Another Apostacy
Of course individual apostasy has always taken place. However, the Church that Jesus founded has always been on the earth. Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against it and, after all, the Lord will do nothing save he reveals it through the prophets.
Interestingly, In the Doctrines and Covenants, Joseph Smith, Jr., defines the "church" in 1828. The Lord knew that the Gentiles were "stumbling" (not nonexistent, mind you) because of the manipulation of the Bible and gospel by the great and abominable church. Therefore, he was to bring forth the Book of Mormon to provide the Gospel in a plain and precious manner that none could err. All of the Christian congregations were considered "chickens" that would be provided the restored gospel and be gathered together. Notice (and this is important) that the true gospel was restored in its fulness by the Book of Mormon. There were no further doctrines that needed to be "restored". Look at Doctrine and Covenants 10. LDSaints need to look at what this section is saying and not at what they think it is saying. My comments in brackets:
57. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not.
58. I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.
[Here we see that the darkness did not comprehend the light. Comprehend means overcome, or extinguish.]
59. I am he who said--Other sheep have I which are not of this fold--unto my disciples, and many there were that understood me not.
60. And I will show unto this people that I had other sheep, and that they were a branch of the house of Jacob;
61. And I will bring to light their marvelous works, which they did in my name;
[That is, the Book of Mormon and the "these things" contained in it]
62. Yea, and I will also bring to light my gospel which was ministered unto them, and, behold, they shall not deny that which you have received, but they shall build it up, and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine which is in me.
[We see that the gospel is contained in the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon contains the "true points of His doctrine" and the only doctrine in Him.]
63. And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.
[So we see that the Book of Mormon would answer all the points of contention among the various stumbling churches caused by the perversion, not the loss, of the pure Gospel]
64. Therefore, I will unfold unto them this great mystery;
65. For, behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts;
[So, with the restoration of the true points of doctrine, stumbling churches would be gathered together to the Lord]
66. Yea, if they will come, they may, and partake of the waters of life freely.
[So who is the Lord's true church?]
67. Behold, this is my doctrine--whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.
68. Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.
[Who can deny that thru the ages there have been saints who have repented and come unto the Lord? We know there were saints in the "dark ages" because we see that the Great and abominable church were slaying them, torturing them and enslaving them! If "saints" means members of the Church, than there was the stumbling Church of the Saints of the Lamb of God during what is considered the Great apostasy! NOTE carefully: this “revelation” was written in 1829 before the Latter-day Saints began to claim that THEY were "the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth"! They ignored the solemn warning in the Book of Mormon that only man-made churches would claim that only THEY were the Lord's church.
2 Nephi 28:3 For it shall come to pass in that day that the churches which are built up, and not unto the Lord, when the one shall say unto the other: Behold, I, I am the Lord's; and the others shall say: I, I am the Lord's; and thus shall every one say that hath built up churches, and not unto the Lord.
The Lord, supposedly, if you believe section 10, warns not to add definitions of His Church beyond repentance and coming unto Him. "Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.]
69. And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
[And so we see that the gates of hell never prevailed. All who repent and come unto Jesus, no matter what organization, would be able to partake of the waters of life freely (verse 66)]
The Lord knew the churches would be stumbling. The Book of Mormon prophets knew this, too. Therefore they wrote down the gospel that was had among them and prayed that those who inhabited this land would get their writings. Returning to D&C 10:
40. And now, because the account which is engraven upon the plates of Nephi is more particular concerning the things which, in my wisdom, I would bring to the knowledge of the people in this account--
45. Behold, there are many things engraven upon the plates of Nephi which do throw greater views upon my gospel; therefore, it is wisdom in me that you should translate this first part of the engravings of Nephi, and send forth in this work.
46. And, behold, all the remainder of this work does contain all those parts of my gospel which my holy prophets, yea, and also my disciples, desired in their prayers should come forth unto this people.
47. And I said unto them, that it should be granted unto them according to their faith in their prayers;
48. Yea, and this was their faith--that MY GOSPEL, WHICH I GAVE UNTO THEM that they might preach in their days, might come unto their brethren the Lamanites, and also all that had become Lamanites because of their dissensions.
49. Now, this is not all--their faith in their prayers was that this gospel should be made known also, if it were possible that other nations should possess this land;
50. And thus they did leave a blessing upon this land in their prayers, that whosoever should believe in THIS GOSPEL in this land might have eternal life;
[Notice that the coming forth of the Book of Mormon would not destroy the churches that existed. It was meant not to destroy them, but to build them up.]
52. And now, behold, according to their faith in their prayers will I bring this part of my gospel to the knowledge of my people. Behold, I do not bring it to destroy that which they have received, but to build it up.
53. And for this cause have I said: If this generation harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them.
54. Now I do not say this to destroy my church, but I say this to build up my church;
55. Therefore, whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.
The word "establish" may throw LDSaints. this does NOT mean restore. according to the Webster Dictionary of 1829, establish could mean:
1. To set and fix firmly or unalterably; to settle permanently.
2. To found permanently; to erect and fix or settle; as, to establish a colony or an empire.
4. To settle or fix; to confirm; as, to establish a person, society or corporation, in possessions or privileges.
5. To make firm; to confirm; to ratify what has been previously set or made.
6. To settle or fix what is wavering, doubtful or weak; to confirm.
7. To confirm; to fulfill; to make good.
Websters Dictionary 1828 - Webster's Dictionary 1828 - Establish
Websters Dictionary 1828 - Webster's Dictionary 1828 - Establish
https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/Establish
We see thaqt His church existed in 1829 and the Book of Mormon was to restore the Gospel to them. So the Apostasy, as something complete and total, is an error. There are/were Christian organizations that taught the doctrines of men, but there were humble followers of Christ among them, which, according to the Doctrine and Covenants, were the Church of Christ.
2 Nephi 28:14...they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.
Considering that, we see that the coming forth of the Book of Mormon was for those humble, stumbling followers of Christ!
The coming forth of the Book f Mormon was the completion of the restoration of the FULNESS Gospel. the gospel was on the face of the earth throughout time. Some points of true doctrine may have been lost so the Book of Mormon was provided to clear things up. And so....
Doctrine and Covenants 42:12 And again, the elders, priests and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel.