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The Inevitable Apostasy and the Promised Restoration
Why do we need a thorough knowledge of the reality- and the depth- of the Apostasy? It is the key to our understanding the need for a Restoration! Evidence of the removal of Christ's church abounds not only in the scriptures but also in the writings of early Christian leaders, particularly those who lived not long after the Apostles. This remarkable volume collects the best available evidence and presents it with unmistakable clarity. The material is detailed enough to appeal to gospel scholars, yet accessible enough to benefit any member of the Church. Centering on thirteen powerful arguments for the reality of the Great Apostasy, this book will forever heighten your appreciation of the Restoration.
484 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2006
57 people are currently reading
526 people want to read
About the author
Tad R. Callister
11 books130 followersTad R. Callister is an emeritus General Authority Seventy and was the 21st Sunday School General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the Presidency of the Seventy from 2011 until 2014 when he was called as Sunday School General President. Brother Callister received a BS in accounting from Brigham Young University, a JD from the University of California-Los Angeles, and an MS in tax law from New York University Law School. He spent most of his professional career practicing tax law. He is the author of the best-selling books The Infinite Atonement, A Case for the Book of Mormon, The Inevitable Apostasy, and The Blueprint of Christ's Church. He and his wife, Kathryn Louise Saporiti, are the parents of six children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
August 26, 2018
This is a powerful and thorough work. Beautifully and expertly laid out. I read this alongside Eric Metaxes book Martin Luther and it became the perfect companion read. I was seriously blown away by all that I learned. I love books like this. Tad Callister’s Infinite Atonement was also another one of those for me.
March 4, 2012
This is an amazing book from a very amazing man. I was first impressed with this author when I read the Infinite Atonement (which could possibly be my all time favorite gospel book). This book is very different from that book but it is good none the less. It is filled with such great information that supports the truthfulness of the Great Apostasy and prophesied restoration of the gospel. I can't imagine how many hours of research much have gone into writing this book. The author effortlessly draws testimony from the writings of early Christians throughout the first few centuries after Christ's life and matches them with the doctrines of the gospel as we know them today. I know that if I had been given the opportunity to research such writings, I don't think I would have been able to understand them enough to then select various quotes to support revealed doctrine or other points. I could hardly keep all those early brethren straight just reading in clear English. I'm completely impressed by the way the Spirit must have enlightened Elder Callister's mind to put all the pieces together that became this book. It is by no means a story book. It was presented in a very "text book" like way in that it presented information that is important for people to know but most people will not readily remember the sources and quotes without going through the book when they are searching for something specific. That is not to say it wasn't good, only to say that it is not light reading. It's one of those books that can be read straight through but also referred back to again and again when necessary. It took me a long time to finish this book because it often felt like information overload. I felt like I just couldn't remember all that I needed to mentally and spiritually absorb from it. And because my family members are not members of the Church, I felt an overwhelming desire to try to remember all of the information. For me that was sometimes frustrating and I would put it down for long periods of time before I would pick it up again. But just because that was my experience does not mean that your average member cannot read this book and think it feels like just the right amount of information to process at any given time. Overall, I feel like this work was an incredible feat and was inspired and directed by the Spirit. God bless Elder Callister for his testimony of this gospel and his way with words.
February 11, 2022
Not bad. I think Callister is sincere and himself rationally convinced. He gets deep into the primary sources with the Ante-Nicene Fathers and New Testament texts. Many of his secondary sources are prominent and respectable. Some secondary sources, like Adolf von Harnack, have positions that are certainly contestable and that I disagree with, but are respectable nonetheless. Callister is well acquainted with the history and I am pleased to see that.
He collects a mass of facts and quotations but in my opinion, his conclusions do not follow naturally from the evidence. It’s possible to construct different narratives with the evidence available. Granted, the narrative that Callister puts together is a possible narrative. But it is far from the most natural narrative. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong. But it does mean that other reasons are needed to choose it. And I imagine Callister would agree with that. Why do Latter-day Saints believe there was an Apostasy? Because they believe there was a Restoration. And that, if true, is reason enough to tip the scales in favor of Callister’s narrative. But without it it is not the most natural narrative to formulate from the evidence.
As an example, Callister makes much of the historical accounts of multiple forms of heresy in the early Church. And that certainly is prominent in the documents. The Early Church Fathers were trying to teach correct doctrine and a big part of that was confronting false doctrine. But Callister uses that to give the impression that the Church was in hopeless confusion and that the Church itself succumbed to heresy. But that’s a big leap. Especially since the content of the heresies recorded in the documents are not things that the Catholic/Orthodox tradition adopted, but rather explicitly rejected. That was the whole point.
On the other hand, I think Callister makes some good points about early Christian ideas and practices that modern Christian traditions would be wise to revisit. I think this is already happening with deification, which some theologians are trying to study and emphasize more. Another interesting one is baptism for the dead. I think Callister’s treatment of that topic was quite good and persuasive. I think baptism of the dead probably was practiced in the early church, though it may not have been widespread. And there’s some good theology there for Christians to look into.
I like that Callister really digs into the sources with the Ante-Nicene Fathers. That being said, he is reading and quoting them through a very particular interpretive lens. I don’t think it would be good for Callister’s account of the Early Church Fathers to be the only exposure that LDS readers have. They should have at least one other resource to give more context. As just one possibility, I’d propose Marcellino D’Ambrosio’s highly readable and informative book, *When the Church Was Young: Voices of the Early Fathers*. At least one more resource on the early church will enable one to better evaluate Callister’s interpretation of the history.
He collects a mass of facts and quotations but in my opinion, his conclusions do not follow naturally from the evidence. It’s possible to construct different narratives with the evidence available. Granted, the narrative that Callister puts together is a possible narrative. But it is far from the most natural narrative. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong. But it does mean that other reasons are needed to choose it. And I imagine Callister would agree with that. Why do Latter-day Saints believe there was an Apostasy? Because they believe there was a Restoration. And that, if true, is reason enough to tip the scales in favor of Callister’s narrative. But without it it is not the most natural narrative to formulate from the evidence.
