To Be Like Jesus

Joy To The World is a 2003 DVD from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. It has four supplements that I am also reviewing.

1. From the beginning, it is emphasized that there were prophets such as Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Samuel, and Isaiah, all of whom were rejected and their messages "lost." (Never mind that we have their words in writing for the last few thousand years.)

2. The scenes rotate from Mormon family Christmases to passion plays of the life of Christ to the choir and to fictional aboriginal peoples in the Americas 2,000 years ago.

3. Songs performed include Joy To The World, Away in a Manager, Angels We Have Heard on High, Silent Night, What Child Is This?, and O Come, All Ye Faithful. The musical arrangements are minor variations from the standard.

4. Part 6 of the video deals with the Book of Mormon. Mormons claim that the Star of Bethlehem was seen in the Americas and that aboriginal civilizations had other books calling Jesus "…a Son ofGod…" instead of the Son of God. Many Christians would dismiss the concept that the star is an actual star. They would say that the radiance was the 'the "Shekinah" - that is, a physical manifestation of the glory of God in the form of a supernatural radiance.' See Dr. David Reagan http://www.lamblion.com/articles/prophecy/fcp/fcp-002.php

5. The Mormons claim that a native American Mormon prophet named Samuel lived circa 5 BC and led believers of that time. A whole fable about the Star of Bethlehem and its timely appearance saving the lives of Mormon believers from persecution 2000 years ago is told.

6. The adult ministry of Jesus, emphasizing healings and the Resurrection is acted out wordlessly while the Choir sings.

7. The rejection of the ancient prophets and the apostasy of Jews and then of Christians is restated, a traditional attack uponChristians by Mormons under the leadership of Joseph Smith and since.

8. Joseph Smith is then introduced as a prophet for our times, "restoring" Christianity.

9. The total lack of evidence of the native tribes and places mentioned in the Book of Mormon is ignored as well as the criminality and polygamy of Joseph Smith. The cult was a cult that allowed polygamy for all men and this still continues today in remote rural areas and other countries such as Mexico. Also ignored is the history of racism in Mormonism in their first 100 years.

The Supplements:

A. The Witness of a Modern-Day Prophet--Mr. Gordon B. Hinckley, President, The Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-Day Saints (Mormons), appears from Jerusalem. As a "living prophet," the elderly Mr. Hinckley speaks generally about Jesus and His life in Jerusalem. However, as a leader of a cult, Mr. Hinckley is careful to avoid discussing any specific Mormon doctrines or ideas.

B. His Gifts of Love--We are told by the narrator that in Mormonism forgiveness is based upon faith, repentance, and following His commandments. Here we encounter the Mormon doctrine that one has to work for forgiveness. This contrasts with the Christian doctrine that one only has to ask Jesus to be forgiven:

1 John 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Instead of the Christian doctrine that Salvation is the gift of Jesus, this DVD states that resurrection is the gift of Jesus. Not so, we were always going to be resurrected and judged:

Revelation 20:11 (KJV) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book]of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged everyman according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Also, Job 19:25 (KJV) For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he shall stand at the latter [day] upon the earth:

26 And [though] after my skin [worms] destroy this [body], yet in my flesh shall I see God:

C. Another Witness of Christ--Here The Book of Mormon is presented as "Another Testament of Jesus Christ." There is the claim that this Mormon book tells the1000 years of history in North America where Mormons claim that Jesus visited after His death and resurrection. A few decades ago the Smithsonian Institute issued a statement that The Book ofMormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is without any archeological or scientific evidence whatsoever.

D. All prophets Testify of Christ--Mormons claim that God calls prophets to instruct us in how to live. To obey a prophet brings joy according to Mormon spokesmen. In their opinion, prophets today give us "a ray of hope" in our troubled times. Mormons claim that all prophets give the same message. A Mormon prophet named Benjamin is introduced concerning the Birth of Jesus. And Joseph Smith is quoted as saying that he himself saw Jesus on the right hand of God. Mormons claim that the Gospel is that Jesus lives and that "the Heavenly Father" loves His people.

But we know that Joseph Smith was a criminal cult leader whose followers fled into Utah. The federal government forced compliance with marriage laws upon Utah in the late 1800s. This Mormon Christmas video is very sad because it is based upon the false writings of Joseph Smith. The true Gospel is that Jesus was born, died and was resurrected. The Holy Bible was completed nearly 2000 years ago and there are no more new revelations:

Jude 1:3 (KJV) Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.