No. Mormons worship Jesus Christ.
Mormons respect and honor Joseph Smith though.
Joseph Smith was a true and living prophet of God.
(Just like in the past when God spoke to men through the prophets like Noah and Moses and Isaiah...)
God used the "Pattern of the Prophets" even in times past when things were simple...
how much more in these Latter-days when things are more complex is a prophet needed!
And what is more...today there is a living prophet on the Earth as well....Gordon B. Hinckley!
But all of the true prophets point to Jesus Christ...and testify that He is the Son of God....and that He is the one worthy to worship!
2007-09-04 20:26:42
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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The members of the church do not worship the prophet Joseph Smith but hold him in high regard. Joseph Smith helped to return the true church of and teachings of our savior Jesus Christ to the modern world and end the great apostasy. You can ask any missionary and they will tell you this. Joesph smith was a prophet who died bringing the true church back to the world for the whole world. There were many times where he could have given up and lived a longer life but he showed the courage of a true prophet and stood by his beliefs.
2007-09-05 14:26:49
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answer #2
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answered by james b 2
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It does seem kind of silly, doesn't it? There are some that even say we worship Satan. I've grown up in the LDS Church, and I've never heard or said a prayer to anyone but Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ.
We hold Joseph Smith as a very important person and prophet of God. But we do not put the messenger above the Sender.
It is not a scam. There are not 12 million+ people trying to hoodwink others into worshipping Joseph Smith.
I hope you enjoyed the service you went to, and will continue to attend. The LDS Church and the gospel have brought me immense joy in my life and I hope they can do the same for you.
2007-09-05 07:15:37
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answer #3
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answered by Senator John McClain 6
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Well, of course there will be controversy because so many people have misconceptions about the church... it is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, not the church of Joseph Smith. Though we do revere Joseph as a very important tool in bringing about the restoration of the gospel, we know that it was through the Lord that it was even at all possible. We love Joseph for the sacrifices he made to organize the church, even the sacrifice of his own life. BUT, we do not worship him in any way. We worship the Savior and recognize Him as the only way back to the Father.
Many people will claim things that are simply untrue, in my opinion, that is just satan rearing his ugly head trying to keep people from the truth.
You have a good point also - we don't "cover up" things to new members, like fooling you in the beginning, that's just silly. I do have to say though, we do learn things line upon line, precept upon precept. It would be like trying to learn algebra without knowing how to add, subtract or multiply. You wouldn't understand and it would be frustrating...I am referring to deeper doctrine such as temple ordinances.
My last bit of advice: Pray to your Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, if these things are true. He has promised answers to those who are truly seeking them.
2007-09-05 10:47:40
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Thanks for your open and honest question. I'm LDS, for 15 years now, and we don't worship Joseph Smith, or anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father.
Your non-LDS friends and my non-LDS family are both under the same misconception.
When I used the same logic with my family as what you posted ("so the church leaders are going to convince everyone in the church to SAY that we believe one thing when in fact we believe another? AND to keep it all a secret for over 100 years? Wouldn't it be easier to just believe what we say we believe? I mean think about the time and effort it would take to convince people to 'play along'!"), I was told that I may believe as I say I believe, but not everyone else in the LDS church does. I said, "So, I guess there's like, what, 12.5 million people walking around believing what they say they believe and following what the church SAYS it believes, but a handful around the world who don't? Yeah, that makes sense."
My take away from that whole conversation is, I know what I believe, I know the church advocates this line of thought and belief, I know it's in accordance with what God has said is true. I can't help it when people would rather be closed minded than open up to the possibility that they and their pastor might not know everything there is to know about God and the reasons He does what He does.
2007-09-05 10:16:21
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answer #5
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answered by Tonya in TX - Duck 6
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I think people are just plain lazy. I actually had a friend, whose religious affiliation I won't disclose, who said her pastor/preacher actually set aside time in the middle of their church hours to preach how wicked the mormons are and that they worship Joseph Smith rather than Jesus Christ or God. So perhaps part of the gossip spread of worshiping President Smith is coming from anti-mormon church leaders, in such that their followers believe them and never "Find Time" to look it up for themselves. Also, some people are just thickheaded like that.
2016-05-17 04:36:46
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answer #6
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answered by gladis 3
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We worship God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We hold Joseph Smith in very high regard, because he is the one who brought the gospel back to this earth, and he was our first prophet. but in no way do we worship him.
imasis2, yes it is a very popular song, called PRAISE to the man, not "Worship t the Man." We praise Joseph Smith as being the first prophet in this last dispensation, but again, we do not worship him and you know it.
2007-09-05 15:49:20
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answer #7
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answered by . 7
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Well, if they really worship Joseph SMith instead of Jesus Christ, they've put up a D**N good front for me for the last almost 30 years! Ask your "friends" when they let you in on the secret that we really worsip Joseph Smith, cause I've been a member since 1979, when I was 21, and I aven't seen it YET!
2007-09-04 16:30:03
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answer #8
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answered by mormon_4_jesus 7
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I am a Mormon.
I worship Jesus Christ as my Savior and Redeemer. He atoned for the sins of the world. I owe him everything. I do not worship Joseph Smith or any other holy prophet. Just like I do not worship Moses, or worship Noah, or worship Abraham. They were prophets of God and were holy men; but I do not worship them. I reverence them and aspire to know their wisdom and teachings about God and Christ, but I do not worship them.
Nor does any Mormon. We revere Joseph Smith as one of God's prophets. We do not worship him. We worship Christ.
For someone to say that we do is either being greatly misinformed or being intentionally deceitful.
2007-09-05 10:54:13
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answer #9
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answered by Kerry 7
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NO! We do not worship Joseph Smith. We worship Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Joseph Smith was a prophet. We think he is very important, but we do not worship him.
2007-09-04 15:55:12
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answer #10
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answered by iwonder 5
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