Joseph Smith's First Vision/Were all the churches of the day claimed to be "an abomination"

The FAIR Wiki Defending Mormonism by providing well-researched answers to challenging questions within a faithful context

FAIRwiki portal
First Vision & Related Issues
FAIRwiki articles
Overview: Summary article Leading up to the vision: Methodist camp meetings in 1820 Joseph became "partial" to Methodists Religious revivals in 1820 Place of residence in 1820 The vision: First Vision accounts (summary) 1832 account (overview) Early understanding of God? No new dispensation? Different age? Different motivation? No persecution? No revival? Not forbidden to convert? Wicked destroyed? Only one Deity? In heaven or earth? Unconditional salvation? Struggle with Satan? 1835 account (overview) Personages were angels? 1838 account (overview) 1820 Revival? "It commenced with the Methodists" Paul's accounts of his vision Scholars solved discrepancies? Can't see God without priesthood? After the vision: No ref in 1830s publications? Seldom mentioned in LDS pubs bef 1877? No ref in non-LDS pubs before 1843? Taught Joseph saw "God" in 1830 pub? No published ref to Father and Son until 1838? Joseph unsure of God in 1823? Lucy joined Presbyterians in 1823? Joined other churches? All churches wrong? Fabricated to bolster authority? Details added over time? Created to offset leadership crisis? Others' accounts: George Q. Cannon Cowdery version of 1834-5? Orson Hyde Andrew Jenson Heber C. Kimball| Orson Pratt George A. Smith Lucy Mack Smith Orson Spencer John Taylor Brigham never spoke of 1st vision? Brigham claimed an angel? Seldom published pre-1877 (short) (long) Moroni's visit: Moroni's visit (summary) Nephi or Moroni in 1823? A "spirit" visited Joseph in 1827? Moroni as an "angel of Satan" Joseph's siblings remained asleep? Other criticisms: D&C 121:28 contradicts vision? Father: Spirit vs. Embodied Personages seen by Joseph
FAIR Wiki Topical Guide
First Vision
FAIR web site
Topical guide Articles
FARMS web site
[Pending]
Additional reading
Online In print
Other portals
Joseph Smith, Jr.

Were all churches of the day claimed to be "an abomination?"

Criticism

One critic claims,

According to Mormon scripture, the founder of your church (Joseph Smith) was told by God in 1820 that all the churches of the day were "an abomination."

See also: Citations to the critical sources for these claims

Conclusion

Joseph did not claim that the churches of the day were "an abomination." He was told that their creeds were an abomination. According to Joseph Smith's history, he was told the following by Jesus Christ during the First Vision:

I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”