As an example, Callister makes much of the historical accounts of multiple forms of heresy in the early Church. And that certainly is prominent in the documents. The Early Church Fathers were trying to teach correct doctrine and a big part of that was confronting false doctrine. But Callister uses that to give the impression that the Church was in hopeless confusion and that the Church itself succumbed to heresy. But that’s a big leap. Especially since the content of the heresies recorded in the documents are not things that the Catholic/Orthodox tradition adopted, but rather explicitly rejected. That was the whole point.
On the other hand, I think Callister makes some good points about early Christian ideas and practices that modern Christian traditions would be wise to revisit. I think this is already happening with deification, which some theologians are trying to study and emphasize more. Another interesting one is baptism for the dead. I think Callister’s treatment of that topic was quite good and persuasive. I think baptism of the dead probably was practiced in the early church, though it may not have been widespread. And there’s some good theology there for Christians to look into.
I like that Callister really digs into the sources with the Ante-Nicene Fathers. That being said, he is reading and quoting them through a very particular interpretive lens. I don’t think it would be good for Callister’s account of the Early Church Fathers to be the only exposure that LDS readers have. They should have at least one other resource to give more context. As just one possibility, I’d propose Marcellino D’Ambrosio’s highly readable and informative book, *When the Church Was Young: Voices of the Early Fathers*. At least one more resource on the early church will enable one to better evaluate Callister’s interpretation of the history.
July 28, 2013
Another fantastic book. It's a slow read - - so much to digest. As good as his book, "The Infinite Atonement." Will reread this book in the future.
April 28, 2010
Wow! Some people are just brilliant, and Tad Callister is one of them. I would like to be able to use clear concise logic to explain the unexplainable.
January 6, 2018
I really liked this book! It's a great and very clear explanation of the apostasy and restoration of the gospel. They were both gradual processes. Ultimately, not long after Christ's death and resurrection, internal wickedness meant the end of the apostles, priesthood, revelation, scriptures, spiritual gifts and miracles, and the church, along with the distortion of many doctrines, teachings, and ordinances. The truth was lost, but knowing this would happen God had planned for the restoration of the truth. Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon were important parts of that restoration, as well the founders of America who established a place of religious liberty and freedom. We are still living during this time of restoration. Prophets and apostles lead and guide and hold priesthood keys to administer in the Lord's Church and teach His gospel. I'm grateful for this message of hope, truth and light!
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
"'What happened to Christ's Church?' The purpose of this book is to assist those who earnestly seek an answer to that inquiry (p. xi)."
"'You Mormons are all ignoramuses. You don't even know the strength of your own position. It is so strong that there is only one other tenable in the whole Christian world, and this is the position of the Catholic Church. The issue is between Catholicism and Mormonism. If we are right, you are wrong; if you are right, we are wrong; and that's all there is to it.... It is either the perpetuation of the gospel from ancient times, or the restoration of the gospel in latter days (a Catholic theologian as quoted by Elder Orson F. Whitney, p. 4).'"
"This formal church organized by the Savior and his apostles was not an end in and of itself, but rather the organization through which God chose to save souls and build his kingdom (p. 6)."
"What are the hallmarks of this divine institution known as Christ's Church?
...the teachings and doctrines were perfect because the Savior was their source
...the Church provided the ordinances necessary to save and exalt man
...the Church possessed the priesthood--the power and authority to act in God's name
...the Church was a divinely organized institution that was designed to be the most effective and efficient way to (a) disseminate Christ's teachings, (b) perform and monitor his sacred ordinances, and (c) regulate this priesthood authority in an orderly manner (p. 9)."
"External persecution of the early Christians was intense. Such persecution, however, did not cause the demise of Christ's Church any more than the crucifixion of the Savior ended Christianity. It was not external evil or persecution that destroyed Christ's Church, but rather internal wickedness--the enemy within. That is what proved its downfall (p. 24)."
"'The apostasy described in the New Testament is not desertion of the cause, but perversion of it, a process by which 'the righteous are removed, and none perceives it (Hugh Nibley, p. 25).'"
"In his kindness, the Lord is always chastening admonishing, trying to avert a spiritual disaster, but unfortunately in this case there is no scriptural or historical evidence of repentance and, thus, the 'unchurching' must have eventually occurred (p. 44)."
"This was not an isolated apostasy, but an avalanche of dissension, revolt, and heresy... This apostasy was triggered by widespread disobedience and by a proliferation of heresies. Accordingly, the martyrdom of the apostles was not the source of the apostasy; rather, it was a consequence of the apostasy (p. 46)."
"It is no wonder Satan was so intense in his attack against the apostles--for if the apostles could be extinguished, the Church would lose its foundation (p. 58)."
"Why did the Lord allow the death of his apostles if they were the foundation of his Church and necessary to bring the people to a unity of the faith? Because the Lord has never forced his prophets upon the people (p. 60)."
"The power shift from local congregations to the bishop of Rome (or the pope) as the supreme authority evolved over time (p. 63)."
"Most Christians believe that there was no ongoing need for a Quorum of Twelve Apostles... In essence, these advocates believe the apostles founded the church, completed their mission, died, and that was the end of the story. No replacements were necessary.... 'Why were they essential to the establishment of the Church, but not necessary for its perpetuation (p. 67)?'"
"For the entire four thousand years of Bible history, God revealed his words through prophets--Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Peter, and a host of others. That was his chosen method of communication to man, as announced by Amos, 'Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servant the prophets' (Amos 3:7). Christ's Church is a living church, not a dead church, and revelation is the lifeblood that gives the Church its vibrancy, its power, and its life (p. 71)."
"'It seems to me a[n]...unreasonable thing, to suppose that there should be a god...that has so much concern [for us]...and yet that he should never speak...that there should be no word [from him] (Jonathan Edwards, p. 77).'"
"'The average Christian does not realize that the very scriptures which he reads are evidences that there has been a great apostasy from the truth... Nearly every one of these epistles was written to counteract some form of apostasy which was creeping into the Christian Church in the very days in which the original Twelve Apostles lived (Elder Mark E. Petersen, p. 85).'"
"The scriptures and philosophies of man had merged into a doctrinal quagmire (p. 114)."
