The Christmas Story and Joseph Smith, Restorer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (OPEN)

This article is posted to allow open discussion of a previous thread regarding the author.

The Christmas Story and Joseph Smith, Restorer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
by Lynn Ridenhour

It's that time of year again. A time to love. A time to be a child again. A time to accept everyone & everything. It's time for the Christmas Story.

We all know it. And it's a blessed theme.

May I put a new spin on it?...

Much of the symbolism of the Christmas story, I believe, wraps around one of my favorite persons——Joseph Smith, Jr. Take, for instance, the star. Wise men from the east looked for this sign to appear in the heavens.

And the star must appear at an appointed time. It must appear on the darkest night of the year. Which happens to be, by the way, December 23rd. Joseph Smith was born on December 23rd--the darkest night of the year. The Egyptians referred to this night as the "Winter Solstice."

It was believed among the ancient Egyptians that the purpose of earth life was to prepare for eternal life with the Gods in the world to come. Everything that was, had been before. There was nothing "...new under the sun." Every person simply had to find his place on the celestial stairway, pass the guardian angels and find his way back into celestial glory.

I submit--Joseph is that Star which leads a dark world out of "Winter Solstice"-- back to the Christ child. He's the guardian messenger who has the revelations, the hidden mysteries——that lead us back into celestial glory. Especially in our dispensation, for so many grand truths were lost in the reformation.

December 23rd——Winter Solstice——Joseph Smith——the Star on that dark night——and the Christmas Story. I can see the symbolism.

Wise men from the east were called magi, or grand magi. Wise men from the grand orient lodge will follow that star until they find the babe wrapped in his stable. There was no room for the babe in the Inn (or lodge). No room for the Master in other lodges, so he was born among the common folks of his day. Nothing has changed……

There will be those of us who will follow the Master out of all lodges of perfection, even in our day——out of all false plans of salvation. They will be known as wise men who will follow the star that leads them to the Inn where the babe lies in a manger.

Joseph Smith, Jr. was one of the Wise Men of his day. I want to be one of the Wise Men of my day. I'm sure the same can be said of all of us. We want to be wise.

Wherein lies wisdom? It's found in the simplicity of the Christmas Story. It's said of the three wise men--they were learned men of the east, schooled in astronomy and the signs of the stars. Yet these three wise men followed their hearts that night and found the Gift of Love. They laid aside their wisdom and found His. They embraced the simplicity of the story. The Christmas Story is a simple story. Even a child understands. It's we adults who complicate it.

I love Joseph Smith, for he had a simple mind. (He was not simple-minded.) He played with children. He loved simple things. And he restored the simple gospel——love your neighbor as yourself. It takes a wise man to remain simple.

Jesus said an interesting thing during his sermon on the mount; "...consider the lilies of the field, how they grow...and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" (Mt. 6:28,29).

He made reference to the "...lilies of the field," and then made reference to Solomon. Solomon, in his writings, also referred to the same flower. Hymns have been written about Solomon's classic statement, "...I AM therose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys" (Song of Solomon 2:1). As a young lad growing up in a small Baptist Church back in the hills of the Ozarks, I heard many a sermon preached on Jesus as the lily of the valley and the Rose of Sharon. I've sung the hymn "Lily of the Valley" many times.

Let me suggest another possible meaning. Joseph Smith was born on December 23rd, 1805, in Sharon, Vermont. The word "rose" means "secret unfolding." The Rose of Sharon is often the emblem for secret brotherhood. It's used as an emblem in many lodges.

I believe Joseph Smith is the Rose of Sharon. His teachings are like secrets unfolded. Like roses. Like Jesus and his sermons, you either get it or you don't. You're either part of His "wise brotherhood" who spread the simplicity of the gospel around, or you don't. Like the three wise men, you've either exchanged your worldly wisdom for his, or you haven't. Perhaps you too have decided to follow your heart--and have found the greatest story ever told. The Gift of Love in a manger, wrapped in all its plainness. You either have a revelation of the kingdom of God on this earth, or you don't. You either speak well of Joseph Smith, or you don't. You'll either come out of all other lodges and embrace the Rose of Sharon, embrace his secret unfoldings, and start spreading the gospel of simplicity——or you won't. Yes, I believe Joseph Smith was the Rose of Sharon.

