Wednesday, 27 May 2009

• Regarding Joseph Smith, the Apostasy, and the Restoration: Part 1

  
  One of the hardest things for people to believe is that God and Jesus Christ appeared to someone like Joseph Smith, a mere boy of fourteen.  Yet these same people will believe that the Virgin Mary appeared to a girl named Bernadette, or that a statue cried tears of blood, or that an image of Christ miraculously shows up in a photograph, in the clouds, or in some other unlikely place.  And what about Joan of Arc?  Many revere her as a saint, but how is that event any different than Joseph Smith's experience?

   

  People believe that the heavens are closed; that God no longer speaks to men and that there will be no more revelations.  Yet many of these same people believe in angels, or claim to have even seen one; they believe in miracles and that God answers prayers, thus contradicting themselves.

   

  I have to wonder, "Do people believe what they want to believe because they don't want God telling them what to do with their lives; how to live, what to do and what not to do?"  I find this amazing because I believe in a living, loving God who is just as much alive today as he was back in the days of Christ.  Do people really think that God is incapable of speaking to men these days?  Why would He no longer have anything to say to us?  We live in a totally different world as far as environment and circumstances, than those who lived in the early centuries.  We have different dangers on a much grander scale, more hunger, crime, and wickedness.  Look at all the devastation that's supposed to come and is already here; all the fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and diseases.

   

  In the past, God has always been there for the righteous; for those who obeyed and followed his commandments.  In fact, the ONLY time he has ever turned his face and left men to themselves was when they turned to wickedness, which in God's eyes, is when they are NOT OBEDIENT to Him.  "Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways."  (Acts 14:16) and "Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings."  (Micah 3:4).  He also describes sin as this: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."  (1 John 3:4)

   

  So if God no longer speaks to men it's because they are no longer following His laws, commandments, and ordinances, as HE established them through Jesus Christ, but instead, they have perverted them; made changes to them by incorporating their own interpretations, philosophies, and traditions into them.  This all occurred in the second and third centuries of Rome when the great intellectual scholars and philosophers all DEBATED over the doctrines of Christ and made changes as they saw fit.  This is all documented history, and is proof that there was indeed an apostasy from the original doctrines of Christ.  The apostles of Christ were constantly warning the saints to NOT DEBATE over the doctrines, but to remain faithful to what they have been taught by the apostles through the spirit.  So, if sin is the transgression of God's laws, then this prophecy was fulfilled a long time ago: "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant."  (Isaiah 24:5). 
  
  Many scriptures now seem to contradict one another because in the rewriting of them errors have crept in whether it was intentional or not.  Take a look at Hebrews 6:1 for example: "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection."  How can one go on to perfection without the principles of Christ?  Isn't that why Christ came and taught the pure doctrines of God in the first place; to correct the errors of the Jews and to bring the higher teachings and ordinances that were essential for our eternal salvation?  And if the Jews made errors in their interpretations, how can we think that we're so perfect that we can go over 2,000 years without any errors?  This is exactly why there had to be a restitution of all things in the latter days as well.
  
  

  Men had turned wicked; they had killed the apostles and what was left of the true followers of Christ, thus fulfilling these prophecies: "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievious 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) and "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-7)  Now, if you look at what happened in the second and third centuries, this is exactly what happened; this prophecy was fulfilled way back then, and even tells of the downfall of Christ's own church.  Many traditional Christians think this refers to those who fall away and no longer BELIEVE in God or Jesus Christ; who are atheists or some other pagan religion.  But in fact, it refers to ANYONE who attempts to make changes to the original laws and doctrines of Christ other than those who were authorized to make changes, namely, the apostles who had the keys and the power and authority to do so.  This doesn't include men like Marcion, Justin, Valentinus, and others who debated over the scriptures, and took it upon themselves to rewrite and make changes according to what they believed.  These changes are what "traditional" Christian doctrines are based on, and like the Jews of old, they have erred in their understanding of the scriptures because of the errors of our forefathers in those earlier centuries.
  

   

  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you." (1 Corinthians 11:2)  If you look at all the churches today, can you honestly say they are keeping ALL the laws, commandments, and ordinances, as Christ delivered them?  God no longer speaks to men because they have been picking and choosing what they want to believe and what they don't for so long. Instead of seeking HIS will and desire and worshiping Him according to HIS terms; people follow their own desire by worshiping as THEY please, believing what THEY want, making justifications and THINKING they are following God when, in reality, they're just following their own desires.

