A question about Mormonism. Can the LDS church go backward?

Question

Can the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints transform to a reversal, since its founding, in 1830?

Is this even possible? If it did happened, would the Lord be patient and forgiving? Was Isaiah deceived or mistaken, or is this possibly his personal opinion?

Please explain Isaiah 1:2 as I am an investigator (nearing baptism next month), but fear I may anger my God.

Thank you for sincere answers. I want to join this beautiful church with all my heart, but I repeatedly was bothered by this verse. It just won't go away.

I spoke to my missionaries today, and they weren't sure. Any help?
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Answer 1

Well, we know that the body of believers have gone through this world's history with ups and downs, known as the beginnings and endings of dispensations. For example, Moses led a dispensation that became the gathering and leading the tribes of Israel to the promised land. We also know that the Lord sends prophets to forewarn the people of impending dooms, such as Jeremiah and Lehi, who also gave advice on how to escape the impending dooms.

Here's something from the Prophet Joseph Smith, when he talked about the Church:

“Our missionaries are going forth to different nations . . . the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” (History of the Church 4:540)

To back this up, study Daniel chapter 2. Here's one verse from there that is very significant:

44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

If you recall, there was a time when no one believed that the Soviet Union would ever die and Germany would always be divided. But because of the faith of the Saints on the inside of the Iron Curtain, they were able to get an LDS temple dedicated and running inside East Germany. From there, the Spirit of the Lord brought down that "kingdom" in due time.

There is a very significant reason why we are known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. These are the Last Days before Christ comes again. We are the only ones who have temples dedicated to him. I don't see other churches populating the earth with holy places or "Mountains of the Lord". This is the dispensation that all other previous dispensations have prophesied about. We have the core doctrines of Christ and how the holy temples link with that. We have committed to the Church the gathering of Israel. We also have living Prophets and Apostles that we can follow, much like the ancient Saints in the time of Peter, James, and John got to follow living Apostles in their days.

As for Isaiah 1:2, let me re-copy it here so it's easily referenced:

2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

Since we are talking about Isaiah, the prophet before Jeremiah, he (Isaiah) is talking about the children of Israel. At that time, there were many of the Israelites who were not doing what the Lord wanted. We could easily expand this to our day by just observing that there are many who are not doing what the Lord wants. But let's go look at another verse from Isaiah, and it's just further in the same chapter, that can help us out of this mess:

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

So, according to this, if we were to reason together with the Lord, our sins would be cleaned away. How do we do this? Well, you are actually doing the right thing by repenting of your sins and getting ready to be baptised in the church. Because you are learning the doctrines of repentance, that is how you get to "reason together with the Lord". Isaiah is not mistaken in the fact that he knows that repentance is utterly important for all people, including those who want to be a good child of God.

We know that we are living in this human interaction laboratory known as "Life". Because we all make mistakes, we must make it a habit of being a repentant person, striving to stay with Jesus Christ, always remembering that it is His Power and Grace that we are saved, after all that we can do. Nephi says it in this way (2 Nephi 10:24, 25):

24 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.

25 Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen.

And as an extra help, also enjoy this verse from Ether 12:27:

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

My dear brother, may the Lord continue to bless you in your seeking out for Him. Because you thirst for righteousness, you will be filled, even with the Holy Ghost. Cleave unto Him with all your might and He will be with you.

Sincerely,
Alvin R.

Answer 2

I agree with the the first post: Yahoo Answers may not be the best place to go for a matter like this. I'm all over these guys, so my credibility no longer matters.

Isaiah will be the least of your concerns about this organization. You've been given the 6 'introductory' missionary lessons, but the most obscene collection of twisted religious dogma is yet to come. You'll never hear 'all' the church teachings, nor history from the church, but you will be coerced into utmost conformity. You will lose your identity if not your soul to a soulless business disguised as religion. If you like Amway, then you'll love being a Morbot.

Otherwise good luck. It's a shame to see another perfectly fine human being having his mind shut down, but that how it goes.

Answer 3

The Church will continue to move forward and not regress. As for Joseph F's comments, he lacks sufficient testimony to withstand the heavy influences of the adversary. He knows the truth just as I do, but is willing to cave in simply over matters of curiosities and other matters that doesn't matter to a hill of beans as compared to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Continue in your fastings and prayer before the Father in Heaven. Know this: the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true restored church upon this earth, having the requisite priesthood authority and keys to propel it onward.

My advise is to learn the history of the Church, but don't let it consume you in matters that might be embarrassing or trivial. Learn the truths and abide by them. Seek instruction from your missionaries and you will be the better for it.

Answer 4

That verse refers to Israel and the apostasy that led up to the restoration of the true church in the latter days. It is additional evidence that such a restoration was, in fact, necessary.

This may not be the best place to get objective information about any religious question...but I hope my answer is helpful to you. I hope you have a wonderful baptism. It is a beautiful church and has brought me and my family alot of happiness. Good luck!

Answer 5

Jesus forged out evil spirits. He gave his apostles authority to do the comparable and that they did on party. Joseph Smith became into as quickly as taken to court in long island and located accountable of casting out an evil spirit yet looks how there is not any regulations against that the decide had to permit him pass. confident we've faith there are evil spirits and that they are in a position to be forged out by using one given authority from Christ to take action. we don't call it "exorcism" that's a Catholic notice. that's not as dramatic as video clips made on the concern. additionally casting out evil spirits like speaking in tongues - once you have a efficient non secular experience you do not tell all of us and their canines approximately it.

Answer 6

That's funny, you are on your way into the Church, and it's almost like I'm on my way out.

Just wait, you'll find a lot more stuff to try your faith in the Church. Joseph Smith was a good guy and everything, but it seems like there's just a little too much stuff about him that we have to "accept with faith", like his freemasonry, his 14-year-old polygamous wives, his public drunkenness, and his polygamous espousal of women that were already married to other men.

Pray hard to God and research all that you can. If you still feel that God wants you to join the Church, then do it, but I'm starting to feel that He wants me to get out of it. See some of my questions and their answers for the opinions of both pro-mormon and anti-mormon people.

God bless.