True to the Faith: Apostacy

When individuals or groups of people turn away from

the principles of the gospel, they are in a state of apostasy.

Periods of general apostasy have occurred throughout

the history of the world. After times of righteousness, people

have often turned to wickedness. One example is the Great

Apostasy, which occurred after the Savior established His

Church. After the deaths of the Savior and His Apostles, men

corrupted the principles of the gospel and made unauthorized

changes in Church organization and priesthood ordinances.

Because of this widespread wickedness, the Lord

withdrew the authority of the priesthood from the earth.

During the Great Apostasy, people were without divine

direction from living prophets. Many churches were established,

but they did not have priesthood power to lead people

to the true knowledge of God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Parts of the holy scriptures were corrupted or lost, and no

one had the authority to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost or

perform other priesthood ordinances. This apostasy lasted

until Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son appeared to

Joseph Smith in 1820 and initiated the restoration of the fulness

of the gospel.

We now live in a time when the gospel of Jesus Christ has

been restored. But unlike the Church in times past, The

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will not be overcome

by general apostasy. The scriptures teach that the

Church will never again be destroyed (see D&C 138:44; see

also Daniel 2:44).

Although there will not be another general apostasy

from the truth, we must each guard against personal apostasy.

You can safeguard yourself against personal apostasy by

keeping your covenants, obeying the commandments, following

Church leaders, partaking of the sacrament, and constantly

strengthening your testimony through daily scripture

study, prayer, and service.

Additional references: Isaiah 24:5; Amos 8:11–12; Matthew 24:4–14; Acts

20:28–30; 2 Timothy 3:1–5, 14–15; 4:3–4; 1 Nephi 13:24–29; Mormon

1:13–14; D&C 1:15–17; Joseph Smith—History 1:17–19