"smithmas": A Perennial Anti-Mormon Lie

[BCSpace]

Dan makes the obvious point that among the Latter-day Saints, there is scarcely ever a mention of the birth of Joseph Smith at this time of year, let alone an observance of it that overshadows Christmas

 

 

i have never been anywhere in the Church where it is mentioned more than just in passing except that the SLC headquarters might make some minor note or even recognition of it, even a small program. But the celebration of the advent of Christ dwarfs all.

[Scott Lloyd]

This Ensign issue stands out to me.  I remember it at the time of just finding out things in the church that I didn't know about.  And I remember that JS filled the pages of this issue. 

Actually, as I've already pointed out in a prior post, Joseph Smith did not fill the pages of that issue. Of the 20 items listed in the Table of Contents, only four had Joseph Smith as the topic. That's an extraordinary focus occasioned by it being the month and bicentennial year of his birth, but it came nowhere near to filling the entire issue.

 

And I probably looked at it differently since I had issues with JS, or the beginnings of it.  I haven't followed very well the thread, did "Smithmas" start after this Ensign issue came out?     

 

I don't know. It has gone on too long, in any event.

 

Also, there is the teaching in the early church that JS was starting his kingdom on earth.  Maybe people revered him at a higher level then, than they do now.

 

On that subject, I wish you would take a look at this link to the FairMormon wiki.

 

There is a more detailed treatment there, but here is the synopsis:

 

Some people claim that Joseph Smith had himself anointed king over the whole world, and that this shows he was some sort of megalomaniac. What can you tell me about this? ...

 

  ANSWERS

Joseph was never anointed King over the earth in any political sense. The Council of Fifty, while established in preparation for a future Millennial government under Jesus Christ (who is the King of Kings) was to be governed on earth during this preparatory period by the highest presiding ecclesiastical authority, which at the time was the Prophet Joseph Smith. Joseph had previously been anointed a King and Priest in the Kingdom of God by religious rites associated with the fullness of the temple endowment, and was placed as a presiding authority over this body in his most exalted position within the kingdom of God (as a King and a Priest). The fact that Joseph's prior anointing was referenced in his position as presiding authority over this body creates the confusion that he had been anointed King of the Earth. He was in fact only anointed as the presiding authority over an organization that was to prepare for the future reign of Jesus Christ during the Millennium. The fact that Joseph had submitted his name for consideration as President of the United States during this same period adds fodder for critics seeking to malign the character of the Prophet.

 

And he was martyred just like the Saviour, in their eyes. So a lot comes from that possibly, handed down through generations.

 

 

A lot of people were martyred for the cause of Christ. That is to their credit, not dishonor.

 

 

Why even JS put himself above the Saviour in that he was able to hold a church together and the Saviour didn't.  So that sentiment sure doesn't help.   

 

 

Again, I refer you to the FairMormon Wiki on this topic. Please go to the link for the detailed treatment, but here is the synopsis:

 

QUESTIONS

Joseph Smith is reported as saying:

“I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam... Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.” (History of the Church, 6:408–409. BYU Studies link

This attitude strikes some as boastful, and unbecoming a prophet. ...

 

  ANSWERS

Main article: Joseph_Smith's_narcissism

The quote in which Joseph Smith seems to boast is an interesting one. To understand the issues, we must remember:

1. Public and private statements by Joseph Smith indicate that he was in fact a humble servant of God, and this particular statement should be interpreted in light of that fact.
2. Joseph was using a scriptural passage by Paul, and applying it to his own situation--the idea of "boasting" was Paul's, not Joseph's.
3. It is not based on Joseph's own writing; it is an account written after his death. It may not be accurate.

 

 

 

But I agree that the so called anti's make it a bigger deal for the here and now, when it would have been more appropriate for the early church times.

 

I disagree that such ridicule would have been called for even in the earlier times. (See above links.)

Edited December 9, 2013 by Scott Lloyd

[Scott Lloyd]

Thanks Tacenda... I'm disappointed at his statement in general because of its boasting, but I don't believe he was actually going so far as to put himself above Jesus per se... but no matter... it's still boasting, and agree that it gives fodder to our critics.

 

GG

Garden Girl, please consider the link to the FairMormon Wiki I just gave Tacenda on this topic.