   

  Because of all the changes that were made to the original doctrines of Christ, all of the above prophecies have been fulfilled. The teachings of Christ that were delivered by him in their purity have all been defiled by men.  They have been changed; altered here and there throughout history by men like Marcion, Justin, and Valentinus, who not only changed things, but rewrote many of the scriptures.  Many things that were considered sacred scriptures by the saints were tossed out when the canon or Bible was first organized, and even then, men sat around arguing and debating over the scriptures and finally VOTED on what was to be included and what wasn't.  As Isaiah said, "they have TRANSGRESSED the laws, CHANGED the ordinance, BROKEN the everlasting covenant."

   

  The doctrines that Christ and his apostles taught in their purity (as they were first delivered by them) were EVERLASTING doctrines that were not to be changed or altered, EVER!  Why?  Because they were (and are) ESSENTIAL for  our eternal life and salvation; we cannot be saved without them!  Christ laid
  down His laws and commandments for all men, not just a certain few, and they were to be unchanging laws; not one jot or tittle was to be changed (Matthew 5:18) because He is an unchanging God; the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and He is no respecter of persons—what He says to one, He says to all (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11).

   

  Again, we must ask the question—why are there so many different Christian churches today that have such a wide variety of beliefs regarding the teachings and doctrines of Christ?  Why do some churches believe one thing, and others believe something else?  Why do they differ so much in their interpretations of the same scriptural verses?  It’s because the founder of each denomination believed something different than the other churches that were already in existence.  Although they all used basically the same Bible, they each had their own views, their own opinions and interpretations of the Bible, and they each sought after God in their own way—to worship Him “as they pleased.”  This was the very reason why many of our forefathers came to America in the first place—so they could worship God in THEIR OWN WAY and not be forced to adopt whatever religion the king happened to be practicing at the time.

   

  Because they worshiped according to the dictates of their own hearts, many broke off from the churches that were in existence, and started new ones.  And in the process, they were able to convince others to believe as they did, thereby leading many away to draw disciples unto themselves.  If you think about it, most of the existing Christian denominations were (at one time or another) apostates because they broke off from another church, or were started by someone who protested the teachings of the churches that were in existence.  That’s why they were called Protestants; they protested the teachings of, and broke off from the Roman Catholic Church.  Instead of forming one church that taught all the same doctrines, that was of the same mind and spirit with sound doctrine; one in faith, baptism, doctrines and ordinances, and works; there were many different churches formed, each with their own beliefs and interpretations of the scriptures.  Doesn't this sound like the prophecy that refers to us as ". . . children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14)?
  

  
  

  I use a Christian curriculum in homeschooling my kids, and in the 7th grade history book, in studying the Dark and Middle Ages, and the Reformation Movement, I can't understand why more Christians today cannot see or accept the circumstances in which the Bible was compiled.  Even in this history book they mention how one of the most important characteristics of the Middle Ages was the distortion of Christianity and the many errors of the Roman Church; yet they accept a book of scriptures that had been argued and debated over, rewritten, with things added and taken away as these men voted on what was acceptable and what wasn't, and was compiled under the very circumstances that the apostles warned against; and they still consider it to be the pure word of God.
  

   

  Christianity did indeed spread throughout the world, but with so many different denominations worshiping as THEY chose to worship, according to what they believed; Christ’s original laws, commandments, doctrines, and ordinances became so adulterated by all the changes that they were no longer in their pure, original form as Christ had originally established them.  These changes are obvious when we study the history of Christianity.  Christians today do not like to hear this because IF it is true, then it would mean that they have been wrong all along.  Just like the Jews who originally had the pure teachings of the prophets, but later erred in their understanding of the scriptures because they started following the "traditions" of their fathers, and rejected Christ when he came with higher laws; it is now the Gentiles who are following the "traditions" of their forefathers (the changes made in Christianity back in those early centuries of Rome) and reject the truths that have been restored back to the earth (another example of the first shall be last and the last shall be first).

   

  If the power and authority of God, and the keys of the kingdom to bind and seal all things on earth and in heaven, were taken from the world because of the wickedness of men, then they could NOT be brought back through a reformation of the chaos that existed when men made changes to the doctrines and ordinances.  Reformation means to take something that already exists and improve it or make it better.  Men no longer had the power and authority of God because they argued and debated over His doctrines, and fell away from the pure truths; so what was lost to the world would have to be restored or brought back by someone who had that power and authority.  In other words, it would have to come directly from heaven just as it did in the ancient times.  This too, was prophesied in the Bible because the Lord knew this great apostasy would occur. 
  

