Christmas and Smithmas Combo a bad idea...

[_moksha]

Today at my ward we had a musical Christmas program during Sacrament Meeting. What was unusual is that half the musical
numbers and narration were Christmas hymns and devotion to Christ and the other half were musical numbers about and devotion
to Joseph Smith.

That seemed horribly wrong to me. I wanted to clench my fists in angry rage. Instead, I just shook my head. I know Joseph Smith's
Birthday is on the 23rd, but it seems totally inappropriate to mix him into a program that should have been devoted to the Savior at
Christmas.

I know many TBM defenders monitor this site, so this appeal is to them: Let us not mix the two. Many holidays are celebrated on alternate days.
Why don't we take the Sunday before the Christmas program and make that into Joseph Sunday. From start to finish it could be a total
devotional to Joseph Smith.

For me, Christmas should be about Christ and I do not think he should have to share with Joseph Smith.

[_charity]

Today at my ward we had a musical Christmas program during Sacrament Meeting. What was unusual is that half the musical
numbers and narration were Christmas hymns and devotion to Christ and the other half were musical numbers about and devotion
to Joseph Smith.

That seemed horribly wrong to me. I wanted to clench my fists in angry rage. Instead, I just shook my head. I know Joseph Smith's
Birthday is on the 23rd, but it seems totally inappropriate to mix him into a program that should have been devoted to the Savior at
Christmas.

I know many TBM defenders monitor this site, so this appeal is to them: Let us not mix the two. Many holidays are celebrated on alternate days.
Why don't we take the Sunday before the Christmas program and make that into Joseph Sunday. From start to finish it could be a total
devotional to Joseph Smith.

For me, Christmas should be about Christ and I do not think he should have to share with Joseph Smith.

What were the hymns to Joseph Smith?

[_Trevor]

Today at my ward we had a musical Christmas program during Sacrament Meeting. What was unusual is that half the musical
numbers and narration were Christmas hymns and devotion to Christ and the other half were musical numbers about and devotion
to Joseph Smith.

That seemed horribly wrong to me. I wanted to clench my fists in angry rage. Instead, I just shook my head. I know Joseph Smith's
Birthday is on the 23rd, but it seems totally inappropriate to mix him into a program that should have been devoted to the Savior at
Christmas.

Why, particularly? It is, after all, the Church he founded. He is a god, and members of the LDS Church offer him a kind of worship. It may not be the same kind of worship they direct to the Godhead, but it is worship nonetheless. Since you know that he is not what they claim, and that he is not a god, I can understand why that would chafe. But, on the other hand, neither is Jesus what people claim him to have been, nor is he a god. I am not particularly sure why we should be any more comforted by the deification of Jesus than that of Joseph Smith, except for the fact that it is apparently much easier to whitewash Jesus, since we know so little about him.

[_Mercury]

Today at my ward we had a musical Christmas program during Sacrament Meeting. What was unusual is that half the musical
numbers and narration were Christmas hymns and devotion to Christ and the other half were musical numbers about and devotion
to Joseph Smith.

That seemed horribly wrong to me. I wanted to clench my fists in angry rage. Instead, I just shook my head. I know Joseph Smith's
Birthday is on the 23rd, but it seems totally inappropriate to mix him into a program that should have been devoted to the Savior at
Christmas.

I know many TBM defenders monitor this site, so this appeal is to them: Let us not mix the two. Many holidays are celebrated on alternate days.
Why don't we take the Sunday before the Christmas program and make that into Joseph Sunday. From start to finish it could be a total
devotional to Joseph Smith.

For me, Christmas should be about Christ and I do not think he should have to share with Joseph Smith.

What were the hymns to Joseph Smith?

Wow. Remember a while back when you said that this NEVER happens?

You were wrong once again. Getting used to that yet?

[_charity]

Today at my ward we had a musical Christmas program during Sacrament Meeting. What was unusual is that half the musical
numbers and narration were Christmas hymns and devotion to Christ and the other half were musical numbers about and devotion
to Joseph Smith.

That seemed horribly wrong to me. I wanted to clench my fists in angry rage. Instead, I just shook my head. I know Joseph Smith's
Birthday is on the 23rd, but it seems totally inappropriate to mix him into a program that should have been devoted to the Savior at
Christmas.

I know many TBM defenders monitor this site, so this appeal is to them: Let us not mix the two. Many holidays are celebrated on alternate days.
Why don't we take the Sunday before the Christmas program and make that into Joseph Sunday. From start to finish it could be a total
devotional to Joseph Smith.

For me, Christmas should be about Christ and I do not think he should have to share with Joseph Smith.

What were the hymns to Joseph Smith?

Wow. Remember a while back when you said that this NEVER happens?

You were wrong once again. Getting used to that yet?

