The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taught since its beginning that there was an apostasy of the church that was founded by Jesus during His earthly ministry and led by the apostles following His ascension. This is a fundamental belief of our religion; if there had not been an apostasy, there would have been no need for a restoration.

To begin our discussion of the Apostasy, we must first understand that Jesus established a church. We Latter-day Saints take this fact for granted, because we accept the historicity of the New Testament. But even more important, it is a matter of doctrinal principle that wherever the gospel, the keys of the priesthood and the saving ordinances exist, there will be the Church of Jesus Christ.The book of Acts and the New Testament epistles contain a wealth of information about the ancient Church in its early years. After Jesus' resurrection, it was presided over by apostles whom He called (Matt. 4:19 22; 10:1 8) and to whom He had given the authority and the inspiration to call others when vacancies in the Twelve arose.

A century later, things had changed dramatically. The original apostles were gone, yet others were no longer being appointed to take their places. Christians spoke with longing of the earlier days when the Lord's servants were among them.1 The doctrinal unity of which the Twelve were guardians had dissolved, and groups with very diverse teachings were coming into existence.2

Not all Christians today view these circumstances to be critically important. Latter-day Saints, however, believe that for a church to be acknowledged as the Lord's, it must possess the authority of His priesthood, conveyed through ordination from Jesus or His apostolic servants. And it must possess true doctrine received by revelation. Joseph Smith taught that the keys of the priesthood are also the keys of revelation.3 Thus true doctrine in its fullness can be found only where it is administered by special ordained witnesses who hold apostolic keys in the Lord's own Church.

Rebellion, Mutiny, Revolution

When Latter-day Saints are asked for a definition of apostasy, they frequently turn to 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and cite the King James Version phrase "a falling away." Unfortunately, the translation of this word is inadequate, and it has been the cause of some historical misinformation in the Church that has made it difficult to understand the nature of the Apostasy and how it happened. The intent of the original word is much more dramatic and points to something much more profound than "a falling away."

The Greek word used by Paul in 2 Thess. 2:3 is apostasia, from which we have the English word "apostasy." It is constructed from two Greek roots: the verb histeni, "to stand," and the preposition apo, "away from." The word means "rebellion," "mutiny," "revolt" or "revolution," and it is used in ancient contexts with reference to uprisings against established authority. The idea of a gentle drifting that comes to mind with the term "a falling away" is not one of apostasy's meanings.

In a revolution or rebellion, the objective is to remove the leaders and replace them with others whose views are more compatible with one's own. This results not only in new leadership but also in new policies of state and new national objectives. Similarly, in a mutiny the mutineers throw the captain and his loyal crew overboard, take control of the steering of the ship, and set course in a new direction for a new destination.

These images adequately describe what is meant by the term apostasia. Sadly, they also describe what happened to the Early Christian Church. Because of rebellion against the authority and doctrine of the apostles, the Early Church came to an end less than a century after its formation. The doctrines which its inspired leaders taught were corrupted and changed by others not of similar inspiration, the authority to act in God's name was taken from the earth, and the Christianity that existed thereafter, despite the honorable efforts of many individuals in it, did not enjoy divine endorsement as the Lord's own Church. When we use the term "the Apostasy," we refer to the circumstances that brought about the demise of the Early Church and to the period of time from its fall, about A.D. 100, until the time of the Restoration, beginning in 1820. But for most of the world, the Apostasy continues today.

Grievous Wolves

Perhaps the most remarkable witness of the apostasy of New Testament Christianity is the New Testament itself. Its writers prophesied that apostasy would take place and have a profound effect on their work. Those prophecies are the best place to start as we endeavor to understand what happened to the Early Church. They are important not only because they show us that Christ and the apostles anticipated the Apostasy, but especially because they shed light on the nature of it and the process that brought it about. Space allows for only a sketchy outline of some relevant verses.4

- Matthew 24:5, 9-11. "Many" false Christs "shall deceive many" (24:5). "Then shall many be offended" (24:10). "Offended" comes from the Greek skandalizo and means "to give up one's faith." "Many will turn away from the faith" (NIV), or "many will fall from their faith" (REB). And "many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many" (24:11). (See note 4 at the end of this article for an explanation of "NIV" and"REB.")

