Quite interesting 1010 that you would absolutely endorse Stephen's testimony when Stephen's very words run 100% counter to prohibitions made by your Mormon leaders.
Your Mormon leaders have carefully & repeatedly instructed NOT to pray directly to Jesus, but rather ONLY to heavenly Father.
Yet what does Stephen's testimony show?
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. (Acts 7:59-60)
ALL: See, we can -- and do -- pray DIRECTLY to Jesus.
And for you Mormons still not convinced that your Mormon leaders are AWOL on this subject matter...read how the Nephite disciples characters in the Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 20) REPEATEDLY prayed directly to Jesus and were in no wise rebuked, but rather encouraged, for doing that.
I love Stephen’s testimony.
People should read it for themselves: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+7&version=KJV
He’s accused of blasphemy and hauled before the apostate Sanhedrin who killed their own Messiah. I’m not calling you a Pharisee, but see.
Acts 7:2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
How did the God of glory appear? What did he look like, since the word appear in Acts 7:2 is to see with your eyes.
The same as Acts 7:30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
Here is the powerful conclusion:
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
So Stephen see’s Jesus standing on the right hand of God, the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. He then calls out to God and says, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Simply beautiful.