"While all the doctrines of Christianity are critical to understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ, there are two doctrines that form the crux of Christianity--the fall of Adam and the atonement of Jesus Christ (p. 134)."
"'God became man, so that we might be made gods (St. Athanasius of Alexandria [A.D. 295-373], p. 149).'"
"''Make no mistake...if you let Me, I will make you perfect. The moment you put yourself in My hands, that is what you are in for. Nothing less, or other, than that. You have free will, and if you choose, you can push Me away. But if you do not push Me away, understand that I am going to see this job through (C.S. Lewis, p. 153).''"
"Is God impaired, degraded, lessened, dethroned because he has given to others the capacity to become like him? Or is he honored more.... In that process of lifting men heavenward, God simultaneously multiplies his own honor and thus is 'honoured more,' not less. God's crowning creation possesses the ultimate power to honor him and, in addition, to become like him (p. 158)."
"There was no limitation as to who would receive the gospel--it was to be preached to all the dead (p. 182)."
"As Harold B. Lee said, 'There are no successful sinners.'.... To deer righteousness is to defer happiness (p. 187)."
"Eternal marriage is not only scripturally correct, but it is also one of those doctrines that feels correct. The test for spiritual truth is not to be found in the mind alone, but also in the heart (p. 201)."
"It should not seem surprising that Stan is always tampering with God's doctrine. If he cannot convince the people to be celibates, then at the very least he can whisper to those who insist on marriage, 'until death do you part (p. 206).'"
"During the period of the apostasy 'many plain and precious things' were deleted from the Bible (p. 216)."
"'The religion-builders have so distorted and deformed the doctrines of Jesus, so muffled them in mysticisms, fancies and falsehoods, have caricatured them into forms so monstrous and inconceivable as to shock reasonable thinkers... Happy in the prospect of a restoration of primitive Christianity, I must leave to younger athletes to encounter and lop off the false branches which have been engrafted into it by the mythologists of the middle and modern ages (Thomas Jefferson, p. 217).'"
"The apostasy had taken a heavy toll on the truth (p. 219)."
"Every time a doctrine or ordinance is corrupted, it seems other doctrines are also corrupted. Heresy is a virus that infects and contaminates everything it touches... Once the door to heresy was opened a crack, Satan thrust in his wedge and the door sprang wide open. Like the domino effect, one heresy led to another (p. 230)."
"With the loss of baptism for the dead as a church ordinance, one is forced to accept one or the other of the following alternatives, neither of which is appealing. Either one must conclude that baptism is not essential to salvation, and thus be at odds with the veritable mass of scriptures and early Christian writers on the subject, or he must conclude that everyone who is not baptized, even the innocent and good, are damned (p. 241)."
"The focus of the sacrament was not intended to change the nature of the bread and water; it was intended to change the nature of one's heart (p. 244)."
"When there were no physical temples on the earth or when they were not operating under the direction of the Melchizedek Priesthood (as was the case at the time of the Savior), then, under such circumstances, certain temple ordinances took place at other locations approved by the Savior (p. 249)."
"After the passage of a few centuries it was hard to find a doctrine or ordinance that had not undergone some corruption (p. 252)."
"If someone were trying to sever the lifeline between God and mortals, what better way than to dilute the power of prayer (p. 255)?"
"'We ponder in shock that a standard question of the Inquisition was, 'Have you read or do you own the scriptures in the common tongue (S. Michael Wilcox, p. 262)?''"
"'If we are not reading the scriptures daily, our testimonies are growing thinner, our spirituality isn't increasing in depth (President Harold B. Lee, p. 266).'"
"The scriptures are reservoirs of sacred truths, from which we are invited, even commanded, to drink (p. 266)."
"To assure adherence to the moral law, the Church disciplined offenders in order to protect the integrity of the Church and assist the transgressor in the repentance process. The early Church leaders knew that it was no act of charity to tolerate or endorse transgression under the guise of compassion (p. 286)."
"The Church was intended to be a spiritual hospital with spiritual physicians who could diagnose and heal the infirm. What kind of physician, after diagnosing severely constricted arteries in a man's heart, would then pat him on the back and say, 'Have a good day. I'm sure everything will be all right.' Now if that doctor were honoring his profession, he would tell his patient that there would be serious consequences, perhaps imminent death, if he did not make radical changes in his lifestyle (p. 287)."
"What a remarkable admission that the Church of Christ should be named after Christ (p. 291)!"
"The priesthood is the power to act for God and perform his work as though he himself were present.... the priesthood becomes a form of divine investiture of authority by which the acts and words of the priesthood bearer become the acts and words of the Savior (p. 293)."
"Armed with the power of God these priesthood men accomplished at least four purposes: first, they taught the word of God with power; second, they performed the sacred ordinances with divine validity; third, they governed the affairs of the Church in an orderly way; and fourth, they administered blessings to the human family. This priesthood power is the heart of the Church--it pumps life into every organ of the body. Take it away, and the teachings lack power; the ordinances lack validity; the administration lacks direction; and the Church lacks its full ability to bless. Without the priesthood, the Church is no more than another man-made institution--a worthy service club of sorts, but it has no power to save (p. 295)."
"There are many sincere Christians, but sincerity alone does not mean they hold the priesthood. They must also be called of God and be ordained by the laying on of hands. Sincerity in and of itself does not give a private citizen the power to arrest another. The world understands that there must be an order to things; otherwise, chaos reigns--and so it is with the priesthood of God (p. 296)."
"'When the priesthood was gone, not one single, solitary ordinance of the gospel could efficaciously or redemptively be administered, no matter how honest and earnestly seeking those men...were (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, p. 297).'"
"Men and women are of equal import in God's eyes, but each is given a different role in building the kingdom (p. 298)."
"With the death of the apostles there were still men holding the priesthood upon the earth, but they did not hold the necessary keys to perpetuate the priesthood. Without the apostles and the keys they held, the course of priesthood extinction was unalterably fixed (p. 300)."
"After John Wesley ordained Thomas Coke a 'superintendent' to administer the sacraments to the Methodists, his brother Charles wrote: 'So easily are Bishops made By man's or woman's whim? W[esley], his hands on C[oke] hath laid, But who laid hands on Him (p. 301)?'"
