Questions: Members of the Restored Church say there was a great
apostasy after the deaths of all Christ’s original apostles. What does apostasy
look like? Was there an apostasy?
“Behold, verily I say unto you, that the heart of my servant … was
right before me, for he covenanted with me that he would obey my word. And he received the word with gladness, but
straightway Satan tempted him; and the
fear of persecution and the cares of the world caused him to reject the word.
Wherefore he broke my covenant, and it remaineth with me to do with him as
seemeth me good.” Doctrine and Covenants 40:1-3
“For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine
everlasting covenant; They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness,
but every man walketh in his own way, and
after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world,
and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in
Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall.” Doctrine and Covenants
1:16-17
Members of the Restored Church believe that apostasy is the breaking
of covenants because of fear of man and idolatry (in the form of wealth, power,
etc).
There are some, including priests, who will
know and hear truth yet will not do what truth requires. When they depart from the truth they will be
easily deceived by others. When they
depart from the truth, they are in apostasy.
The sons of Eli, the high priest of his time
in ancient Israel, were also priests but were wicked. They abused their authority. It became such a problem that people did not
like doing sacrifice with them. The priests did not know the Lord.
“Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. … priests … the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men
abhorred the offering of the LORD.” 1
Samuel 2:12, 13, 17
These were only two men, sons of the high priest,
and luckily their apostasy stopped with them and was purged from the
priesthood. In the prophet Jeremiah’s time there was also apostasy. Inside the temple priests engaged in profane
acts, and the people approved of their behavior.
“The prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so. …”
Jeremiah 5:31
“For both prophet and priest are
profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.”
Jeremiah 23:11
The prophet Micah noted how apostate priests
can gain power.
“If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of
strong drink; he shall be the prophet of his people.” Micah 2:11
“The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine
for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the LORD among us?
none evil can come upon us.” Micah 3:11
Apostasy, sadly, can also be the result of
persecution.
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is
your reward in heaven: for so persecuted
they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but
if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is
thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and trodden under the foot of
men.” Matthew 5:11-12
The priesthood does not function when apostate
priests have overcome the entire church, authority has broken down, and truth
can no longer be understood. The priests are to keep the law. When priests
chase after vanities, and the priesthood no longer has the knowledge of God, there
is no priesthood.
“The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they
that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me,
and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not
profit.” Jeremiah 2:8
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified
him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations,
and the foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they
became fools. …
Who changed the truth of
God into a lie.
…” Romans 1:21-23, 25
“[B]ut
there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” Galatians 1:7
Apostasy results when men begin to heed the vanities and precepts
of men, and heed not the Holy Spirit.
“Quench not the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19
“Yea, wo be unto him that
hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift
of the Holy Ghost! Yea, wo be unto
him that saith: We have received, and we need no more! And in fine, wo unto all
those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he
that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built
upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall.” 2 Nephi 28:26-28
“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as
your fathers did, so do ye.” Acts 7:51
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have
tasted of the heavenly gift, and were
made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the
powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again
unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and
put him to an open shame.” Hebrews 6:4-6
Apostasy is when men can no longer know God.
“The ox
knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know. …”
Isaiah 1:3
“For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are
wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.” Jeremiah 4:22
“Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God.” 1
Thessalonians 4:5
“And also all that generation were gathered unto
their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the
works which he had done for Israel.” Judges 2:10
The vain imaginations of apostasy will prohibit a person from
knowing God.
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God. …” 2 Corinthians
10:5
“And even as they
did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a
reprobate mind. …” Romans 1:28
“Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they
are foolish: for they know not the way of
the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.” Jeremiah 5:4
In Adam’s time it is known from the Bible that his sons were
performing sacrifices to the Lord, which sacrifices we know are done by
priests.
“And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of
his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his
offering.” Genesis 4:4
Adam’s sons and grandsons called upon the Lord. They became sons
of God.
“[T]hen
began men to call upon the name of the LORD.” Genesis 4:26
“But as many as received him [Jesus Christ], to them gave he power
to become the sons of God, even to them that
believe on his name.” John 1:12
Near after the dawn of time there were men who were pursuing
godliness; they had been redeemed and become sons of God. What
happened?
