The REAL UNDERLYING problem, however, is that this occurs not just in December, but beyond. And not just amidst a few Smith partiers on December 23; but is a major instigation by Lds church leaders.
Since 2003, Sheri Dew has been recognized as “the most prominent single [unmarried] LDS woman right now” (Sheri L. Dew).
Dew has held prominent positions for Deseret Book Company (Mormon Church owned) and Bonneville International Corporation.
In 2007, Dew -- in her Deseret Book published God Wants a Powerful People -- wrote:
"Church leaders and gospel scholars have written VOLUMES about the life, teachings, and prophetic calling of Joseph Smith, and MANY MORE VOLUMES will no doubt follow." (page 120)
And it's not just church leaders, "scholars," authors, and curricula writers. It's the outright oversaturation of Smith worship! Just look at the hymn writers and hymnbook administrators who contributed Praise to the Man (and other Mormon hymns sung as direct worship of Joseph Smith):
* Praising the Prophet: Joseph Smith and the Restoration in History and Verse
* JOSEPH SMITH: Praise to the Man
* The Work and the Glory: Praise to the Man (book)
* Praise to the Man: David Glen Hatch
* Praise to the Man: Michael Ballam
* Praise to the Man: W. Jeffrey Marsh
* Praise to the Man: Larry Barkdull
No wonder Smith boasted that he topped Jesus...that Jesus' followers fell away from Him...but that Joseph's followers had not:
Went to a funaeral a few years back and they praised Joe over and over.
I sure didn’t get it as Christ,I thought, might have been central to the theme and maybe they could have prayed for hope of eternal life for the friend whose life we were celebrating.
Just very odd.
But, whem you pass away at 10, maybe God is already there.
Terrestrial, Celestial and whatever meme was sure important, as was the “Our profit, Joseph Smith”.
I only hope her passport was in good order.