"Without direct priesthood lineage to the Savior, there can be no authority of the Savior (p. 302)."
"God's Church is a church of order. One must be called of God and ordained by the laying on of hands. There are no exceptions (p. 302)."
"'I believe there has never been a moment of time since the creation that God has abandoned the earth to Satan. There has always been someone holding the priesthood on the earth to hold Satan in check (Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 303).'"
"It is a serious thing to suggest that God would allow his own Church to be removed from the earth, but certain divine principles inevitably lead to that conclusion (p. 312)."
"God did not force men to be righteous for the sake of continuity of his Church. He invites, commands, prophesies, and warns, but he does not suppress man's agency. Such conduct would be contrary and counterproductive to the divine plan that places moral agency as its key foundation stone (p. 313)."
"Evidently there must exist a certain critical mass of righteousness for the Church to remain as an organized institution (p. 314)."
"Christ's Church survived for a while because of the righteousness of a few. But when the mass of pure believers became so small and wickedness so prevalent, then...God removed his Spirit, and the Church became extinct as a spiritual entity (p. 316)."
"God did not fail with the cessation of his Church. He never fails... Knowing of the apostasy in advance, God made the Restoration a critical element in that master plan (p. 321)."
"'Beginning in the 14th century, the Lord began to prepare those social, educational, religious, economic, and governmental conditions under which he could more easily restore the gospel for the last time among men (p. 324)."
"The Reformation...was not the final act; rather, it was a necessary precursor to the restoration of Christ's Church (p. 327)."
"Once...an independent nation was established, a government needed to be raised up that would foster freedom of religion... the Lord sent such men as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and others, all of whom later appeared to Wilford Woodruff in the St. George Temple and declared that they had performed their foreordained task in laying the foundation of this government and now wanted the blessings of the gospel in their lives (p. 334)."
"'No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing (Joseph Smith, p. 343).'"
"'When a wrong wants righting, or a truth wants preaching, or a continent wants discovering, God sends a baby into the world to do it (President Spencer W. Kimball, p. 344).'"
"'These are the dead Apostles. Here we have the living Apostles.' President Kimball then pointed to Elder Packer, Elder Thomas S. Monson, and Elder L. Tom Perry and said, 'We are the living Apostles....' President Kimball's testimony was so powerful that the custodian's eyes filled with tears (p. 346)."
"'The keys of the kingdom are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountains without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth' (D&C 65:2, p. 347)."
"'We declare with words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth (First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, p. 348).'"
"This...does not mean there are not good people in other churches--for there are. It does not mean that other churches do not have some truths--for they do (p. 348)."
"Christ's Church was not a status quo church. It was a dynamic, living church built upon continuing revelation (p. 349)."
"The divine footprints were clearly visible, the handiwork of God distinctly discernible. Instead of the spotlight, there was the secluded appearance of the Father and the Son; instead of a blaring microphone, the whispering voice of the Spirit; and instead of the garrulous masses, the humble but certain testimony of the few (p. 351)."
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
"'What happened to Christ's Church?' The purpose of this book is to assist those who earnestly seek an answer to that inquiry (p. xi)."
"'You Mormons are all ignoramuses. You don't even know the strength of your own position. It is so strong that there is only one other tenable in the whole Christian world, and this is the position of the Catholic Church. The issue is between Catholicism and Mormonism. If we are right, you are wrong; if you are right, we are wrong; and that's all there is to it.... It is either the perpetuation of the gospel from ancient times, or the restoration of the gospel in latter days (a Catholic theologian as quoted by Elder Orson F. Whitney, p. 4).'"
"This formal church organized by the Savior and his apostles was not an end in and of itself, but rather the organization through which God chose to save souls and build his kingdom (p. 6)."
"What are the hallmarks of this divine institution known as Christ's Church?
...the teachings and doctrines were perfect because the Savior was their source
...the Church provided the ordinances necessary to save and exalt man
...the Church possessed the priesthood--the power and authority to act in God's name
...the Church was a divinely organized institution that was designed to be the most effective and efficient way to (a) disseminate Christ's teachings, (b) perform and monitor his sacred ordinances, and (c) regulate this priesthood authority in an orderly manner (p. 9)."
"External persecution of the early Christians was intense. Such persecution, however, did not cause the demise of Christ's Church any more than the crucifixion of the Savior ended Christianity. It was not external evil or persecution that destroyed Christ's Church, but rather internal wickedness--the enemy within. That is what proved its downfall (p. 24)."
"'The apostasy described in the New Testament is not desertion of the cause, but perversion of it, a process by which 'the righteous are removed, and none perceives it (Hugh Nibley, p. 25).'"
"In his kindness, the Lord is always chastening admonishing, trying to avert a spiritual disaster, but unfortunately in this case there is no scriptural or historical evidence of repentance and, thus, the 'unchurching' must have eventually occurred (p. 44)."
"This was not an isolated apostasy, but an avalanche of dissension, revolt, and heresy... This apostasy was triggered by widespread disobedience and by a proliferation of heresies. Accordingly, the martyrdom of the apostles was not the source of the apostasy; rather, it was a consequence of the apostasy (p. 46)."
"It is no wonder Satan was so intense in his attack against the apostles--for if the apostles could be extinguished, the Church would lose its foundation (p. 58)."
"Why did the Lord allow the death of his apostles if they were the foundation of his Church and necessary to bring the people to a unity of the faith? Because the Lord has never forced his prophets upon the people (p. 60)."
"The power shift from local congregations to the bishop of Rome (or the pope) as the supreme authority evolved over time (p. 63)."
"Most Christians believe that there was no ongoing need for a Quorum of Twelve Apostles... In essence, these advocates believe the apostles founded the church, completed their mission, died, and that was the end of the story. No replacements were necessary.... 'Why were they essential to the establishment of the Church, but not necessary for its perpetuation (p. 67)?'"
"For the entire four thousand years of Bible history, God revealed his words through prophets--Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Peter, and a host of others. That was his chosen method of communication to man, as announced by Amos, 'Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servant the prophets' (Amos 3:7). Christ's Church is a living church, not a dead church, and revelation is the lifeblood that gives the Church its vibrancy, its power, and its life (p. 71)."
