1. We live in a world of lost people.
2. God has -- thru the Bible -- given people enough revelation to relate to Him.
3. People have not been good stewards with the knowledge they have.
And, no, people didn't need to get married in a Mormon temple in order to be re-connected with God the Father as fellow eternal "gods".
Nor did they need to have a "testimony" about Joseph Smith being the "living prophet" in order to be re-connected with God the Father.
These are two examples -- of many ritualistic things (other ordinances, laws, tithing, etc) -- that Mormons add on to the Gospel.
The Gospel is Good News -- an announcement if you will -- about what God has done in Jesus Christ. Lds make the Gospel things that we have to do. That is distortion, plain and simple.
Distortion? ... Demonic lie is more like it!