“God made Aaron to be the mouthpiece for the children of Israel, and He will make me to be god to you in His stead, and the Elders to be mouth for me; and if you don’t like it, you must lump it.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 363/History of the Church, 6:319-20)

“I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture.” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 13:95)

“Recently, at the Church-wide fireside meeting held for the women of the Church, Young Women President Elaine Cannon made the following statement: “When the Prophet speaks,….the debate is over.” (Ensign, November 1978, p. 108). I was impressed by that simple statement, which carries such deep spiritual meaning for all of us. Wherever I go, my message to the people is: follow the prophet.

“Why else has the Lord placed prophets on the earth through the dispensations of time? In his infinite wisdom, and as part of the plan of life and salvation for his children, God has given us the blueprint to follow, the leadership to direct us and keep us on course, and the Church organization to help us lay the foundation and develop the skills, or make the preparation necessary, to lead us back to our eternal home. It is foolish to suppose that men can be left to their own devices and accomplish what God intended for them….

“It is difficult to understand why there are many people who fight against the counsel of the prophet and FOR the preservation of the very things that will bring them misery and death…. Latter-day Saints should be able to accept the words of the prophets without having to wait for science to prove the validity of their words. We are most fortunate to have a living prophet at the head of the Church to guide us, and all who heed his counsel will be partakers of the promised blessings which will not be enjoyed by those who fail to accept his messages….We cannot serve God and mammon. Whose side are we on? When the prophet speaks the debate is over.” (The Debate is Over, President N. Eldon Tanner, Ensign, August 1979, p. 3)

I can give even more statement, but I give several examples so you can't say it was only one leaders opinion. Members are clearly taught not to question what the leaders say. So when the leaders speak at General Conference, it is considered church doctrine. Unlike you, they have been chosen by the LDS church to represent it's teachings. Just because you are embarrassed by those teachings today doesn't mean they were not considered a teaching of the LDS church.

You also said:

"For example, if you isolate a few sentences of one of Brigham Young's quotes, you can make it LOOK like he demanded all have more than one wife as a pre-requisite of attaining the highest level of heaven. But if you read the full quote in context, he is merely stating that you need to at least NOT OPPOSE the idea if you wish to make it. Big difference."

What you are not telling is that during those days, only members who were practicing polygamy were allowed to hold the offices of Bishop and such. That is a lot more then just "not opposing it." Brigham Young certainly meant what he said concerning polygamy and was demanding it's practice by the members.

What I found funny is how you said "Polygamous marriages that did exist were usually simply two wives" as if it made it OK. It wasn't OK, it was an abomination to this nation and has been a curse to Mormonism.

"The problem is that our critics in certain corners of Christianity like to take isolated quotes out of context, and inflate them into full-fledged doctrine. They also sometimes take the mere speculations of past LDS authority figures and promote them into iron-clad doctrine and present it as such."

The problem on your part is your denial that what the leaders say they expect you to believe. I'll give you examples:

In the Imporovement Era, June 1945 contains the following quote as part of a Ward Teachers’ message:

"When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan–it is God’s plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy. God works in no other way. To think otherwise, without immediate repentance, may cost one his faith, may destroy his testimony, and leave him a stranger to the kingdom of God."

Mormon leaders have often say: "The Lord Will Never Permit the Living Prophet to Lead the Church Astray" (ex: heading in the 1982 Manual for LDS college students)

“The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty.” (Wilford Woodruff, Excerpt regarding Manifesto/between Official Declarations #1 and #2)

“Give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you…his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. (D&C 21:4-5)

The Lord Almighty leads this Church, and he will never suffer you to be led astray if you are “found doing your duty. You may go home and sleep as sweetly as a bade in its mother’s arms, as to any danger of your leaders leading you astray….” ( Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 9:289)

“…learn to do as you are told. …if you are told by your leader to do a thing, do it, none of your business whether it is right or wrong.” (Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, 6:32)

to be continued…

Well your leaders didn't seems confused about what they meant:

Joseph Smith declared: "God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp.345-346). Another one of their leaders coined the phrase: "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become" (The Gospel Through the Ages, Hunter, p.105-106). Brigham Young preached: "It appears ridiculous to the world, under their darkened and erroneous traditions, that God has once been a finite being" (Deseret News, Nov. 16, 1859, p. 290).

You next big deception:

"Polygamy is not taught as a pre-requisite for godhood in the LDS Church today, and arguably, it never was a doctrine to begin with. "

Really? Your scripture says:

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines—
2 Behold, and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter.
3 Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same.
4 For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory

How could you become Gods if you are damned for not practicing polygamy? Here is what other LDS leaders have said on this topic:

Brigham Young said you are damned if you deny polygamy.
"Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned," (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p. 266). Also, "The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy," (Journal of Discourses, vol. 11, p. 269). Why do we believe in and practice polygamy? Because the Lord introduced it to his servants in a revelation given to Joseph Smith, and the Lord's servants have always practiced it. "And is that religion popular in heaven?" It is the only popular religion there . . . (Deseret News, August 6, 1862)

Mormonism still believes in polygamy:
"Living Women — A living woman may be sealed to only one husband. . . .

"Living Men — If a husband and wife have been sealed and the wife dies, the man may have another woman sealed to him if she is not already sealed. (Church Handbook of Instruction, p.72) "

To be continued.

"The Christian world, so called, are heathens as to their knowledge of the salvation of God." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:171).

"What does the Christian world know about God? Nothing…Why so far as the things of God are concerned, they are the veriest fools; they know neither God nor the things of God." (John Taylor, Journal of Discourses 13:225).

"The Roman Catholic, Greek, and Protestant church, is the great corrupt, ecclesiastical power, represented by great Babylon…." (Orson Pratt, Orson Pratt, Writings of an Apostle, "Divine Authenticity," no.6, p.84).

"Brother Taylor has just said that the religions of the day were hatched in hell. The eggs were laid in hell, hatched on its borders, and then kicked on to the earth." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 6:176).

That is enough to prove my point on this issue. I can offer many more.

A lie on your part: "Decker got kicked out of the LDS Church after emotionally abusing his wife." Ed Decker was never kicked out, he demanded his name be removed from church records. His exit letter is available to view at the University of Utah.

I will be responding to your other lies and deceptions.

It should read, "This is merely a scare-tactic intended to convince the audience that Mormons worship Joseph when they do no such thing." An important difference–and precisely the sort of bait-and-switch he'd been so effectively arguing against!