"'It seems to me a[n]...unreasonable thing, to suppose that there should be a god...that has so much concern [for us]...and yet that he should never speak...that there should be no word [from him] (Jonathan Edwards, p. 77).'"
"'The average Christian does not realize that the very scriptures which he reads are evidences that there has been a great apostasy from the truth... Nearly every one of these epistles was written to counteract some form of apostasy which was creeping into the Christian Church in the very days in which the original Twelve Apostles lived (Elder Mark E. Petersen, p. 85).'"
"The scriptures and philosophies of man had merged into a doctrinal quagmire (p. 114)."
"While all the doctrines of Christianity are critical to understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ, there are two doctrines that form the crux of Christianity--the fall of Adam and the atonement of Jesus Christ (p. 134)."
"'God became man, so that we might be made gods (St. Athanasius of Alexandria [A.D. 295-373], p. 149).'"
"''Make no mistake...if you let Me, I will make you perfect. The moment you put yourself in My hands, that is what you are in for. Nothing less, or other, than that. You have free will, and if you choose, you can push Me away. But if you do not push Me away, understand that I am going to see this job through (C.S. Lewis, p. 153).''"
"Is God impaired, degraded, lessened, dethroned because he has given to others the capacity to become like him? Or is he honored more.... In that process of lifting men heavenward, God simultaneously multiplies his own honor and thus is 'honoured more,' not less. God's crowning creation possesses the ultimate power to honor him and, in addition, to become like him (p. 158)."
"There was no limitation as to who would receive the gospel--it was to be preached to all the dead (p. 182)."
"As Harold B. Lee said, 'There are no successful sinners.'.... To deer righteousness is to defer happiness (p. 187)."
"Eternal marriage is not only scripturally correct, but it is also one of those doctrines that feels correct. The test for spiritual truth is not to be found in the mind alone, but also in the heart (p. 201)."
"It should not seem surprising that Stan is always tampering with God's doctrine. If he cannot convince the people to be celibates, then at the very least he can whisper to those who insist on marriage, 'until death do you part (p. 206).'"
"During the period of the apostasy 'many plain and precious things' were deleted from the Bible (p. 216)."
"'The religion-builders have so distorted and deformed the doctrines of Jesus, so muffled them in mysticisms, fancies and falsehoods, have caricatured them into forms so monstrous and inconceivable as to shock reasonable thinkers... Happy in the prospect of a restoration of primitive Christianity, I must leave to younger athletes to encounter and lop off the false branches which have been engrafted into it by the mythologists of the middle and modern ages (Thomas Jefferson, p. 217).'"
"The apostasy had taken a heavy toll on the truth (p. 219)."
"Every time a doctrine or ordinance is corrupted, it seems other doctrines are also corrupted. Heresy is a virus that infects and contaminates everything it touches... Once the door to heresy was opened a crack, Satan thrust in his wedge and the door sprang wide open. Like the domino effect, one heresy led to another (p. 230)."
"With the loss of baptism for the dead as a church ordinance, one is forced to accept one or the other of the following alternatives, neither of which is appealing. Either one must conclude that baptism is not essential to salvation, and thus be at odds with the veritable mass of scriptures and early Christian writers on the subject, or he must conclude that everyone who is not baptized, even the innocent and good, are damned (p. 241)."
"The focus of the sacrament was not intended to change the nature of the bread and water; it was intended to change the nature of one's heart (p. 244)."
"When there were no physical temples on the earth or when they were not operating under the direction of the Melchizedek Priesthood (as was the case at the time of the Savior), then, under such circumstances, certain temple ordinances took place at other locations approved by the Savior (p. 249)."
"After the passage of a few centuries it was hard to find a doctrine or ordinance that had not undergone some corruption (p. 252)."
"If someone were trying to sever the lifeline between God and mortals, what better way than to dilute the power of prayer (p. 255)?"
"'We ponder in shock that a standard question of the Inquisition was, 'Have you read or do you own the scriptures in the common tongue (S. Michael Wilcox, p. 262)?''"
"'If we are not reading the scriptures daily, our testimonies are growing thinner, our spirituality isn't increasing in depth (President Harold B. Lee, p. 266).'"
"The scriptures are reservoirs of sacred truths, from which we are invited, even commanded, to drink (p. 266)."
"To assure adherence to the moral law, the Church disciplined offenders in order to protect the integrity of the Church and assist the transgressor in the repentance process. The early Church leaders knew that it was no act of charity to tolerate or endorse transgression under the guise of compassion (p. 286)."
"The Church was intended to be a spiritual hospital with spiritual physicians who could diagnose and heal the infirm. What kind of physician, after diagnosing severely constricted arteries in a man's heart, would then pat him on the back and say, 'Have a good day. I'm sure everything will be all right.' Now if that doctor were honoring his profession, he would tell his patient that there would be serious consequences, perhaps imminent death, if he did not make radical changes in his lifestyle (p. 287)."
"What a remarkable admission that the Church of Christ should be named after Christ (p. 291)!"
"The priesthood is the power to act for God and perform his work as though he himself were present.... the priesthood becomes a form of divine investiture of authority by which the acts and words of the priesthood bearer become the acts and words of the Savior (p. 293)."
"Armed with the power of God these priesthood men accomplished at least four purposes: first, they taught the word of God with power; second, they performed the sacred ordinances with divine validity; third, they governed the affairs of the Church in an orderly way; and fourth, they administered blessings to the human family. This priesthood power is the heart of the Church--it pumps life into every organ of the body. Take it away, and the teachings lack power; the ordinances lack validity; the administration lacks direction; and the Church lacks its full ability to bless. Without the priesthood, the Church is no more than another man-made institution--a worthy service club of sorts, but it has no power to save (p. 295)."
"There are many sincere Christians, but sincerity alone does not mean they hold the priesthood. They must also be called of God and be ordained by the laying on of hands. Sincerity in and of itself does not give a private citizen the power to arrest another. The world understands that there must be an order to things; otherwise, chaos reigns--and so it is with the priesthood of God (p. 296)."
"'When the priesthood was gone, not one single, solitary ordinance of the gospel could efficaciously or redemptively be administered, no matter how honest and earnestly seeking those men...were (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, p. 297).'"
