Who held the keys of God during the apostacy?

Question

What happened to the power to act in God's name under the authority of Christ after the crucifixion and after all the apostles were killed?

Answer 1

Christ held the keys of the priesthood, which is what I think you are referring to. If there isn't someone worthy to hold the keys, they are held by Christ. He will always hold the keys, but the power is delegated to people who are worthy to hold them. After the apostles died, and there were no worthy males, the power was taken from the earth. Yes, some churches have some of the keys, but not all.

We believe that the keys were restored to Joseph Smith. They were given to him by Peter, James and John. Yes, the same apostles that were with Christ. The full keys of the priesthood were restored by the laying on of hands, just like when Christ was on the earth. The authority to use the keys is passed down to all worthy males. The keys can be taken away though, and that is by Christ's discretion.

I'm not saying that other churches don't have authority, or that they are wrong. They do hold some authority, but some of the keys were lost along the way.

Answer 2

Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The keys are spiritual. They are not a literal set of keys as some think. If they were they could be taken to any hardware store and copied. Everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and is full of the Holy Ghost has the power and authority to act in Gods name.

After the crucifixion and the apostles were killed nothing changed with this power. The Holy Ghost never died. The true church of God continues this day. As long as there is a child of God with the baptism of the Holy Ghost they have this power and authority, in Jesus' name.

Answer 3

It was Jesus who held the " key of the abyss".
this was where satan will be locked away for a thousand years.
(Revelation 20:1-3) And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 And he hurled him into the abyss and shut [it] and sealed [it] over him, that he might not mislead the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After these things he must be let loose for a little while.

during this thousand years, the 'righteous' that survived Armageddon, and the 'resurrected' ones who comply with God's requirements, will grow to perfection, back to the stage where Adam was when first created. with no death and no sickness ...Rev. 21;4 and
(Job 33:25) Let his flesh become fresher than in youth; Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor.’
The 'apostacy' is happening now,
after the thousand years, Satan will be let out for a short while to re-test the loyalty of all those living on the earth. Those who come through that with integrity will then be granted to live forever.

Answer 4

It was passed on to the next Pope. Google it and you can find a list of the Popes all the way back to Peter. This is much the same as Moses investing Joshua with leading the people and after that the next all the way down. Throughout history one leader has followed the other.

I am sure Jesus would have let his Church just flounder for 1500 years or so without any leadership especially after he said "and the gates of Hell shall not prevail over her". This is for the LDS guy above me.

Answer 5

No one held the keys. They were lost from the earth. Then restored later by a guy named Joesph Smith.

Answer 6

fatman and Bobbin