A POSSIBLE APOSTASY?

Of all the doctrine taught by the Mormon Church, none is as key to their beliefs as the teaching of a total apostasy of the early Christian Church. Indeed, there can be no need for the Mormon Church if there was not a total apostasy. B.H. Roberts stated in the History of the [Mormon] Church Vol. 1, Introduction page XL, "Nothing less than a complete apostasy from the Christian religion would warrant the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." So, what is an apostasy and why is it so important to the foundation of the Mormon Church? Does the Bible say anything about this subject?

Defining Terms
In Christianity, apostasy refers to those who have fallen away from the faith. Apostates can range from those who simply did not believe to begin with or who openly distort the Word of God for their own benefit. From a Mormon perspective, a total apostasy took place within a few centuries after the crucifixion of Jesus. "By the second and third centuries, widespread changes had been made in the pure doctrines and ordinances given by the Savior. The Church that Jesus had established and sanctioned was no longer on this earth" (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [LDS prophet], p. 86). This total apostasy completely corrupted God's Word and plan for the salvation of man, Benson said. With His Word corrupted, God would need to restore His truths to mankind. It is these truths that Joseph Smith claimed to restore.

Apostasy & the Bible
Apostasy is mentioned many times within the New Testament. Jesus and Paul spoke of those who were either currently apostates or in a time when apostasy would become wide spread. Despite this, a total apostasy is never mentioned or suggested within the Bible. In fact, quite the opposite is found. Several times in the New Testament we find that the truths spoken of in God's Word will never be tainted by the actions of man. Jesus said, "And I say also unto thee, that thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18 KJV, emphasis added). To claim that a total apostasy took place is to claim that Jesus was a liar or seriously confused.

In addition, Jesus promised His followers, just before His ascension into heaven, "Low I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matt. 28:20 KJV). Jesus could not keep this promise if His church was completely apostate.

As stated earlier, we see that a total apostasy is not predicted in the Bible. In stead, we are comforted by the fact that our savior will never leave us nor forsake us. The apostle Paul wrote, "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 Tim. 4:1 KJV, emphasis added). Here again we see that the idea of a complete apostasy is rebuked. Paul states that some shall depart, not all. Even in the Old Testament we see that God always had a remnant of His people. Elijah thought he was the only one left who believed in the one true God, yet God showed him that he had 7,000 men who refused to worship Baal (1 Kings 19:18).

The Four Who Survived
The Mormon Church stands by the teaching of a total apostasy despite the fact that their own scriptures contradict this idea. Three of the Nephite people within the Book of Mormon are said to still be alive today: "Therefore, more blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men…" (3 Nephi 28:7).

It should also be noted that the three Nephites are guaranteed successful converts to the church, and they even baptized those converts according to the Book of Mormon: "…they did go forth upon the face of the land, and did minister unto all the people…baptizing them, and as many as were baptized did receive the Holy Ghost. …they did go forth among all the people of Nephi, and did preach the gospel of Christ unto all people upon the face of the land; and they were converted unto the Lord…" (3 Nephi 28:18, 23).

Along with these three and their converts, the apostle John is said to be alive as well: "And the Lord said unto me: John, my beloved, what desirest thou? For if you shall ask what you will, it shall be granted unto you. …And the Lord said unto me: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, because thou desirest this thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory…. (Doctrine & Covenants 7:1, 3).

Conclusion
If, in the Mormon Church's way of thinking, God's church became so tainted that nothing worth teaching remained, then it follows that God's power can be overcome by the wits of men and the wiles of Satan. This is not the all-powerful God depicted in the Bible. If God's Word can be removed from the earth once, how can we be sure it won't be removed again? For that matter, how can we be sure that it is not removed now? By diminishing God's power with such claims, The Mormons force everything else said by God to become questionable at best and a lie at worst.

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