"Men and women are of equal import in God's eyes, but each is given a different role in building the kingdom (p. 298)."
"With the death of the apostles there were still men holding the priesthood upon the earth, but they did not hold the necessary keys to perpetuate the priesthood. Without the apostles and the keys they held, the course of priesthood extinction was unalterably fixed (p. 300)."
"After John Wesley ordained Thomas Coke a 'superintendent' to administer the sacraments to the Methodists, his brother Charles wrote: 'So easily are Bishops made By man's or woman's whim? W[esley], his hands on C[oke] hath laid, But who laid hands on Him (p. 301)?'"
"Without direct priesthood lineage to the Savior, there can be no authority of the Savior (p. 302)."
"God's Church is a church of order. One must be called of God and ordained by the laying on of hands. There are no exceptions (p. 302)."
"'I believe there has never been a moment of time since the creation that God has abandoned the earth to Satan. There has always been someone holding the priesthood on the earth to hold Satan in check (Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 303).'"
"It is a serious thing to suggest that God would allow his own Church to be removed from the earth, but certain divine principles inevitably lead to that conclusion (p. 312)."
"God did not force men to be righteous for the sake of continuity of his Church. He invites, commands, prophesies, and warns, but he does not suppress man's agency. Such conduct would be contrary and counterproductive to the divine plan that places moral agency as its key foundation stone (p. 313)."
"Evidently there must exist a certain critical mass of righteousness for the Church to remain as an organized institution (p. 314)."
"Christ's Church survived for a while because of the righteousness of a few. But when the mass of pure believers became so small and wickedness so prevalent, then...God removed his Spirit, and the Church became extinct as a spiritual entity (p. 316)."
"God did not fail with the cessation of his Church. He never fails... Knowing of the apostasy in advance, God made the Restoration a critical element in that master plan (p. 321)."
"'Beginning in the 14th century, the Lord began to prepare those social, educational, religious, economic, and governmental conditions under which he could more easily restore the gospel for the last time among men (p. 324)."
"The Reformation...was not the final act; rather, it was a necessary precursor to the restoration of Christ's Church (p. 327)."
"Once...an independent nation was established, a government needed to be raised up that would foster freedom of religion... the Lord sent such men as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and others, all of whom later appeared to Wilford Woodruff in the St. George Temple and declared that they had performed their foreordained task in laying the foundation of this government and now wanted the blessings of the gospel in their lives (p. 334)."
"'No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing (Joseph Smith, p. 343).'"
"'When a wrong wants righting, or a truth wants preaching, or a continent wants discovering, God sends a baby into the world to do it (President Spencer W. Kimball, p. 344).'"
"'These are the dead Apostles. Here we have the living Apostles.' President Kimball then pointed to Elder Packer, Elder Thomas S. Monson, and Elder L. Tom Perry and said, 'We are the living Apostles....' President Kimball's testimony was so powerful that the custodian's eyes filled with tears (p. 346)."
"'The keys of the kingdom are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountains without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth' (D&C 65:2, p. 347)."
"'We declare with words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth (First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, p. 348).'"
"This...does not mean there are not good people in other churches--for there are. It does not mean that other churches do not have some truths--for they do (p. 348)."
"Christ's Church was not a status quo church. It was a dynamic, living church built upon continuing revelation (p. 349)."
"The divine footprints were clearly visible, the handiwork of God distinctly discernible. Instead of the spotlight, there was the secluded appearance of the Father and the Son; instead of a blaring microphone, the whispering voice of the Spirit; and instead of the garrulous masses, the humble but certain testimony of the few (p. 351)."
November 16, 2019
First of all, I’d like to note that I would never want to be on the other side of an argument with Tad Callister. He is just so, so good at making an argument.
This book has been a fabulous addition to my study of the New Testament this year. I learned so much about the early church and the years following. I highly recommend this one.
This book has been a fabulous addition to my study of the New Testament this year. I learned so much about the early church and the years following. I highly recommend this one.
July 24, 2019
Helpful framework of Christ’s church and the falling away. I found talmage’s “great apostasy” to be more informative and thought provoking. Callister’s book is helpful for those unacquainted with the history of the apostasy.
I found the appendix very helpful as it cites a number of authors and works that contributed to the documentation of a) the establishment of Christ’s Church, b) the falling away, c) the establishment of the Catholic Church and its political influences, and d) the renaissance/reformation
I found the appendix very helpful as it cites a number of authors and works that contributed to the documentation of a) the establishment of Christ’s Church, b) the falling away, c) the establishment of the Catholic Church and its political influences, and d) the renaissance/reformation
February 3, 2019
Clearly not a scholarly work. Callister either picks and chooses, or, takes out of context both Biblical passages and the works of the early Church fathers. He'll quote passages that seem to support his claims but conveniently ignores the rest of their writings that stand against his position. He only uses sources who are vocal about their opposition to the Catholic position and only quotes their conclusions and doesn't even mention their method of reaching that conclusion. He'll lay claims that the Bible is replete with prophecies about the apostasy and doesn't ever mention those supposed numerous prophecies (maybe one or two passages that have been taken out of context). His theory that Constantine started the Catholic Church is mentioned without any source material to back it up, and conveniently leaves out that Constantine supported and was actually baptized by an Arian Bishop and not a Catholic Bishop. This work is clearly an example of twisting sacred scripture and history to fit the fallacious LDS view of the mythical great apostasy. If it was in fact as inevitable as he claims no wonder Joseph Smith claimed that "I have done what even Christ and the Apostles couldn't go." Heresy at its height.
February 4, 2009
At times I couldn't put the book down, and at other times I hardly wanted to pick it up, but wanted it just to end so recluctantly picked it up again. Overall, it was a good book with some interesting insights and compelling argument. The reasoning which exposes teachings of primitive Christianity that have been perverted was, I thought, supported quite well.
The book explains why Christianity, the beliefs, doctrines, and ordinances, have been perverted through the ages. The author explores early Christian thought, why changes were made, and compares it to modern Christianity and beliefs of the L.D.S. church. At one point the author states that he is not attacking the beliefs of other faiths, but then seems to do just that. Actually, at times he seems to compare the best of L.D.S. religious beliefs with the worst of others'. A better defense of others' beliefs and doctrines was at times sorely missing, and if included would have made it a much better book.
