[1]: Anyone care to educate me on the LDS and where they stand in relation to the Abrahamic faiths?

[2] I’m not sure that’s possible in a short answer. But here are my initial thoughts, based on many many hours of discussion with local Mormon missionaries:

In many ways, the actual beliefs aren’t so different. That is, there are a lot of differences to fundamentalist Christianity, but that’s not the only definition of Christianity (as Jonathan points out). But here, perhaps, are the main two —

1) Ostensibly, Mormons acknowledge the authority of the bible, but when you press them, they definitely place the Book of Mormon (and any other Mormon writings) above the bible. Personally, I find the Book of Mormon (BoM) a bit of a hotchpotch. Some parts of it seem lifted nearly word for word from the KJV (which they use to justify the authority of the BoM, because it’s consistent with the bible), other parts are definitely a long way behind the bible in a literary sense. Much of their beliefs are not really consistent with the bible, and any questioning of those will have them reverting to the BoM rather than the bible – and if you ask, it’s clear that they perceive the BoM more authoritative EVEN when in the same breath they’re claiming equal authority of bible and BoM.

2) Joseph Smith is considered a prophet (the most important one) and thus the whole Christian concept that Jesus was the final prophet/messenger from god is dumped (though they’ll adamantly argue that Jesus was important too).

But in my mind, the most telling point is the fact that Mormons are discouraged from reading any non-Mormon writings. If you ask a missionary to do so they won’t, because they think that if it’s by a non-Mormon then it doesn’t hold the same credibility as by a Mormon. That includes academically reputable information. And that means that they aren’t exposed to anything that contradicts what they believe. More than that – try talking to a missionary about their lifestyle: they’re not allowed beyond the boundaries of their mission area without permission, they live, eat and sleep in pairs (only being alone to go to the bathroom), and they may not call family except at Christmas time (not even for birthdays).

That, IMO, places them clearly within the definition of a cult rather than a religion.