Posted on 12/01/2012 3:10:48 PM PST by Colofornian
I just realized that Christmas falls on a Tuesday this year, so December 23 is on a Sunday. This of course provides a great opportunity for the LDS church to prove its Christian roots by using that day to talk about Joseph Smith, it is his birthday after all.
So, will the average LDS ward celebrate Smithmas or Christmas on December 23 this year? I'm guessing my wife's ward will split the difference and dedicate part to Joseph Smith and part to Jesus. I may even have to show up and pay attention to see what happens, it could be entertaining.
Want evidence that the Mormon church leaders continually replace Jesus Christ with Joseph Smith at this time of year? I especially recommend these articles from Mormons...
* A Prophets Life: The CradleSharon, Vermont [Mormon Merry Smithmas Day!]
* The Joseph Smith Crèche at BYU, December 2005 [Mormon Merry Smithmas!]
* Dealing with Smithmas [Mormon worship of Joseph Smith]
* Praise To The Man: A Review Of The Annual Joseph Smith Memorial Sermons [Mormon Merry Smithmas]
* Joseph Smith: a witness of Christ [O Come, O Come EmmanSMITHuel, anyone?]
* The dreaded Christmastime ward sacrament meeting [Mormon Merry Smithmas!]
* Praising the man [Mormon Merry Smithmas!]
* Exploring: The Church Began with a Prophet [Mormon Merry Smithmas Day!]
These other recent threads provide additional evidence:
* Reasons Joseph Smith Is More Important Than Jesus [Mormon Merry Smithmas!]
* 'Praise to the Man' honors Joseph Smith [Mormon Merry Smithmas!]
* Joseph Smith: Blessed Be His Name [Mormon Merry Smithmas]
* Joseph Smith Jr.Prophet of God, Mighty Servant
* Tis the season for Smithmas; Whom do you worship? [Mormon Merry Smithmas]
Ho ho ho.
Now when all the snark starts flowing you will get all huffy.
Really, what do you expect posting something like this?
Since the ending ‘mas’ actually refers to the mass ie the death of the Nazarene why would anyone celebrate a mass as a birth day??? Moreover since the Nazarene wasn’t born in December but rather September what bdifference does any of it make?? I enjoy the lights and songs and goto the church of my youth because I still like hearing Christmas carols sung by a full choir with organ accompaniment. I have no illusions about the day...it is a pagan celebration and always has been. This day my faith does not make....
Smithmas? Oh LDS.
I don’t think we have any of youse guys here in NY.
Christmas will be the 25th. The 24th will be Merry Fishmas if you are of Italian extraction. And Boxing Day will be in overseas p and not here and has a tendency to cause tsunamis.
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Last year Saundra and Resty directed me to a lecture by one of the twelve for the Christmas season, it was about fifteen minutes long.
The name of (lds) jesus was not even mentioned until the eight minute mark and only once, then once again at the very end.
Because JS bday is on a Sunday my guess that will be the focus.
Smith is more important than Christ...
The caption reads: "As we commemorate the birth of the baby in Betheleham, the Savior of the world, may we also remember his messenger Joseph Smith, and rejoice in his life and sacrifice."
Colornian
When I want to understand the depth of the true Love of Christ, a just use an opposite contrast and finally conclude that ....
Jesus Christ must love Mankind, as much as Colofornian hates the Latter-Day-Saints (Mormons)
Quite an accomplishment in Irony Colofornian!
I wonder why we haven’t bought it yet???
If Navidad celebrations bespeak “pagan” to you, then by all means pass them up. Otherwise don’t complain.
Most modern Christians aren’t even aware of pagan connotations that many elements of the modern celebration once commonly had. It can be debated whether this is a bad or good thing, but it reflects a common practical manner of the church in transforming the meanings of things in the creation that had been taken by paganism to be pagan symbols but which are not good or bad of themselves.
Also, of course the -mass reflects Orthodox/Roman-Catholic practice. The communion service was traditionally integrated with whatever Christian calendar topic was timely, so you got this-mas(s) and that-mas etc. It so happened that the common belief that the Nativity happened on or about December 25 gave rise to Christ-mas(s).
Now that evangelical and Protestant churches don’t have “masses” for communion, and may not even celebrate communion every week, Christ-mas(s) is the only survivor. “Nativity” would be a better name, but hardly anyone uses it in English. Hispanics with their Navidad have it easier with this theological detail.
Do you know the difference between Mormanism and Mormans? Your hatred of exposing evil will disappear when you gain that knowledge. “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” Eph 5:11
Christmas is NOT a pagan holiday. December 25 was indeed used by pagans, but Christians use it for their own Christian purposes. Today is Saturday, a day named after the pagan god Saturn. I seriously doubt you refuse to acknowledge that it is Saturday. You just don’t celebrate Saturn’s Day. There’s a huge difference between those two ideas.
Isn’t Will Smith a scientologist?
I've never seen any evidence that Colofornian hates any latter day saint, if you have, please cite an example. Maybe you meant latter day saintism.
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
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