[Scott Lloyd]

This is my third post in this thread. I have not bothered to count your posts. So, who is "bothered and worked up?"

 

At the risk of "appeal[ing] to scripture," you might consider the beam that is crushing you. :-)

It was mainly Palerider whom I was addressing with that. He was incorporating your prior posts in his response by expressing agreement with them, so, by reference, I included you in my response to him.

 

It's true, I did start this thread as a matter of discussion and earnestly expressed my heartfelt view. My posts here since have been primarily in reply to respondents.

 

I said previously, and I say now, that rejection of an unfair and unfounded stereotype could scarcely be regarded as "engender[ing] strife," and to label it as such -- as you did in your sermonizing -- amounts to a misapplication of scripture.

Edited December 10, 2013 by Scott Lloyd

[Scott Lloyd]

It has already been noted here that, not surprisingly, the emergence of "Smithmas" as a public tool of derision is a seasonal thing.

 

FWIW, here's an interesting piece from someone who theorizes that anti-Mormons generally tend to follow a calendar in the topics on which they focus their vitriol.

 

His method was to discern a pattern from past years of "Free Republic," which, as has been mentioned here, has been a platform for the "Smithmas" meme.

Edited December 9, 2013 by Scott Lloyd

[jkwilliams]

I always set my calendar by what the Freepers are posting.

[Calm]

Interesting find, Scott.

[foster]

Scott I do not recall anyone questioning whether a reference can be found, what people have challenged is that you have made it into something it is not. As indicated many never heard of it and likely never would have until Daniel Peterson made an issue of and you making an issue of.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

I am celebrating the 12 days of Smithmas this year.

[Scott Lloyd]

Scott I do not recall anyone questioning whether a reference can be found, what people have challenged is that you have made it into something it is not. As indicated many never heard of it and likely never would have until Daniel Peterson made an issue of and you making an issue of.

Again, there is an obvious fallacy in the "I haven't heard of it and therefore it doesn't happen" attitude.

Edited December 10, 2013 by Scott Lloyd

[jkwilliams]

It has already been noted here that, not surprisingly, the emergence of "Smithmas" as a public tool of derision is a seasonal thing.

 

FWIW, here's an interesting piece from someone who theorizes that anti-Mormons generally tend to follow a calendar in the topics on which they focus their vitriol.

 

His method was to discern a pattern from past years of "Free Republic," which, as has been mentioned here, has been a platform for the "Smithmas" meme.

 

I think that's the guy who shows up once in a while on my blog. Sometimes he will say rather nasty, hateful stuff, and then the next time he shows up, he tells me in an oddly sweet way that he's going to love me back into the church.

 

He may be right about cyclical stuff. I'd be surprised if the "Smithmas" stuff didn't show up around Christmas.

[cinepro]

Ultimately, I suspect there is too much sensitivity on both sides of the issue.  If Joseph had been murdered in the spring, then there would be just as much controversy when the anniversary of his death fell near Easter.  If Joseph had been born at another time of the year, then it would probably be mentioned just as frequently (or infrequently) with little drama.

 

However little or much the Church mentions it, Joseph's birth was just too close to Christmas for its observance to not be compared with the holiday.  

 

Can we all just agree that we're thankful he wasn't born two days later and let it go at that?    

Edited December 10, 2013 by cinepro

[jkwilliams]

Ultimately, I suspect there is too much sensitivity on both sides of the issue.  If Joseph had been murdered in the spring, then there would be just as much controversy when the anniversary of his death fell near Easter.  If Joseph had been born at another time of the year, then it would probably be mentioned just as frequently (or infrequently) with little drama.

 

However little or much the Church mentions it, Joseph's birth was just too close to Christmas for it's observance to not be compared with the holiday.  

 

Can we all just agree that we're thankful he wasn't born two days later and let it go at that?    

 

Well said. Whatever you think of Joseph Smith, he was a remarkable man, as my ancestors can attest, and whining about how Latter-day Saints honor his memory is kind of silly. Now, if they'd had a Joseph-themed Festivus pole, I might feel differently.

