I bear my estimony of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, which should unite most of us irrespective of denomibantion and try and join with others to fight the pressing evils of the day that seek to destroy our very way of life.
I proudly join with Jim in that fight, despite the fact that he does not share or believe the other tennants of my faith. if we can agree on Jesus Christ and Him crucified and our utter dependence on His grace and atonement, then we can fight the evil of the day together and I roprefer to do that rather than endlessly argue points of less importance.
Belief in Jesus Christ’s dealings with Joseph Smith and the other leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a matter of faith.
As with all christians, our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified and resurrected, and His atonement for our sins, which is a free gift if we will accept it...is the key and principle issue which over-rides all others.
I would agree on this most critical tennant and join together shoulder to shoulder with all my other Christian friends of all denominations to jointly fight the pressing evils of the day that threaten our Republic and way of life.
...and avoid contention amongst ourselves which serves to weaken us in the fight for our society, and not push on the other issues where we differ in interpretation or other principles which are in the end, of less consequence than our joint, sincere belief in Jesus of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem and Savior of all mankind, the only path and gate through which any of us may return to our Father in Heaven.”
Thank you Jeff, that was well said. As this thread is about Joseph Smith, I would add this statement from him.
“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”
Joseph Smith—History of the Church, 3:30.
It also says this:
"The Prophet inculcates the notion, and it is believed by every true Mormon, that Smith's prophecies are superior to the laws of the land. I have heard the Prophet (Joseph Smith) say that he would yet tread down his enemies, and walk over their dead bodies; and if he was not let alone, he would be a second Mohammed to this generation, and that he would make it one gore of blood from the Rocky mountains to the Atlantic ocean; that like Mohammed, whose motto in treating for peace was, 'the Alcoran or the Sword.' So should it be eventually with us, 'Joseph Smith or the Sword.' These last statements were made during the last summer. The number of armed men at Adam-ondi-Ahman was between three and four hundred" (History of the Church 3:167).
Unlike *Judaism* that believes all the word of GOD is found in the *Torah* the Christian faith has always had several different doctrines that make the many Christian Religions we have today....
As Christians we all acknowledge that we are all sinners that are in need of redemption...
That Jesus Christ is the Way the truth and the Life...
no one comes to the Father but by him...
John 14:6
That is what binds us wether Jew or Gentile into the body of Christ....
Our Heavenly Father, also called Elohim, stands in the exalted position above all beings.
However, Joseph Smith says that “. . . he is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! . . . .If you were to see him today, you would see him like a man in form—like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man; for Adam was created in the very fashion, form, and image of God, and received instruction from, and walked, talked, and conversed with him, as one man talks and communes with another” (Documentary History of the Church, p. 305).
The source is http://www.mormonwiki.com/Godhead