I would again point out that any person who comes to believe in the Jesus of the New Testament through reading the words of His gospel writers has come to the real Jesus Christ.
The Mormons DO use the New Testament as one of their many books. Those who come to believe in Jesus via THAT route are turning to the real Jesus.
All the doctrine they’ll later be taught is wrong, but maybe every now and then some of them come to realize that....wouldn’t you agree?
I guess you need a reminder about a key NT verse from Jesus: "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (John 5:39-40)
This is the big problem you have. You assume that Lord Jesus is only linked to folks by the institutional umbrella they have a membership in. You are in error.
You assume that mass priesthood=automatic salvation of some sort. I don't think any Scripturally based evangelical would say being a mere appendage to the body--no matter how orthodox--is what saves you. Too many LDS practically rewrite Eph. 2:8-9 to be: "You are saved by membership thru faith in Joseph Smith."
Surely you've heard the phrase, "God has no grandchildren."
Let's review the LDS structure: LDS general authorities tell LDS not to pray & communicate directly with Jesus. Apostle Bruce McConkie told BYU students in the early 80s not to seek a "special relationship" with Jesus.
The temple recommend may not really have ANYTHING to do w/evaluating a person on his relationship to Jesus. LDS belief is eternal life for everybody in the world except apostates & the real evil folks...as most folks may eventually escape spirit prison. But what does Jesus say: "Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3)
Eternal life is not membership in the LDS church. [As a matter of fact, Jesus said the tares are mixed together w/the wheat; and half of the virgins expecting to eternally related to Jesus in Matt 25:1-10 were "left in the dark."] Eternal life is not baptism by proxy. Eternal life or exaltation is not based upon what man you marry, or that you are married.
No, John 17:3 says the key relationship is w/Jesus. And everywhere you look in Mormonism, every relationship BUT Jesus is either frowned upon or substituted. As Jesus said, "You refuse to come to me."