“That the sons of God saw the
daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which
they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,
for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years… when
the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to
them... And God saw that the
wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:2-3,
4, 5
The sons of God desired the daughters of men. They
intermarried with people who did not have faith, and eventually lost their own.
This apostasy resulted in the loss of the Spirit, which teaches the knowledge
of God.
When wickedness was so great upon the Earth the Lord decided the Earth
needed to be cleansed. He literally cut off all the bloodlines of humanity
but Noah’s, effectively ensuring that no more children would be born within
wicked cultures. He had Noah build a boat to save his family, and the Lord
began again with eight people whose souls were saved by baptism. These became
sons and daughters of God again.
“Noah, while the ark was a preparing,
wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure
whereunto even baptism doth also now save us. …” 1 Peter 3:20-21
Noah was so righteous he was as perfect as he could be in
mortality and was able to walk with God. He had been cleansed and
perfected his character.
“Noah was a just man and perfect in his
generations, and Noah walked with God.” Genesis 6:9
What happened after Noah? God promised that there would never
again be a flood to destroy the people of the Earth.
“[T]he waters shall no more become a
flood to destroy all flesh.” Genesis 9:15
The people multiplied and eventually a great number gathered
together as one, with one speech, and began to build a tower so high that they
hoped by it they could get to heaven. They no longer understood
truth. They thought that building a great tower, the Tower of Babel, would help
them gain heaven, instead of doing as Noah and his family had done.
“And the whole earth was of one
language, and of one speech.
… And they said, Go to, let us build
us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven. …” Genesis11:1,
4
The Lord saw what they were doing, and he confounded their
language and scattered them.
“And the LORD said … Go to,
let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not
understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the
earth: and they left off to build the city.” Genesis 11:6, 7-8
The patriarch Abraham knew that he was lacking in the needful
things of the spirit. He was poor in spirit. He went out looking for
a firm spiritual foundation, for a city with a priesthood foundation, and he
was obedient when he found it.
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out
into a place which he should after receive for an
inheritance, obeyed …
By faith he sojourned … dwelling in
tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob … For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and
maker is God.” Hebrews 11: 8, 9, 10
Because he was hungry for the truth and obedient, the Lord
promised Abraham that he would have children as numerous as the stars and that
they would be chosen by God.
“[T]he LORD appeared to Abram, and said
to him, I am the Almighty God: walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I
will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
And Abram fell on his face: and God
talked with him, saying, As for
me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many
nations. …[T]hy name shall be
called Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. … And I will establish my covenant between me
and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting
covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.” Genesis
17:1-4, 5, 7
The Lord was good to his word and worked to keep Abraham’s
children, specifically the children of Israel (Israel is the grandson of
Abraham), on the right ways, despite their apostasy and frequent failure to
follow Him.
Even after witnessing the great miracles that Moses did through
God, ancient Israel quickly turned to apostasy.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get
thee down, for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have
corrupted themselves.” Exodus
32:7
Repeatedly, ancient Israel was seduced into the worship of false
idols.
“And they forsook the LORD, and served
Baal and Ashtaroth.” Judges 2:13
“They sacrificed unto devils, not to
God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your
fathers feared not. Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God
that formed thee.” Deuteronomy 32:17-18
It isn’t hard for a person to become apostate, as the natural man
is contrary to God.
“For the time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine; but after their
own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itchy ears; And
they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto
fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
In the case of the sons of God, they physically desired the
daughters of man. With the Tower of Babel, teachings became so corrupt that men
thought they could build a large tower and simply walk into heaven.
The apostles of Jesus Christ fought apostasy in the
early church. Much of the letters that went from the apostles to
various congregations were to address incorrect beliefs that had popped up
which deceived people. The apostles knew
that apostasy would continue to be a problem.
“But there were false prophets also
among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who
privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought
them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And
many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth
shall be evil spoken of.” 2 Peter 2:1-2
False teachers in the time of the Christ’s early church were able
to turn whole houses of worship, entire congregations, to apostasy.
