DiscussMormonism.com

Does anyone doubt that Joseph Smith would have become a Kim Jong Il if he wouldn't have been killed at Carthage?

Joseph was already well on the way to godhood. He had already proclaimed himself King of the Earth. He had access to virtually every woman in the church, married or unmarried. If he wanted anything (the Nauvoo House, for example), he simply had a revelation and got people to pay for it.

It is interesting to read how Kim Kong Il was believed by many North Koreans to have mystical powers, including the ability to heal and control the weather. Joseph Smith was thought to have similar powers.

Kim Jong Il is a perfect example of "absolute power corrupting absolutely." Joseph Smith was on the road but died prematurely. Brigham Young did his best to follow in Joseph's footsteps, but he wasn't beloved quite enough, somewhat like Monson isn't beloved as much as Hinckley (and knows it). Brother Brigham had great power, but he wasn't viewed with the same kind of godlike adulation as was Brother Joseph. This was ultimately a check on his power.

I don't think that Joseph Smith had nearly the ruthlessness that Kim Jong Il had. KJI thought nothing of having people tortured and killed. I know about the Danites and whatnot, but it doesn't even come close to the utter disregard for life that the North Koreans show.

Sethbag wrote:I don't think that Joseph Smith had nearly the ruthlessness that Kim Jong Il had. KJI thought nothing of having people tortured and killed. I know about the Danites and whatnot, but it doesn't even come close to the utter disregard for life that the North Koreans show.

Maybe that's because Joe didn't have the resources in his time to do that. I think he may have tried, given the ability. He certainly did enough to think he may have become a dictator were he given the chance. Brigham sure did.

Panopticon wrote:Does anyone doubt that Joseph Smith would have become a Kim Jong Il if he wouldn't have been killed at Carthage?

I doubt.

Sethbag wrote:I don't think that Joseph Smith had nearly the ruthlessness that Kim Jong Il had.

I don't think Joseph Smith had Kim Jong Il's golf game either. Il was the greatest of All Time -

"But then, along came Kim Jong-il and one incredible day in 1994, when the Dear Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea picked up a golf club for the very first time, and - as witnessed by 17 security guards and reported by the state news agency - shot a smooth 38-under-par round of 34, including 11 holes-in-one. And never again played the game."

It must be true. The round was witnessed by 17+ people...not some measly 11 with "spiritual eyes".

Panopticon wrote:Does anyone doubt that Joseph Smith would have become a Kim Jong Il if he wouldn't have been killed at Carthage?

I do not think JSJr would have had the opportunity to become a KJI, no matter how long JSJr might have lived.

I do not think JSJr would have lived long, even if he had not been murdered at Carthage. JSJr was a trouble maker, and fleeing one place to another to another. He wasn't a 'good neighbor'. He provoked whomever the Mormon neighbors were.

It only took BY once, he led the fleeing Mormons from Nauvoo, the last place that JSJr made a mess before it caught up with him, ultimately. Utah was the only place that BY got a fresh start, and he made enough of a success of it that the Mormons have not had to flee again, not during the 30 years remaining in BY's life or in the 144 years since his death.

But JSJr, on the other hand, was a prophet on the run. It was part and parcel of his personality. He s*** in his own nest, repeatedly.

Edited for clarity:

sock puppet wrote:I do not think Jesus would have had the opportunity to become a KJI, no matter how long Jesus might have lived.

I do not think Jesus would have lived long, even if he had not been murdered at Golgotha. Jesus was a trouble maker, and fleeing one place to another to another. He wasn't a 'good neighbor'. He provoked whomever the believing neighbors were, dividing families all the time.



But Jesus, on the other hand, was a prophet on the run. It was part and parcel of his personality. He s*** in his own nest, repeatedly.

And then his friends deserted him, and he was crucified between two thieves.

What a failure this Jesus was.

RayAgostini wrote:What a failure this Jesus was.

Exactly.

sock puppet wrote:

RayAgostini wrote:What a failure this Jesus was.

Exactly.

No surprise there from SP. Can I call you anti-Christ? Or is that a stretch?

RayAgostini wrote:What a failure this Jesus was.

sock puppet wrote:Exactly.

RayAgostini wrote:No surprise there from SP. Can I call you anti-Christ? Or is that a stretch?

Anti might be a stretch.

Unimpressed? Yeah, I think that sums it up.