VideoGameJunkie Posted October 11, 2014 Posted October 11, 2014 I know we're just supposed to worship God and Jesus, but do we also worship Joseph Smith?Brigham Young said; "From the day that the priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are- I with you and you with me. I cannot go there without his consent. He holds the keys of that kingdom for the last dispensation, the keys to rule in the spirit world, and he rules there triumphantly, for he gained full power and a glorious victory over the power of Satan while he was yet in the flesh, and was a martyr to his religion and to the name of Christ, which gives him a most perfect victory in the spirit world. He reigns there as supreme a being in his sphere, capacity, and calling, as God does in heaven. Many will exclaim -"Oh, that is very disagreeable! It is preposterous! We cannot bear the thought! But it is true!" -Journal of Discourses 7:289 (Oct 9, 1859) So Joseph Smith reigns as a supreme being and we can't return to God without Joseph Smith's approval. So should we worship Joseph Smith too? Joseph Smith once said; "Come on! Ye prosecutors! Ye false swearers! All hell boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! For I will come out on top at last. 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. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter Day Saints never ran away from me yet, when they get rid of me, the devil will also go." (History of the church, Vol. 6, p. 408,409) So should we be showing more worship towards Joseph Smith?
Jeanne Posted October 11, 2014 Posted October 11, 2014 I think so. The reasons may differ. It may be because he is not only the founder but also the head of this dispensation. One would have to wonder how the people felt or if they felt as strongly about Abraham and other leaders whether this may be true or not. Other than some obvious things..and perhaps it was just the times..but my seminary classes spent a lot more time on JS than Jesus. Even in adult seminary classes, JS was interwoven with teachings of the Bible. Hard to say, but I might have been better off learning a lot more about the Savior.
bluebell Posted October 11, 2014 Posted October 11, 2014 No, we shouldn't. BY isn't saying anything about JS that isn't also true about the original 12 apostles. Matt 19:28- "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." These teachings don't imply that we won't personally be judged by Christ or that those doing the judging are equal to Him. It's just how Christ shares His authority. Each prophet of a dispensation has a responsibility to those he is a prophet to/for and those under him have a responsibility back. Ultimately though, it will be just us and Jesus. 1
DarkScythe Posted October 11, 2014 Posted October 11, 2014 there is a difference in revering Joseph Smith and worshiping him. We do the former and don't do the latter. Is he relevant to us? yes he is for several reasons. All Prophets' teachings can and should be learned whenever we can get the chance too.
AndyDnom Posted October 11, 2014 Posted October 11, 2014 i know i do. if a person is going to personally give me the go ahead as to whether i get into heaven or not... im gonna worship that person. covering my bases.
Guest Posted October 11, 2014 Posted October 11, 2014 To answer the OP question...in no way do we worship Joseph Smith; God forbid! He was a Prophet, not a god!
ERayR Posted October 11, 2014 Posted October 11, 2014 No but he and his memory deserves to be treated with respect. There is a big difference between respect and worship. 1
JAHS Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 By the normal definition of the word, no we do not worship Joseph Smith. However another dictionary definition of the word is: "extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem" (Webster's) Some or many may fall under this definition of the word with regards to what they think of Joseph Smith.
Calm Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 I don't by any version of the definition. Don't feel bad about that in the least either. 1
JLHPROF Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 Depending on your definition of "worship" I probably do.
AndyDnom Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 Yep.are you saying that you worship the HG? or that you believe JS is the HG? both? neither? i dont understand why you guys are passing on the chance to worship JS. If it's wrong, whats the harm? but we know from doctrine that he is the gatekeeper from heaven. I personally, am going to have him remember me quite well.
