Category: Great Apostasy
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3 Absolute Imperatives
NOTE: This article was published in the March/April 2025 Mormonism Researched newsletter, a free publication. To subscribe, please visit the registration site. Over the years, Latter-day Saint leaders have been very bold when it comes to some non-negotiable imperatives regarding the truthfulness of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The argument goes, and I…
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The “Completely False” Rationale for Mormonism’s Restoration
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints struggles to explain past teachings about a universal Christian apostasy.
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Examining 10 Claims of the Great Apostasy
Over the past few decades, Latter-day Saints have been quick to maintain that they should be considered “Christians” just like their Christian friends. This idea is typified in a general conference talk by Seventy Gary Coleman who described how he responded to 14-year-old Cortnee, the daughter of an LDS mission president, after her friend told…
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The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Short Rebuttal to President Nelson’s New Proclamation
On Sunday morning, April 5, 2020–the final day of the spring General Conference–President Russell M. Nelson announced a new “proclamation” called “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World.” This is the sixth proclamation issued by church leaders, with the others coming in 1841 (for church…
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Christianity Index
Apostasy Christianity
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Crash Course Mormonism: Great Apostasy
The Great Apostasy is the idea that true Christianity lost God’s authority soon after the death of Christ’s apostles, which made it necessary for God to restore the true church through Joseph Smith and the founding of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830. If there had been no Great Apostasy, there…
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Does 2 Timothy 3:1–5 Support the Great Apostasy?
Some Mormons have used 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 14-15 and 4:3-4 as a support of the Great Apostasy and a prediction that all authority would be lost soon after the deaths of the apostles (including the author of this book, the apostle Paul). These verses have been taken out of context to support this teaching. These verses say:…
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Does Amos 8:11-12 Support the Great Apostasy?
Amos 8:11-12 is often cited by Mormons to support the concept of a Great Apostasy. However, BYU professor Charles Harrell argues that this passage reflects ancient Israel’s impending spiritual famine due to wickedness and apostasy, specifically in relation to the Assyrian conquest. It warns of the loss of divine guidance rather than a universal authority…
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Does Isaiah 24:5 Support the Great Apostasy?
Isaiah 24:5 says, “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.” According to some Latter-day Saints, this refers to an event called the Great Apostasy. The everlasting covenant described here is certainly a reference to the Mosaic law, which would have…
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Citations on the Great Apostasy
The following are sections out of Bill McKeever’s book In their Own Words: A Collection of Mormon Quotations. Joseph Smith “What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the…
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Isaiah 29:14: Marvelous Work and the Restoration
Isaiah 29:14 says, Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Apostle LeGrand Richards writes, Well did Isaiah predict: ‘For the wisdom of their…
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The Great and Abominable Church
In the March 2015 edition of Ensign magazine, Mormon Apostle Dallin Oaks discusses the topics of atheism, moral relativism, secular humanism and the “great and abominable church.” The article, titled, “Stand as Witnesses of God,” was a devotional address he gave in February of 2014. On page 30 he likens atheism to the teachings of…
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Mormonism 201 (Apostasy): Response to Barry R. Bickmore
To visit the list of rejoinders, go here. In order to make this review easier to read, all original quotes from the Mormonism 201 rebuttal are boldfaced and italicized to separate these from the rest of the rejoinder. Joseph Smith, the first Mormon prophet, said, I have more to boast of than ever any man…
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Calling the Apostle John!
Calling the apostle John! By Eric Johnson
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Acts 1 and the issue of “12” apostles
Acts 1 and the issue of “12” apostles By Eric Johnson When faithful Latter-day Saints are asked about their church’s authority, they will very often point to Ephesians 2:20, which says, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” According to Mormonism, the “Great…
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Does 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Support The Great Apostasy?
2 Thessalonians 2:3 says, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first . . .” This verse is sometimes used to support the idea of a Great Apostasy. However, the context is not explaining that there would be a complete apostasy. As…
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Great Apostasy (Defined)
Great Apostasy. True Christianity is said to have ceased after the death of Christ’s apostles. This made it necessary for God to restore the true church through Joseph Smith in 1830. Without this belief, there is no reason for the Mormon Church to exist.
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Joseph Smith’s Violence to Kingdom-Growth Parables
There are at least three parables in the Bible on the gradual growth of the kingdom unto maturity: 1. Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31–32, Mark 4:30–32, and Luke 13:18–19) 2. Parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30,36-43) 3. Parable of the Leaven (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20–21) All three of these parables were…
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Surviving Apostles?
By Bill McKeeverB.H. Roberts, an LDS Seventy and LDS Church historian, in his introduction to the History of the Church, stated that the LDS Church is founded upon this very premise. He wrote, “Nothing less than a complete apostasy from the Christian religion would warrant the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day…
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Abominable Creed
One of the oldest Christian creeds known today is the Apostles’ Creed. The Apostles of the early church didn’t formulate the creed; rather, the Apostles’ Creed, compiled later, is comprised of a brief summary of the Apostles’ teachings. This creed, as well as other Christian creeds, is sometimes recited as a formal statement of belief.…