The warnings are to avoid wickedness and to stand in holy places not to decipher if the Lord's church has true leadership or not. If we're still trying to figure that out then we're really lost. We may as well revisit if Joseph actually was chosen as the latter-day prophet and if he did get the plates.
I understand the warning, and they are good. I guess if one does not have enough of the Spirit to find their way, then one better listen. I am thankful for what I have learned.
A prophet speaks for God, and delivers truth, which Joseph did, so he is a Prophet. But by scripture, he was just mainly to restore, to start the restoration.
If you study the vision if the tree of life, by Lehi and Nephi; one should see, the Church is here to restore and gather, but we should grow past the basics, and find our way out of the mist, present in the Spacious field, that the one in white has lead us to, where in the Church today, do you see the Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit that should be evident, the Book of Mormon warns about that too.
The Holy Spirit is there to enlighten our way, to lead us out of the Mist, in the Spacious field; our Baptism of Fire opens up the way.
I have no problem with Joseph Smith, I know he is a Prophet of God, and I know the Book of Mormon is the Word of God; I knew that over 40 years ago, after reading just a few verses. The Holy Ghost pushed me to talk to the Missionary Elders at our College. I am a descendant of Ephraim, of Aaron and the House of David, I well know the Spirit, and my God. This was not my choosing, even chatting here on this site, I do nothing, not confirmed by the Spirit. I seek for no power of glory, but only to bare the light I have been given.