CWK #43: Celebrate Smithmas!

[Kishkumen]

https://youtu.be/LDoGIMfs4qc

Smithmas started out as a joke of some ex-Mormons, but it could be a new holiday for Restorationists. Watch the Backyard Professor and Kish celebrate a new Mormon holiday, Smithmas, which marks the birth of Joseph Smith, Jr., Mormon prophet and founder of the religion Mormonism on December 23rd at 9 pm ET.

https://www.youtube.com/@TheBackyardProfessor

[Tom]

Reverend, music and singing during the celebration would be most appropriate. A birthday cake (with 219 candles and a miniature flaming sword) would be fitting as well.

[Kishkumen]

Reverend, music and singing during the celebration would be most appropriate. A birthday cake (with 219 candles and a miniature flaming sword) would be fitting as well.

All great ideas, Tom! Backyard Professor and I shall do what we can!

[Gadianton]

There is no way you can be Mormon and believe that Smith's birthday two days away from Christ's is an accident, and no Mormon does believe such a thing, unless they are an Internet Mormon. And even then, they don't really believe it's a coincidence.

I can prove the apologists celebrate Smithmas:

There is no reason whatsoever to celebrate any birthday as a Mormon except Jesus's. It's not a sacrilege to celebrate birthdays, it's not something reserved only for the Lord, it's just otherwise a totally secular thing. Nobody knows what Brigham Young's birthday is, nobody knows what Moses's birthday is, or Paul's, or any deceased modern day prophet's. Hinckley used to make a huge deal out of his birthday when he was alive, but after he died, nobody has ever paused to recall, "it's President Hinckley's birthday today." But celebrating the birthdays of leaders even when they are alive isn't a tradition, it's just a thing that some leaders introduce occasionally as optional merriment, presumably to make themselves appear down-to-earth to their flock. There is no significance.

Likewise, people don't celebrate the birthdays of deceased family members, or if that happens, it's pretty unusual. There is no secular tradition to celebrate birthdays of people who have passed on, and there is no religious motive to celebrate any birthday other than Christ's, at least for Mormons. A better way to put that is there is no religious reason to celebrate birthdays period -- there is nothing sacred about birthdays because there is no religious significance to them, for Mormons. As the Rev mentioned, "Pioneer Day" is an example of a Mormon holiday, as the significance is something in history that happened on that day. Some Mormons remember dates such as when the Aaronic Priesthood was restored.

There is no religious significance to the birth of Joseph Smith. There is significance to other dates involving him, of course. So why would I say that Mormons, including apologists, celebrate Smithmas, if I'm also saying there is no religious significance to Smith's birthday?

Because Mormons do celebrate Joseph Smith's birthday, including Dan Peterson! While they don't celebrate the birthday of any other deceased person, religious or otherwise. The reason they celebrate his birthday is because it falls so close to Christmas. If Joseph Smith had been born in the middle of August, nobody would give his birthday a second thought. Because it falls so close to Christmas, as the founder, it must be significant. The Lord wouldn't have had him born then if he didn't want people to make the association. It's called bias, sure; in science, we're biased, but we try not to be; in religion, bias is a feature. We revel in connections. And so during Smithmas time, Mormons relate Smith to Jesus, because their births are so close in proximity, and from there, they think about all the other ways that they are alike in personal attributes and in mission.

Because Smith's birthday is first, you could say like John the Baptist, he prepares the way for Jesus and is less than Jesus, but some may see Smith as slightly more important, and who is to say that they are wrong? Sic et Non seems to focus quite a lot on Joseph Smith, while much of the material about Christ seems to be for performance, to challenge the notion that Mormons worship Joseph Smith. Since Joseph has received his exaltation, he's now a God, and that technically puts him higher up the ladder than Jesus was during his mortal ministry and even thereafter. Anyway, because Joseph is a distinguishing feature for Mormonism, it isn't surprising he gets more press than Jesus. Either way, they are close enough, their missions are intertwined, and if you've ever celebrated Joseph Smith's birthday, you've celebrated Smithmas.

[Doctor Scratch]

An absolutely irrefutable post, Dr. Robbers. Truly, the Spirit of Christmas is flowing through you this holiday season.

[Moksha]

Kish, did you let them know of this festive Smithmas broadcast over and the Mormon D&D board? I hope someone in good standing over there can let them know.

[Kishkumen]

Kish, did you let them know of this festive Smithmas broadcast over and the Mormon D&D board? I hope someone in good standing over there can let them know.

If you would do the honors, Moksha, we would appreciate it!

[Kishkumen]

Dean Robbers, I must share your theory during our Smithmas celebration! With appropriate citation, of course.

By the way, William Shakespeare’s birthday is celebrated on St. George’s Day, April 23.

[Moksha]

Kish, did you let them know of this festive Smithmas broadcast over and the Mormon D&D board? I hope someone in good standing over there can let them know.

If you would do the honors, Moksha, we would appreciate it!

Kishkumen, if I could post over there I would. We must find a kind-hearted soul who will be the glad bearer of good tidings about the Smithmas special podcast to the Mormon D&D board (assuming they have not erected a moat).

You could always shout out to that Nehor lad down on the street. "Hoy, lad, is that enormously large goose down on Mulberry Street still for sale?"

"Why yes, Mr. Scrooge. I saw the bird they called the Dr. Peterson early this morning. It was a fine great goose it was."

"Here boy, take this satchel of gold Senines and fetch that goose! Make it quick and you can get yourself a Cadbury bar. Have the butcher deliver it to the home of Bob Cratchit."

[Everybody Wang Chung]