[Edward Watson]

I don’t doubt he said it, but surely, the man is entitled to his opinion?

Brigham Young was an incredible character - molded in the milieu of 19th century Protestant America. He believed passionately in Joseph Smith and in the rightness of the church. Who else but he could’ve convinced the thousands of dispirited Mormons to make a final trek across the plains? What made people listen to him in creating over 400 towns and cities mostly in the desert heartland? I know how incredulous I would’ve been if told I had to settle in a friggin desert when California’s Central Valley’s just on the other side of them mountains.

No, I will always give Brigham Young a pass. I understand what he was trying to convey, but there were better ways of teaching Joseph Smith’s importance.

[Elsie]

...but there were better ways of teaching Joseph Smith’s importance.

Go for it!

 

"Praise to the Man" - Elevating Joseph Smith

By Bill McKeever

"Blessed be his name" is a familiar song that has glorified the name of Jesus for decades in Christian churches. However, at a concert at Brigham Young University the title read "Joseph Smith: Blessed be his name." On the campus of BYU a nativity display in the lobby of the Abraham Smoot administration building depicted, not the birth of Jesus, but the birth of Joseph Smith! A sign next to a cradle set in a 19-century looking log cabin read: "We are the beneficiaries of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, a work which had its earthly commencement with the birth of Joseph Smith, in the hills of Vermont on a December day in 1805. As we commemorate the birth of the baby in Bethlehem, the Savior of the world, may we also remember his messenger, Joseph Smith, and rejoice in his life and sacrifice."

During 2005, it was a rare day in Utah when the local newspapers did not run an article extolling the alleged virtues of Mormonism's founder or printed some announcement telling readers where such accolades could be heard. Titles like "Joseph Smith's fame" or "Depth of Joseph Smith lauded" were commonplace. Books, conferences, films, a new web site, a silver commemorative coin, and even an opera giving homage to the LDS founder were also added to the mix.

The church-owned Deseret News expressed the fine line the Mormon Church must walk when it came to celebrating the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith's 1805 birth. On February 5, 2005, an article ran that stated, "As leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints kick off their yearlong bicentennial celebration of Joseph Smith's birth, they emphasize that while he played a singular role in founding their faith, church members do not 'worship' him" ("Exhibit on Joseph Smith's life opens"). While it is technically true that the Mormons do not pray to Joseph Smith, they do often elevate their founding prophet in ways that are neither historically nor theologically accurate.

For instance, second President Brigham Young once remarked, "I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God, that this is the Gospel of salvation, and if you do not believe it you will be damned, every one of you" (Journal of Discourses 4:298, March 29, 1857).

On October 9, 1859, Young said, "From the day that the Priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding-up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are -- I with you and you with me. I cannot go there without his consent" (Journal of Discourses 7:289).

It is not at all uncommon for Mormon leaders to ignore all of the information that places Joseph Smith's personal virtue in question. Young claimed "Well now, examine the character of the Savior, and examine the characters of those who have written the Old and New Testaments; and then compare them with the character of Joseph Smith... and you will find that his character stands as fair as any man's mentioned in the Bible" (Journal of Discourses 14:203, August 31, 1871).

Speaking at the 175th general conference last April, newly appointed Apostle Dieter F. Uchtdorf told the congregation, "As we remember and honor the Prophet Joseph Smith, my heart reaches out to him in gratitude. He was a good, honest, humble, intelligent, and courageous young man with a heart of gold and an unshaken faith in God. He had integrity." ("The Fruits of the First Vision, Ensign, May 2005, p.38).

