Analyzing Legacy and Afterlife Beliefs within LDS
Quotes 1-3
Show 12
Another Joseph Smith?
January 16th 2018
Pastoral Guest Speaker
PRAYER
Okay, remember we are having a pastoral guest a month to speak with us about their church and views etc. Our next scheduled guest is James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries who is coming in from Phoenix to speak. That will be Tuesday, February 13th, for three hours!
Last week we had the pleasure of having Pastor Mike Imperiale of First Baptist Church SLC on and that was great as he explained a number of things I was unaware of and gives the people of Utah another option on where they might consider attending church.
Reflections on Thomas Monson
Most of you know that LDS prophet seer, revelator, and President Thomas Monson died and his funeral services were last Friday here in SLC.
I have three things to say in light of this. First, someone asked his biographer (who penned, “To the Rescue!”) what she thought Thomas Monson was experiencing and she said: “First I think President Monson met the Prophet Joseph Smith, then I think he met President Gordon B Hinckley, and then his lovely wife.” Nothing about meeting Jesus. Nothing. Exactly.
The second thing is we have electronic billboards all over the I-15 of Utah, and when Monson first died, they had his picture, dates of birth and death, and the line: 60 years of heartfelt service. One day later that line was changed to “90 years of heartfelt service,” but the man only lived to 91 years of age! The point? Within the LDS substrata propaganda machine, a person can never do enough. This view is reiterated when a guy like Monson dies and the billboard on his life intimates that he was serving with heartfelt devotion – since his first year of life. Who can compete? Few. But the faithful are left trying. So so soooo sad.
Finally, a number of people have asked me my opinion about Thomas Monson’s whereabouts today. This is my view of men like Monson – At death, he met God through Christ. He discovered himself bathed in His love, warmed by the Spirit of God, and rejoicing in His open arms. Thomas learns first-hand the utter and absolute love God has for the world. I think that Thomas stood all amazed and in awe of the light and love of God present for him and his arrival. Perhaps He sees himself filled with light and basks in the glory exuding from his spirit body thinking, “I made it. I really really made it.”
Then I wonder, after a time of self-congratulations, if he might begin to look about, and at this point begin to disabuse himself of the notion that he was good and elect while on earth due to the fact that as he scans the heavens he begins to see that all around him that the lowest, broken, beggarly humans who were on earth are there brighter, bigger, spiritually stronger, and more equipped than himself. Perhaps he steps back for a better look at his surroundings and it dawns on him that where he initially viewed himself as grand and even a god, he now finds himself spiritually diminutive, and smallish, and wanting by comparison to some, maybe to most, of those orbiting around him. And maybe perhaps, for the first time in his existence, good Old Tommy will realize that “all that is in the world, the list of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,” were never of the Father’s Kingdom, but were of the world – a world he thoroughly enjoyed, at the expense of sharing the truth with others, and embodying Jesus.
So there’s that. Take it for what it’s worth.
A Moment from the Word
Got an important email relative to what we have been talking about. It's from _________ and says: And with that, how about a moment from THE WORD?
Jesus and the Man Born Blind
A Great Example of How Jesus Automatically Frees Men from the Power, Sway, and Authority of Religion. In the Gospel of John chapter nine, we come upon a most marvelous story – the man born blind.
John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. All his life he wandered about surrounded by the most religious people on earth, never finding relief to his ailment, and now he has an interaction with God with us – Jesus. And at verse six, we read that Jesus does in fact heal the man – and it was, of course, on the Sabbath day. Jump to verse 13.
The Blind Man's Encounter with the Pharisees
The Pharisees approached the man who had previously been blind.
14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. 15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
Courage and Faith Amidst Opposition
At this point, we get some bravery from the man born blind now healed. The leaders of the faith had already told him that Jesus was not “of God because He keepeth not the Sabbath day,” and yet when they asked the man his opinion of him, he boldly stated that he STILL thought that he was a prophet!
Where did this courage come from? Perhaps the man was a bit of a rebel to begin with? It’s possible, but generally speaking – especially in that day – a disabled person would survive better by being a sycophant rather than a rebel – after all, they relied upon the goodness of the people so the more accommodating they would be to more people the greater their chances of receiving their support.
Now the Jews did not believe that he was born blind, so they called his parents in to testify, and they were terrified and pretty much said, yeah, he was born blind, but as to all the rest of it you have to ask him. They took this take because the religious leaders had already made a rule known – verse 22
“that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.”