Moksha, I will agree with you only half way. Make the closest Sunday to Christmas be all about the birth of the Savior. And early in December a passing mention to Joseph Smith. Not a "devotional" to Joseph Smith.

And you, Merc, I said we don't worship Joseph Smith. I didn't say he was never mentioned at all. We did have a mention of Joseph in our meeting today, that it was the annivesary of his birth. But all the songs were Christmas songs, by choir and congregation. The youth speaker spoke about the courage to follow Jesus and did not say Joseph's name. The second speaker didn't mention Joseph at all. Gospel Doctrine - Revelations. Relief Society - a lesson based on a talk by Elder Uchtdorf on preaching the Gospel.

You sure try to make mountains out of molehills. Y

[_Mercury]

Today at my ward we had a musical Christmas program during Sacrament Meeting. What was unusual is that half the musical
numbers and narration were Christmas hymns and devotion to Christ and the other half were musical numbers about and devotion
to Joseph Smith.

That seemed horribly wrong to me. I wanted to clench my fists in angry rage. Instead, I just shook my head. I know Joseph Smith's
Birthday is on the 23rd, but it seems totally inappropriate to mix him into a program that should have been devoted to the Savior at
Christmas.

I know many TBM defenders monitor this site, so this appeal is to them: Let us not mix the two. Many holidays are celebrated on alternate days.
Why don't we take the Sunday before the Christmas program and make that into Joseph Sunday. From start to finish it could be a total
devotional to Joseph Smith.

For me, Christmas should be about Christ and I do not think he should have to share with Joseph Smith.

What were the hymns to Joseph Smith?

Wow. Remember a while back when you said that this NEVER happens?

You were wrong once again. Getting used to that yet?

Moksha, I will agree with you only half way. Make the closest Sunday to Christmas be all about the birth of the Savior. And early in December a passing mention to Joseph Smith. Not a "devotional" to Joseph Smith.

And you, Merc, I said we don't worship Joseph Smith. I didn't say he was never mentioned at all. We did have a mention of Joseph in our meeting today, that it was the annivesary of his birth. But all the songs were Christmas songs, by choir and congregation. The youth speaker spoke about the courage to follow Jesus and did not say Joseph's name. The second speaker didn't mention Joseph at all. Gospel Doctrine - Revelations. Relief Society - a lesson based on a talk by Elder Uchtdorf on preaching the Gospel.

You sure try to make mountains out of molehills. Y

You said that the focus was on Christ, not joe. You were wrong. Don't try and spin it.

[_moksha]

Today at my ward we had a musical Christmas program during Sacrament Meeting. What was unusual is that half the musical
numbers and narration were Christmas hymns and devotion to Christ and the other half were musical numbers about and devotion
to Joseph Smith.

That seemed horribly wrong to me. I wanted to clench my fists in angry rage. Instead, I just shook my head. I know Joseph Smith's
Birthday is on the 23rd, but it seems totally inappropriate to mix him into a program that should have been devoted to the Savior at
Christmas.

I know many TBM defenders monitor this site, so this appeal is to them: Let us not mix the two. Many holidays are celebrated on alternate days.
Why don't we take the Sunday before the Christmas program and make that into Joseph Sunday. From start to finish it could be a total
devotional to Joseph Smith.

For me, Christmas should be about Christ and I do not think he should have to share with Joseph Smith.

What were the hymns to Joseph Smith?

Charity, we had "Praise to the Man", "We Named Him Joseph" and "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" plus a devotional narative. Those are all fine songs, but of course, it is Christmas time and our thoughts should turn to Christ.

[_Trevor]

Charity, we had "Praise to the Man", "We Named Him Joseph" and "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" plus a devotional narative. Those are all fine songs, but of course, it is Christmas time and our thoughts should turn to Christ.

Well, since its actually the Winter Solstice, we should be praising Sol Invictus--the Unconquered Sun. At least there's something we can verify the existence of. Have to say I am pretty damn sick of all of these demands that we reverence Jesus for this or that. I say join the Lutherans. If you hang with Mormons, you can learn to love "Praise to the Man" or lump it. But, hey, that's just my opinion.

[_moksha]

If you hang with Mormons, you can learn to love "Praise to the Man" or lump it. But, hey, that's just my opinion.

I think Mormons are first and foremost Christians.

[_charity]

What were the hymns to Joseph Smith?

Charity, we had "Praise to the Man", "We Named Him Joseph" and "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" plus a devotional narative. Those are all fine songs, but of course, it is Christmas time and our thoughts should turn to Christ.

I must say that was over the top. I can't see having even one song about Joseph Smith. I don't know "We Named Him Joseph." We out here in the "mission field" always did think you Utah Mormons are strange. I think I would go to the bishop on this.