  
  

  To restore something is to bring it back into existence; to bring back to a former, original, or normal condition.  Restitution means pretty much the same thing: it's the restoration of property rights (or teachings, doctrines, and ordinances in this case) previously taken away, conveyed, or surrendered.  It is the restoration to the former or original state or position.  This is why the Reformation Movement back in the sixteenth century could not work in the eyes of God; they had lost the power and authority, they were left without the Holy Ghost because of their iniquity; they argued and debated over the doctrines because they could not understand them because they were without the Spirit of God; and were left unto themselves.  These were the very things the apostles warned the saints NOT to do, and had prophesied of the downfall of the church and of this great apostasy! If we look throughout the Old and New Testaments we can find that this cycle has been repeated several times throughout the history of mankind. When they obey God's laws and commandments they are blessed, when they disobey they are chastised, warned, and in some cases, God turns His head and leaves them to themselves.  When they hit bottom, they repent and start keeping the laws and commandments, and are blessed once again.  It's a constant up and down cycle that keeps repeating itself.
  

  
  

  We cannot take something that was perfect to begin with (when it was first established for us by Christ) and change it to make it better!  Better in whose eyes?  Certainly not God's for He established them in their perfect form when Christ set up and organized His church.  When you have something perfect from God to begin with there IS NO making it better unless it's to please men rather than God.  And that is exactly what happened.  Instead of religion being the following of and obedience to the laws, commandments, doctrines, and ordinances that God Himself had established for us; religion is now something that we can pick and choose from according to whatever we desire, like deciding what to choose from a menu in order to satisfy our own taste palette.  We choose what we want to believe, such as we are saved by belief and that our works don't matter, even when it goes against the majority of everything else that Christ and his apostles have ever taught.  It never occurs to us that maybe in those passages there may be more than what we are actually seeing with our physical eyes.  Christ does not contradict himself, especially when one thing seems to be out of context with everything else he taught.  It's all right there in the Bible, but the vast majority of Christians just love to cling to that one idea because they can physically see it and it sounds good to them.  But, how easy is that?  Too easy; the broad and easy path that will eventually lead to destruction if we insist on clinging to it.  The devil has really deceived the minds of men with his cunningness throughout the ages.  We cannot base things on a few individual verses and completely ignore everything else that was said in the majority of his teachings.
  

   

  Secondly, we cannot take something that has been changed and has existed in this altered manner for centuries, and then try to reform it.  No matter how much we try, it cannot be fully restored back to its original state of existence, not without the power and authority by which it was originally established.  If that power and authority was lost and no longer exists, then only God can bring it back as He originally established it through His Son Jesus Christ, and by once again, calling and ordaining His servants through the power and authority of the Holy Ghost and the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, which were supposed to have been everlasting but were taken away because of the transgressions of men.
  
  Thus, we read in the Bible: "For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.  And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned."  (Isaiah 29:10-12) 
  
  "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me IS TAUGHT BY THE PRECEPT OF MEN: 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." (Isaiah 29:13-14).
  
  Also:  
  
  "Move over, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it for Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, for Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel and his companions: and join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand."  (Ezekiel 37:16-17).
  
  What is this book that was to be delivered to a learned man who says he can't read it because it is sealed?  What is this marvelous work and a wonder the Lord is speaking of?  We know the writings of the stick of Judah is the Bible; what is this stick of Joseph; the stick of Ephraim?  It is a SECOND witness of Jesus Christ that was hidden up and saved so that it would remain untouched and undefiled by men; to be brought forth in the latter-days when the restitution of all things that were lost to the world was to occur.  This is the great and marvelous work that the Lord was going to perform.  All of God's teachings, doctrines, and ordinances that had been changed and tampered with by men throughout the ages, would be restored back to the earth in their purity once again.  These everlasting principles had to be divinely restored because without them, we cannot be saved.  If the world believes that we can be saved just by believing, then they are just ignoring everything else that Christ taught, and are following the easy doctrines of men who had made changes to the pure teachings of Christ. 
  
  The Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ.  Just as the Bible is a written history of God's dealings with men, the Book of Mormon is also a history of His dealings with men in a different location.  It's purpose is to testify and witness to the world that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God, the Savior and Messiah of the world.  It is a second witness of his divinity for two witnesses are greater than one, and most importantly, it reveals simple truths that were lost to the world because of wicked and evil designing men who defiled the doctrines and ordinances of God, and who have deceived the world for centuries.
  
  
  

  To be continued . . .
  

  
  
  

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