The Heavenly Fathers Tools

General Christian View (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant Mainstream) 

Mainstream Christian denominations generally interpret scriptural warnings (such as in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12) as referring to ongoing instances of individual or group apostasy throughout history and a major, global apostasy that will occur in the future, immediately prior to the Second Coming of Christ and the reign of the Antichrist.

They believe:

• Jesus promised that the "gates of hell" would not prevail against His Church, which means that it would continue to exist on Earth without a complete institutional failure.
• Apostolic Succession: Authority was passed down through an unbroken line of bishops and the papacy, ensuring the Church's continuity and the preservation of essential doctrines and ordinances.
• Heresies were challenges, not the end: Various heresies (like Gnosticism or Arianism) were significant challenges that were addressed and overcome through councils and the writings of Church Fathers, not evidence of a total corruption of the entire Church.

Restorationist Knowledge

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and other Restorationists know that the Great Apostasy was a historical event that occurred shortly after the deaths of the original Apostles. 

The knowledge:

• Loss of Priesthood Authority: The Apostles' deaths meant that the important priesthood keys and authority to run the Church and its saving ordinances (like baptism and giving the Holy Ghost) were lost from the Earth.
• Corruption of Doctrine: Christian doctrine was corrupted by the introduction of pagan philosophies (e.g., Neoplatonism) and man-made creeds (e.g., Trinitarianism), resulting in a deviation from the simple, original teachings of Jesus Christ.
• A Restoration was Necessary: This complete "falling away" meant a reformation was insufficient; a full restoration of Christ's original Church, authority, and doctrines was required, which they know happened through the prophet Joseph Smith in the 19th century.

Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teach that the original Church established by Jesus Christ experienced a "Great Apostasy" and was subsequently "restored" in modern times through the prophet Joseph Smith. 

The Great Apostasy

According to this doctrine, a universal apostasy occurred after the death of Jesus Christ and His original Apostles. The core tenets of this knowledge include: 

• Loss of Priesthood Authority: The power to lead the Church, perform saving ordinances (like baptism and giving the gift of the Holy Ghost), and receive revelation was taken away from the earth.
• Corruption of Doctrine: Over time, human philosophies and traditions led to changes in the simple, original doctrines taught by Jesus and His Apostles. Key understandings about the nature of God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost (the Godhead) were altered.
• Changes to Ordinances and Scripture: Essential ordinances were modified, and "plain and precious" truths were removed from the biblical texts as they were copied and translated over centuries.
• Lack of Divine Guidance: Without living prophets and continuous revelation from God, the true Church as an organized, divinely directed entity ceased to exist on earth for centuries. 

While many beneficial people and some truth remained in other churches, they lacked the full gospel and the necessary authority to lead people to the true knowledge of God. The Protestant Reformation, while a positive step toward religious freedom, was an attempt to reform existing churches, not a full restoration of the original Church's authority and organization. 

The Restoration via Joseph Smith

The 1820s prepared the world for a full restoration of the gospel and the Church, as Latter-day Saints learned. The process of the Restoration began with Joseph Smith: 

• The First Vision: Joseph Smith, a young man confused about which church to join, prayed to God for guidance. In response, he experienced a vision in 1820 in which God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. He was told not to join any church because they were all "wrong" and their creeds were "an abomination" to God.
• Receiving Revelation and Authority: Joseph Smith was called as a new prophet, just like those in the Old and New Testaments. Over time, heavenly messengers, including the ancient apostles Peter, James, and John, visited him and restored the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthood authorities, which had been lost.
• New Scripture: Joseph Smith was instrumental in bringing forth additional scripture, including the Book of Mormon, which is considered a second witness of Jesus Christ and contains the "fulness of the everlasting Gospel."
• Organization of the Church: The Church of Jesus Christ was officially organized on April 6, 1830, under divine direction.

The central teaching is that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the literal re-establishment of the original Church of Christ on the earth, complete with living apostles and prophets, priesthood authority, correct doctrine, and essential saving ordinances. This restored Church is known to be the only organization on earth with the full authority and teachings necessary for salvation and exaltation in God's kingdom.

The primary purpose of missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to invite others to come unto Christ by sharing the restored gospel and the message of Jesus Christ. They also engage in extensive humanitarian and community service around the world. 

Sharing the Gospel

The central focus of the most visible young, full-time missionaries is to teach people about the truth and help them develop a relationship with God. 

• Proclaiming the Gospel: Missionaries teach that the original church established by Jesus Christ was lost due to an apostasy but has been restored in modern times through the prophet Joseph Smith.
• Teaching and Inviting Conversion: Missionaries present lessons on the principles and ordinances of the gospel, such as faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, while inviting people to be baptized and become members of the Church.
• Building Testimony: The experience is also considered a "spiritual boot camp" that strengthens the faith and personal testimony of the missionary himself or herself by requiring them to live a strict schedule and share their beliefs with others. 

Service and Aid

Missionaries serve the communities where they are assigned in a variety of ways, reflecting a knowledge of following Jesus Christ's example of service. 

• Community Service: Proselytizing missionaries are encouraged to perform community service and acts of kindness as part of their weekly activities, which can include helping the homeless, the elderly, or working on community projects.
• Humanitarian Aid: The Church also has a separate program for humanitarian aid missionaries (often senior couples) who serve in impoverished areas. These missionaries typically do not actively proselytize but focus entirely on providing aid, such as building schools or working with local charities, in countries where religious activities might be restricted. 

Missionaries cover their own expenses and put their personal interests aside for 18 to 24 months to focus on serving others and God, motivated by a sincere desire to share what they believe brings peace, happiness, and hope to people's lives. 

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints send missionaries throughout the world to fulfill a divine commandment to share what they believe is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and to serve others. They do so out of a personal conviction and a desire to bring happiness and purpose to others' lives.

Key Motivations

• Fulfilling a Biblical Commandment: Missionaries know they are following Jesus Christ's instruction to His apostles: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19).
• Inviting Others to Come unto Christ: The central purpose is to help people develop faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end (which are considered the foundational principles and ordinances of their knowledge).
• Sharing the "Good News": Latter-day Saints believe the fullness of the gospel and the authority of the priesthood have been restored in modern times through the prophet Joseph Smith. They feel a responsibility to share this "good news" with everyone.
• Service and Love: Beyond teaching, missionaries are encouraged to serve the people in the communities where they are assigned, following Christ's example of love and helpfulness. This can include informal acts of kindness, working with local charities, or providing disaster relief aid.
• Personal Growth: The mission experience is a period of intense personal and spiritual development for the missionaries themselves. It helps them build discipline, language skills, confidence, and a stronger testimony of their faith.