Well, Brickey got part of that right -- nothing moderate at all about his condemnation of every single non-Mormon faith creed in the entire world!
He boldly proclaimed ALL other churches' "creedal score" was "0." As Brickey mentioned, he called ALL their/our creeds an "abomination." Smith said not a single creed passed his muster. (Yet, I dare any contemporary Mormon to tell me a single thing "wrong" or abominable with the Apostles Creed...keeping in mind that "catholic" in that context meant ONLY "universal.")
From the column: He [Smith] was not to simply straighten out bent truths that had suffered somewhat in recent generations. He was to start everything over again...
I think of all people in history, Joseph Smith, Jr. ranked among the most ambitious grave-diggers who ever lived. When you review his "first vision" of unnamed personages visiting him (see Joseph Smith, History 1 in the lds "scriptures" Pearl of Great Price), he pronounced the number of properly available churches to join as "0" -- these "personages" told him ALL these churches were completely wrong.
To re-emphasize Brickey, Smith didn't say Christian sects were somewhat offbase or slightly wrong... ...but entirely wrong -- as in 100%.
Smith realized to be accepted he needed to dig the deepest grave ever. He needed an ambitious "scorched earth" visionary policy. He needed to portray every single Christian...
...church as "wrong",
...creed as "abominable,"
...denomination/sect as apostate,
...Christian professing believer as "corrupt"
Why Smith's scorched-earth policy?
...'Cause if he left a single church, creed, sect or believer intact, well, he would simply be unwarranted, redundant, superfluous. If the Christian church wasn't designated by him as 100% apostate, why, no need for a "restoration" existed.
And so, with spade in hand, Joseph began digging.
About 40 years after revealing the above-mentioned vision, the next generation of Mormons took over the gravedigging exercise by placing this vision into Mormon "scripture."
And now, the generations since then have also placed spade in hand. Most Mormons, though, take spade in hand by their tithing and/or going on two-year mission trips. Their tithing allows Joseph Smith History 1 to be translated into dozens of languages and distributed world-wide. Their mission work allows the narrative of the 100% apostasy to be spread world-wide on millions of doorsteps and living rooms.
So the next time a Mormon tells you they don't go around "attacking" people of other faiths, ask them to read to you outloud Joseph Smith History 1 in the Pearl of Great Price. Ask them if their tithing $ goes for the printing, publishing, translating, and distribution of that narrative world-wide.
(Then thank them for personally calling you "corrupt" and an "apostate." 'Cause Jesus says we're to love those who oppose us -- including those who opposed Christianity before anyone knew of the word, "Mormon").
The reply is always “More will be revealed later.” Pretty big loop hole. And very convenient.
I am a member of what Joseph Merry Smithmas called (all together, now) The Great and Abominable Church.
The more I read about this mid Nineteenth Century charlatan, the more I laugh.
The Louder Day Saints believe that the Nephites, the Lehites, the Lamanites and Whoeverites possessed technologies only known to exist in guess what, the mid Nineteenth Century.
DNA technology, carbon-14 dating, modern archeological science are all undermining this 19th century sex-and-money-cult faster than you can say Bring’em Young.
Hey mishies! Heard your s#$t since 1970 when they told me that Mormon garmies would provide divine protection in a helicopter crash (Vietnam vet without garmies).
...church as "wrong",
...creed as "abominable,"
...denomination/sect as apostate,
...Christian professing believer as "corrupt"
Makes you wonder why the lds of today are so insistent to be called christian.
Makes you wonder Colo who the angels were? Remember satan comes as an angel of light too. Be careful who you entertain...
Tonight I will be entering into a special service that includes sipping a special Port Wine and toasting two of my very close friends (lifelong Mormons) who have come to the conclusion that while the church is an interesting social institution, the dogma is false.
This special ceremony will begin with their arrival. One of them is from Alaska the other from Montana.
Should be a grand time! The abominable apostates club is formed.
Yet the most ardent Mormon apologists seem baffled their cult isn't accepted by any Christian denomination.
Thank you for your revealing editorial additions to the column. I realize that you are vehemently anti-mormon and it shows.