In Mitt Romney's "Faith in America Speech" the former anti-Reagan/Bush governor who believes that Mike Huckabee would make a great President stated the following:
There is one fundamental question about which I often am asked. What do I
believe about Jesus Christ? (http://www.mittromney.com/News/Speeches/Faith_In_America)
The Governor went on to state that he "believe(s) that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind."
While these two statements in and of themselves are certainly true, the question arises - are they genuine? Though it isn't always ours to judge the faith statements of others, the Bible tells us "try [test] the Spirits." Alongside of testing the Spirits - we are warned by the same Bible in II Peter 2:1 that Mr. Romney "says" he believes:
"...even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies..."
"Damnable Heresies" what harsh language, but God-inspired nonetheless.
I am reminded of the Old Testament story (also inspired by God even as an historical account of the acts of God with the Children of Israel) that I used as a sermon earlier this year prior to even knowing who Mitt Romney was (I'll spare you the sermon re-run here) entitled "Strange Fire." The Scripture accounts for two servants of God being killed by fire in Leviticus chapter 10 for using as their "igniting" fire from the wrong source to light the fire on the Altar in the Holy of Holies. The wrong fire (ie., Strange Fire) being used was in direct disobedience to God in the first place. There is so much rich historic value in this story - please don't take my skipping over it for sake of space and time as thorough analogy of the scriptural account. However there was a deeper - symbolic - message in God's decision to strike the sons of Aaron to their peril. It was a futuristic message of a coming Savior that God would offer upon the Altar of Sacrifice at Calvary's Cross - namely Jesus. The impact of the symbolism is that God will accept no other sacrifice for the sins of humanity than acceptance of "his fire" - a prescient message to the coming Messiah - Jesus Christ.
If Jesus is the True Fire of God - ie., the source of God's pleasure through sacrifice upon the cross, a prophetic fulfillment of the symbolism of the Temple Altar of sacrifice in the Holy of Holies - where does that leave Joseph Smith?
Joseph Smith - according to the doctrine of Mormonism - is a Prophet. There are several ways to define the term Prophet - all of which are arguably closely related. The more modern definition of a Prophet is simply "one who speaks for God." Under that particular definition, I am a Prophet, because every Sunday I speak for God from my pulpit at church. The Traditional view of a Prophet is someone who is "inspired as one who has a received a direct message from God meant to be shared with humanity through the Prophet." While closely related to the more modern version, there is a difference in that in my "prophetic state," I use God's word from the Bible - I haven't heard an audible voice as Moses did at the burning bush experience. Most Christians hold to the more traditional definition where a Prophet has more of a God-given "foretelling" that goes beyond the knowledge offered throughout the Bible which did not exist during the early church while much of Bible was still being written.
The "prophet" Joseph Smith - according to LDS Doctrine takes the definition of prophet a step further than traditional definition. Joseph Smith's prophetic state is equal to that of the Diety of Jesus Christ, as according to mormon doctrine, you are required to believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet in order to go to Heaven. We must believe in Jesus as Savior to get to Heaven - and we must believe in Joseph Smith's prophetic state. Why not Moses? Why not Isaiah? Why not Habakkuk? Afterall, there is no question as to their place in the prophetic roll-call of the Old Testament. As the founder of Mormonism, it's quite self-serving to require belief in that founder to keep the religion going.
“There is no greater prophet in any dispensation than Joseph Smith… Joseph SmithI purposely chose to highlight the above portions in red because these are very serious statements. They are Damnable Heresies. It is the epitome of "strange fire" as mentioned in Leviticus 10 which caused Aaron's sons to be struck dead. Aaron's sons were good guys, but disobedient just the same. A lot of good Mormon people will be sent to Hell because they have negated their belief in Jesus Christ by adding the "strange fire" of Joseph Smith and their belief in him as the "additional way to Heaven"
was a prophet, and all the calumny and aspirations to the contrary cannot
controvert that fact. Anyone who has concern for the
welfare of his eternal soul should give attention to this
message. Every man who has lived since the days of Joseph Smith is subject to accepting him as a prophet of God in order to enter
into our Heavenly father’s presence” (A. Theodore Tuttle,
“Joseph Smith re-established fullness of true gospel, Church,” Church News,
March 17, 2001, p.14).
Jesus said: I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me. (John 14:6). Earlier in the gospel of John He stated "He that believeth on me hath everlasting life" (John 6:47). Notice that Jesus' only requirement for eternal life is belief in Him and only Him...no other.
The writer of Hebrews states that Jesus is the "author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:2) which would suggest to the true Christian that no belief in any other is required for the ultimate goal or "finish line" before us as we run this "race that is set before us." (Heb. 12:1).
A belief in Joseph Smith - without which deems all non-Mormons as apostates - is a "strange doctrine" indeed.
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