Recently, I encountered someone on You Tube who suggests we worship Joseph Smith. I assure you we do not. We do not pray to Joseph Smith. No prayer recorded or implied suggests we do. Nothing in our church is done in the name of Joseph Smith. We revere him for being the prophet of the Restoration, that great restitution of all things predicted by Peter and others who were apostles.
¶ Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. Acts 3:19-21
I'm surprised I have to clarify certain things regarding what we believe as far as to whom we pray to. We pray as Jesus taught us to pray, addressing
"Our Father which art in heaven..." and we do all things in the name of Christ, who is our advocate with the father. Everything done by the early Apostles was so done in the name of Jesus Christ. So did the Elder's of the church.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (James 5: 14)
John 16:23-26
"...Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you."
We pray to God the Father...speaking to the father
and we close our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Jesus Christ acts as an advocate with the Father...
"we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
1 John 2:1 (paraphrased)
John's words have been translated and the person translating the ancient text figured that the word, "Advocate" best describes Jesus Christ as we appeal to return and live with the Father in heaven.
Advocate;
1. a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person, cause, etc. (usually fol. by of): an advocate of peace.
2. a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor.
3. a person who pleads the cause of another in a court of law.
Satan has been described as the "prosecutor." and Christ's role
as advocate comes between us and the Father just as a court of
law one has a lawyer who speaks on our behalf.
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