carbon dioxide Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 If LDS worship Joseph Smith than it stands to reason that Jews worship Abraham and Moses. Catholics worship Peter and Protestants worship Paul. 2
Popular Post thesometimesaint Posted October 12, 2014 Popular Post Posted October 12, 2014 Absolutely NOT! We worship God the Father, through his Son Jesus the Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 5
JLHPROF Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 (edited) are you saying that you worship the HG? or that you believe JS is the HG? both? neither? i dont understand why you guys are passing on the chance to worship JS. If it's wrong, whats the harm? but we know from doctrine that he is the gatekeeper from heaven. I personally, am going to have him remember me quite well. I've always liked the UNOFFICIAL THEORY that Joseph Smith is the Holy Ghost. Whether I believe it or not, it makes perfect sense to me. As far as "worship", as I said, depends on how we define worship. Do we worship the Father? Do we worship the Son? Do we worship the Holy Ghost? Do we worship our Heavenly Mother? Do we worship the prophets? Do we worship the scriptures as the words of God? Worship needs a clear definition and context.Officially: Absolutely NOT! We worship God the Father, through his Son Jesus the Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost. Edited October 12, 2014 by JLHPROF
Silhouette Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 Absolutely NOT! We worship God the Father, through his Son Jesus the Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost.Amen. 1
3DOP Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 Catholics make a distinction between the worship we offer God, who is uncreated, the first cause of everything, and those who have been the most intimate friends of God in the communion of saints. Wonderfully enough, I am happy to admit full agreement with thesometimesaint:Absolutely NOT! We worship God the Father, through his Son Jesus the Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost. "Through Him +, and with Him +, and in Him +, is unto Thee, God the Father + Almighty, in the unity of the Holy + Ghost, all honor and glory." (from the minor doxology of the Traditional Mass). Through the Son, by or in the Holy Ghost, all glory ultimately redounds to God the Father. If we honor a saint or angel, it is because we know that God the Father is the Author of whatever may be praiseworthy in the saint or angel;.
The Nehor Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 are you saying that you worship the HG? or that you believe JS is the HG? both? neither? i dont understand why you guys are passing on the chance to worship JS. If it's wrong, whats the harm? but we know from doctrine that he is the gatekeeper from heaven. I personally, am going to have him remember me quite well.I do worship the Holy Ghost and the Savior and the Father. I do not thing Joseph Smith is the Holy Ghost and was poking fun.If you are not joking the it is pathetic that you think worshipping Joseph Smith will score you "brownie points" or if you think that kind of abject sucking up actually impresses anyone in heaven. The gatekeeper to heaven is the Savior and he employs no servant there. There may be an interview with Joseph or someone else but he will not determine my fate or that of anyone else. 1
Tacenda Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 I do worship the Holy Ghost and the Savior and the Father. I do not thing Joseph Smith is the Holy Ghost and was poking fun.If you are not joking the it is pathetic that you think worshipping Joseph Smith will score you "brownie points" or if you think that kind of abject sucking up actually impresses anyone in heaven. The gatekeeper to heaven is the Savior and he employs no servant there. There may be an interview with Joseph or someone else but he will not determine my fate or that of anyone else.So you're disagreeing with the JoD statement and leader?
The Nehor Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 So you're disagreeing with the JoD statement and leader?Yep. I am going to go with the Book of Mormon's teachings on the point over this statement. Brigham Young loved Joseph and I love him for that. I do not doubt that Joseph will reign over much in the next life. I personally suspect he is one of the seven archangels who will reign under the direction of Michael. He may even take care of some aspect of the Final Judgment and approve or disapprove of me and others but in the end it will be the Father, the Son, and me when the final decision is made regarding my fate.The Book of Mormon is clear. The Savior employs no servant there. 1
Ham Clam Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 We need to turn the JS reverence down a notch or two. 1
Guest Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 Yep. I am going to go with the Book of Mormon's teachings on the point over this statement. Brigham Young loved Joseph and I love him for that. I do not doubt that Joseph will reign over much in the next life. I personally suspect he is one of the seven archangels who will reign under the direction of Michael. He may even take care of some aspect of the Final Judgment and approve or disapprove of me and others but in the end it will be the Father, the Son, and me when the final decision is made regarding my fate.The Book of Mormon is clear. The Savior employs no servant there.Amen
Lachoneus Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 "But the sole object of worship, God the Eternal Father, stands supreme and alone, and it is in the name of the Only Begotten that we thus approach Him, as Christ taught always." The First Presidency(15 Improvement Era 483-485 (April 1912)) 1
JLHPROF Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 (edited) We need to turn the JS reverence down a notch or two. Why? He's the head of our dispensation, one of the 7 grand heads. No man in this dispensation will gain resurrection or exaltation without going through him. This entire dispensation is his inheritance, which he will turn over to Father who in turn will give all he has to Christ.Joseph Smith is NOT just another prophet of the Church. It IS true, we should only worship the Father, not even Christ wanted to be worshipped. So I don't worship Joseph Smith.But I revere him as right beneath the Father and the Son. Edited October 12, 2014 by JLHPROF
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