sjdawg Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 The church has completely done away with the activities committee. :<)Interesting. This would have been in 2005. Who looks after the parties now?
sjdawg Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 In 2005 when the church celebrated the bicentennial of Joseph Smith, I thought to myself, "No wonder people think we worship Joseph Smith."Joseph Smith was great and all, but I do think the church gets a little overboard with praising him sometimes.Yup. That was the year of the strange Joseph Smith/Jesus shared birthday party.
BCSpace Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 (edited) This is my least favorite hymn. I have never felt comfortable singing about a man when I prefer to sing about our Father or his Son, Jesus. Hearing this hymn still creeps me out. I can't imagine that I stand alone in this feeling, but you never know. I am not taking anything away form Joseph, but I even think he would feel uncomfortable with this hymn.I can see a song like this being made if Thomas S. Monson were martyred today though my guess is that unfortunately it wouldn't be quite so jubilant and bold. Technically, this song could be about anyone considering John 14:12. Praise to any man who communes with Jehovah and is martyred for it. Edited June 27, 2011 by BCSpace
Storm Rider Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 I was once at a ward christmas party where they had a birthday cake for Joseph Smith and just so they didn't forget the spirit of Christmas they had another cake that said Happy Birthday Jesus on it. Just to make it even weirder they than sang Happy Birthday twice. Once to Joseph Smith and once to Jesus. It was very bizarre. If I remember correctly the activities committee chair was released shortly after the party.This is the kind of thing that makes my head explode...please tell me this occured in Utah and not anywhere else? Oh God, please make it be in Utah! I then can chalk it up to that weird culture that only exists there and no where else on God's green earth. On a side note from a previous post, "lilly-livered" saints? Oh please, get a grip (just not of yourself, use the table) and realize that there is no room to worship or praise a man of flesh. That is why we are commanded to have an eye single to the glory of God, to worship him only, and do nothing that could be construed otherwise. I worry about people.
Storm Rider Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 (edited) I can see a song like this being made if Thomas S. Monson were martyred today though my guess is that unfortunately it wouldn't be quite so jubilant and bold. Technically, this song could be about anyone considering John 14:12. Praise to any man who communes with Jehovah and is martyred for it.That is a good thought! Not the part about Monson, but about John14:12. Joseph spent so much of his time teaching and praying about leading all to the place where we could see the face of God. There is no doubt he is a great man and worthy of our respect, but he remains just a man. Peace Edited June 27, 2011 by Storm Rider
sjdawg Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 This is the kind of thing that makes my head explode...please tell me this occured in Utah and not anywhere else? Oh God, please make it be in Utah! I then can chalk it up to that weird culture that only exists there and no where else on God's green earth. On a side note from a previous post, "lilly-livered" saints? Oh please, get a grip (just not of yourself, use the table) and realize that there is no room to worship or praise a man of flesh. That is why we are commanded to have an eye single to the glory of God, to worship him only, and do nothing that could be construed otherwise. I worry about people.Canada
thesometimesaint Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 I'm not nuts about the song either, but really if anyone thinks we worship Joseph Smith because of it. They need to get a grip. 1
Storm Rider Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 every-time I hear this song it makes me think I belong to the "Church of Joseph Smith of Latter Day Saints"Yup, that is that part that creeps me out. It just clashes so strongly with my belief system that I can't get past it. How was it kept in the hymnal and the hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" taken out. I think as I age I am becoming progressively more crabby. Maybe I should get a punching bag or something.
Storm Rider Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 Catholics deal with this exact issue in regards to being accused of worshipping Mary. 'Praise to the Man' may not have been a favorite tune of mine but I appreciate the love most LDS have for the song.My 2 centsOne of my all-time favorite hymns to listen to is "Ave Maria". I remember teaching a family in France about the Church and at the end of every lesson we would listen to this hymn. Needless to say we did not sing it at their baptism, but it was something to enjoy together and appreciate in the Catholic Church.
Calm Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 One of the more recent times this board has had this particular topic someone knowledgeable did post a few nonLDS Hymns that praised the ancient apostles or at least Paul.
blueadept Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 One of my all-time favorite hymns to listen to is "Ave Maria". I remember teaching a family in France about the Church and at the end of every lesson we would listen to this hymn. Needless to say we did not sing it at their baptism, but it was something to enjoy together and appreciate in the Catholic Church.Since I have to deal with the 'Mary worship' issue a lot in explaining my faith, I'm not necessarily a big fan of the 'Ave Maria' hymn but I'm still an avid member of the Legion of Mary nonetheless.
