>>And you since you asked me this question twice, allow me to add an analogy.
JFTR I never asked you this.
>>The bad-news people, the Mainstream Press, often sees (at best) through a glass/mirror
>>darkly. They just don't have the entire story.
>>But that doesn't stop us from (a) posting their articles here; or (b) believing at least
>>portions of what they write as true.
>>Just because the MSM doesn't have the entire scoop doesn't make everything they
>>report to be untrustworthy [well, let me qualify that by saying just because a number
>>of journalists who are part of the MSM don't have the entire scoop doesn't make
>>everything they report to be untrustworthy :() ]
IMHO: If the MSM tells me the sky is blue, I go outside to check (it’ raining when I get there)
>>Anyway, if that's true of even the MSM, then ya gotta concede that Evangelicals have
>>it better than them, right?
Well, your not setting your standards very high here, I’d go so far as to say a LOT better.
>>And yet, what does LDS Scripture say: That all of our creeds are an "abomination"
>>before God (Joseph Smith 2:18).
I am not familiar with the book of Joseph smith, and Joseph smith history only has one chapter in it.
JS History 1:18-20 (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1)
18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.” It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?
Is this what you mean?
>>Something's gotta give. Either Joseph Smith was wrong there, which means his first
>>vision wasn't as he described (he put out 7 different versions of the First Vision); or,
>>all of our creeds are sewage in God's eyes.
No one used the word “sewage” Abomination, not Sewage. As for the multiple versions, do these versions contradict? Have you ever told a true story in more than one way? How exactly did Judas die? Why don’t the gospels agree on how? (He’s still dead though)
>>Which is it? Why do LDS daintily try to tip-toe around calling us corrupt practioners
>>of used toilet-water creeds?
We don’t, and accepted Christian creeds have called each other much worse so why get your nose bent out of shape for this one?
Joseph Smith hasn't afforded you that option.
What option? I went to church with many friends when I was in High School. Some times they went to mine (I was in Iowa at the time) Most of the preachers were impressed with how well I knew my bible, I was able to find things in class faster than most of the members of their flocks!
We just think that you have a partial truth, and you need the further knowledge we can supply in order to fully comprehend the Gospel as taught by Jesus. Do not be offended by this, don’t you offer us the same?
Christian denominations & writers & preachers, etc. have been bombastic at times of other denominational beliefs. It's been extremely rare for such folks to use the "nuclear option" and blast away at everything they believe (Joseph's "all creeds" statement).
Same applies to your "don't you offer us the same?" The answer is, "No, I don't take issue with all creeds of Mormonism." Certainly, you've read post to AppyPappy about what is in common between BoM and Bible...and I barely touched the surface.