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Posted (edited)

Dan Peterson talks of it here:

 

One of the crazier and more transparently false allegations made against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by a relatively small handful of its harshest critics — curiously, I encounter this claim much more among disaffected secularizing ex-Mormons than among, say, Evangelical Protestant anti-Mormons — asserts that Latter-day Saint celebrations of the birth of Joseph Smith (on 23 December 1805) rival or even overshadow our observance of the birthday of Jesus Christ....

 

Denies that it happens, but then goes on to write:

 

So far from the truth is it that my wife and I, ten or so years back, decided to host a small birthday party for Joseph Smith at our home every 23 December.  We thought it sad that, amidst all the busyness and commercialism of Christmas, his signal contribution to our lives and faith usually went altogether unmentioned.  We may have missed a year or two since then — though I’m not sure of that —  and we’ll be out of state this year, but, for the most part, we’ve continued this newly-invented custom annually.  Our birthday party typically involves a potluck dinner, something about Joseph Smith, and then . . . Christmas carols and Christmas hymns.  (We include among those we’ve usually invited  some good and exceptionally musical friends — e.g., a composer with a doctorate in musicology, a former professional opera singer, a music teacher and member of the Tabernacle Choir with a master’s degree in choral conducting, and several members of recorded choral groups — so it’s a real treat for us.)

 

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson/2012/11/merry-smithmas.html

 

These celebrations may not rival or overshadow Christmas celebrations, but Mormons do admire and revere Joseph Smith, and I'm sure other families may have their own traditions in how to remember him when his birthday rolls around.

 

M.

Edited by Maureen
Posted

I don't recall reading where anyone asked when you celebrate your B day......Lol

 

You are just jealous that you don't share your birthday with Joseph Smith.

Posted

You are just jealous that you don't share your birthday with Joseph Smith.

 

That is very cool.  The only celebrity who shares my birthday is David Soul (from "Starsky and Hutch," which nobody under 50 remembers very well).

Posted

That is very cool.  The only celebrity who shares my birthday is David Soul (from "Starsky and Hutch," which nobody under 50 remembers very well).

 

I don't think anyone did Starsky and Hutch better than those two from that era.

Posted

Smithmas haha. Learn something new everyday. That's just silly, we can't hold a mas because we aren't catholic. (get it? get it!?)


Is this like... a real thing? Do people actually do that?

Posted

Lol!!!!

 

Pale I'm really disappointed in you.  You missed your golden opportunity to make some old comment about being born in 1805.

Posted

That is very cool.  The only celebrity who shares my birthday is David Soul (from "Starsky and Hutch," which nobody under 50 remembers very well).

 

And Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Tasha Tudor, Jack Kirby, Billy Grammer, Wayne Osmond, George Merrill, Daniel Stern, Scott Hamilton, Jennifer Coolidge, Shania Twain, Billy Boyd, Jack Black, Mary McCartney, Jason Priestley, Todd Eldredge, Janet Evans, LeAnn Rimes, Armie Hammer, Florence Welch, Quvenzhané Wallis, and a couple of, ahem, adult film stars.

 

Have you never looked up your birthday on Wikipedia?  It’s fun!

Posted

Smithmas haha. Learn something new everyday. That's just silly, we can't hold a mas because we aren't catholic. (get it? get it!?)

Is this like... a real thing? Do people actually do that?

ya i think some do not a lot but some celebrate JS birthday.

Posted

I posted because I had never even heard of it until I moved into my new ward about a year and a half ago.  It turns out it is a real thing and there are active members with callings and stuff that celebrate it.  They do a cake and everything.  

Posted

The only place I've ever heard of it has been on a conservative message board where the antis get out in force with free rein given by the board owner (who's head probably exploded when he had to support Romney in the last election). We don't celebrate it in our ward.

Posted

Never heard of Smithmas.  I don't know anyone who celebrates Joseph Smith's birthday.  His birthday has rarely even been mentioned in any of the Wards I've been a member of,  and I'm nearly 60 years old and a member all my life.

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