Yesterday we visited a small town in Pennsylvania called Lititz. One of the main tourist attractions is the Wilbur Chocolate Store/Museum that has been around since 1865. In 1884 they started manufacturing chocolate. (Yeah – now I have your attention.) It was interesting enough, but it was almost closing time and the workers obviously wanted to get us all out so they could go home. We did buy a little box of chocolate covered “sponge” on our way out. Some people call it “honeycomb”, I grew up calling it “seafoam”. I just realized how far I have veered off my purpose of this post… So, I looked up the history of chocolate on Wiki , and confirmed my fears:“It is believed that the English company, J. S. Fry & Sons made the first chocolate for eating in 1847″ (source) Why does his matter? It matters because it means that Joseph Smith never got to eat a chocolate bar! He was killed in 1844. That is so wrong!... Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for the ‘joseph smith’ Category
Do Mormons worship Joseph Smith?
One of the criticisms launched against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that Mormons worship Joseph Smith. … Continue reading » Read More →
Rise (and fall) of rational Theology
When I mentioned King James Bible in an earlier post, I deliberately left out the turmoil of Continental Europe. The 17th century brought on wars that have somewhat falsely been called religious wars, but are generally the 30 years war. It was about formerly Catholic princes, king, dukes etc. pitting their forces against their Protestant [...] Read More →
Celebrating King James Bible
Some others may have read the August Ensign, and noted the pages dedicated to celebrating 400 years of King James Bible. I was sort of inspired to put my 2 cents about the Bible in ordered bits as if someone else were interested in my thoughts. Feel free to criticise/correct me; but my hope is [...] Read More →
Perception of the World
We (talking about us collectively, from the beginning of time) have shown a tendency to reject prophets. It is the repeating pattern. At the start of history, they rejected Adam’s teachings about God. In the meridian of time, they rejected the Savior of the world. And the scriptures tell us most of the prophets in between those two either suffered death or had very limited influence. Sometimes we like to tell ourselves the WE wouldn’t have rejected Christ had we been there. Can you be so sure? Even Peter pretended he didn’t know Him when the peer pressure was on. Our natures our skeptical. We tend to be egocentric and don’t readily embrace the spiritual experiences of others. Subconsciously we think “It hasn’t happened to me, therefore it couldn’t have happened to you…” As if any one of us is the end-all of experiences and the gateway for the spiritual manifestations that come to pass. The story in Mark 6 (KJV) is case in point. 2... Read the rest of this entry »
Facing the Future with Faith
Facing the Future with Faith – Adapted from a sacrament talk given on July 17, 2011 Good morning, brothers … Continue reading » Read More →
Captured Prisoners and Triumphant Atonement
Matters of life and death have preoccupied me lately, and no, I’m not speaking about the future of America here. I am guessing the hearts and minds of many parents and brothers and sisters are weighed down with the burdens they carry for the sins of their family members. I hope I can begin to offer more light and hope to such in this post. The Great Plan of Salvation The great plan of salvation, synonymous in The Book of Mormon as “the plan of redemption,” “the plan of mercy,” “the plan of happiness,” “the great plan of our God,” (see Alma 42), involves more than merely hoping for someday “being in a better place.” In the covenant relationship there is work involved on our part too. However, when one we love was incapable of doing the work required here, let us be assured that life continues beyond the veil. I don’t know how many times we heard, “He’s in a better place now,” in the final farewells... Read the rest of this entry »
Praise to the Man for Piano and Two Tenor Flutes
Praise to the Man Praise to the Man is one of my favorite hymns (have you noticed how many favorites I have?). I wish I could have put this out last week to commemorate the martyrdom of Joseph, Hyrum, and Samuel Smith. Every time I read the account, I’m deeply touched by everything it implies. I love the detail of the incident recorded in the LDS Institute Manual, Church History in the Fulness of Times. It’s a long account, but I think it’s worth reading: The Tragedy at Carthage The next morning, Thursday, 27 June, “Joseph requested Dan Jones to descend and inquire of the guard the cause of the disturbance in the night. Frank Worrell, the officer of the guard, who was one of the Carthage Greys, in a very bitter spirit said, ‘We have had too much trouble to bring Old Joe here to let him ever escape alive, and unless you want to die with him you had better leave before sundown; . . . and you’ll see that I can prophesy better than Old Joe. . . .’ “Joseph... Read the rest of this entry »
What if there was no proof at all?
A couple years ago when I was entertaining the idea of coming back to the LDS Faith, one of the … Continue reading » Read More →
Faith is not based upon “Objective Proof”!
Filed under: Apologetic Article, Youtube Video Tagged: Apologetics, Book o, Book of Mormon, Christ, Christianity, Church of Jesus Christ of … Continue reading » Read More →
Joseph Smith’s Last Dream
Sharing today, a touching and remarkable little video from Seth Adam Smith titled Joseph Smith’s Last Dream. A prophetic dream from a well-loved prophet. A note from Seth about the dream Few people know this story….Two days before his martyrdom, Joseph Smith told W. W. Phelps about a prophetic dream he had a few night prior. W. W. Phelps did not publish the account until 1862, but when he did, he titled it: “Joseph Smith’s Last Dream.” To read the full account of Joseph Smith’s Last Dream, please click here: http://sethadamsmith.blogspot.com/2011/06/joseph-smiths-last-dream-full-account.html Music by Rob Gardner: http://www.SpireMusic.org Sketches and Paintings by Jon McNaughton: http://www.mcnaughtonart.com To read about the validity of the dream as well as a possible interpretation of it, please watch the video below and/or click here: http://sethadamsmith.blogspot.com/2011/06/joseph-smiths-last-dream.html. Anne Bradshaw Author, True Miracles with... Read the rest of this entry »
Joseph Smith, a Latter-day Prophet of God (videos)
We as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints honor Joseph Smith as a prophet of God. Today marks 167 years since he was martyred — killed by a mob in Carthage, Illinois. (Watch a motion picture about the life and mission of Joseph Smith.) John Taylor, who was present the day Joseph Smith was killed, wrote this: Joseph Smith, the aProphet and bSeer of the Lord, has done more, csave Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the dfulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered... Read the rest of this entry »