Journal of Discourses 3:291; “Of all men upon the face of the earth, we are the most favoured; we have the fulness of the everlasting Gospel, the keys of revelation and exaltation, the privilege of making our own rules and regulations, and are not opposed by anybody. No king, prince, potentate, or dominion, has rightful authority to crush and oppress us. We breathe the free air, we have the best looking men and handsomest women, and if they envy us our position, well they may, for they are a poor, narrow-minded, pinch‑backed race of men, who chain themselves down to the law of monogamy, and live all their days under the dominion of one wife. They ought to be ashamed of such conduct, and the still fouler channel which flows from their practices; and it is not to be wondered at that they should envy those who so much better understand the social relations.” – George A. Smith, Salt Lake City, April 6, 1856
1 Timothy 6:13-16; “I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”
I came across Mr. Smith’s sermon the day after I had studied Paul’s exhortation to Timothy last week and what caught my eye was Smith’s use of the word ‘potentate’. It’s not often you come across that word so it got me to thinking about Paul’s exhortation in how to behave like a respectable Christian and what Mr. Smith spewed from behind his pulpit. One of the major verses that came to mind was John 3:30 – ‘I must decrease so He can increase’. Keep this in mind when witnessing to a Mormon and share it with them today!
Here are a dozen lies Mr. Smith spoke that day –
1…‘we are the most favoured’ – by and large the Mormon people carry about an air of superiority with them that is taught at each of their meetings. We see this even today with those who write in and try to flex their priestcraft authority over us. All that aside, the Bible tells us God favors no one. Romans 2:11 “For there is no respect of persons with God.”
2… ‘…we have…the everlasting gospel…’ If it’s ‘everlasting’ why aren’t they still practicing polygamy? As a child I learned that when you point a finger at someone you have three pointing back at yourself.
Where is their gospel now? Does Mr. Smith qualify for all the horrible things he accused outsiders of?
3…‘we have the fulness of the…Gospel’ – The Bible contains the ‘fulness’ of the gospel, but historically speaking, the LDS Church has rejected it. 1 Cor 15:1-4
4….‘the keys of revelation and exaltation’ – If Jesus is heir of all things just how does man become exalted? Clearly, the Bible tells us that God has revealed to us what we need to know from here on out.
Hebrews 1:1-2; “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.”
5…‘the privilege of making our own rules and regulations…’ – Really? Since when has the US declared any people group to be an autocratic entity?
6…‘not opposed by anybody’ – Not true. They had been kicked out of no less than four different states and still there were people who opposed their theology and lifestyle.
7…‘No king, prince, potentate, or dominion, has rightful authority to crush and oppress us’ – Oh dear. Perhaps they hadn’t read our biblical example today in 1 Timothy 6?
8…‘we have the best looking men and handsomest women’ – Here we go again with the self adoration…Proverbs 16:18 – Pride goeth before the fall…
9…‘they are a poor, narrow-minded, pinch‑backed race of men, who chain themselves down to the law of monogamy, and live all their days under the dominion of one wife’ – God doesn’t chain people down, man does that to himself and others. God gives us guidelines and commandments to live righteously because He knows how destructive polygamous lifestyles are.
10…‘They ought to be ashamed of such conduct’ – They? Is he referring to Christians? If so then I would suggest reading 2 Timothy 1:12 – ‘…I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
11…‘the still fouler channel which flows from their practices’ – James 1:17 tells us that every good gift we receive is from God who supplies our every need. That is our ‘channel’ of where we receive instruction. Referring to God as foul won’t be overlooked by Him and for that it makes me sad my people say such things.
12…‘they should envy those who so much better understand the social relations’ – Why should we envy someone? Besides, I don’t think the polygamous lifestyle is anything to be jealous of. James 3:16; “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
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