The book explains why Christianity, the beliefs, doctrines, and ordinances, have been perverted through the ages. The author explores early Christian thought, why changes were made, and compares it to modern Christianity and beliefs of the L.D.S. church. At one point the author states that he is not attacking the beliefs of other faiths, but then seems to do just that. Actually, at times he seems to compare the best of L.D.S. religious beliefs with the worst of others'. A better defense of others' beliefs and doctrines was at times sorely missing, and if included would have made it a much better book.
July 15, 2009
It is obvious that Callister is a lawyer, because he is a master researcher. That is one of main reasons his books contain such quality substance. Callister researched the writings of the early Christian writers (that lived during and after the apostles) and compared them with mainstream Christian doctrine today. He also went through the history of Christianity from Christ through modern day (early Christianity, the Dark Ages, the Renaissance and the Reformation, the Restoration). I especially loved the history and the evidence of God's hand in the Reformation, the discovery of America, the Revolutionary War, and the Constitution. Callister has included hundreds of amazing quotes from a variety of good, inspired men. This book was a good mixture of scripture, history, logic, and common sense and was masterfully put together. Highly recommend.
September 28, 2012
This book will most likely replace Talmage's "Great Apostasy" as the go-to volume on this topic in the Church. It is a much broader approach to the topic. Talmage focused with greater depth on the actual apostasy itself, I think, but Callister discusses more broadly it's historical ramifications over a broader period of time, and spends significantly more time on the reformation and the restoration. Callister does stray at times from his topic to give a devotional speech, but what's wrong with that? Definitely worth a read for any Latter-day Saint and anyone interested in our doctrine.
November 3, 2017
I wish every Christian would read this book. He clearly lays out the doctrines and teachings as close to the time of the apostles as we have record of, and shows where changes in teachings have occurred, and that such changes happened without authority. It is compelling.
January 25, 2021
A great book that left me adding notes and cross references all over my scriptures.
January 7, 2024
Tad Callister is a lawyer, not a historian, which is important to understanding his books. Where a historian might present evidence from both sides and critically analyze them, his goal is to present arguments that support his case as best as he can. He did much more thorough research on this book than his Case for the Book of Mormon, and I enjoyed a lot of it, but I do want to point out some of the weaknesses in my review.
First he explains that Jesus did set up a church which was intended to carry his message worldwide. However, there were prophecies and evidences within the Bible that his church was beginning to fracture. We can compare modern Christianity to the teachings of early Christians to see how much has changed.
Callister makes many strong points, and while I know I am biased, I do think an objective observer would look at his sources and see that these things were clearly taught and later changed. These include:
Baptism by immersion as necessary for salvation and not for infants
Premortal existence of spirits
Grace and Works together
Preaching the gospel to the dead
God the Father and Son having separate bodies
Deification of humans, and multiple levels of heaven/reward
It is also obvious that the behavior of many Catholic Church leaders throughout the Middle Ages casts serious doubt on their claim to authority. That being said, one of the hardest parts of this discussion is the line of authority. We don't fully know who led the Church after Peter. Latter-day Saints claim that John should have been next in line, but we don't have evidence of how that may or may not have happened. Callister explains that the apostasy was gradual, and there was authority spread throughout the church that was gradually lost.
The necessity of authority is another place where Protestant Christians may disagree with us. And, I found it interesting that he has a lot of support for the method of baptism, but there isn't anywhere in the Bible that specifically says you must be baptized by someone from a certain line of authority. While that is in Latter-day Saint scripture, you can really only infer it from the Bible; it isn't stated directly.
Finally, I wish that he had discussed more of how and why these teachings were changed. He did discuss this in some chapters, but in others I would have loved to see the evolution of the doctrine over time to figure out where it went wrong. I feel that "All Things New" by the Givens does a much better job of answering those questions.
Still, this was a helpful resource, and I'm glad I read it.
First he explains that Jesus did set up a church which was intended to carry his message worldwide. However, there were prophecies and evidences within the Bible that his church was beginning to fracture. We can compare modern Christianity to the teachings of early Christians to see how much has changed.
Callister makes many strong points, and while I know I am biased, I do think an objective observer would look at his sources and see that these things were clearly taught and later changed. These include:
Baptism by immersion as necessary for salvation and not for infants
Premortal existence of spirits
Grace and Works together
Preaching the gospel to the dead
God the Father and Son having separate bodies
Deification of humans, and multiple levels of heaven/reward
It is also obvious that the behavior of many Catholic Church leaders throughout the Middle Ages casts serious doubt on their claim to authority. That being said, one of the hardest parts of this discussion is the line of authority. We don't fully know who led the Church after Peter. Latter-day Saints claim that John should have been next in line, but we don't have evidence of how that may or may not have happened. Callister explains that the apostasy was gradual, and there was authority spread throughout the church that was gradually lost.
The necessity of authority is another place where Protestant Christians may disagree with us. And, I found it interesting that he has a lot of support for the method of baptism, but there isn't anywhere in the Bible that specifically says you must be baptized by someone from a certain line of authority. While that is in Latter-day Saint scripture, you can really only infer it from the Bible; it isn't stated directly.
Finally, I wish that he had discussed more of how and why these teachings were changed. He did discuss this in some chapters, but in others I would have loved to see the evolution of the doctrine over time to figure out where it went wrong. I feel that "All Things New" by the Givens does a much better job of answering those questions.
Still, this was a helpful resource, and I'm glad I read it.
December 29, 2019
As a convert to Catholicism who has an interest in world religions, I was very interested to read this book. It was recommended to me by one of the Elders I had been meeting with. I have to say I'm very disappointed, not just with this book but by all the ones I've read from Tad. He doesn't have much new material in books and he is also less than honest in his presentation of the material. Anyone can cherry pick quotes to support their position. I would rather have seen him tackle issues that exist with the idea of an Apostasy head on, and he doesn't do that. He also approaches his works with the assumption that the Book of Mormon is to be taken as Scripture (even his book The Case For The Book of Mormon is like this). He is a good read for those members of LDS Church that would like to feel more confirmation for their faith but is not really compelling enough to bring most doubters of Joseph Smith into the fold.
