Thanks again for your warm welcome. I imagine a thread such as this one could generate some "warm" responses! Feel free to offer your opinion(s). In no way would I want to hijack and of what Judyboi brought up in the Book of Mormon thread, however, AsI read some of Mr-Priks comments and questions it seemed that maybe a separate thread in regards to Joseph Smith would be better.
Feel free to comment on him as you will, but I think if you have questions about the Book of Mormon or temples or other questions, it may be easier to start another thread with that topic only. It just seemed to me that the B of M thread went into all different directions. I think just staying focused on one topic at a time may be easier? I would also want to add that I will try and reply as I can. Some responses I'm sure will take some and I don't spend a lot of time on the internet.
So, what is your opinion of Joseph Smith. 1) Prophet or pretender?In answering the question 2)I would be real interested to know what you have read about him. I'm even more interested 3) To know if you have read his own account of his life rather than what someone else has had to say about him. Fire away!
Best regards,
Porter
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"The Lord commands us to be peacemakers. This is more than peace keeping. Peacemaking is an active thing that requires much greater effort at making peace happen rather than just keeping ones peace."
Joseph Smith
1805-1844 [/color]Born on December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vermont, to Joseph and Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph Smith Jr. grew up on a series of tenant farms in Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York. Though in his youth Joseph was largely deprived of a formal education, he was "instructed in reading, writing, and the ground rules of arithmetic."2 Joseph's mother said that he was often "given to meditation and deep study."6[/size]
Affected by the great religious excitement taking place around his home in Manchester, New York, in 1820, fourteen-year-old Joseph was determined to know which of the many religions he should join. He encountered a passage in the Bible instructing any who lacked wisdom to "ask of God" (James 1:5). Early one morning in the spring of 1820, Joseph went to a secluded woods to ask God which church he should join. According to his account, while praying Joseph was visited by two "personages" who identified themselves as God the Father and Jesus Christ. He was told not to join any of the churches.
In 1823, Joseph Smith said he was visited by an angel named Moroni, who told him of an ancient record containing God's dealings with the former inhabitants of the American continent. In 1827, Joseph retrieved this record, inscribed on thin golden plates, and shortly afterward began translating its words by the "gift of God."1011 The resulting manuscript, the Book of Mormon, was published in March 1830. On April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and became its first president. [/color]
Bro.Porter, If every man that has hada vision of God the Father and of God the Son
and wrote a Book about it, how many Prohets do you think would be on earth today?
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
If you want to know the truth about ME, read a book about me that I have written! I will give it to you straight. I am the best, most knowledgeable, wisest, most spiritual, humble, kind, gentle, person around. Everyone speaks evil and persucutes me because I am a man of God. ect, ect. If you believe that, I have some ocean front property in Arizona for sale. If you really want to get the truth about, ask some one else. Their answer will be a lot closer to the real truth.
One cannot be saved except he has only one wife. Joseph Smith
One cannot be saved except he practice polygamy. Joseph Smith
If a man has more than one wife he cannot be saved. Joseph Smith
First statement before he was caught with his pants down.
Second statement after he was caught with women who were married to another.
Third statement after the US Govt. confronted him with military force.
At what time was he a prophet? First statement, second statement, or third statement?
How many times can a true prophet be wrong and still be a true prophet?
There is a book (and a movie) that has out for a number of years called The Godmakers. It was written by a former Mormon and reveals a LOT about Joseph Smith and the Mormon religion itself. I have read parts of it and have seen a portion of the movie as well. That it is not flattering is an understatement. That there is much more to suspect rather than believe is more on target. Joseph Smith was a criminal and spent plenty of time in jail. His crimes included murder--not exactly the kind of resume you'd want when you are the founder of a "new" religion.
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Today' s small bucks are tomorrow' s trophies.
[image]http://www.whitetails.com/deer8.html[image]
If you want to know the truth about ME, read a book about me that I have written! I will give it to you straight. I am the best, most knowledgeable, wisest, most spiritual, humble, kind, gentle, person around. Everyone speaks evil and persucutes me because I am a man of God. ect, ect. If you believe that, I have some ocean front property in Arizona for sale. If you really want to get the truth about, ask some one else. Their answer will be a lot closer to the real truth.
One cannot be saved except he has only one wife. Joseph Smith
One cannot be saved except he practice polygamy. Joseph Smith
If a man has more than one wife he cannot be saved. Joseph Smith
First statement before he was caught with his pants down.
Second statement after he was caught with women who were married to another.
Third statement after the US Govt. confronted him with military force.
At what time was he a prophet? First statement, second statement, or third statement?
How many times can a true prophet be wrong and still be a true prophet?
There is a book (and a movie) that has out for a number of years called The Godmakers. It was written by a former Mormon and reveals a LOT about Joseph Smith and the Mormon religion itself. I have read parts of it and have seen a portion of the movie as well. That it is not flattering is an understatement. That there is much more to suspect rather than believe is more on target. Joseph Smith was a criminal and spent plenty of time in jail. His crimes included murder--not exactly the kind of resume you'd want when you are the founder of a "new" religion.
Dave, about 7 years ago in Atlanta there was a "new religion" started. A strip club was being shut down, to try and keep running they became a "church". They had striper preachers. I guess anything goes now. They were still shut down.
Was Joseph Smith a Prophet or a Pretender?
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