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Who was Joseph Smith to you?
- Thread starter Bishka
- Start date
darkpenguin
Charismatic Enigma
He was a man, nothing more, nothing less!
Everyone has something more significant about them then their gender.
darkpenguin
Charismatic Enigma
Fair point, he was human, the same as the rest of us!
Comprehend
Res Ipsa Loquitur
D&C 135:3
3 Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient time, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood;...
3 Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient time, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood;...
Bishka
Veteran Member
Absolutley, but he was also the founder of a worldwide Church, is that just a 'man' to you still?
yuvgotmel
Well-Known Member
Are you trying to insinuate that Smith was not a man???
Bishka
Veteran Member
Not at all. I'm just saying, to a normal non-LDS person, he's more then just your everyday Bob or Harry. In an outsider's look, he was able to right a book of scripture and convince people it was from God and now there is a 13 million member strong church. That's a bit more then your next door neighbor, don't you think?
yuvgotmel
Well-Known Member
Does that mean the President Clinton was more than a man? ... He made it to the status of U.S. President, most important leader of the entire world.
Does that mean that Einstein was more than a man? ... He changed science as we once knew it.
Does that mean that Adolf Hitler was more than a man? ... He rebuilt Germany and created social programs for the people. He was very well-liked (by some). His deeds are known even to this day.
Does that mean that Nikola Telsa were more than a man? ...Ever heard of the Montauk project? Telsa warped space and time--and made an entire ship disappear, successfully. (That was the unmanned ship experiment before the Philadelphia experiment.)
Does that mean that Elvis was more than a man? ... Or the Beatles? ...
And so... I could list names all day....
OF HUMANS... MERE MEN. ...Joseph Smith included.
Bishka
Veteran Member
Never said he wasn't. You took that from my post, I never said that he was more then a more, just more then your average joe-shmoe from down the street.
yuvgotmel
Well-Known Member
Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
Nobody's denying that, Mel. It's just that some men (and women) change the world and others don't. According to Joseph Smith's history, when he was not yet twenty, he was visited by a heavenly messenger who told him that "God had a work for [him] to do and that [his] name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people." Since you're so good at listing names, here's a challenge for you. How many people can you name who, with Joseph Smith's very limited education and position in life, accomplished what he did? How many seventeen year old boys from wealthy, influential, well-educated families have predicted that someday they'd be famous, but who never were? It doesn't matter to me one bit whether you think Joseph Smith was a prophet or a fraud. The fact that you, and people from all walks of life, of all religions and from all over the world, even know his name 165 years after he died is remarkable. So yes, he was just a man, but whether you like what he taught or not, whether you believe anything he said happened to him really did, give the man credit for what he accomplished, which was a lot in 38 short years. What will you be remembered for, Mel?
yuvgotmel
Well-Known Member
I don't understand that question.
I have no idea, do you?
Well.......... LOL... To be honest, I didn't know any Joseph Smith until I came to RF. You and the other Mormons talked about that guy... I'd never heard of him before ever!
...and now that I know what I know.... ...
Oy vey... !!!
Yes he was just a man....
...Well technically, I don't think anyone or anything is ever forgotten totally. I believe the Universal Language will open up all memory...of everything...
Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
Well, it was pretty basic. I don't know how I could make it any more understandable.
No. I rest my case.
And to be honest, I'm not surprised. But that says more about you than it does about Joseph Smith.
yuvgotmel
Well-Known Member
Bishka
Veteran Member
Is Joseph Smith just an ordinary man that did not change the world? Or is he still your 'friendly next-door neighbor'?
yuvgotmel
Well-Known Member
Without getting into the topic of quantum mechanics and multiple dimensions and the topic of consciousness.... I will simply say this:
Until coming to RF, I didn't even know that dude.
Bishka
Veteran Member
And the fact that you now know that He established a Church that within less then 300 years has a population of 13 million doesn't changed your mind?
darkpenguin
Charismatic Enigma
Nope not really!
Bishka
Veteran Member
That wasn't directed at you darkpenguin, but go ahead, answer away.