Uchtdorf's conclusion is certainly debatable given the amount that has been written by contemporaries who knew Smith personally and by historians who have carefully analyzed his behavior. In our book, Mormonism 101, Eric and I quoted an interesting observation made by Dr. D. Michael Quinn, a former Mormon historian who was excommunicated from the LDS Church in 1993. In our opinion, Quinn gives one of the best capsulated overviews regarding the life of Joseph Smith. In his book The Mormon Hierarchy – Origins of Power (pp.261-262), Quinn notes:

"Few Mormons today can grasp the polarizing charisma of their founding prophet. Some may feel uncomfortable when confronted with the full scope of Joseph Smith's activities as youthful mystic, treasure-seeker, visionary, a loving husband who deceived his wife regarding about forty of his polygamous marriages, a man for whom friendship and loyalty meant everything but who provoked disaffection by 'testing' the loyalty of his devoted associates, an anti-Mason who became a Master Mason, church president who physically assaulted both Mormons and non-Mormons for insulting him, a devoted father who loved to care for his own children and those of others, temperance leader and social drinker, Bible revisionist and esoteric philosopher, city planner, pacifist and commander-in-chief, student of Hebrew and Egyptology, bank president, jail escapee, healer, land speculator, mayor, judge and fugitive from justice, guarantor of religious freedom but limiter of freedom of speech and press, preacher and street-wrestler, polygamist and advocate of women's rights, husband of other men's wives, a declared bankrupt who was the trustee-in-trust of church finances, political horse-trader, U.S. presidential candidate, abolitionist, theocratic king, inciter to riot, and unwilling martyr."

Mormon leaders rarely, if ever, focus on such a contradictory comparison. In a Sunday morning conference message titled, "The Great Things Which God Has Revealed To Us," President Gordon Hinckley stated, "In this year of celebration, through our own performance, let us honor the Prophet, through whom God has revealed so much. The sun rose on Joseph's life on a cold day in Vermont in 1805. It set in Illinois on a sultry afternoon in 1844. During the brief 38 and one-half years of his life, there came through him an incomparable outpouring of knowledge, gifts, and doctrine. Looked at objectively, there is nothing to compare with it. Subjectively, it is the substance of the personal testimony of millions of Latter-day Saints across the earth." (Ensign, May 2005, p.80).

Hinckley then proceeded to tell how, as a boy he loved to listen to a man "with a rich baritone voice," who sang the words to John Taylor's song, "The Seer, Joseph the Seer." He then quoted selected portions from the song:

"The Seer, the Seer, Joseph, the Seer! . . . I love to dwell on his memory dear; The chosen of God and the friend of man, He brought the priesthood back again; He gazed on the past and the future, too, . . . And opened the heavenly world to view."

The portion quoted by Hinckley is rather innocuous compared to some of the other lines. For instance, in the first stanza we find:

"His equal now cannot be found, By searching the wide world around. With Gods he soared in the realms of day, And men he taught the heavenly way."

Another stanza states:

"The saints, the saints, his only pride! For them he lived, for them he died! Their joys were his, their sorrows too, He loved the saints, he loved Nauvoo. Unchanged in death, with a Savior's love, He pleads their cause in the courts above."

This is just one of many references where Joseph Smith is given messianic prominence. Not only does he die for the members of his church, but he also pleads their cause in heaven. Such a comparison comes uncomfortably close to Romans 8:33-34 that tells us it is Jesus Christ Himself who died for His elect and now intercedes on their behalf.

Another popular song sung by Mormons in conference is "Praise to the Man" written by W.W. Phelps:

"Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah! Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer. Kings shall extol him, and nations revere. Praise to his memory, he died as a martyr; Honored and blest be his ever great name! Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins, Plead unto heav'n, while the earth lauds his fame.

"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.

"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."

The chorus to the above song reads:

"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."

The Christian faith has its share of heroes and often the deeds of these men and women are mentioned in sermons as positive examples to follow. However, I find the degree to which Mormons elevate their founder to be especially disconcerting. Though Mormons insist they do not worship Smith, they certainly do ascribe to him attributes and accomplishments that surpass those of any mortal man, including that of the biblical Twelve Apostles. When was the last time you sang a song in church dedicated to the Apostles Paul or Peter that said they died for you and now intercede on your behalf?