You're saying that same Jesus,' God's only Son's torture and death on the cross, isn't necessary - at least not to Mormons?
All I need is Joseph Smith and other Mormons being "baptized" for me, gets me into heaven?
So Jesus really wasn't needed? Not only did He not need to be sacrificed and crucified on the cross, we just needed to wait for Joseph Smith, who did it all?
Gee, that's not what I learned in Sunday School.
(Well, I am not saying that...and not every grassroots Mormon says that...)
Yet it is quite interesting that in the Mormon Hymnal -- in a song called "Praise to the Man" (which is, btw, a DIRECT worship song sung unto Joseph Smith...NOT Jesus)...you can find these interesting lyrical lines:
lst verse:
Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!
Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer.
Blessed to open the last dispensation,
Kings shall extol him, and nations revere.
(Chorus]
Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!
2nd verse:
Plead unto heav'n while the earth lauds his fame.
3rd verse:
Great is his glory and endless his priesthood.
Ever and ever the keys he will hold.
4th verse:
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.?
You catch all that? Not "Millions shall know Jesus Christ...but Millions shall know 'Brother Joseph'" ...that's the REAL Mormon "gospel."
that's not what I learned in Sunday School.
So I would surmise, "No, you didn't learn the above Joseph Smith worship song in Sunday School!"
So.....you're saying that Mormons don't look to Jesus Christ, Son of God, sent to earth "at the right time, to become sin for all mankind," to pay God's wrath for sin, to become the Sacrifical Lamb, to "give His life as a ransom for sinners?"
Well, look closely at the lyrics in the 4th verse of the Mormon fave hymn, "Praise to the Man." Do you see how they totally turn around the notion of atonement:
Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven;
Earth must atone for the blood of that man.
So, it's the emphasis in this hymn isn't on Jesus' atoning blood; nope...it's the "earth" which must "atone" for Joseph Smith's blood!!!
You’re saying that same Jesus,’ God’s only Son’s torture and death on the cross, isn’t necessary - at least not to Mormons?
***************************************************************************
It’s my understanding and I could be wrong, that the cross was not that important to mormons but rather the tears Jesus shed in the garden.
Colofornian, correct this if I’m off base.
They succeeded in killing Joseph, but he had finished his work.He was a servant of God, and gave us the Book of Mormon.He said the Bible was right in the main, but, through the translators and others, many precious portions were suppressed, and several other portions were wrongly translated; and now his testimony is in force, for he has sealed it with his blood.As I have frequently told them, no man in this dispensation will enter the courts of heaven, without the approbation of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jun.Who has made this so?Have I?Have this people?Have the world?No; but the Lord Jehovah has decreed it.If I ever pass into the heavenly courts, it will be by the consent of the Prophet Joseph.If you ever pass through the gates into the Holy City, you will do so upon his certificate that you are worthy to pass.Can you pass without his inspection?No; neither can any person in this dispensation, which is the dispensation of the fulness of times.In this generation, and in all the generations that are to come, everyone will have to undergo the scrutiny of this Prophet.They say that they killed Joseph, and they will yet come with their hats under their arms and bend to him; but what good will it do them, unless they repent?They can come in a certain way and find favor, but will they?
--JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES, vol. 8, p. 224