseph Smith in the presentation. Jesus Christ is on the name of the church. But His roll is definitely not even on par with the real god of Mormonism: Joseph Smith.

BTW, a number of years ago I went into the visitor’s center connected with one of the Mormon temples. I was shocked at the almost total focus on Joseph Smith in the presentation. Jesus Christ is on the name of the church. But His roll is definitely not even on par with the real god of Mormonism: Joseph Smith."

Yes, and it's been even worse in certain years at BYU:

In 2011, I posted this thread:
The Joseph Smith Crèche at BYU, December 2005 [Mormon Merry Smithmas!]
...after FReeper "Flying Inman" like Elsie & others posted images like what you see below:

* Dec. 12, 2005 Joseph Smith creche @ BYU
* Joseph Smith creche

In 2005, the Mormon worship of Smith was much worse because it was the 200th anniversary of Smith's Dec. 23, 1805 birthday.

'PRAISING THE MAN' (JOSEPH SMITH) IN A NUTSHELL re: YEAR 2005

2005 (Dec. 31)	Lds Church News pronounces: ”Thousands across world offer 'praise to the man'. While the Conference Center stage was still dominated by the Christmas setting of The First Presidency Christmas Devotional and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert, the village church, cottage and flocked evergreens hinted of Joseph Smith's Vermont. A prominent statue of the Prophet on the stage was a constant reminder of the purpose of the evening.”	Lds Church News: Thousands across the world offer ‘praise to the man’	There ya have it...Smith worshiped...And the Lds leaders couldn't help but gush: "A prominent statue of the Prophet on the stage was a constant reminder of the purpose of the evening.”
2005 (December)	SmithEmphasisMas: Lds Church magazine Ensign returns to the “cradle” theme – one normally reserved for Jesus Christ in December: ”Sharon, Vermont, could rightly be called the cradle of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it was here that Joseph Smith Jr. was born on December 23, 1805. The fifth child of Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph Jr. was nurtured and loved as he developed gradually into his role as the Prophet of “the dispensation of the fulness of times” (Eph. 1:10).”	A Prophet’s Life: The Cradle—Sharon, Vermont [Mormon Merry Smithmas Day!]	Mormon leaders applying "cradle theme" to Joseph Smith
2005 (December)	Lds "Prophet" Gordon B. Hinckley: "It is a constantly recurring mystery to me how some people speak with admiration for the Church and its work while at the same time disdaining him through whom, as a servant of the Lord, came the framework of all that the Church is, of all that it teaches, and of all that it stands for...Proclaiming a Prophet ...we acknowledge the Prophet; we proclaim him; we respect him; we reverence him...The story of Joseph’s life is the story of a miracle...Praise to the Man When I was a boy 12 years of age, my father took me to a meeting of the priesthood of the stake in which we lived. I sat on the back row while he, as president of the stake, sat on the stand. At the opening of that meeting, the first of its kind I had ever attended, 300 or 400 men stood. They were from varied backgrounds and many vocations, but each had in his heart. Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!... Kings shall extol him, and nations revere.(“Praise to the Man,” Hymns, no. 27) ... Great is his glory and endless his priesthood...(Hymns, no. 27)...Ideas for Home Teachers 1. Show a picture of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and invite family members to tell what they know about him. Make a list of their responses...Discuss ways family members can better know the Prophet and his teachings. You may want to encourage family members to plan a special family activity on December 23rd to celebrate Joseph’s 200th birthday...Read or sing “Praise to the Man” (Hymns, no. 27), and study President Hinckley’s testimony..."	Lds Ensign mag: Joseph Smith Jr. Prophet of God Mighty Servant see also: Joseph Smith Jr.—Prophet of God, Mighty Servant	So the December 2005 Lds official mag -- the Ensign -- trumpets, "Proclaiming a Prophet ...we acknowledge the Prophet; we proclaim him; we respect him; we reverence him...* ... whereas those in Christ procalim Jesus and reverence HIM -- ESPECIALLY at Christmas!*
2005	One of the most significant ongoing tributes to the Prophet Joseph Smith is the annual Joseph Smith Memorial Firesides...These...began in 1944 and have been held each year since, as close as possible to December 23, Joseph Smith’s birthday...This being the case, appropriately we sing, “Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!...Praise to his memory...Honored and blest be his ever great name!” For the time is not far distant when “millions shall know Brother Joseph again...”	Read more at "Praise To The Man": A Review Of The Annual Joseph Smith Memorial Sermons; see also “Praise To The Man”: A Review Of The Annual Joseph Smith Memorial Sermons [Mormon Merry Smithmas]	So, instead of focusing on Jesus Christ's birthday the third week of December. In Mormonism, Smith's "birthday is heralded around the world..." and "People of every land and of every race are coming to honor the birthday of the Prophet Joseph Smith...” Well, that's interesting. The average non-Mormon might think that the Mormon hymnal, "Praise to the Man" is about Jesus Christ. But you would be wrong. It's praising Joseph Smith! Praising the memory of Joseph Smith. Honoring and blessing Joseph Smith. And in the hymn, is the "key" to know Jesus Christ? No.Wrong again: ..."the time is not far distant when 'millions shall know Brother Joseph again..."
2005 (Feb. 19)	Lds Church News: "The more I learn of him, the more I love and revere him." (Lds "apostle" Joseph B. Wirthlin)	p. 5	More "reverence" for Joseph Smith

