.....In the published account of his life, Joseph Smith related that he became very disturbed when he was a youth because of the “strife among the different denominations,” and this “cry and tumult” led him to ask God “which of all the sects were right — and which I should join.” He was told that he must “join none of them, for they were all wrong...
Well, what Smith was told—by whoever—was correct, but NOT for the reason that Smith came to believe!
The Church established by our Lord and His Apostles—the holy Orthodox Church—was not present in upstate New York (”the burnt-over district”) where Smith was living. Thus all the sects that Smith knew were wrong.
Smith should have made inquiries and sought out the Church, NOT started a new religion. If he had succeeded in bringing Orthodoxy to America, he might have become a great saint.
While you're correct in generally not according respect to the burnt-over district, I see that you hold to exclusivity of THE church as ONLY belonging to an Orthodox monopoly...the same position the Mormon church holds to (D&C 1:30).
He was told that he must “join none of them, for they were all wrong...Well, what Smith was told—by whoever—was correct, but NOT for the reason that Smith came to believe!
Joseph Smith, shortly after their baby died, attended classes to join the Methodist church. And his mother was Presbyterian. So we know at least those two churches were present in his area.
Smith was not only told they were all wrong, but that ALL their creeds were an abomination to these entities.
So are you going on record in agreeing with that? -- That ALL the creeds of Presbyterians & Methodists are an "abomination?"
(If not, then I suggest you stop leaving yourself open to being widely critiqued on these -- and start backtracking and apologizing for your loose keyboard typing)