[Daniel Peterson]

you google it. i'm not the one making the claim

 

I see the charge frequently.  And, curiously, it typically comes from apostate former believers (mostly agnostic or atheists, I think) rather than from our traditional fundamentalist or evangelical Protestant critics.

 

Google, by the way, is very, very easy.  You should learn to use it.  Searches take only a few seconds.  It's wonderful tool.

[Daniel Peterson]

In the last 6 months there have been three mentions on the entire internet of your search string. One is this thread (google's quick), another is an apologetics website and there's one reference to it on the exmormon forum.

 

It's scarcely surprising that critics weren't mocking alleged Mormon overemphasis on Joseph Smith's December birthday back in July.

[Daniel Peterson]

 

Calling this a "perennial lie" seems to be an exageration.

 

It's not an exaggeration.  It comes up every year.

[Daniel Peterson]

 

 

(If no Latter-day Saint had ever responded to the Smithmas nonsense, how long of a life do you suppose it would have enjoyed?)

 

Very few Latter-day Saints have responded to it.

[Scott Lloyd]

Ultimately, I suspect there is too much sensitivity on both sides of the issue.

I would never have mentioned it if it hadn't come up again and again for several years. Ultimately, one concludes that enough is enough.

 

 If Joseph had been murdered in the spring, then there would be just as much controversy when the anniversary of his death fell near Easter.  If Joseph had been born at another time of the year, then it would probably be mentioned just as frequently (or infrequently) with little drama.

 

 

Agreed.

 

However little or much the Church mentions it, Joseph's birth was just too close to Christmas for its observance to not be compared with the holiday.  

 

 

But that's just the point: There is scarcely any observance of it at all by the Latter-day Saints. It's a stereotype manufactured by the Church's antagonists.

Edited December 10, 2013 by Scott Lloyd

[Daniel Peterson]

I just went over to the oddly-named "Recovery from Mormonism" board and did a simple search on the term "Smithmas."

 

It turned up thirty-one (31) separate posts including the term, going back to twenty (20) days ago.  (I'm not sure that they cache or preserve their posts much beyond twenty days, if at all.  So that may be the maximum search range, or close to it.)

 

Clearly, Scott Lloyd's opening post, which went up eight (that's 8 ) days ago, caused this.

 

Plainly, I invented it.

 

There is nothing to see here, and Scott Lloyd is to blame for it.  If we wouldn't mention it, it would go away.  And we shouldn't deny it, either, lest we be responsible for it yet again.

Edited December 10, 2013 by Daniel Peterson

[jkwilliams]

I just went over to the oddly-named "Recovery from Mormonism" board and did a simple search on the term "Smithmas."

 

It turned up thirty-one (31) separate posts including the term, going back to twenty (20) days ago.  (I'm not sure that they cache or preserve their posts much beyond twenty days, if at all.  So that may be the maximum search range, or close to it.)

 

Clearly, Scott Lloyd's opening post, which went up eight (that's 8 ) days ago, caused this.

 

Plainly, I invented it.

 

There is nothing to see here, and Scott Lloyd is to blame for it.  If we wouldn't mention it, it would go away.  And we shouldn't deny it, either, lest we be responsible for it yet again.

 

No one is saying you invented it. And people are always going to say and do silly things no matter anyone else does.

[MorningStar]

I remember several people on this board wishing us a "Merry Smithmas" and another guy claiming he and his mission companion used to pray to Joseph Smith together.  Uh huh.

[CA Steve]

To simplify things, my family has decided to combine two Christmas traditions into one this year, so and we are having a "Joseph Smith on a shelf holiday."

[jkwilliams]

I remember several people on this board wishing us a "Merry Smithmas" and another guy claiming he and his mission companion used to pray to Joseph Smith together.  Uh huh.

 

I'd respond to this, but I'm kind of busy. I really need to finish baking my Joseph Smith gingerbread cookies, making our annual Marzipan "Vermon Nativity Scene," and filling the Smithmas stockings with chocolate Kirtland Anti-Banking Notes. Tomorrow we start counting down on our Smithmas Advent calendar.

[Daniel Peterson]

No one is saying you invented it. And people are always going to say and do silly things no matter anyone else does.

 

Actually, some here seem to have come fairly close to that.

[Peppermint Patty]

Indeed!