He was also the Lily of the Valleys. The flower lily is white as white can be. It's known for its whiteness. The lily stands for purity and innocence. Joseph's heart, I believe, was both pure and innocent. Like a child's. Those who have sat under his teachings and who have watched him unfold his secrets, they have seen his white heart. And the lily grows in the valley. So did Joseph. His life was one of trials, trails, temptations and tears. He grew in the valley. And so do we.

Well, Jesus said, "...Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."...one of these?..."

Like one of those who follows the Rose of Sharon and his teachings of Jesus Christ. It's the Gift of Love wrapped in all its simplicity.

woo hoo -- so you doubt JEsus who said His Church (the One Holy Apostolic Catholic Church) would never fail? The gospel was never lost -- or else how do you explain the fruit of The Church, namely the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons, the Franks, the Goths, the GErmanics, the Slavs, the Baltics, the Vikings, missions all the way to India and Mongolia?

As someone outside The CHurch of Christ, you have the common misconceptions and errors about celibacy: even today celibacy is not the rule for all Catholic priests. In fact, for Eastern Rite Catholics, married priests are the norm, just as they are for Orthodox and Oriental Christians.

Even in the Eastern churches, though, there have always been some restrictions on marriage and ordination. Although married men may become priests, unmarried priests may not marry, and married priests, if widowed, may not remarry. Moreover, there is an ancient Eastern discipline of choosing bishops from the ranks of the celibate monks, so their bishops are all unmarried.

The discipline in the West has been for priests as well as bishops to take vows of celibacy, a rule that has been firmly in place since the early Middle Ages. Even today, though, exceptions are made. For example, there are married Latin-Rite priests who are converts from Lutheranism and Episcopalianism.

As these variations and exceptions indicate, priestly celibacy is not an unchangeable dogma but a disciplinary rule. The fact that Peter was married is no more contrary to the Catholic faith than the fact that the priest from any Maronite or Syro-Malabar Catholic church is married.

the vocation of celibacy is explicitly advocated—as well as practiced—by both Jesus and Paul

far from "commanding" marriage in 1 Corinthians 7, in that very chapter Paul actually endorses celibacy for those capable of it: "To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion" (7:8-9).

And in the Gospel

Matthew 19:10-12
10 The disciples said to Him, "If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry." 11 But He said to them, "Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 "For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it."

Paul even goes on to make a case for preferring celibacy to marriage: "Are you free from a wife? Do not seek marriage. . . those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. . . . The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or girl is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please her husband" (7:27-34).

Paul’s conclusion: He who marries "does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better" (7:38).

you again misread Paul in: "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife,... "

'The verse goes on to say "he "must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God’s Church?" (1 Tim. 3:2, 4–5).

---> if "the husband of one wife" really meant that a bishop had to be married, then by the same logic "keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way" would mean that he had to have children. Childless husbands (or even fathers of only one child, since Paul uses the plural) would not qualify.

And, since Paul speaks of bishops meeting these requirements (not of their having met them, or of candidates for bishop meeting them), do you interpret this to mean that an ordained bishop whose wife or children died would become unqualified -- is tht what you interpret?

The theory that Church leaders must be married also contradicts the obvious fact that Paul himself, an eminent Church leader, was single. Unless you say that +Paul was a hypocrite he could hardly have imposed a requirement on bishops which he did not himself meet. Consider, too, the implications regarding Paul’s positive attitude toward celibacy in 1 Corinthians 7: the married have worldly anxieties and divided interests, yet only they are qualified to be bishops; whereas the unmarried have single-minded devotion to the Lord, yet are barred from ministry! What exactly would you mean by this?

Clearly, the point of Paul’s requirement that a bishop be "the husband of one wife" is not that he must have one wife, but that he must have only one wife. Expressed conversely, Paul is saying that a bishop must not have unruly or undisciplined children (not that he must have children who are well behaved), and must not be married more than once (not that he must be married).

1 Tim 5

9No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,[a] 10and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. 11As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge.

John Smith was a con man -- finding "golden tablets" that very strangely disappeared with no one seeing them, then comign up with crazy ideas that the native AMericans are descended from Jews, that there were various groups in the Americas that have no historical or archeaological fact.