So the parents cowered to the threat and gave them nothing.
24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, “Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.”
Tensions Between Religious Rulers and Believers
And here we come to a common impasse that exists between religious (ahem) rulers and those who chose to defy them – the rulers say, “WE KNOW” this or that about your views, or the person you appreciate – so you best call them a sinner and the fact that something good has occurred through the person the religious rulers are calling a sinner.
We see this all the time today. That guy is a sinner. That woman is a heretic. Stay away from Shawn McCraney – he is an apostate from the faith – and on and on and on. Religious men criticizing other men and women who do or say things that do not measure up to the other sides view or opinions.
The interesting thing here is that we are not talking about me here or Joel Osteen or Joyce Meyer, or whomever – in this case, the religious leaders are talking about Jesus! But I would suggest that the attitude of religious leaders remains. Now the blind man speaks again and says something remarkable. He says (verse 25)
25 Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
The proof is on the pudding, folks. Or as Jesus taught, a good tree cannot produce bad fruit. And in the case of religious leaders today, it seems to me that the demanding, dogmatic, despotic ones are the ones producing the bad fruit of anger, judgment, even hate while the others are producing light and love and healing in Jesus' name. But perhaps that is just my view.
The Pharisees reply
26 What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
And it is here that we get to see the power, boldness, and independence Jesus gives to all who are His.
27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
This was a bold – almost rude response. So much so that
28 Then they reviled him, and said, “Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. 29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.”
The Dynamic Shift in Power
The Pharisees, the most powerful men in all of Israel, found themselves in an argument with a man who just hours or days earlier was destitute and without any voice at all in the world! All because Jesus entered into his life and healed him. And being healed by God, this man was NOT going to play by the rules of Man anymore! But it doesn’t end there.
30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
Do you know what this is folks! This is a mini sermon. It is the Spirit of God testifying through a once broken vessel through an appeal to heavenly reason! It is truth coming from the mouth of babes – to a group of men who think they are in control, that they have the power, that they have the education and intelligence and position to decide all things! And how do these religious men respond to their lesson?
34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
Resistance from Religious Authorities
First they besmirch his character, (Thou was altogether born in sin) then they mock his teaching TO THEM as inept and inferior to their wisdom and knowledge, and then they excommunicate him – or cast him out of the synagogue once and for all! Which is EXACTLY what the religiously inclined continue to do today to others who have been healed by Christ via means they do not deem orthodox. No difference.
The important lesson in this is two fold – first, there has always been and there will always be those who set themselves up on earth as authorities for God. Due to the fallen nature of Men I’m not sure this will ever change. But more importantly, when Jesus steps in to the lives of people, they are automatically empowered and they stand for Him – no matter what others say, including those who suppose themselves the voice of God here on earth.
Reflections on Similarities with Joseph Smith
Okay then…
Some people who don’t appreciate or like me here in the state of Utah (or my online presence) participate in a common practice – they say that I am another Joseph Smith (which they mean derogatorily toward Smith) or that I “am trying to be another Joseph Smith.” (Which they mean as a compliment to what Smith accomplished).
Because we are in Utah, and because I was once LDS, and perhaps because I disagree with what people do in the name of God through organized religion today, and because I say what we have the “best approach to the faith on the face of the earth,” the claim seems to make some sense – I get it.
But I want to use the remainder of our time tonight to admit to the similarities and to point out the substantial differences. And I am going to admit to something that I believe and have believed since I was born from above in 1997. It’s embarrassing to say but those closest to me have heard me say it privately so I might as well state it publicly. I have always believed that I was made by God to possess certain traits of Smith but that I would not use them to create a fraud but to instead walk the wholly biblical line. I don’t know why I have believed this – but what I have known was the purpose was NOT to start a new denomination or to create another off-shoot of Mormonism.
I honestly think that it was a way to first be tutored in the ways of Smith and to then step forward and help retain what was perhaps good (and biblical) while making sure whatever was retained was biblical.
Parallels with Joseph Smith
Like Smith, I too was born with a caul on my head, am a middle son, I too had an older brother die unexpectedly, have a mother who is religiously inclined and a father who was more of a pragmatist. Like Smith…
Understanding Similarities and Differences with Joseph Smith
I was gifted with charisma, a broad stocky build in youth who got hefty with age, and who has long had interest in women. From God I have always had the gift to synthesize information and am known to be a brawler. I never thought about these characteristics I had in common with the man until I got into a television ministry and dove headlong into my research on his life. And like Smith I too possess the tendency to be bold, bombastic, proud and interested in people.