- Acts 20:29-31. "Grievous wolves" will enter in among the Church, and they will not spare the flock" (20:29). "Of your own selves" men will arise, teaching "perverse things" so they "can draw away disciples after them (20:30), or "in order to get the disciples to break away and follow them" (REB).

- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. The apostasia (Paul wrote "the," not "a") will take place (2:3): "the rebellion" (NIV, NRSV), "the Great Revolt" . Satan - the "man of sin," "the son of perdition" - will come to the fore (2:3). He will sit in God's place as though he were God (2:4). This mystery of iniquity is being held back at the present until God withdraws the power that restrains it (2:6 8).

- 1 Timothy 4:1-3. In "the latter times," apparently meaning the final days of the Early Church, some shall depart from the faith, following seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (4:1). Examples of false teachings are prohibition against marriage and unauthorized dietary restrictions (4:3).

- 2 Timothy 4:3-4. Rejection of "sound doctrine" (4:3). Having "itching ears" for religion, they will obtain teachers after their own liking (4:3). They will "turn away their ears from the truth" and turn to "fables" (4:4).

- 2 Peter 2:1-3. "There shall be false teachers among you" (2:1), who will "secretly introduce" (NIV) "damnable heresies" (2:1). "Many" will follow them (2:2), as a result of which "the way of truth" will be blasphemed (2:2). Thus they will "make merchandise of you" with false doctrine (2:3), "feigned words" (KJV),"stories they have made up" (NIV), "sheer fabrications" (REB).

- 1 John 2:18. We are in "the last time." A warning was given that "antichrist" would come in "the last time." They are here now (2:18). They came from among us (2:19).

- Jude 1:4, 17-19. We had warning long ago about people infiltrating and perverting the faith. They are here now (1:4). The apostles warned us of "mockers" in the last time. They are here now (1:17-19).

Revelation 13:1-9. Satan's beast will blaspheme against God and His work (13:6). He will make war against the Saints and will overcome them (13:7). He will have power over all the world (13:7-8).

These passages paint a disheartening picture of the future, because it is obvious that Jesus and His apostles knew that apostate influences would have a powerful effect on the Church. The verses cited show the pattern of how the Apostasy would work: the emphasis is clearly on the rejection of true doctrine by members of the Church, the appearance of self-appointed teachers and the introduction of man-made religion. The alternate voices in the Church would prevail.

The New Testament foretells the Apostasy, as these passages demonstrate. Yet the message of the scriptures is not one of despair but of hope. Peter testified of "the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21). The day of the prophesied Apostasy would not continue forever. In the last days, it would be replaced by the day of the Restoration.

1 See Justin Martyr (A.D. 110-65), Address to the Greeks, 8; and Hegessipus, in Eusebius, Church History, 3.32.7 These can be found in A. Roberts and J. Donaldson, ed., The Ante-Nicene Fathers, 10 vol. (Grand Rapids, MI:Eerdmans, repr. 1951); and P. Schaff and H. Wace, The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2d series, 14 vols. (Grand Rapids, MI:Eerdmans, repr. 1983.)

2 See especially Hegessipus, cited in note 1; also Irenaeus, Against Heresies; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, or Miscellanies; Tertullian, Against Marcion 1-5, Against the Valentinians, The Prescription against Heresies, Scorpiace. All of these are available in Roberts and Donaldson, The Ante-Nicene Fathers.

3 Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith's Commentary on the Bible, comp. Kent P. Jackson (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1994), 5, 190-91.

4 In addition to the King James Version, included in this article are some words or phrases from the following English translations: JB, Jerusalem Bible; NIV, New International Version; NRSV, New Revised Standard Version; REB, Revised English Bible.