Mormons, explain why there would be a need for the great apostasy to occur

[Guitarjesus7]

Why would this need to happen? If Christ set up his church just to let it fail a couple of decades later, then what was the point? I don’t understand your theory at all. I can’t think of any reason why Jesus would let his church crumble almost immediately after setting it up.

 

[SteveVH]

Why would this need to happen? If Christ set up his church just to let it fail a couple of decades later, then what was the point? I don’t understand your theory at all. I can’t think of any reason why Jesus would let his church crumble almost immediately after setting it up.

Guitarjesus, first of all welcome to CAF. Your thread concerns a topic that has been debated here for some time now. As we speak there is a thread entitled “Mormons: When did the Great Appstasy occur?” which is actually a resurrection of sorts of older threads on the same subject. You might want to participate there as I think the question has already been asked.

Peace.

Steve

 

[BartBurk]

Why would this need to happen? If Christ set up his church just to let it fail a couple of decades later, then what was the point? I don’t understand your theory at all. I can’t think of any reason why Jesus would let his church crumble almost immediately after setting it up.

So that Joseph Smith could be a prophet.

 

[Guitarjesus7]

That still doesn’t answer the question though. Why would god need to do that? It’s illogical. Why couldn’t Jesus just keep his church intact?

 

[Jerusha]

To justify an open canon and therefore the Book of Mormon.

 

[CougaNova]

Why would this need to happen? If Christ set up his church just to let it fail a couple of decades later, then what was the point? I don’t understand your theory at all. I can’t think of any reason why Jesus would let his church crumble almost immediately after setting it up.

There’s no need for it. It just happened, due to poor communications, transportation, revelation being lost, theology and hellenistic philosophy corrupting the church, etc.

 

[ParkerD]

Why would this need to happen? If Christ set up his church just to let it fail a couple of decades later, then what was the point? I don’t understand your theory at all. I can’t think of any reason why Jesus would let his church crumble almost immediately after setting it up.

Guitar7,

I think you’ve asked good questions here. Since I believe Jesus came to earth for all humankind, not just for those who knew of Him at certain points in time, then perhaps the question about “letting it fail a couple of decades later” becomes less crucial.

I look at the principle of free will choice and its importance, and various passages in the Bible such as in Daniel chapters 7-12 and in Revelation 12, and also a chapter in the Book of Mormon, Jacob 5, to understand why God would allow such a thing to happen and it be in accordance with His overall plan of salvation for this world. Free will choice becomes easier to bring about in a situation where people can choose using their own best judgment based on studying the Bible, praying for inspiration and guidance, and then letting themselves be led by the Good Shepherd, Who lives and leads people today with personal involvement in their lives, just as He led His disciples when He was on the earth personally and lived among them.

I hope this has given you a simple answer to your questions, and respect that you are making sincere, guided decisions in your life and will be blessed by God in your decisions through your love for Him.

 

[Holly3278]

There’s no need for it. It just happened, due to poor communications, transportation, revelation being lost, theology and hellenistic philosophy corrupting the church, etc.

Actually, it did not happen. God’s Church, the Catholic Church, never fell away. It has always remained truthful to God’s Truth. If you don’t believe this, look at the Early Church Fathers and study the history of early Christianity. I assure you that you will find that modern Catholics believe the very same things that the earliest Christians believed. If that is not proof enough that the Church never fell away, then what is? By the way, here’s a link:

In Search of the “Great Apostasy”