[Colofornian]

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!"??

[Colofornian]

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

[PROCON]

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!

[GladesGuru]

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

[Morgana]

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

[Nevadan]

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.

[Elsie]

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

[Elsie]

(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.