Doctor Ninja Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 I praise and honor the man. Joseph Smith gave his life for what he tirelessly advocated. He has met the highest test of his honesty and sincerity that his generation or any future generation can in fairness ask.When he died for the pure testimony that he has borne, all vile and malicious tongues should ever after be silent and all irrelevant critical voices hushed in reverence before a faithful and honorable sacrifice.
blueadept Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 ...., all vile and malicious tongues should ever after be silent and all irrelevant critical voices hushed in reverence before a faithful and honorable sacrifice.Welcome to the board.I see you come from the 'grass is definitely greener' school of thought in regards to Joseph Smith.
Doctor Ninja Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 Welcome to the board.I see you come from the 'grass is definitely greener' school of thought in regards to Joseph Smith. Thank you.The *rolling eyes* was unnecessary, but trust me, I completely understand the sentiment behind it. And yes, the lawn is well taken care of (immaculately in fact) within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thank you for noticing.
Hamba Tuhan Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 Whenever I sing the song, I remember how WW Phelps betrayed the Prophet, contributing to his incarceration and the persecution of thousands of Saints, and how the Prophet later magnanimously welcomed back Phelps into full fellowship as a brother in Christ.
Jigglysaint Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 I love Praise to the Man, if not that I just love the tune. Was thinking about tinkering with the lyrics, how does this sound: "Praise to the Man who communed with Cthulhu..." I'm still trying to get the syllables right for "Choose the Right, or the choice will be made for you" but it just doesn't sound right.I joke of course. I love most hymns in the book except "We are All Enlisted" and "Hark! All Ye Nations" because I hate the tunes with a passion.
Questing Beast Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 "In Our Lovely Deseret" makes me want to heave. They chucked, "Think not, When You Gather to Zion" (old hymn no. 21) and put that piece of chirpy drivel back in instead....
Doctor Ninja Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 After watching this wonderful video, I wonder if in the next life apologies will be made to Joseph Smith. I can only imagine he will simply reply with an embrace of love for he truly did and does represent the Savior.
cdowis Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 I love most hymns in the book except "We are All Enlisted" and "Hark! All Ye Nations" because I hate the tunes with a passion."Hark all ye nations" has to be sung properly. It is very popular in Germany, and you have to sing it with great gusto. Unfortunately, in my ward, it is sung like a dirge.My personal unfavorite hymn is "Love at home". You can hear the birds tweeting, and bees buzzing as you float among the clouds. Whenever the ward sings it, I find a place to hide.
cdowis Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 (edited) Since I have to deal with the 'Mary worship' issue a lot in explaining my faith, I'm not necessarily a big fan of the 'Ave Maria' hymn but I'm still an avid member of the Legion of Mary nonetheless. I have no prob with Ave Maria, but it's the other stuff..... Edited June 28, 2011 by cdowis
blueadept Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 I have no prob with Ave Maria, but it's the other stuff.....With 2000 years of history, it shouldn't be too difficult to find a few skeletons. As LDS members may grow tired of explaining the role of Joseph Smith, I would say there is a corrolation for Catholics in explaining the role of Mary for us. The original 'Mary worshippers' were excommunicated from the church though.
David T Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 This is my favorite version of the song, using the melancholy and haunting tune originally accompanying the lyrics in Nauvoo.
Nathair/|\ Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 Since I have to deal with the 'Mary worship' issue a lot in explaining my faith, I'm not necessarily a big fan of the 'Ave Maria' hymn but I'm still an avid member of the Legion of Mary nonetheless. Two things I really like about the Catholic/Orthodox traditions are their deep respect for the divine feminine and the way they keep their forbearers alive in the form of the Saints.
MDalby Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 In sharing our message, we find those who fear that if we mention Joseph Smith, we will be accused of worshiping him rather than Christ. Two observations ought to be made in response to such feelings. First, any response that is born of fear is devoid of the Spirit. Second, we can hardly profess to be on the Lord's errand, to be his messengers, if we let the adversary dictate our agenda. If someone can find a doctrine that does not make the minions of h*** protest, then he has found a doctrine that does not matter. A doctrine that Satan does not seek to distort and attack is hardly worth preaching. Those that he rants the most about are obviously those he fears the most and thus the ones we ought to be preaching the most.If we attempt to hide every doctrine that our critics distort, we are going to be left speechless. It is as if we revel in the fruits of the gospel but are ashamed of the tree from which they come. It is fashionable among many attempting to share our message to first seek common ground with those they desire to teach. Should we trade our birthright to be thought acceptable by a corrupted form of Christianity? The message of the Restoration centers on the idea that it is not common ground we seek in sharing the gospel. There is nothing common about our message. The way we answer questions about our faith ought to be by finding the quickest and most direct route to the Sacred Grove. That is our ground. It is sacred ground. It is where the heavens are opened and the God of heaven speaks. It is where testimonies are born and the greatest truths of heaven are unveiled. (Joseph Fielding McConkie, Here We Stand, 4-5)
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