FrAndrew wrote:I simply find it hard to understand, how LDS members reject the teachings of the original church. The faith has been handed down from the apostles from generation to generation. If the church was indeed so corrupt, why didn't the Mormon revelation occur earlier ... before the reform? I am not 'having a go' at Mormons or testing them - surely they are our brothers and sister and have faith in Christ, however we are told to look out for people that will come in Jesus' name falsely, and if Jesus has really revealed Himself again in the book of Mormon, I find it hard to accept since Christ promises a glorious and visual revelation. I'm sure you can support your argument, I am interested to find out more.
Andrew, it is a bit confusing, hopefully I can help you understand some things a little better. New Testament prophesies of an apostasy from the true Church of Jesus Christ and evidences from the New Testament that the apostasy had begun during the lives of the Apostles. Briefly, a secular history will show us the growth of the apostasy after the Apostles were gone from the church.
One of the historians who lived immediately after the apostolic period was a man named Hegesippus. A later historian named Eusebius referred to the writings of Hegesippus.
The same author, [Hegesippus] relating the events of the times, also says, that the Church continued until then as a pure and uncorrupt virgin; whilst if there were any at all that attempted to pervert the sound doctrine of the saving gospel, they were yet skulking in dark retreats; but when the sacred choir of apostles became extinct, and the generation of those that had been privileged to hear their inspired wisdom had passed away, then also the combinations of impious error arose by the fraud and delusions of false teachers. These also, as there were none of the apostles left, henceforth attempted, without shame to preach their false doctrine against the gospel of truth. Such is the statement of Hegesippus. (Eusebius, pp. 70-71.)
A historian named Mosheim, who lived after Eusebius, described the changes that occurred during the second century in the ceremonies used in the Christian church.
There is no institution so pure and excellent which the corruption and folly of man will not in time alter for the worse, and load with additions foreign to its nature and original design. Such, in a particular manner, was the fate of Christianity. In this century, many unnecessary rites and ceremonies were added to the Christian worship, the introduction of which was extremely offensive to wise and good men....Both Jews and heathens were accustomed to a vast variety of pompous and magnificent ceremonies in their religious service. And as they considered these rites as an essential part of religion, it was but natural that they should behold with indifference, and even with contempt, the simplicity of the Christian worship, which was destitute of those idle ceremonies that rendered their service so specious and striking. To remove then, in some measure, this prejudice against Christianity, the bishops thought it necessary to increase the number of rites and ceremonies, and thus to render the public worship more striking to the outward senses....The rulers of the church adopted, therefore, certain external ceremonies, that thus they might captivate the senses of the vulgar, and be able to refute the reproaches of their adversaries. (Mosheim, Century II, p. 71)
Mosheim described the changes to the Christian ceremonies that continued through the third century.
All of the records of this century mention the multiplication of rites and ceremonies in the Christian church. Several of the causes that contributed to this, have been already pointed out; to which we may add, as a principal one, the passion which now reigned for the Platonic philosophy, or rather, for the popular Oriental superstition concerning demons, adopted by the Platonists and borrowed, unhappily, from them by the Christian doctors. For there is not the least doubt, but that many of the rites, now introduced into the church, derived their origin from the reigning opinions concerning the nature of demons, and the powers and operations of invisible beings. Hence the use of exorcisms and spells, the frequency of fasts, and the aversion to wedlock. (Mosheim, Century III, pp. 71-72)
Mosheim described the fourth century, a time in which changes and distortions to the church continued.
While the Roman emperors were studious to promote the honour of Christianity, by the auspicious protection they afforded to the church, and their most zealous efforts to advance its interests, the inconsiderate, and the ill-directed piety of the bishops cast a cloud over the beauty and simplicity of the gospel, by the prodigious number of rites and ceremonies which they had invented to embellish it....The rites and institutions, by which the Greeks, Romans, and other nations, had formerly testified their religious veneration for fictitious dieties, were now adopted, with some slight alterations by Christian bishops, and employed in the service of the true God. (Mosheim, Century IV, p. 72)
The Roman emperor Constantine adopted Christianity as the state religion, and the bishops of the Christian church obtained great political power. For centuries the apostasy reined, a period known informally as the "dark ages". John Wesley wrote concerning the age.
It does not appear that these extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit were common in the Church for more than two or three centuries. We seldom hear of them after that fatal period when the Emperor Constantine called himself a Christian....The cause of this was not, as has been supposed, because there was no more occasion for them, because all the world was become Christians. This is a miserable mistake; not a twentieth part of it was then nominally Christian. The real cause of it was that the love of many, almost all Christians, so-called, was waxed cold. The Christians had no more of the spirit of Christ than the other heathens. The Son of Man, when he came to examine his Church, could hardly find faith upon earth. This was the real cause why the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost were no longer to be found in the Christian church--because the Christians were turned heathens again, and only had a dead form left. (Wesley, p. 73)
And then the revolts against of the church of Rome by John wickliffe in England, John Huss and Jerome of Prague, Martin Luther his revolt his excommunication, the protestants, Zwingle and Calvin, the inquisition, separation or branches of the apostate church, fallacy of assuming human origin of divine authority etc.etc.etc.etc.etc.etc. But this was all part of Gods great plan, without the reformatory period the protestants never would have came to America and set the stage for the coming forth of the Restoration of all things. The reformers recognized that apostasy had taken place, and they attempted to bring back the purity of early Christianity. However, they found themselves in a dilemma. They had no authority from God, and they could not receive authority from the Catholic church. They could not receive authority from anyone. So, they turned to the Bible and began to teach that a feeling of being called by God was sufficient and that authority given through ordination by the laying on of hands by someone having authority was not necessary.
The condition of the Christian churches during the reformation can be understood by reference to a parable of a dead tree. The tree was once living and beautiful. But due to neglect, it had died. Others wanting to enjoy the beauty of the tree tried to bring life to the tree by pruning a branch here and pruning one there. But to their dismay, the tree remained lifeless, because its roots were dead. The reformers were great men, and they were inspired by God to break down the political power of the Catholic church, a power that prevented freedom of religion. They were not, however, given priesthood authority by God, and the churches they established were the churches of man. Even though the reformers claimed no authority from God but used the Bible as their authority and guide, they paved the way for religious freedom. (Leigh, Quests for eternity.)
Now about the Book of Mormon, The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. It is a book about the people who lived on the American continent and it takes place about the same time periods as the Bible. Believe it or not God had prophets all over the globe; is not the word of God for all his children? I'm sure there are many ancient records out there that testify of the divinity of Christ and when we are ready for them they will come forth as well. If you would, go to this link and read the chapter, just curious as to what you think. Is this not the word of God?
http://scriptures.lds.org/moro/10
