| Author | Message | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 720 Registered: 4-2000  |
Seventh-day Adventists are not the only ones trying to rewrite their denominational history. The LDS (Mormon) Church has recently released a new movie about Joseph Smith to encourage the faithful and deceive the public. I read an interesting review of this movie by Sandra Tanner, Editor of the SALT LAKE CITY MESSENGER. Mrs. Tanner, a former Mormon, did extensive research for her 20-page historical exposition. The mission of Utah Lighthouse Ministries (www.utlm. org) is similar to Life Assurance Ministries in exposing a toxic-faith system. An event of historical significance really did take place in 1844; namely, Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed by a mob while incarcerated in a Carthage, Illinois jail. "LDS leaders John Taylor and Willard Richards stayed at the jail with Joseph and Hyrum Smith, although others were allowed to visit. Fearing the growing number of enemies in Carthage, friends had smuggled in two guns to the Smiths... Hearing shots from outside...more than two hundred men, some in militia uniforms, others wearing fringed blue flannel shirts, most of them armed, were crowding around the jail...Hyrum checked his weapon, aimed, and fired. A shot from the hallway struck him in the face. 'I am a dead man!' he cried. Hyrum's pistol fell from his hand. Joseph leaned over his dying brother, called out his name, and returned to the task of securing the door. The assailants pressed against the door until the latch gave way...The prophet retreated to the open window opposite the door. Gunfire from the hallway filled the room with smoke. Hit in the thigh from the latest volley, Joseph sat ackwardly on the broad window ledge... Joseph held out his arms in a hailing sign of a Freemason in distress, 'O Lord my God...' he cried, uttering the first four words of the Masonic plea for help. He fell from the window and landed, nearly fifteen feet below, on his side, badly hurt and unable to move...One grabbed the dying man, and cursed as he propped him up against the well curb... Four men, led by John C. Elliott, took up their arms, and moved to the front rank of troops. They took position, aimed, and fired on command. Each ball found its mark...Several of the men struck Joseph's lifeless body with their bayonets to make certain the job was done." (Junius and Joseph, pp. 177-178) Sandra Tanner reports that "The film ends with a scene of the mob storming the jail but with no sign of the Smiths shooting back. The camera focuses on Joseph holding his dying brother Hyrum, as he looks toward the open window. The musical score wells up a in dramatic rendition of the popular LDS hymn honoring Joseph Smith, PRAISE TO THE MAN. The non-Mormon won't catch the significance of the music but it seems to be calculated to bring the Mormon to tears." Sandra concludes, "The Mormon effort to sanitize Joseph Smith began as early as 1859...This film comes across as Disney-type fantasy, not a balanced account of Smith's life. While possessing natural abilities and talents, Joseph Smith's personal character was far from the saintly image his followers have molded him into. His strong egotism and drive for power, together with his deceptive practices led ultimately to his destruction." According to the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, "Inactive Mormons who rarely, if ever, attend church are included in all membership numbers. Such people will not be taken off the rolls until the member would have reached the age of 110...That means some of the people included in the worldwide tally of 12 million members are really dead, with life expectancy in the United States at about 78 years old." (Ibid., Oct. 17, 2005) Interestingly, the LDS Church never releases the number of people who have resigned. The film never explains why the communities surrounding Nauvoo were so against the Mormons. Generally speaking, Mormons today seem unaware that Smith practiced polygamy and believe it was instituted in Utah to provide homes for widows. "To crown the whole folly of the Mormons, in the spring of 1844, Joe Smith announced himself as a candidate for president of the United States. His followers were confident that would be elected. Two or three thousand missionaries were immediately sent out to preach their religion, and to electioneer in favor of their prophet for the presidency." (History of Illinois, p. 321) Also, Joseph Smith claimed that his first and only legal wife Emma tried to poison him after learning about his illegal and secretive polygamous lifestyle (numbering about 32 wives at the time of his death). However, the new movie depicts a loving and happy Smith home. Brigham Young later declared, "The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 11, p. 269) The film camera takes the viewer from watching Joseph Smith leave the window sill in the Carthage jailhouse to being swept upward to eternal bliss--not falling to the ground fifteen feet below to the cheers of an angry mob. Yes, both Adventists and Mormons are experts in sanitizing or rewriting their past history. Before the SDA Battle Creek village was re-constructed, I remember reading in the Adventist Review about several Adventist officials visiting Nauvoo village to learn how to best preserve their heritage as well. Dennis Fischer | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4042 Registered: 12-2003  |
