Replies

” I had no idea that the Church of Latter Day Saints actually claimed that Joseph Smith was ever an Apostle...

= = = = =

“The term apostle is derived from the New Testament Greek word... apostolos, meaning one who is sent forth as a messenger “
-from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostle_%28Christian%29

The word “apostle” has never been solely restricted to the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.

Another church that calls its leaders “apostles” is the New Apostolic Church.
See - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Apostolic_Church

LDS Church leaders have always been called “apostles.”
- from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_members_of_the_Quorum_of_the_Twelve_Apostles_%28LDS_Church%29

The Roman Catholic Church also uses the term for many people:
(Also from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostle_%28Christian%29 )
“A number of successful pioneering missionaries are known as Apostles. In this sense, in the traditional list below, the apostle either first brought Christianity to a land or a people, or spread the faith in places where a few struggling Christian communities did already exist.

* Apostle to the Abyssinians: Saint Frumentius
* Apostle to the Caucasian Albania: Saint Yelisey
* Apostle of the Alleghanies: Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, 1770–1840
* Apostle of Andalusia: Juan de Avila, 1500–1569
* Apostle of the Ardennes: Saint Hubertus, 656–727
* Apostle to the Armenians: Saint Gregory the Illuminator, 256–331
* Apostle to Berkshire: Thomas Russell
* Apostle to Brazil: José de Anchieta, 1533–1597
* Apostle to Carantania: Saint Vergilius of Salzburg, Bishop, (745–84)
* Apostle to the English: Saint Augustine of Canterbury, died 604
* Apostle of the Eucharist: Saint Peter Julian Eymard
* Apostle to the Franks: Saint Remigius, c. 437–533
* Apostle to the Frisians: Saint Willibrord, 657–738
* Apostle of Gaul: Saint Irenaeus, 130–200
* Apostle of Gaul: Saint Denis (3rd century)
* Apostle of Gaul: Saint Martin of Tours, 338–401
* Apostle to the Gauls: Saint Saturninus, died c. 257
* Apostle to the Georgians: Saint Nino, 320s
* Apostle to the Gentiles: Saint Paul
* Apostle to the Germans: Saint Boniface, 680–755
* Apostle of Holstein: Saint Vicelinus, 1086–1154
* Apostle to Hungary: Saint Anastasius, 954–1044
* Apostle to India: Saint Thomas
* Apostle to India: Saint Francis Xavier; 1506–1552
* Apostle to the “Indians” (Amerindians): John Eliot, 1604–1690
* Apostle to the Indies (West): Bartolomé de las Casas, 1474–1566
* Apostle to the Indies (East): Saint Francis Xavier, 1506–1552
* Apostle to Ireland: Saint Patrick, 373–463
* Apostle to the Iroquois, Francois Piquet, 1708–1781
* Apostle of Mercy: Saint Faustina Kowalska, 1905–1938
* Apostle to Noricum: Saint Severinus
* Apostle to the North: Saint Ansgar, 801–864
* Apostle to the Parthians: Saint Thomas
* Apostle of the Permians: Saint Stephen of Perm, 1340–1396
* Apostle of Peru: Alonzo de Barcena, 1528–1598
* Apostle to the Picts: Saint Ninian, 5th century
* Apostle to the Polish: Saint Adalbert
* Apostle to the Pomeranians: Saint Otto, 1060–1139
* Apostle to the Scots: Saint Columba, 521–597
* Apostles to the Slavs: Saints Cyril and Methodius, c 820–869
* Apostle of Spains: Saint James the Greater (d. 44)
* Apostle of the Wends: Saint Evermode, d.1178

Analogous use for non-Catholic missionaries:

* Apostle to the Americas: Saint Innocent, 1797–1879
* Apostle to the Cherokees: Cephas Washburn
* Apostle to China: Hudson Taylor
* Apostle to the Goths: Bishop Ulfilas (Arian)”

- - -

Perhaps Jim, because you were shocked, as you say, you may have acted just a tiny bit precipitously.

That is understandable; it’s only human. I myself have on occasion felt like removing a thread that I felt was inappropriate.
But ordinary Freepers don’t have the power to do that.