A “Certificate” for Heaven

Brigham Young said that “no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith” (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, page 289).

During December of 2005 Mormons celebrated the 200th birthday of their savior-prophet, who was born in Sharon, Vermont. Joseph Smith was one of eleven children. In 1816 the Smith family moved to Palmyra, NY, where Joseph later had his alleged vision.

Mormons have historically viewed Smith as an untouchable saint and would become defensive about the many criticisms of his character. Today Mormon intellectuals are becoming more realistic about his character. However, they will use his human failings to show how much he was like us. Nonsense. His character failings were at the root of his religious ideas. None of it was from God.

During one of my many visits to Nauvoo, IL, I took the tour of the historic buildings owned by the RLDS (Reorganized Latter Day Saints), now called the Community of Christ. The tour guide, a member of the RLDS church, was very much unlike the LDS tour guides. The LDS tour guides will give you a “faith promoting” report of the church history. However, our RLDS guide told us about Smith’s tenure as head of the “Red Brick Store.” During that tenure she said Joseph “drove it straight in to the ground.”

When we walked through the Smith home she pointed out the secret passage out of the house so Smith could visit his secret wives. Amazing honesty.

But back to Joseph Smith. During that same month of December 2005, Christians celebrated the two millennia birthday of their Savior. The grave of Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, IL, is occupied. The grave of Jesus is not occupied, because He has risen!

From which savior would you want a “certificate”?

April 23, 2021 E-Letter