Dear Editor:

Deceit abounds in our day and time. While our nation narrows the selection of presidential candidates, I wish to enlighten your readers regarding a particular religious deception.

J. Joseph Smith, Jr. was born 12/23/1805 and died 06/27/1844. He claimed that the angel Moroni appeared at his bedside and told him about a new revelation inscribed on hidden golden plates. Personally, I doubt that any such angel appeared to Joseph Smith Jr., but even if the angel did appear to him, Smith should not have listened. Why?

The Bible explicitly states in Galatians 1:8 that if anyone--including an angel from heaven--should preach a different Gospel than the gospel of Christ, he should be accursed. So strong was the intent of this Bible warning that it is repeated in Galatians 1:9.

The Gospel of Christ was intact long before Joseph Smith Jr. arrived on the scene. Therefore, Smith was much too late to be receiving any new revelations.

One of the foremost candidates for President of the United States believes the writings of Joseph Smith, Jr. That man is deceived. The people of the United States must refrain from following a man who is himself deceived.

By the way, should you remove the “i” from Moroni’s name, what is left? One wonders if Smith also came up with this brilliant name for the angel.

Kevin Patrick Dillon
Florence