"Had a prophet been called before the 19th century they would have been killed as soon as they taught that infant baptism is an abomination in the eyes of God." --> what another pile of rot --> every Protestant denomination in the US practised infant baptism -- following the precepts of the One Holy Apostolic Catholic Church (Catholic, Orthodox, Oriental and Assyrian)

John Smith came up with strange things like stuffing his face in his hat to come up with "revelations", making up books that never existed and histories that never happened

Mormons believe that God is only one of many gods who were once men and that each of us in turn can become what God is now. This process of men becoming gods is said to go back infinitely. But of course none of these gods can be infinite if they are multiple and had a beginning and are actually human beings. In Mormons’ view, both Jesus and the Father are what we would call glorified creatures.

Why exactly do your Mormon prophets say this:

1. In an early book of "Scripture" brought forth by Joseph Smith, the creation account consistently refers to the singular when speaking of God and creation: "I, God, caused . . . I, God, created . . . I, God, saw. . . . " The singular is used 50 times in the second and third chapters of the Book of Moses (1831).

2. In another of Smith’s earlier works, the Book of Mormon (1830), there are no references to a plurality of gods. At best, there is a confusion, at times, between the Father and the Son, leading at times to the extreme of modalism (one divine person who reveals himself sometimes as the Father, sometimes as the Son) or the other extreme of "binitarianism," belief in two persons in God. The Book of Mormon also makes a strong point for God’s spiritual and eternal unity (see Alma 11:44 and 22:10-11, which proclaims that God is the "Great Spirit").

3. Another early work of Smith is the Lectures on Faith (1834-35). There is continual evidence that the first Mormon leader taught a form of bitheism: the Father and the Son are separate gods. The Holy Spirit is merely the "mind" of the two.

4. At about the same time, we begin to see a doctrinal shift. Smith had acquired some mummies and Egyptian papyri. He proclaimed the writings to be those of the patriarch, Abraham, in his own hand, and set out to translate the text. His Book of Abraham records in chapters four and five that "the gods called . . . the gods ordered . . . the gods prepared" some 45 times. Smith thus introduces the notion of a plurality of gods.

=====================================

Remember that in Amos 8:11-14 (prophesied around 780 B.C), he warned of the coming destruction of Israel that would, in fact, occur in 721 B.C.

This text speaks of an apostasy in ancient Israel, not after the death of the last apostle in New Testament times. But even this apostasy was not total. In the very next chapter (9:8-10), Amos makes this very clear: "'Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground; except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,' says the Lord. 'For lo, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the ground. All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, 'Evil shall not overtake or meet us.'

In the midst of good times and bad, there was one constant in all of Old Covenant salvation history: the existence of the High Priesthood and the Levitical Priesthood as they are detailed in Exodus 28 and Deuteronomy 17. God established and gave authority to them to guide the children of Israel. The High Priest, or those to whom the High Priest delegated authority, had the power to deliver the oracle of God to His people.

Deuteronomy 17:8-12 is an example of this historical fact: "If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another any case. . . which is too difficult for you, then you shall. . . go up to. . . the Levitical priests, and to the judge who is in office in those days, you shall consult them, and they shall declare to you the decision. Then you shall do according to what they declare. . . you shall be careful to do according to all that they direct you. . . The man who acts presumptuously, by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or the judge. . . shall die."

According to Exodus 28:30, the High Priest had what was called the "Urim and the Thummim" on the breastplate of his vestments whereby he would bear the sins of the people of Israel when he went before the Lord in the temple. Through this gift of God, the High Priest would also hear the Word of God and proclaim divine oracles from God

Even during such a corrupt time as the time of the Judges, we see this gift in operation in Israel. This was a time when "every man did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6). Yet, even then, this gift of "the Urim and the Thummim" was alive and well. And when the Israelites consulted God through "Phineas the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron," who was High Priest at the time (cf. Judges 20:18-28), they received the oracle of God through him. They may not have always consulted the Lord or obeyed Him, but He was always there for them.

