Posted on 12/22/2008 10:08:39 AM PST by Alex Murphy
In 1844, there were approximately 26,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Yet, when W.W. Phelps penned a song of tribute to his beloved, fallen prophet, he promised that "millions shall know Brother Joseph again."
Those words were truly prophetic, says Mack Wilberg, conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which will be releasing a special Joseph Smith tribute album, "Praise to the Man," on Tuesday, the 203rd anniversary of the prophet's birth.
Now known not only to the millions of members of the LDS Church, but also by countless more around the world, Joseph Smith has taken a unique and respected place in American and religious history.
More than any other album the choir has done, Wilberg says, this one is focused on the history and heritage of the early church and its founder.
An advance copy of the CD was presented President Thomas S. Monson, the current prophet the church at a gathering following the choir's broadcast on Sunday.
This is the 16th CD the choir has done since establishing its own recording label, noted Sheri L. Dew, president and CEO of Deseret Book, who made the presentation. "Since then we've sold around 2 million albums. But the choir has never done one more meaningful for the members of the church. This is magnificent."
President Monson praised the efforts of the choir for "utilizing their God-given skills. You never know how many hearts have been touched and lives have been changed," he said.
He reminisced about serving as a mission president in Toronto, "the only area outside his own, where Joseph Smith taught." He also noted that he's always appreciated the fact that Joseph Smith was born in the season in which we celebrate the birth of Christ. "I think very little happens by coincidence"
(Excerpt) Read more at deseretnews.com ...
I understand that Joseph Smith was a con man who, years before he “discovered” the tablets, conned people out of money by telling them he could find gold with a couple of magic stones he found. And that he wasn’t martyred, but murdered by the parents of some of the young ladies he was trying to defile.
The Mormon history is very unique . . . and controversial . . .
Joseph Smith was a daydreamer and liar! Those who have fallen into the Mormon cult have done because they did not read the Bible closely and heed what it says. Smith wrote his own Bible in direct violation of Revelation 22:18 “I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words ofprophecy written in this book: if ANYONE adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share inthe tree of life andin the holy city that are decribed in this book...”
Not exactly accurate. He was murdered by Gentile militia who hated Mormons in general and Old Joe in particular.
Joseph Smith usually limited his "attentions" to members of his own flock, who were a great deal less likely to respond as you say.
I recently found something I'd never run across before. A number of Joseph's "wives" were and remained married to another man after he added them to his harem. I forget the exact number, but in the last couple years of his life, he was adding a new wife the average of every two or three weeks. Busy guy.
What’s up with Joseph Smith, and were he got his “inspiration”?
http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/masonicsymbolsandtheldstemple.htm
He was arrested and found guilty of 'treasure seeking' about 6 years after he claims to have had a vision from 'God'. He used the 'seer stones' to later translate the book of mormon.
And that he wasnt martyred, but murdered by the parents of some of the young ladies he was trying to defile.
Not quite accurate - though I suspect there were such feelings present. History shows that he ordered the destruction and arrest of people who opened a newspaper that exposed his polygamous lifestyle. The owners of the paper escaped with their lives, but the newspaper was destroyed. Smith fled (like he normally did when his actions blew up in his face) and eventually turned himself in at Carthage, Illinois. They posted bail for the destruction of the press, but remained in custody on a charge of treason against the State of Illinois. An illegal mob came (smith thought initially it was his militia coming to rescue him) and after a gunfight with smith, killed him. Most likely these were some who were outraged at polgamy and the behavior of the mormons towards nonmormons (some called it the 'mormon war').
“he was adding a new wife the average of every two or three weeks”
Kinda’ like the old “go forth and multiply” stuff, huh?
Not so unique, Muhammed made up his own belief system to further justify a twisted life, also.
“He was arrested and found guilty of ‘treasure seeking’ about 6 years after he claims to have had a vision from ‘God’. He used the ‘seer stones’ to later translate the book of mormon.”
I have the BYU cable channel and am amazed at the high reverence the speakers have for anything Joseph Smith did . . . things that anyone with a half a mind could see that were absurd at best . . . his history in the beginning years of Mormonism were bizarre and crime filled.
Right. You are not to add to or take away from the word of GOD
People like this that make the accusations of Christian haters sound justified.
An you will see that same trend here by the mormon apologists.
The admonition not to “add or take away from this book” shows up in the Old Testament, too... and the Book of Revelation was not the last one written, so by that definition, most of the New Testament writers are damned.
What that passage *does* indicate is that nothing should be added to or taken from *that set of revelations*, same as the Old Testament reference relates to not altering that particular section of commandments.
I think that as usual, folks from outside the Church will tell others things that are just not true.
Revelation was not the last book written, so if that warning applies to anything but Revelation then many of the Bible books (works of John) also need to be thrown out. The same type of warning appears in Deuteronomy, so does that mean everything after should be thrown out?
Also when Revelation was written it was not part of the Bible, it was a separate work. It was added to the Bible at canonization (along with other added books) while other books were removed for various reasons, so if that warning applies then the whole of the Bible violates that warning.
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.
Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment
Obama: If they make a mistake, I dont want them punished with a baby.
Please don’t feed the Trolls during Advent.
Remember last Lent? We were the targets. Right through Good Friday, there were Anti-Catholic threads posted over and over.
All Narses did was ping some people. Does pinging them this week constitute "feeding the Trolls during Advent"?
How many Mormon threads HAVE you posted today?
How many asked you to stop posting the Catholic Bashing threads last Lent?
Is it possible for you to let it lie during High Holy Days? Pretty Please.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.