January 3 – Matthew 24:4-5, 23-24; “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
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All the claims and accusations are just that. There’s no external evidence the ancient church disassembled. Where is the proof? Where stands clear and irrefutable evidence spiritual gifts and revelations ceased to exist, but in the mind of Joseph Smith? … While I do wholeheartedly agree reform was needed, to arbitrarily throw the baby out with the bath water is dangerous indeed! Hus, Wycliffe, Tyndale, Bunyan, and Luther as well as untold others were all guided by the hand of God. While the Dark Ages seemed to go on forever, God in His mercy promised us the gates of hell wouldn’t prevail against His church.
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Ensign, Jan. 2006, 34-35; “In a surprisingly short time, the [ancient] Church disassembled. Without Apostles, the Church lost its anchor and began to drift on every wind of doctrine. Spiritual gifts disappeared, revelations ceased, the keys to the priesthood were lost, ordinances changed. Ultimately, the purity of our Lord’s gospel began to meld with other doctrines, beliefs, and practices. Philosophies and political influences began to infiltrate and transform the Church.” – Joseph B. Wirthlin
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