This is how you start a discussion and then present YOUR view? I’m sorry, but offering a link to a biased source with a vested interest in the topic is not providing answers to specific questions put forth to YOU. Also, the link provides much more LDS apologetics on many other subjects and providing a link to such seems to be an attempt to seek converts from this forum.
In John 6:66, we see a clear ‘apostasy’ of His disciples who left Him and walked with Him no more. Did this apostasy invalidate Christ’s priesthood in your opinion?
Another point, do you, Mormons, doubt Christ’s prophetic messages? He told His Apostles they would die and be hated for His name’s sake.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall put you to death: and you shall be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be scandalized and shall betray one another and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise and shall seduce many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all nations: and then shall the consummation come.
He tells them that they will be put to death and hated and that many would fall away with other’s being seduced, through false prophets. In other words, He told them there would be apostasies, but He never said anything about taking back what He started, in fact He told us this was a NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT.
He also is specific when He says this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached to the WHOLE WORLD, until the consummation of the world. The WHOLE WORLD until the consummation means there will be no gaps, no generations without. Christ set an authority in His Church. They were those commissioned to preach the Gospel.
Did God only appoint those twelve to go out? Were they the only ones appointed by Christ, so that through the death of the last of the twelve a valid priesthood could possibly be lost?
**Luk 10:1 And after these things, the Lord appointed also other seventy-two. And he sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself was to come.
Luk 10:2 And he said to them: The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he send labourers into his harvest.
Luk 10:3 Go: Behold I send you as lambs among wolves.
Luk 10:4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
Luk 10:5 Into whatever house you enter, first say: Peace be to this house.
Luk 10:6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: but if not, it shall return to you.
Luk 10:7 And in the same house, remain, eating and drinking such things as they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house.
Luk 10:8 And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
Luk 10:9 And heal the sick that are therein and say to them: The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Luk 10:10 But into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you not, going forth into the streets thereof, say:
Luk 10:11 Even the very dust of your city that cleaveth to us, we wipe off against you. Yet know this, that the kingdom of God is at hand.
Luk 10:12 I say to you, it shall be more tolerable at that day for Sodom than for that city.
Luk 10:13 Woe to thee, Corozain! Woe to thee, Bethsaida! For if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the mighty works that have been wrought in you, they would have done penance long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Luk 10:14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.
Luk 10:15 And thou, Capharnaum, which art exalted unto heaven, thou shalt be thrust down to hell.
Luk 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me: and he that despiseth you despiseth me: and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. **
The great apostasy is a creation of Joseph Smith’s, to justify a ‘new’ Church, of which He could be in power over and he has seduced many.
If you wish to bring up a discussion, you need to discuss it from your point of view, with explanations and resources and not just a link to a Mormon apologetics website.
You can start by providing the sources for who started the great apostasy and where are their writings defending their actions, since they were justified in leaving such a corruption.
Please provide the writings of those who defended against those who apostatized away from what they were teaching.
