The Great Apostasy

Ephesians 2:19-20   Ephesians 4:11-14   Matthew 24:9   1 Nephi 11:32-34   2 Nephi 27:5   Isaiah 24:5   1 Nephi 13:26-40   3 John 1:9-10   2 Timothy 4:3-4   Doctrine and Covenants 123:12

"The Church of Jesus Christ is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets.  These leaders have divine priesthood authority.  Through revelation they direct the affairs of the church.  They maintain doctrinal purity, authorize the administration of ordinances, and call and confer upon others the priesthood authority.

"People rejected and killed Jesus Christ and the Apostles.  With the death of the Apostles, the presiding priesthood authority was absent from the church.  Consequently, there was no longer authority to confer the Holy Ghost or perform other saving ordinances.  Revelation ceased, and doctrine became corrupted.

"Even before the death of the Apostles, many conflicts concerning doctrine arose.  The Roman Empire, which at first had persecuted the Christians, later adopted Christianity.  Important religious questions were settled by councils.  The simple doctrines and ordinances taught by the Savior were debated and changed to conform to worldly philosophies.  They physically changed the scriptures, removing plain and precious doctrines from them.  They created creeds, or statements of belief, based on false and changed doctrine.  Because of pride, some aspired to positions of influence.  People accepted these false ideas and gave honor to false teachers who taught pleasing doctrines rather than divine truth.

"Throughout history, many people have sincerely believed false creeds and doctrines.  They have worshiped according to the light they possessed and have received answers to their prayers.  Yet they are 'kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.'

"Therefore, a restoration, not a reformation, was required.  Priesthood authority did not continue in an unbroken line of succession from the Apostle Peter.  To reform is to change what already exists; to restore is to bring back something in its original form.  Thus, restoration of priesthood authority through divine messengers was the only possible way to overcome the Great Apostasy."

From Preach My Gospel, p. 36.  Emphasis added.

The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

1 Nephi 13:39   2 Nephi 29:8-10   Moroni 10:3-5   Doctrine and Covenants 20:5-16   Doctrine and Covenants 42:12-14  

In my previous post, I mentioned how much I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and what it means to me.  Those feelings go hand in hand with my feelings of gratitude to the prophet Joseph Smith for restoring the gospel.  He was severely persecuted, and yet he never wavered.  He stayed true to the revelations he received until the fullness of the gospel had been completely restored.  And then he sealed his testimony with his own blood.  So much pain, so much sorrow, so much sacrifice, all so that I and the rest of the world may have the opportunity to know God, to know Christ, to know the commandments, to live in such a way as to bring joy beyond measure.

As a missionary, we often showed a short filmstrip about the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  During the scene where Joseph went to the woods to pray, the music from the song "Oh How Lovely Was the Morning" was played.  To this day, I cannot hear that melody without my eyes filling up with tears.  The spirit testified to me then, as it does now, that the story of Joseph Smith and his first vision is true.

I know that God loves me.  I know that He is mindful of me, my happiness, my challenges, my sorrows, my trials.  I know that He loves his children today as much as He loved His children in ancient times.  I know this because He gave us a prophet, Joseph Smith, to restore the gospel, and we continue to have a prophet of God to guide us now.