MarginOfError Posted October 20, 2014 Report Posted October 20, 2014 We celebrate it in California, at least in my little section. mock mock mock mock mock mock mock :) Wingnut 1 Quote
Maureen Posted October 20, 2014 Report Posted October 20, 2014 It's not the recognition that bothers me, it's the thoughtful party. Celebrating something doesn't necessarily mean "a party". There are many different ways to celebrate a person or an event. M. Backroads and Wingnut 2 Quote
Wingnut Posted October 21, 2014 Report Posted October 21, 2014 I have to admit, I do think it a bit odd to celebrate a prophets birthday.I celebrate Heber J. Grant's birthday every year. Martin Luther King day I always post something on facebook, maybe I'll start posting a Joseph Smith quote on the 23rd and that'll be my honorary.That's about the extent of my celebration of Joseph Smith's birthday. I "celebrate" it, in that I remember that it's his day of birth, I'm grateful for him, and that's about it. I know about three other people with birthdays that day, though, also. jerome1232 and Backroads 2 Quote
omegaseamaster75 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Posted October 21, 2014 What's wrong with celebrating his birthday? We haven't been doing it but I don't see anything wrong with it. It doesn't mean we worship him. It doesn't mean his birth is anywhere near as important as Christ's birth. I guess since it is two days before Christmas, we should probably make it especially low-key if we did celebrate it, because we don't want to take anything away from Christmas. But that's all I can see that would be wrong with celebrating it. We would still celebrate our own or someone in our family's birthday if it's on Dec 23, so what's wrong with celebrating Brother Joseph's? To those against it, I'm curious if you are also uncomfortable with the hymn "Praise to the Man"? Not really wanting to debate or cause controversy- but I don't understand the need to hold back our admiration and respect for the prophet of the last dispensation.It would be odd and weird for me to celebrate his birthday, and yes I have a problem with "praise to the man" Quote
mordorbund Posted October 21, 2014 Report Posted October 21, 2014 It's not the recognition that bothers me, it's the thoughtful party. It would be odd and weird for me to celebrate his birthday, and yes I have a problem with "praise to the man" I hope you guys don't wear green in March 17, just to stay consistent. Wingnut 1 Quote
Blackmarch Posted October 21, 2014 Report Posted October 21, 2014 if celebrating/honoring/partying/singing about something is worship i'm prolly on the high road to heck.... maybe i can rule there with a pitch spoon. jerome1232 and Backroads 2 Quote
Backroads Posted October 21, 2014 Report Posted October 21, 2014 I hope you guys don't wear green in March 17, just to stay consistent.That's different. That's a traditional holiday that has long lost real meaning in our culture plus my daughter's birthday. Remembering someone on their birthday is one thing. Having a huge party is... weird. What happens if it becomes a regular thing blown out of proportion? Quote
Wingnut Posted October 21, 2014 Report Posted October 21, 2014 I'd argue that St. Patrick's day is a huge party, a regular thing blown out of proportion. Blackmarch, Backroads and mordorbund 3 Quote
jerome1232 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Posted October 21, 2014 That's different. That's a traditional holiday that has long lost real meaning in our culture plus my daughter's birthday.Remembering someone on their birthday is one thing. Having a huge party is... weird. What happens if it becomes a regular thing blown out of proportion?Sounds like an undemonstrative slippery slope to me. Quote
The Folk Prophet Posted October 21, 2014 Report Posted October 21, 2014 Sounds like an undemonstrative slippery slope to me. How? Are we worried about holiday celebration becoming worship? Seems that most people worry about just the opposite (at least for religious holidays). But the fact of the matter is that celebrating something and worshiping it are very, very different. Celebrate the stink out of Joseph's birthday if one wants to. Why not? Slippery slope to praying to Joseph Smith? Uh...I don't think so. Backroads 1 Quote
omegaseamaster75 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Posted October 21, 2014 ... maybe i can rule there with a pitch spoon.I think it's called a Spork Blackmarch, Backroads and Wingnut 3 Quote
omegaseamaster75 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Posted October 21, 2014 What's wrong with celebrating his birthday? We haven't been doing it but I don't see anything wrong with it. It doesn't mean we worship him. It doesn't mean his birth is anywhere near as important as Christ's birth. I guess since it is two days before Christmas, we should probably make it especially low-key if we did celebrate it, because we don't want to take anything away from Christmas. But that's all I can see that would be wrong with celebrating it. We would still celebrate our own or someone in our family's birthday if it's on Dec 23, so what's wrong with celebrating Brother Joseph's? To those against it, I'm curious if you are also uncomfortable with the hymn "Praise to the Man"? Not really wanting to debate or cause controversy- but I don't understand the need to hold back our admiration and respect for the prophet of the last dispensation.Why don't we include Ave Maria in our hymn books? we exclude this and many other beautiful traditional hymns, but some how "praise to the man" is OK? Backroads 1 Quote
Suzie Posted October 23, 2014 Report Posted October 23, 2014 (edited) Does anyone here celebrate it? Nope but sounds like a darn good excuse for Mormons to have a potluck. Edited October 23, 2014 by Suzie jerome1232 and mordorbund 2 Quote
jerome1232 Posted October 23, 2014 Report Posted October 23, 2014 That what I'm saying. It's a fallacy. Slippery slopes that can't be demonstrated step by step are falicious arguments. Quote
Backroads Posted October 23, 2014 Report Posted October 23, 2014 And I'm saying it sounds stupid to expect Mormons to celebrate it. jerome1232 1 Quote
jerome1232 Posted October 23, 2014 Report Posted October 23, 2014 And I'm saying it sounds stupid to expect Mormons to celebrate it.On that I can agree. Quote
Blackmarch Posted October 23, 2014 Report Posted October 23, 2014 Why don't we include Ave Maria in our hymn books? we exclude this and many other beautiful traditional hymns, but some how "praise to the man" is OK?we don't have a lot of hymns because we respect the wishes of various churches... that and to avoid potential lawsuits and court actions. Quote
bytebear Posted October 27, 2014 Report Posted October 27, 2014 I don't know that I ever knew when Joseph Smith's birthday was until the 200th aniversary, and anti-Mormon articles started coming out claiming that we were celebrating his birthday instead of Christmas. I don't recall ever even paying attention to it ever in church or at home. Quote
bytebear Posted October 27, 2014 Report Posted October 27, 2014 As to "Ave Maria", I think the church avoids it because it is a very Catholic centric hymn, and Mormonism has adapted its hymns from general non/multi-denominational protestantism. Quote
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