Face to Face

"The simple story told by the Prophet Joseph Smith of his interview with the Father and the Son makes it easy to understand the teachings of the Bible relating to this important matter. It must be remembered, however, that this knowledge was not obtained by the Prophet through a study of the Bible. We take the Bible merely to prove that his [God's] story harmonizes fully with the teachings thereof [of Joseph Smith's story]. Some of which we shall now consider.
See: Genesis 1:26-27 and Genesis 5:3
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. (Exodus 24:9-10)
And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord walked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshiped, every man in his tent door. And the Lord spoke unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend...(Exodus 33:9-11)
Could any historian be expected to describe this event any more clearly than to say that the Lord and Moses talked with each other "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend"? Does anyone need to be told how a man speaks to his friend? The Father and the Son spoke with Joseph Smith "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." There is only one thing that made this possible, and that is the fact that God did create man in his own image and likeness.

Insert
Exodus 33:20-But, "he said," you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.
"Sometimes in the Old Testament people are said to have seen God (e.g., Ex4:9-11). But we are also told that no one can see God and live (Ex 33:20). Therefore, since no human being can see God as he really is, those who saw God [in the OT] saw him in a form he took on himself temporarily for the occasion. [e.g. burning bush]." (The Holy Bible, the NIV Study Bible, footnotes, pg.1590)

This true knowledge of God and of his Son, Jesus Christ, has come again to the world in this dispensation, not through a study of the Bible, but through the actual appearance of these heavenly personages to the young Joseph Smith, as he has so eloquently testified." (A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, LeGrand Richards, Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, pg. 23, italics added, Insert added)

It is impossible for a man to look upon God and live. Joseph Smith did not see God the Father and Jesus Christ. He saw something that was of the devil-appearing as light.