“It Profiteth Me Nothing”
In describing his First Vision, Joseph Smith wrote: “I was enwrapped in a heavenly vision, and saw two glorious personages, who exactly resembled each other in features and likeness, surrounded with a brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noon day. They told me that all religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines, and that none of them was acknowledged of God as His Church and kingdom: and I was expressly commanded ’to go not after them, ’ at the same time receiving a promise that the fulness of the Gospel should at some future time be made known unto me.” (HC 4:536.)
Specifically, Joseph learned 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’ ” (Joseph Smith History 1:19).