I came across this quote and I’m sharing it here today as another example of how Mormons revere Joe Smith.
What concerns me about this is the psyche of the Mormon people. This didn’t just happen way back when and then stopped somewhere along the way. This total adoration and reverence for the founder of Mormonism continues on today and is obviously taking place in the schools in Utah in modern times.
This particular devotional is laboriously long so I’ve cut it down to a manageable length, although it’s still a little long winded. See for yourself how they’ve elevated Smith to God status and encouraged young people to all but have conversations with a dead person, which by the way is necromancy.
LDS Business College Devotional, ‘The Prophet Joseph Smith,’ November 16, 2005; “The third strategy for strengthening your testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith is to accept him as your friend.
Now here is something that is hard for some people to understand: a prophet is a man. You can get close to the Prophet Joseph Smith because he is an individual—just like you are an individual. Start with him as a man—just like a neighbor next door— … The Prophet is our friend in the same sense that the Savior identified us as His “friends” (see D&C 84:77; 93:45; 94:1; 98:1; 100:1; 104:1) …. Yes, Joseph was just a man—a farmer, a wrestling champion, a city-builder, a general, a scholar, a husband, a father—but he was, in addition, a prophet commissioned of God. Countless witnesses who knew him confirmed his prophetic mission….Here’s what Parley P. Pratt—a close associate of Joseph—said about this man:
He possessed a noble boldness and independence of character; his manner was easy and familiar; his rebuke terrible as the lion; his benevolence unbounded as the ocean; his intelligence universal, and his language abounding in original eloquence peculiar to himself—not polished—not studied—not smoothed and softened by education and refined by art; but flowing forth in its own native simplicity, and profusely abounding in variety of subject and manner. He interested and edified, while, at the same time, he amused and entertained his audience; and none listened to him that were ever weary with his discourse. . . . Even his most bitter enemies were generally overcome, if he could once get their ears. . . . [H]is works will live to endless ages, and unnumbered millions yet unborn will mention his name with honor, as a noble instrument in the hands of God, who, during his short and youthful career, laid the foundation of that kingdom spoken of by Daniel, the prophet, which should break in pieces all other kingdoms and stand forever. (Parley P. Pratt, Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, edited by his son, Parley P. Pratt [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1985], 32.)Brothers and sisters, Joseph Smith is your friend. You can relate to him as a friend, a man of God. He was and is a prophet of God. Can you see yourself as a friend of the Prophet Joseph? Consider him as your friend who sacrificed everything he had to lay the foundation of the Church and Kingdom of God so that you and I can have hope for the future.
My hope and prayer is that we may all do the right thing and grow spiritually according to our potential as sons and daughters of God.” – Richard J. Allen, Ph.D.
Exodus 20:3; “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
God in His infinite mercy upon our souls, gave explicit directions on what we should and shouldn’t do. No other gods. If you believe Smith’s story, by default you must dismiss God’s admonition in Exodus and by default you’ve rejected Jesus.
Paul gives us further insight on this with his statement to the Galatians. In his epistle he expressed shock when they rejected the gospel God had given to them. Notice Paul’s words because they’re key in understanding why we must reject Smith’s gospel.
Galatians 1:6-7; “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”
There isn’t more than one gospel from which to choose, rather, there’s just one. One gospel and one God.
Rejecting the gospel that is spoken of in the Bible is rejecting Jesus – Galatians 5:4 – and it’s anathema to your soul because you’ve severed yourself from His grace. If you don’t live under grace, you’re living under the law as Paul warned.
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