I do not see anything mystical about this nor do I believe I have the same depth of capacity to create “theological cohesiveness” as Smith had. But what I do have, which Smith did not, was a dedication to the Word of God as my standard and a refusal to do anything that would compromise anything in the cause. See, Smith wound up a charlatan who used his God-given skills and lofty imagination to speak for God in areas that were outside the biblical narrative. I do not do this – though people disagree with my interpretation of scripture there is nothing present in my doctrinal stances that is extra-biblical. With Smith there was. So I just want to get this out of the way: Let’s go to the board:
Points of Contrast and Doctrine
Where I am admittedly Like Joseph Smith But . . . Where I am nothing Like Joseph Smith
I do not think the churches are doing it right. I do not think that it really matters to God regarding approach. I do NOT claim to be a prophet, a seer, or the one called to restore anything. I too believe the Spirit is of primary importance, but must be in harmony with scripture. I do not claim to have had visions or to have special power from God. I do NOT speak for God. I believe all people ought to have the right to worship how they wish. But not only do all have equal access to God, all have equal access to heaven by faith through His Son.
I am not seeking to start my own church as CAMPUS is about uniting all churches NOT creating only one true one. That all people will be ultimately reconciled to God in some fashion or another. But do not believe in Smith’s fanciful kingdoms. Though I write books I do not claim a book of new scripture and my books are all backed by scripture. I also do propose an alternative to what is currently being done. But my alternative is inclusive and not exclusive and is strictly biblical.
Scriptural Stances and Beliefs
I reject all human authority inserted between God and Man whereas Smith created a new authority, a false priesthood. I also agree with the import of every capable person needing to mature (or progress) in their faith. This maturity is manifested in love and not in doing works for a church. I do not advocate Smith’s teachings on God the Father, Jesus and/or the Holy Spirit.
Teach ONE God, always God, only God. To NOT teach a multiplicity of Gods or that God was once a man.
I believe there was a hell but that it is over by the Victory of Christ.
I do not believe Satan still reigns. Smith used Satan as a tool.
I do not teach marriage in heaven. I do not teach polygamy or eternal families through priesthood sealings.
I teach that Jesus is the word of God made flesh. Not a created being.
I do not believe in vicarious works nor do I suggest any labors can save a man.
I do not teach that there is any true living God but one. Not eternal regression of Gods.
But I do teach that men will become joint heirs with Christ. I do not teach that men will become Gods.
But I do teach that it has happened. I do not teach a coming second coming – Smith built his church on it.
I do not create new scripture of any kind.
But I do teach that it is not perfect and is only known by the Spirit. I do not teach that the Bible is corrupted.
But I do teach that after 70 AD the material church was over – which is very different from most churches today. I do not teach the need for a restoration – that is totally anachronistic and unbiblical.
I do not teach a premortal existence – it’s not biblical.
I do not teach the need for living prophets, apostles, etc.
I do teach those who are Christs will produce fruits of love. I do not teach salvation/exaltation by works or works righteousness. I do not teach a hierarchy of sin or of authority.
Teachings on Belief Systems
Over man. But I do believe His passion began there. I do not teach Jesus suffered for sin in the Garden.
Do believe in a heavenly or spiritual body . . . (with better genitalia!) Do not believe in a literal resurrection of the physical bodies with genitalia and all.
Do believe that the Spiritual Kingdom is here and thrives within the hearts of all who are God’s. Do not believe in a material Kingdom of God here on earth with Jesus coming to reign.
Participation in Communion
Will participate in communion as a memorial to Jesus life and death. Do not teach the need for communion as a means to renew baptismal covenants.
View on Religious Orders
Bottom line, I am not trying to be another Joseph Smith nor am I another Joseph Smith with the exception of looking around and saying, like many men and women before me: Something is really really wrong with this religious picture at hand.
The big difference, however, is Smith was willing to step way outside of the Bible to create a new order of musts. I merely read what the Bible actually says, and trusting it and its contents, suggest that NO ORDER is necessary any longer. And have the Bible to prove it.
Calls or we are done.
