The LDS church has fundamental flaws that prevent it from being the true church.

I will simply adress each argument you have set forth. Your first problem is the low "probability" that the people spoken of in the Book of Mormon actually polulated central and south America. For starters, there is quite a low probability and lack of evidence that Noah's ark ever existed, a very low scientific probability that a man was ressurected. We don't base faith on evidence, it would then cease to be faith. However, there is much evidence of these people. If you know the history of the Book of Mormon, it speaks of two civilizations that had cities, and wars. According to the timeline...600 B.C. to 420 A.D....it is very likely that this account is true. History has not labeled these people as "Nephites" and "Lamanites" as the Book of Mormon does, but it has shown that there were in fact cities, civilizations, and wars spanning this time period in these parts of the world. As far as the excommunication of intellectuals go, this is simply not true. I'm sure that you have read accounts from former members who claim it is, records always indicate otherwise. Ill give you an example. There is an anti-Mormon named Ed Decker who has written many books slandering the Church. He claims that he was excommunicated for "asking questions". He was excommunicated for having several extra-marital affairs as his wife and children (still faithful members) will affirm. The absolute worst source for information on ANY Church are apostates of that Church. They are often bitter and spiteful of their former Church. Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church once said that it seemed that those who left the Church could not leave it alone. There are bitter Mormon apostates who seek to destroy the Church by distorting the truth, twisting the facts, and even blatantly lying in many cases. Believe me, I have read just about all of the anti-Mormon literature out there, about 99% of it is completely bogus, some of it actually makes me laugh, and ALL of it is put out there by people who claim to be former members who were excommunicated. That is a favorite claim of anti-Mormon bigots. Don't buy into it. You also claim that Mormons are discouraged and frowned upon if they don't do what they are supposed to do. Thos could not be farther from the truth. I will tell you two things about myself.Iam a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints...and I have made PLENTY of mistakes in my life. One of my biggest points of gratitude to my Faith is that I have always been encoureged to be better. There will be individuals in any Church who will gossip or judge others, as this is a human weakness. That is a shame and reflects poorly upon all of Christianity. That does not mean that those Churches are judgemental. When an individual seeks the guidance of their Bishop after having made a mistake, they are always encouraged, taught about repentance and the Savior's Atoning Sacrifice which makes it possible to be forgiven. I know that this is true from experience. As far as the not serving a mission claim...I served a mission. Over every mission the Church calls men to preside over the mission, called 'Mission Presidents". They are given a great deal of trust by the Church and respect from its members. When I was a missionary, my Mission President, a great man whom I will always respect, did not serve a mission when he had the opporitunity. He chose to persue sports instead. Yet he was still called as a Mission President. The next argument is perhaps the weakest. A story of a Bishop who, when speaking of someone who was arrested for stealing, said he knew in his heart he had done nothing wrong. Perhaps he believed the man to be innocent or falsely accused. If not, then he was not speaking in harmony with the teachings of the Church. Do you actually believe that the Church teaches or believes that stealing is not wrong? That one should be obvious. Your last issue was that you simply could not believe that Joseph Smith had a vision of God and Jesus Christ. This sounds more like a personal problem with Faith than a doctrinal issue. If you believe the New Testament of the Bible, which we in the Church do, then you have heard the account of Stephen the great martyr looking up into the Heavens and seeing Jesus Christ at the right hand of God. I do not challenge Stephen's vision, nor do I challengs Our Father in Heaven's ability to bring forth great miracles according to one's Faith. On the contrary, any Church that would teach that there are no such things as visions and revalations anymore would be the Church that clearly could not be of God, for God is a God of mirales.