Inquiring minds want to know! Since good Mormons get to be gods when they die and start tp populate entire planets, if I had a space ship that could fly through the galaxy and gp from planet to planet, would I find planets full of Mormons? Would they speak English? How come those Mormons from all of these other planets have not tried to communicate with us? Lots of Mormons have died in the past 150 years, and so there ought to be lots of planets full of Mormons, so where are they?

Mormons just accepted queers, so could “BA! Himbuggery!” be more what you meant?

I do not believe in the Mormon religion but is that a fact you can prove or is it just B.S.?

there could be some really bad science fiction coming from that idea

MERRY SMITHMAS, EVERYBODY!!

;^)

Inquiring minds want to know! Since good Mormons get to be gods when they die and start tp populate entire planets, if I had a space ship that could fly through the galaxy and gp from planet to planet, would I find planets full of Mormons? Would they speak English? How come those Mormons from all of these other planets have not tried to communicate with us? Lots of Mormons have died in the past 150 years, and so there ought to be lots of planets full of Mormons, so where are they?

There are more galaxies than human beings who ever lived. Someone who says what you said has no idea of the enormity of the universe.

Regards,

Your statement implies you agree mormonS could be all over the universe.
Odd

I am not Mormon, either. The LDS command authority seeminglywnet fromthe California effort to stop gay marriage(very successfully) to backing down under Obama to the point of “Accept the Queer”, but not “queer acts” - most difficult when the behavior defines the queer.

The results of that decision are interesting to contemplate, as the Mormons are mostly conservative Republicans(not RINO types) and queers usually are Leftists.

Any Mormon Church has a Bishop who is far better able to advise you on the specifics. I just have a couple of friends who are Mormon and we talk politics and theology occasionally.

I’ll offer one example...

The LDS accepting homosexual Scouts was essential in the BSA’s move to making the change in opening up membership regardless of “preference or orientation” (cogitate on that for a minute, words mean things) last year.

In fact, the National President (a mormon) travelled to SLC just a couple of weeks before the National Convention where the so-called “delegates” from around the country were to vote on the topic and secured their consent.

The point of the matter is that the LDS have a massive number of Scouts on record, but on record only. Yet, they still register (pay) the BSA for any and all youth on their membership rosters...the BSA gets a lot of “free” $$ from SLC, so SLC gets a lot of influence.

Our Troop was kicked out of our Charter Organization (evangelical church) because of our association with the BSA and their policy.

Yet, the mormons have endorsed the policy by supporting and maintaining Troops...IOW, they endorsed not only homosexuality, but LGBTQ in general. As I said above, words mean things.

Teppe; you may just want to comment in THIS thread...

mormons are mostly conservative?

(click)

Praise to the Man!

Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!
Jesus annointed that Prophet and Seer.
Blessed to open the last dispensation,
Kings shall extol him, and nations revere.

Chorus
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.

Praise to his mem'ry, he died as a martyr;
Honored and blest be his ever great name!
Long shall his blood, which was shed by assasins,
Plead unto heav'n while the earth lauds his fame.

Chorus
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.

Chorus
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.

Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven;
Earth must atone for the blood of that man.
Wake up the world for the conflict of justice.
Millions shall know 'Brother Joseph' again.

Chorus
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.

Our Troop was kicked out of our Charter Organization (evangelical church) because of our association with the BSA and their policy.

Ok, I see where you are coming from and I agree, it also seems the Catholic`s want to support it not to mention many other Churches.

Though a lot of Churches talk about dropping out how many actually will?

I have never saw the BSA as anything except Government paid baby sitters and a badge of importance but it seems most people think it is something good.

As I said above, words mean things.>>>>>>>>

Our Troop was kicked out of our Charter Organization (evangelical church) because of our association with the BSA and their policy.>>>>>>>>

Do you mean that the Church that was supporting your troop dropped their support?

Why did they have to kick you? why were you still in that organization? maybe I don`t understand your meaning.