somehow it appears and then the usual accusations begin: the non-LDS churches are incomplete and fail to have the fullness of the Gospel and they did bad things in the past.
Would you care to document this little tidbit of fiction. From the standpoint of one on the Mormon side of the issue, the only vindictive, negative, and accusatory posts have been by the usual suspects.
Indeed, Joseph found himself in the middle of a sectarian war without even a clear battle front and he was confused by what was going on and was seeking the truth.
It is my understanding -- through my years as a Sunday school student and teacher, a member of LDS congregations wherein spiritual "talks" are presented every Sunday and at other times by the leaders and members of the Church, a presenter of such "talks" in various roles in the capacity of a member of the leadership of a few "stakes" (consisting of six to eight "wards," or congregations) -- that the lord's admonishment to Joseph Smith was not a blanket condemnation of the very religious denominations that had kept the name of Jesus Christ "alive" since the original apostles left the earth.
The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have much to say on such matters: We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
There are other articles of faith, but I have selected those which seem most relevant to your question.
The Church, through its leadership and members, interact amicably and productively with those of other faiths through inter-faith councils, national organizations (approximatley 1/3 of the members of the Boy Scouts of America are sponsored by LDS congregations), and other bodies.
We render a considerable quantity of relief aid to victims of disasters, in the form of funds, food, clothing and blankets, medical supplies, etc. and, strange though it may seem, for decades we have done so via the good offices of Catholic Charities.
We often pitch in to re-build churches (e.g., in Florida after hurricanes) and synagogues damaged or destroyed by natural disasters of by arson and vandalism and indeed, have been defended -- by the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai Brit -- against hateful and viciously false claims contained in a film produced and disseminated by anti-LDS group.
We reach out to Catholics, ProtestantsJews (e.g., BYU operates a religious studies institute on the Mount of Olives), Muslims, and others alike, and the Church, believe it or not, had and possibly still retains a New York public relations consulting firm owned by some of our Jewish brothers and sisters.
With respect to the FR, we try to address and teach in the face of the lies of those who admittedly have never even attended an LDS Sunday meeeting or watched our semi-annual General Conference on cable TV in the comfort of their own living rooms.
That said, the record will show that, although we are not always cheery and gentle our discussions in accordance with the teaching and example of the Savior, we virtually never have attacked the beliefs of individual FReepers and likewise have not assailed the doctrines and earthly embodiments of any religious body.
Indeed, I and others have defended Catholic FReepers against the venom spewed against their Church re: covert sexual abuse and other matters.
All we would like to do is get along, and we seek to avoid starting flamewars here, unless such occurs immediately after reference to our Church or its members, "prominent" or otherwise.
Again and finally, "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
Thank you for your sincere and polite question....
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself adelivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I bsaw two cPersonages, whose brightness and dglory defy all description, estanding above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My fBeloved gSon. Hear Him!18 My object in going to ainquire 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 awrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those bprofessors were all ccorrupt; that: “they ddraw near to me with their lips, but their ehearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the fcommandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the gpower 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 alying 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, bmother 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.”