From Apostasy to Restoration
| by Alice Gifford I've been reading the book "From Apostasy to Restoration" by Kent P. Jackson which is wonderful for added insight to this lesson. I have always been bothered when some members have indicated the Catholic church is the "great and abominable church". After reading a portion of this book I feel like I understood correctly - the "great and abominable church" is the evil of the world and anything that takes away from the "plain and most precious" truths that Christ taught and left during his mortal ministry. The apostasy had already begun "before" the Catholic church was established as we know it. "for more than two centuries before what we call the Catholic Church". I have always cringed inside when I heard members talk about other religions as the "great and abominable church". I hope we can help the young women have a better understand of this. The early church that Christ established, "died from internal, self-inflicted wounds" by members who would look beyond the simple doctrines of the gospel and bring new ideas into the Christian faith. (See 2 Tim 4:3-4) "Introduction of alien ideas" gain widespread acceptance, false ideas were becoming more popular than revealed doctrine, self-appointed teachers were becoming more influential than the apostles and slowly a revolution was taking place that in a matter of decades would overthrow the gospel, the priesthood (the power & authority to act in God's name and the to receive revelation for God) "When the remaining apostle John left his public ministry around A.D. 100, apostleship ceased, and the keys of the kingdom were taken. Once the keys of the kingdom - which included the keys of revelation - were gone, the true Church of Jesus Christ was no longer in existence in the Old World. The withdrawal of apostolic power did not take place by accident. Had it been God's will, he would have chosen others to hold the keys and to continue the succession of the Twelve. But it appears that the rejection of true doctrine and authority was so widespread the Church could not continue." Pg. 27 of book "Jesus gave the apostles instructions on how to continue with his work.....(Matt 28:19-20; Actsl:2-3)"...he meant for the church to continue after His death...But nowhere in the New Testament are there instructions on how to administer the Church after the departure of the Twelve." which gives a clear message that without apostles, there is no Church of Jesus Christ. Christ also established the church on this continent, but because of pride, and wickedness, the church Christ established no longer existed. A church can only be the church of Jesus Christ if the Lord himself establishes it, authorizes it, and recognizes it works as valid and binding. Christ taught "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you (John l5:l6) and the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, "We believe that a man must be called of God by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof" (5th Article of Faith) Joseph Smith was called of God - not only "called" of God, but God the Father and Jesus Christ "appeared" to him. He actually "saw" them! Later John the Baptist ordained him to the Aaronic Priesthood which gave him the "authority" to baptize. Then Peter, James, and John ordained him to the Melchizedek Priesthood. Have you ever thought about your own testimony and where it came from? I remember attending church with my grandmother who was Catholic and I liked going to church but I had a hard time understanding what was being taught (and of course I was very young) and when my parents joined the Baptist church, I was excited to go....in fact, my brother and I would often attend by ourselves, but I wasn’t totally committed and some of the teaching were confusing. I'll never forget walking into the Stake Center on the Sunday that I was sincerely seeking the Lord and the overwhelming feeling that I had that I was in the right place!!!!! Powerful even to this day to remember! I had been in that Stake center many times before but had never felt what I felt that day.....the difference had to be that I was finally "seeking to know the truth". I love the story of the First Vision and to know that Joseph Smith at age l4 was also "seeking". I love Him for his earnest question of God and to know that we too can know if we ask. How grateful to know that God will answer our prayers and that through Joseph Smith the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored....and with that restoration the priesthood; the power and authority to act in God name, the power to received revelation from God, the keys of the gathering of Israel, and the sealing keys to seal us together as families. We truly are blessed to live in a time when the gospel of Jesus Christ has been fully restored to the earth and will not be taken away again! I could probably go on and on but I'd better do the dishes°Ü°
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