Smithmas Livestream 9 pm ET

[Tom]

Sorry, I had to catch it late.

The Smithmas Shanty was truly blessed! What a wonderful program full of delightful presenters such as Jasmine, Don, Kerry, and Kish. Maybe the scholars at Discuss Mormonism can shed light on the Mormon speculation that Joseph Smith was the Holy Ghost or perhaps Smac at the righteous board can parse the Holy Ghost out of the entire equation.

May the Spirit of Smithmas follow us throughout the New Year, from being wrapped in swaddling clothes in Sharon, Vermont on December 23rd, to Auld Lang Syne on December 22nd.

I was taken aback, Moksha, when I read your reference to “Jasmine.” Was the Scripture Central Director of Communications celebrating Smithmas? Alas, she spells her name without the “e.”

I greatly enjoyed the program, Reverend and BYP, even though I missed the live broadcast. (I was tied up in my family’s private celebration that evening.)

Your discussion of holding a Smithmas celebration at Joseph Smith’s birthplace (starting at about 00:29:04) reminded me of a Church News piece dated 29 December 2001:

Celebrating Joseph Smith's birthday

SOUTH ROYALTON, Vt. — About 75 members of the South Royalton Ward, Montpelier Vermont Stake of the Church, celebrated the Prophet Joseph Smith's 196th birthday Dec. 23 with a party, including sandwiches, birthday cake and the singing of hymns at his birthplace.

Sister Starley Smith, a service missionary at the memorial, led the group in singing "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" and "God Bless America."

The custom of having a Joseph Smith Birthday party at his birthplace began December 23, 1986, which would have been the Prophet's 181st birthday. Since that time the commemoration has continued annually.

I don’t know whether this fine tradition has continued.

I will close by sharing some words from President Anthon Lund during evening services held in South Royalton, Vermont, on 23 December 1905, in connection with the dedication of the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial that very day:

John the Revelator saw the time when an angel should fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto every nation, kindred, tongue and people. We bear witness unto you, my friends, that that angel has flown and restored the Gospel to the earth. It is not a new Gospel, but "the everlasting gospel." It was restored through the Prophet Joseph, whose birthday we commemorate today. And could there be a more appropriate day for his birthday than the 23rd of December? He was to be a Prophet that should bring the Gospel light back into the world. Yesterday, the 22nd, was the shortest day in the year. Today, the 23rd, the days begin to lengthen and the light of day to increase. The coming of Joseph opened a new dispensation. Light is increasing, truth is spreading, and darkness is being driven back.

[Moksha]

I greatly enjoyed the program, Reverend and BYP, even though I missed the live broadcast. (I was tied up in my family’s private celebration that evening.)

Hopefully, the entire Relief Society of Panguitch will tune in on Coffee with Kish next Smithmas.

[Kishkumen]

I greatly enjoyed the program, Reverend and BYP, even though I missed the live broadcast. (I was tied up in my family’s private celebration that evening.)

Hopefully, the entire Relief Society of Panguitch will tune in on Coffee with Kish next Smithmas.

That would be truly marvelous!

[Tom]

Don rhetorically asked, “Why couldn’t Joseph Smith have been born in the summer?” In the same address cited above, President Lund noted:

If the anniversary of his [Joseph Smith’s] birth had been in the summer time, a great many, no doubt, would have come here to take part in the dedication of the monument; but as it is in midwinter we did not encourage many to come, fearing it would be so cold.

Hopefully, the entire Relief Society of Panguitch will tune in on Coffee with Kish next Smithmas.

I hope the Relief Society sister in Parowan and the old high priest in Ogden will do the same.

[Kishkumen]

Sorry, I had to catch it late.

The Smithmas Shanty was truly blessed! What a wonderful program full of delightful presenters such as Jasmine, Don, Kerry, and Kish. Maybe the scholars at Discuss Mormonism can shed light on the Mormon speculation that Joseph Smith was the Holy Ghost or perhaps Smac at the righteous board can parse the Holy Ghost out of the entire equation.

May the Spirit of Smithmas follow us throughout the New Year, from being wrapped in swaddling clothes in Sharon, Vermont on December 23rd, to Auld Lang Syne on December 22nd.

I was taken aback, Moksha, when I read your reference to “Jasmine.” Was the Scripture Central Director of Communications celebrating Smithmas? Alas, she spells her name without the “e.”

I greatly enjoyed the program, Reverend and BYP, even though I missed the live broadcast. (I was tied up in my family’s private celebration that evening.)

Your discussion of holding a Smithmas celebration at Joseph Smith’s birthplace (starting at about 00:29:04) reminded me of a Church News piece dated 29 December 2001:

Celebrating Joseph Smith's birthday

SOUTH ROYALTON, Vt. — About 75 members of the South Royalton Ward, Montpelier Vermont Stake of the Church, celebrated the Prophet Joseph Smith's 196th birthday Dec. 23 with a party, including sandwiches, birthday cake and the singing of hymns at his birthplace.

Sister Starley Smith, a service missionary at the memorial, led the group in singing "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" and "God Bless America."

The custom of having a Joseph Smith Birthday party at his birthplace began December 23, 1986, which would have been the Prophet's 181st birthday. Since that time the commemoration has continued annually.

I don’t know whether this fine tradition has continued.

I will close by sharing some words from President Anthon Lund during evening services held in South Royalton, Vermont, on 23 December 1905, in connection with the dedication of the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial that very day:

John the Revelator saw the time when an angel should fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto every nation, kindred, tongue and people. We bear witness unto you, my friends, that that angel has flown and restored the Gospel to the earth. It is not a new Gospel, but "the everlasting gospel." It was restored through the Prophet Joseph, whose birthday we commemorate today. And could there be a more appropriate day for his birthday than the 23rd of December? He was to be a Prophet that should bring the Gospel light back into the world. Yesterday, the 22nd, was the shortest day in the year. Today, the 23rd, the days begin to lengthen and the light of day to increase. The coming of Joseph opened a new dispensation. Light is increasing, truth is spreading, and darkness is being driven back.

Thank you for watching, Tom! You played a major role in getting this off the ground. I apologize for not recognizing your contributions during the broadcast. There were a number of technological issues that interfered with my preparations, causing me to forget key things I planned to do. I think it irked Don that he did not know we were recording when he joined the stream. I don’t blame him. My only excuse is being a noob to all of this.