Joseph Smith says at age 17 The Angel Moroni appeared to him
There are two answers, either a back woods farm boy in 1822 made that statement or an angel did.
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And the answer is...
A 27 year old con artist named Joey Smith said in 1832 that an angel, a god in two sets of flesh, one god in a set of flesh andf other pink elephants and yellow warthogs visited him ...
Oh the apparitions happened back when he was 17...
no, made that 16,...
wait 15...
Oh might as well go all out and make it 14...
If ya gonna tell a tall tale to yer drinkin buds...make it a whopper...
Embellish a bit...outdo the other guy...
If all you believe about Joseph Smith is correct then the Church he founded is even more of a miracle. Can you find anything good about people who give constant service to the poor and unfortunate throughout the world. When major disasters happen anywhere in the world the Mormons are usually the first to arrive with food, bedding, and other needed supplies. We are prepared with over 100 warehouses and canneries in the U.S. Most stakes (diocese)have a Church farm, all run by volunteers. Women in many local wards will make 400 quilts, birthing kits, hygiene kits, etc; each year, on an ongoing basis. Thousands of wheel chairs have been donated throughout the world. Hundreds of water wells have been dug in Africa. We had a fast day for starving Ethopia some years ago,6 million dollars was raised in one day. The Church produces over 20,000 tons of Atmit (an enriched cereal) for the very young and very old in Ethopia every year and delivers it No Charge. Members fast the first Sunday of each month and the money is used for the poor of the world. We have a Perpetual Education fund, 38,000 worthy young men and women in underdeveloped countries have received education and training thus far, lifting them out of grinding poverty. Thousands more will follow this new program.These members, as they can, payback the monies they receive from member contributions to keep the program growing.
We are small, about 3 million families. If every Christian Church throughout the world would have a monthly “Fast”day and contribute that money to the poor we could wipe out poverty in the world.We have no salaried people at the local level, this allows us to build chapels and temples all over the world that are paid for when comleted.
I would invite you to contact the local LDS church, visit our canneries and farms, visit The Bishops storehouse where the poor get free food as needed.
All this, and more comes from the teachings of Ol Joe Smith.