Have the video's stated purpose been accomplished?
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The producers of the film began their film with a strong statement of purpose based, they asserted, out of love:
- "This video has been produced out of love for our Lord Jesus Christ and love for our Mormon and Christian friends. We pray that it will touch the hearts of all who watch through the grace and truth of Christ Jesus."
We will evaluate their results based upon that statement of purpose.
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From his fabrication of the First Vision to his reconstruction of the Christian faith and his desire for women it is clear that Joseph centered his life around lust, wealth and power. Joseph Smith joins a long list of those who have used the name of Christ to enrich themselves.
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As we have shown, the DVD's accusations are unfounded, and often relies on the twisting of historical events to create an illusion of Joseph that they are quick to condemn. An illusion not borne out by the actions of this humble prophet of God.
Joseph's actions in life demonstrated selflessness, humility, and a desire to serve God and his fellow man. No, he wasn't without sin, and he never claimed to be.
Joseph published numerous revelations calling him personally to repent.
Joseph was quick to aid the poor, and the early Church had many poor. As members came, leaving homes and family and most of their worldly possessions behind, they were welcomed, fed, and clothed by the Church and by the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Finally, he gave his life for his testimony of Jesus Christ, when he could have preserved it by recanting.
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Jesus alone is without sin, as we read in 1 John 3:5, “And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.” Only Jesus could live a sinless life.
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The narrative wants you to believe that this description of Christ is different from LDS beliefs of Christ. This again is false. Hardly an act of love. There is no people who worship Christ, preach of Christ, love Christ, and trust in Christ more than members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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If someone today would model their life after Joseph Smith they would have to be an adulterer, a thief, a fraud and a liar.
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More verbal tar and feathers for the prophet Joseph!
Of course, Latter-day Saints do not strive to "model their lives" on Joseph Smith, but on the sinless, perfect life of the Lord Jesus Christ. They imitate Joseph only to the extent that Joseph was a faithful disciple of Christ.
Throughout his life, Joseph had to endure the slurs and allegations of creedal religionists, things certainly haven't changed in over 150 years.
Was Joseph was dragged into jail many times on religiously-motivated charges? Yes, and so was Peter, so was Paul, and so even Christ Himself.
Christ was murdered by those who hated Him, and Joseph Smith—like others persecuted for their beliefs about Christ—eventually followed the Master into violent death at the hands of those who hated his message.
I am reminded of Christ's denunciation of those who fought His message in His day.
Matthew 23
- 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
- 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
- 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
- 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
- 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
- 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
- 34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.
Here the makers of this DVD identify themselves with those who killed the prophet and intimate that he was worthy of death when in fact he was innocent of any crime.
If you want the truth about Joseph Smith, you will need to look much further than the distortions and untruths presented in this DVD.
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Question #3
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