.....”Joseph Smith claimed that he had seen both God the Father and Jesus Christ and asked these personages which church he should join.”.........
Now that statement pretty much tells me this man was either insane or a lier...perhaps both.
Using the word “personages” is very deceptive, rather like the Democrates soft selling their demonic ideas and agendas.
It seems like the MORMONs have a HARD time figgering out just WHO was speaking to JS!!
As a young boy in 1820, Joseph Smith wanted to know which church was true. As he searched the Bible for help, he read that he should ask of God. Acting on this counsel, Joseph went into the woods near his home and prayed. Suddenly, a light shone above him and Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. When Joseph asked which church he should join, the Savior told him to join none of the churches then in existence because they were teaching incorrect doctrines. Through this experience and many others that followed, the Lord chose Joseph to be His prophet and to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church to the earth.
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
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.”
Very astute observation. It should make some wonder why he chose the word he did as opposed to a more reverent word.
Also, "...asked these personages which..."
If this event was as important to the world as claimed and coming from a boy who supposedly was a humble, God fearing kid, why didn't he recount this event by saying something like "...asked God which..." or "...asked Jesus which..."?
First, because I don't believe it happened, he didn't think his story through well enough (just look at the approx. 15 different versions of the "First Vision").
Second, because this way he gave himself a lot of flexibility in dealing with any who would question him. It's what scammers do. Give themselves an out.