“For there are many unruly and vain
talkers and deceivers … Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching
things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. … They profess
that they know God: but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work
reprobate.” Titus 1:10, 11, 16
The apostles knew that once they were gone there would be those
who would teach lies and convince many to follow them.
“For I know this, that after my
departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also
of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away
disciples after them.” Acts 20:29-30,
The apostles saw that despite all their efforts, the church would
eventually be overcome and fall into apostasy.
The apostasy would happen before there would be a second coming of
Christ.
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him. That
ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word,
nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for
that day shall not come, except there be a falling away first. …” 2
Thessalonians 2:1-3
A coming apostasy was expressly taught to the apostles by the
Spirit.
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly,
that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1 Timothy 4:1,
Already, those who had corrupted God’s word began to outnumber
those who had not.
“For we are not as many, which
corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight
of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17
There were already men pretending to be apostles, but were false
apostles, false priests, who were liars.
“[T]hou hast tried them which say
they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.” Revelation 2:2
“For such are false apostles,
deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” 2
Corinthians 11:13
When Christ returns many faiths will claim to know Him, yet
because they reject the priesthood power and have not done the ordinances
according to the will of the Father, they will not be part of Christ’s church.
“Having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5
“Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the
will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in
that day, Lord Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have
cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew
7:21-23
Many of these faiths must out of necessity deny the
priesthood. This is because they have not been given the priesthood
as Aaron and Christ were given and have no priestly line. Many have a line which
stems from a corrupt generation. When a priest no longer has knowledge and
understands the law of God, they cannot be a priest.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will
also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast
forgotten the law of thy God. …” Hosea 4:6
Many assume that Christ will conform to them because they speak
His name, but it is they that must conform to the image of Christ.
One aspect of apostasy is the altering of scripture.
Inspired books often include warnings to those who would alter their words.
“Ye shall not add unto the word
which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may
keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 4:2
When apostate people alter the words of scripture they are harming
those needing to benefit from it.
“Every word of God is pure: he is a
shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs
30:5-6
If an apostate person alters scripture they will be held
accountable for their acts. The book of Revelation specifically notes that if
anyone messes with the prophecies in the book of Revelation, they will suffer
the plagues that are specifically written of in that book, and they also
jeopardize their own salvation.
“For I testify unto every man that
heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto
these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if
any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall
take away his part out of the book of life. …” Revelation 22:18-19
Scripture is not always easy to understand. That is one
reason why the priesthood is needed. Unlearned and unstable people
can interpret scripture incorrectly, becoming apostate to their own
destruction.
“As also in all his [the apostle Paul] epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some
things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable
wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2
Peter 3:16
Legend says that all but one of the apostles of Christ’s early
church died horrible deaths. Eventually there was a complete fall
into apostasy. In the year 325 AD, the doctrines of the various
Christian churches were different. This lack of cohesion was symptomatic
of the fact that the priesthood no longer functioned on the Earth, as it is the
responsibility of the priesthood to ensure that the truth of Christ’s doctrine
is kept pure and intact. During this time of great apostasy it was well
known in the streets, and was even mocked in the theatres, how Christianity was
falling apart.
“By these means confusion everywhere prevailed: for one saw not only the prelates
of the churches engaged in disputing, but the people also divided, some siding
with one party, and some with the other. To so disgraceful an extent was this
affair carried, that Christianity became
a subject of popular ridicule, even in the very theatres.” The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates
Scholasticus, Book One, Chapter VI, Pages 9-10.
The emperor called a council, called the council of Nicea, to
establish a uniform Christian Doctrine. After this council there
were still disputations, and other councils took place. This uniform doctrine,
the Nicene Creed, became the basis of Christian understanding over the next
millennia.
The main disputation in the council was the confusion as to what
Jesus Christ is in relation to His Father. These men, leaders of their
respective churches, did not understand, did not have the knowledge of God. For
a time the council of Nicea held debates, often with a great deal of animosity and
lengthy prideful oration. With an emperor looming over them, the men of the
various Christian churches began to come slowly to a conclusion.