Dennis, this is so interesting. I know that the Tanners, who operate Lighthouse Ministries, have experienced much opposition and hardship. Besides the interesting inside look at Joseph Smith, your report above bears so many similarities to Adventism: the people not removed from the membership records, the non-release of "apostasy" numbers, even the restoration and prservation of the early village and legends of the founders... It is interesting to me to ponder the fact that Redlands is home to one of the newest Mormon temples and also sits on the back doorstep of Loma Linda. Redlands, in fact, used to be the Mormon headquarters (based at what is now the historic Asistencia Mission) of this area about the time Ellen White came out and facilitated the purchase of property at Mound City, now Loma Linda. San Bernardino, the large adjacent neighboring city of Loma Linda and Redlands, was also largely built up by Mormons. Interesting juxtapositionsóinteresting spiritual legacy in this area! Colleen | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1709 Registered: 3-2005 |
There is a big difference. Loma Linda University stands as a monument to great medicine. What have the Mormons done in Loma Linda or Redlands that would gain any respect at all? Absolutely nothing. At least Ellen White for all her grievous errors, at least, gave her approval for an accredited medical school. I will be ever thankful for that. Stan | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4044 Registered: 12-2003 |
Actually, I've no intrest in defending the Mormons, but they did found the city of San Bernardino. They built the first roads in this area including Foothill Blvd which is still a major artery in the inland empire. They made significant contributions in the areas of irrigation using machinery, water law, the lumber industry (yes, they established six saw mills in the mtns above San Bernardino), and both beef and dairy cattle. But I'm not defending the Mormons nor trouncing the Adventists by my observations both here and in my above posts. I'm only fairly amazed at the similarities and juxtapositions of the two. Both groups have made significant public contributions. I became more aware of how much Mormons contributed to economy, etc. when I lived in Idaho. I remember driving by acres and acres of sugar beets owned by the Mormon Spreckles Sugar company. Ultimately, it's not our good works that recommend usónot any of us, whether we're Christian or not. It's only Jesus. Colleen | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 2217 Registered: 11-2002 |
Dennis, you sure gave an interesting article for us to read. I have an interesting bit of Mormon trivia. Do you all know the shakka sign? That's the sign of holding down the three middle fingers and waving to your friends with the thumb, index finger and pinky. Back is the early years of Mormonism a Morman missionary (I forgot his name) went to Hawaii to bring the truth to the natives on those islands. His work when he wasn't missionarying was working in the lumber. Unfortunatelly he sawed off his middle three fingers. His hand healed and after that when he'd wave to his friends of course he could only wave with his thumb, index finger and pinky. His friends began waving back the same way and that is the story of the shakka sign that is such a wonderful sign of friendship not only in Hawaii but everywhere. Anyway, I always found it kind-of coincindental that 1844 is significant to the SDA's and the LDS's. | ||
| Loneviking Registered user Username: Loneviking Post Number: 454 Registered: 7-2000 |
Dennis, what was the name of the movie? I just picked up a movie titled 'American Zion, the work and the glory' at Blockbuster. It just came out and it's about the history of the Mormon church. Is this the movie you mentioned? | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 721 Registered: 4-2000 |
In spite of his short life of 39 years, Joseph Smith is better known to the world than Ellen White. Interestingly, both were former Methodists. However, in the case of Joseph Smith, he was a Methodist for only a few days (less than a week). He quickly resigned under the threat of further investigation in regard to his character, lifestyle, etc. The LDS Church is reportedly the wealthiest denomination in America today. Every Mormon church you see is debt-free. For example, Mormons own vast acres of farmland and some huge cattle ranches. Also, they own the elegant Marriott hotel chain and the Osco drug stores nationwide. Yes, even the head of the Dell Computer Corporation is a Mormon. Politically, Adventists and Mormons continue to be an influence and representation in Congress far beyond what their small percentage of the population would normally warrant. As never before, it is evident that both Adventists and Mormons are determined to exalt their prophets to their own people. With Mormons always having a current, living prophet, this seems to appeal to many people. Somehow, I suppose having a living prophet would be more exciting than having only a dead one. Dennis Fischer | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 722 Registered: 4-2000 |
