Jesus Christ

As you drive through almost any town, you’ll notice many different churches. Dropping in to visit them will reveal that while many of them have a lot in common, there are also important differences in doctrine. Each day, in the news, we hear of denominations splitting over critical doctrinal differences. Since the time of the Savior’s life on earth, Christianity has become very divisive, and as a result, there are many different churches, all disagreeing with one another.

While the Savior was on the earth, He taught the fullness of the gospel. However, He didn’t write anything Himself. His teachings were written by others, probably after His death. After He died, His apostles were killed or died, and no one was left to take their place. Few people had chosen to follow the Savior and God removed the priesthood and the ability to receive revelation, as He had a number of times in the past. Without a prophet to guide them, Christians were left to interpret scripture and develop answers to their doctrinal questions by intellectual study and debate. For instance, in 325 AD, the First Council of Nicaea was held to hammer out doctrinal differences that had developed. After debate and negotiation-not instruction from a prophet of God-official Christian doctrine was chosen. It was at this council that the doctrine of the Trinity was developed and made the official doctrine. Trinity was not taught in the Bible, but some felt uncomfortable with the scriptures teaching that Jesus was the only begotten Son of the Father:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Some leaders pointed out that if Jesus was begotten, he had not always existed, and was not the same person as the Father. We see this meaning of begotten used in many other biblical scriptures. In Hebrews 11:17, we also see this relationship described between Isaac and Abraham. However, most of the religious leaders were worried about this, and didn’t want it to be true, since it complicated matters and, in their minds, made Jesus Christ somehow less important. They had trouble understanding various Greek words, including those that emphasized the complete unity of the Father and the Son. So they chose a doctrine they felt more comfortable teaching.

This pattern has continued throughout history. Again and again, councils get together and choose doctrine because they’re uncomfortable with what is being taught. Sometimes individuals, such as Martin Luther, objected to the teachings of a church and set out a new path. But none claimed to be a prophet and prophecy was not on the earth.

This was foretold in the Bible:

11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:

12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. (Amos 8:11-12) (see also Matthew 24:4-14, for instance.)

This apostasy, the loss of prophecy and the ability to get answers directly from God, rather than through debate, led to the proliferation of churches on the earth. However, God promised the apostasy would not last forever. A restoration was also promised.