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.
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.
| 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 |
MERRY SMITHMAS, EVERYBODY!!
;^)