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Question: Does belief in a "complete apostasy" imply that there were no true Christians between the Apostasy and the Restoration?
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Question: Does belief in a "complete apostasy" imply that there were no true Christians between the Apostasy and the Restoration?
The Church does not discount the fact that there have always been "true believers" on the earth: The issue is the absence of authority from God to perform His ordinances
In a revelation to Joseph Smith, the Lord said,
For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it. (D&C 123꞉12)
In another revelation, the Lord said,
All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom; For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts. (D&C 137꞉7-9)
In other words, there has always been wheat among the tares.
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