Loneviking, The film was released in December of 2005 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith's birth. The LDS church-owned DESERET NEWS reports: "We've had long meetings about the script," said Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the church's First Quorum of the Seventy and executive director of the Church Audiovisual Department. "Members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have taken a very personal role to be COMFORTABLE with the way the life of Joseph is portrayed." While the film took thousands of man-hours and several years to complete, the cost of the film has not been released. The film is approximately 70 minutes long and is being shown at various LDS historic sites and visitor's centers. The film is meant to reinforce believers, to give members a positive emotional experience that will hopefully carry them through any periods of doubt. In such a portrayal Smith's rougher side was conspicuously absent. A significant period of time was given to reenacting Joseph's terrible leg surgery when he was about seven. His surgery was indeed a great emotional trauma to him. The bicentennial celebrations of the first Mormon's birth have been marked by a further irony. Not only has the Church changed since Joseph's day, Joseph himself has been revised. Once a polygamist, Joseph Smith is now presented as a devoted monogamist, and his home life has become the object of idyllic celebration. The film title is "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration." Dennis Fischer | ||
| Bmorgan Registered user Username: Bmorgan Post Number: 88 Registered: 7-2000 |
Dennnis, if you mean Michael Dell, the founder and head of Dell Computer, he is Jewish. He is extremely generous to the community at large and the Jewish community in particular. He lives here in Austin, Texas. I am not sure if it is him you were referring to. If it is I just want to clarify. | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 724 Registered: 4-2000 |
No, it is not Michael Dell the founder. Time magazine reported the president being a Mormon. | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 725 Registered: 4-2000 |
PS: It is Kevin B. Rollins, the current CEO of Dell Computers, that I was referring to. Michael Dell says of Mr. Rollins: "There is no person who deserves more recognition for the Dell's accomplishments than Kevin Rollins." (Also check out: www.morgannews.us/fam.html) Dennis Fischer | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 2221 Registered: 11-2002 |
The LDS religion always seemed corney to me. Having said that, I want to say I tend to have a lot of respect for Mormans as people. Mormons are way high in numbers in our Armed Forces. They tend to be very patrotic people with most LDS congreations having Boy and Girl Scout troops. Also, Mormons make up a large percentage of cops and firefighters. Very noble and community serving professions. My friend told mt the LDS church owned Alpha Beta grocery stores. I told her I didn't believe her because Alpha Beta sold alcohol and tobacco. Does anyone know if they owned Alpha Beta? If so, then I gotta say at least the mercantile and grocery store up in Angwin is consistant with their teachings on the forbidden products. Have to drive all the way down to St. Helena or Calastoga for a beer or a pepperoni pizza. | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 730 Registered: 4-2000 |
HOW IMPORTANT IS JOSEPH SMITH? Brigham Young, the LDS church's second prophet, gave the following challenge: "Well, now, examine the character of the Savior, and examine the characters of those who have written the Old Testament; and then compare them with the character of Joseph Smith, the founder of the work...and you will find that his character stands as fair as that of any man's mentioned in the Bible. We can find no person who presents a better character to the world when the facts are known than Joseph Smith." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 14, p. 203) "I am an Apostle of Joseph Smith...all who reject my testimony will go to hell, so sure as there is one, no matter whether it be hot or cold." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p. 212) "...no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith...Every man and woman must have the certificate of Joesph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are...I cannot go there without his consent...He reigns there as surpreme a being in his sphere, capacity, and calling, as God does in heaven." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 289) Indeed, some nineteenth-century visionaries were very dogmatic about their salvific role as verified in their church's doctrinal statements. Not believing in them has never been an option for their faithful followers. While the Bible is silent about Ellen White and Joseph Smith, it points to "Christ in you" as "our hope in glory" (Co. 1:27). Dennis Fischer | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4072 Registered: 12-2003 |
What interesting quotes, Dennis. While they are quite blatant, they are also similar to some with which we are more familiar! It's just interesting how consistently modern prophets either compare themselves or are compared to Scripture and its writers. Amazing. What an amazing passage, thoughó"Christ in you, the hope of glory"! Colleen |