Nuts & Bolts - Tim Staples Batting Around the Great Apostasy Having a ball with some Mormon elders. Scenario: It's a scorching hot Saturday afternoon in early September. Your wife has taken the little ones to the pool. It's just you and your oldest, ten-year-old Matthew, staying in to watch the big game. Mark McGuire has now hit 59 home runs! And the way he's been connecting, he could catch Roger Maris' thirty-seven year old record of 61 homers in today's game. Your son is decked out in his "McGuire" jersey and you've just poured ice-cold drinks for the start of the game when the doorbell rings. You hurry to the door, thinking of ways to get rid of whoever it is as quickly as possible. Opening it, however, you discover two sweat-drenched young men wearing white shirts and ties. With beaming smiles, they introduce themselves as Elders Joseph McCarthy and Leonard Smith. "We're from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We'd like to offer you some free literature and talk to you about the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Your Response: For a moment you freeze, thinking to yourself, "Why now, Lord? What about the game?" Quickly, you come to your senses. "Which is more important, Maris' record being broken or the salvation of two immortal souls?" So you invite them in. As you ask them to be seated in the living room where your son is engrossed in the game, you wonder if he'll see things the way you do. Matthew winces a bit when you tell him you must turn the game off while you talk with these young Mormons. You're delighted, however, when his disappointment changes to excitement. (All that home schooling is paying off.) Matthew wants to talk about the Faith! Step One: Rather than wait for their scripted presentation, you decide to cut to the chase and begin the dialogue. You start by complimenting the Mormon Church on its belief in an authoritative, hierarchical church. You comment that of all the sects that have begun in the last 480 years, only theirs even claims to have apostolic authority. According to Ephesians 4:11-15, St. Paul tells us the true Church of Jesus Christ must have "apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers. . ." This leads you to the big question. "Why would I ever leave the Catholic Church which was founded by Jesus Christ and received apostolic authority directly from Him and the Apostles? This is so clearly attested to by both Scripture and many early Christian writers like St. Clement of Rome (A.D. 90), St. Ignatius of Antioch (A.D. 107), St. Irenaeus of Lyons (A.D. 180), St. Hippolytus (A.D. 200), St. Cyprian (A.D. 250), Eusebius of Caesarea (A.D. 330), St. Ambrose (A.D. 390), St. Augustine (A.D. 410), St. Jerome (A.D. 410), etc. The bishops in the Catholic Church are the successors of the Apostles and have true apostolic authority." Elder Smith responds, "We believe the Church Jesus established fell into apostasy after the death of the last Apostle, as was foretold in the Bible in both Amos 8:11-14 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4. It has been re-established through another Testament given to Joseph Smith and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Step Two: You respond with a challenge. "Let's get out a Bible and look at those two texts you just mentioned. We'll begin with Amos. Amos prophesied around 780 B.C. Among other things, he warned of the coming destruction of Israel that would, in fact, occur in 721 B.C. (because of her idolatry — cf. chapters six and seven)." The passage Elder Smith cited reads: "'Behold, the days are coming,' says the Lord God, 'when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it. . .'" "This text speaks of an apostasy in ancient Israel, not after the death of the last apostle in New Testament times. But even this apostasy was not total. In the very next chapter (9:8-10), Amos makes this very clear: "'Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground; except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,' says the Lord. 'For lo, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the ground. All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, 'Evil shall not overtake or meet us.' "There were many incidents in Old Testament salvation history when priests and prophets were corrupt (Lam. 4:13, Ezek. 22:22-26, Zeph. 1:4, Mic. 3:5), prophets had no vision from the Lord, prophesied falsely (Lam. 2:14, Jer. 23:26-31), or at times, there were no prophets at all (Psalm 74:9). Apostasies were frequent in the Old Testament, but never total. There was always a faithful remnant." Step Three: Now you move to a crucial point concerning Old Testament hierarchy. In the midst of good times and bad, there was one constant in all of Old Covenant salvation history: the existence of the High Priesthood and the Levitical Priesthood as they are detailed in Exodus 28 and Deuteronomy 17. God established and gave authority to them to guide the children of Israel. The High Priest, or those to whom the High Priest delegated authority, had the power to deliver the oracle of God to His people. Deuteronomy 17:8-12 is an example of this historical fact: "If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another any case. . . which is too difficult for you, then you shall. . . go up to. . . the Levitical priests, and to the judge who is in office in those days, you shall consult them, and they shall declare to you the decision. Then you shall do according to what they declare. . . you shall be careful to do according to all that they direct you. . . The man who acts presumptuously, by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or the judge. . . shall die." According to Exodus 28:30, the High Priest had what was called the "Urim and the Thummim" on the breastplate of his vestments whereby he would bear the sins of the people of Israel when he went before the Lord in the temple. Through this gift of God, the High Priest would also hear the Word of God and proclaim divine oracles from God. Even during such a corrupt time as the time of the Judges, we see this gift in operation in Israel. This was a time when "every man did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6). Yet, even then, this gift of "the Urim and the Thummim" was alive and well. And when the Israelites consulted God through "Phineas the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron," who was High Priest at the time (cf. Judges 20:18-28), they received the oracle of God through him. They may not have always consulted the Lord or obeyed Him, but He was always there for them. In fact, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself acknowledges the existence of this hierarchy and its authority in His time. In Matthew 23:2-3, Jesus says to his disciples, "The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice." Even the Apostles must obey the scribes and Pharisees who speak in an official capacity with delegated authority from the High Priest. Note: they must do so even if the legitimate authority may be personally corrupt (see also John 11:47-52).