‘Whereupon questions were put forth and answers,
and the meaning of these terms was clearly defined; when it was generally
admitted that ouasis (of the essence or substance) simply implied that the Son
is of the Father indeed, but does not subsist as a part of the Father. To this
interpretation of the sacred doctrine which declares that the Son is of the
Father, but is not part of his substance,
it seemed right to us to assent.
… That he is consubstantial with the Father then simply implies, that the Son
of God has no resemblance to created things, but is in every respect like the
Father only who begat him; and that he is of no other substance or essence but
of the Father. To which doctrine, explained in this way, it appeared right to assent. …” The Ecclesiastical History of
Socrates Scholasticus, Book One, Chapter VIII Pages 19-20
These men were confused and did not know what Christ was. These men were not able to assist in the
instruction of the knowledge of God. These men did not know the nature of
Christ and only agreed with what seemed
and appeared right. Additionally, the
Holy Spirit was given by Christ to His apostles to guide them and to bring all
things that Christ said into their minds. Yet there was so much contention at
the time that Christianity became a joke. These men did not have Christ’s gift
of the Holy Spirit to guide them, and to give them wisdom.
“Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day
in which he was taken up, after that he
through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had
chosen.” Acts 1:1-2
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will
send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said
unto you.” John 14:26
Such contention and confusion is not inspired by the Holy Spirit.
“But the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” Galatians 5:22
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of
your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister
grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God. …” Ephesians
4:29-30
Contention and confusion is of a devilish spirit.
“This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is
earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
James 3:15-16
“A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his
mouth calleth for strokes. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are
the snare of his soul.” Proverbs 18:6-7
“In whom
the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4
“For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not
of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he
stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.” 3 Nephi
11:29 The Book of Mormon
“For God
is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the
saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33
The apostasy of the early church led to confusion.
It was not until 1517 that man named Martin Luther saw that
something was not quite right with the Christian religion. In an act of
disagreement, he nailed his disputations to the door of a university. From him
and others like him sprouted many other religions
These religions try to fix what they perceive to be incorrect
teachings and doctrines. Their task is not something they can
accomplish. How could they possibly restore heavenly truth when they are all
under the veil? When they are not witnesses of heaven? How could they restore
truth and speak for God, how could they teach the knowledge of God without the
direct instruction of God?
God spoke to Adam.
“And the LORD God called unto Adam, and
said unto him, Where art thou?” Genesis 3:9
God spoke to Noah.
“And God said unto
Noah … Make thee an ark. …” Genesis 6:13, 14
God spoke to Abraham.
“And when Abram was ninety years old
and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God;
walk before me, and be thou perfect.” Genesis 17:1
God spoke to Moses.
“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I
AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath
sent me unto you.” Exodus 3:14
God the Father announced Jesus Christ.
“And lo a voice from heaven saying,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17
God spoke to the early apostles.
“And I fell unto the ground, and heard
a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Acts 22:7
And God spoke to Joseph Smith.
“When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose
brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of
them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other – This
is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” Joseph Smith- History 1:17
This Joseph Smith translated and published the
Book of Mormon, and organized Christ’s church by the direction of Christ, which
church is patterned after the early Christian Church. This prophesied restored
church would be established in the last days before the second coming of
Christ.
“Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the
fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work. …” Isaiah 54:16
“Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times
of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his
holy prophets since the world began.” Acts 3:20-21
“That in the dispensation of
the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ.
…” Ephesians 1:10
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto
them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people.” Revelations 14:6
“And it shall come to pass in the
last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in
the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And
many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the
LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and
he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. ...” Isaiah
2:2-3
Truth has always been given to the Earth by God. God
does not change. Any restoration of Christ’s original church would
have to be implemented by God. Much like in the Apostle Paul’s time, God’s church
would need to teach the knowledge of God.
“Then Paul stood in
the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all
things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions,
I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him I
declare unto you. God that made the
world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth,
dwelleth not in temples made with hands, Neither is worshipped with men’s
hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made
of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and
hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find
him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move,
and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are
also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not
to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art
and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now
commandeth all men every where to repent.” Acts 17:22-30
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