the New Testament also describes the Church as indefectible. Yes, there will be apostasies. That is what St. Paul is referring to in 2 Thessalonians. In fact, there will be a major apostasy before the Second Coming according to 2 Thessalonians 2, but never does it say a total apostasy. According to the New Testament, this is impossible!

Matt. 28:19-20 says, 'And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.' A similar thought can be found in Luke 1:33, where the Angel Gabriel says of Jesus, 'And of his kingdom there will be no end.'

Matthew 28:20 says the Lord will be with us, pasas tas hemaras, or 'all the days'! So there's no room for total apostasy. Christ will be teaching via his apostles and their successors all days even until the end of time

In Ephesians, St. Paul explicitly tells us the Church will be with us until the end of time. Ephesians 1:22 describes the Church as '[Christ's] body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.' This Church is 'built upon the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone' (2:20). She is described as being so awesome, St. Paul can say 'through the Church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places' (3:10).

God gave us the Church that we may know with certainty the truths of the Faith. That's not the only reason, but it is a central reason. But maybe the most important passage for us in Ephesians is 3:20-21:

'Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.'

This Church that St. Paul is describing in Ephesians will be here to all generations (pasas tas geneas, 'all the generations') forever and ever. This eliminates the possibility of a total apostasy for even one generation!

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He would never lead us astray or command us to follow error. If the true Church didn't exist on this earth for 1,700 years, then Jesus misguided millions into obeying error-filled churches with no apostolic authority. And that's ridiculous.

[Cronos misstakenly says]

every Protestant denomination in the US practised infant baptism

[Stourme corrects]

I would suggest taking the time to do some research. The largest protestant denomination in the US are the Southern Baptists. And the core doctrine of the Baptist is that infants should NOT be baptized.
Baptist descend from the Ana-baptist movement of the reformation. And the Catholics/Lutherans put about 30,000 of them to death for teaching against infant baptism. I was a Southern Baptist.

[Cronos continues]

John Smith came up with strange things like stuffing

[Stourme boggles]

Sorry.. don't know any John Smith. I had a bishop named John once....

[Stourme mercifully snips a ton of text because it would make the readers eyes bleed]

Brevity and paragraphs are your friend.

[Cronos errors]

"This Church that St. Paul is describing in Ephesians will be here to all generations "

[Stourme corrects]

Unfortunately... you are wrong. You do like so many and that is you make a huge leap of assumptions. Catholics like to ignore the plainest parts of the scriptures. Man rejected the true gospel and created their own. The time after Christs death is called the dark ages for a reason. Would Christ ever lead a mortal man to cover himself with fine clothing, covered in gold, sit up on a high throne and call himself "Holy Father" and require people to come kiss his gold ring? umm no.

The Bible, its very compilation, is a testament to the great apostasy. Not one time in 1700 years has anyone even claimed that God was involved in deciding which books were to be included. That was man's doing. That's why we have silly writings like Solomon's Song included. Solomon's love sonets to his concubines....great...that's meaningful to my salvation. /sarc We're lucky to have what we have.

Amos specifically saw and prophesied about a time when the words of the Lord were not found on the earth. Amos 8: 11-12

Paul states about the second coming:

Thes. 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Paul literally saw it coming to pass:

Tim 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

I just look at the current state and history of the Catholic church and the protestant churches and can see quite plainly that Jesus had nothing to do with them.

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