February 10, 2021
This was such a great book.. I listened to it. I think I will read it so I can stop and study concepts.
It talks about why the apostasy happened, why it took so long for the restoration. It talked about how the time and place had to be perfect so that another apostasy wouldn’t occur. I always thought that the apostasy happened because the apostles died and the restoration occurred because Joseph smith prayed... but that’s not really the full truth. The reformers were wonderful men of God who wanted and searched for truth.. but the timing and the place wasn’t right. Religious freedom needed to be established first.
He talks about how the original church went away for Christ’s teachings, how scriptures were removed from the general public’s hands and changed.
It proves that God’s hand is in all the details of life. He had a plan to Restore the true Church of Jesus Christ to the earth again.
It talks about why the apostasy happened, why it took so long for the restoration. It talked about how the time and place had to be perfect so that another apostasy wouldn’t occur. I always thought that the apostasy happened because the apostles died and the restoration occurred because Joseph smith prayed... but that’s not really the full truth. The reformers were wonderful men of God who wanted and searched for truth.. but the timing and the place wasn’t right. Religious freedom needed to be established first.
He talks about how the original church went away for Christ’s teachings, how scriptures were removed from the general public’s hands and changed.
It proves that God’s hand is in all the details of life. He had a plan to Restore the true Church of Jesus Christ to the earth again.
September 9, 2021
My initial interaction with Callister's books was via "Infinite Atonement" which may very well be one of my favorite books EVER! When I heard about this book nearly eight years ago, I knew I had to read it. I checked it out from the library, but only made it through a small portion of the book before I had to turn it back in. I will admit, it is not the same paced book as his previous one.
It has been on my list of books to finish for years now. I finally picked it up again, started over and really dug in. Callister has done some great research here and even though I knew much of what he shared, there were quite a few times where I found myself thinking, sure wish I would have known that earlier in my life!
If you are looking to better understand the apostasy and how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was restored, this is truly a great read and opportunity to better understand how we got to where we are today as a church.
It has been on my list of books to finish for years now. I finally picked it up again, started over and really dug in. Callister has done some great research here and even though I knew much of what he shared, there were quite a few times where I found myself thinking, sure wish I would have known that earlier in my life!
If you are looking to better understand the apostasy and how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was restored, this is truly a great read and opportunity to better understand how we got to where we are today as a church.
April 20, 2020
Wonderful case made for the Restoration
The story is told of one who said that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not know the strength of their position. If the Church instituted by the Savior has remained to this day then every protestant that left it is in error. If the original church was lost then it was beyond the power of reformation and required restoration. That is the bold claim of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brother Callister draws heavily upon the writings of early church fathers in the first two centuries after Christ to demonstrate that by the time of Constantine the original church was lost. The events leading to the restoration are boldly outlined. Every person with any interest at all in christianity should read this book.
The story is told of one who said that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not know the strength of their position. If the Church instituted by the Savior has remained to this day then every protestant that left it is in error. If the original church was lost then it was beyond the power of reformation and required restoration. That is the bold claim of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brother Callister draws heavily upon the writings of early church fathers in the first two centuries after Christ to demonstrate that by the time of Constantine the original church was lost. The events leading to the restoration are boldly outlined. Every person with any interest at all in christianity should read this book.
August 21, 2022
A fascinating and amazingly researched history of the prophesied apostasy of Christ's church. Using evidence of the removal of Christ's church from the scriptures and the writings of early Christian leaders, particularly those who lived not long after the Apostles, as well as hundreds of years of historical evidence. As he shows the evidence of the apostasy, he also shows the events that lead up to the eventual restoration of Christ's church through Joseph Smith, and the stepping stones throughout history that allowed for it to happen, such as the reformation, publication of the Bible and establishment of the USA.
Wow!! Such a fascinating book, and I loved learning about the history of the Christian church throughout time, and it definitely showed irrefutable evidence that the apostasy happened.
Wow!! Such a fascinating book, and I loved learning about the history of the Christian church throughout time, and it definitely showed irrefutable evidence that the apostasy happened.
March 28, 2025
Callister is always extremely thorough in his research, and this book is no exception. It’s a very in-depth look at what happened to Christ’s church after His death and resurrection. I found it incredibly insightful and now have a much better understanding of where other Christian denominations and beliefs originated.
Callister draws on scripture, early Christian theologians, and philosophers to support his points. It’s clear he’s writing with other Christians in mind, aiming to show how the original church was lost and why a Restoration was necessary.
I would recommend this book, especially to those interested in church history and doctrinal origins—but be aware that it’s quite scholarly and can be a bit dense at times.
Callister draws on scripture, early Christian theologians, and philosophers to support his points. It’s clear he’s writing with other Christians in mind, aiming to show how the original church was lost and why a Restoration was necessary.
I would recommend this book, especially to those interested in church history and doctrinal origins—but be aware that it’s quite scholarly and can be a bit dense at times.
July 28, 2018
This is a valuable book and a great reference for studying many of the issues of the apostasy. The author did an incredible amount of research and uncovered many fascinating insights. The things he uncovered about early Christian practices and how the members and leaders fell away from the true gospel are astounding. He makes a case that is hard to deny that an apostasy happened, and has a wonderful testimony that the restoration has occurred. My only complaint would be that it was a little long winded and repetitive at a few spots. Overall, I think it is a very important book for all Latter-day Saints to read.
October 17, 2018
Wow. What a thorough book about the apostasy of Christ's original church and the restoration of it in these days. I don't think that there was a single stone left unturned. I liked that the author used many quotes from non-LDS authors and scholars, especially those from the time not long after Christ's crucifixion. Elder Callister is quite the author. This was a long read but worth it and I have further solidified my testimony as a result. This is not a passive book. It takes active and attentive listening.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2019
Who should read this book?
If you’re a member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints (LDS), and you enjoy reading books about religion, then I think you’ll enjoy this book.
If you’re not LDS, then there are two other groups of people who might benefit from reading this book:
-People who are curious about theology in general, particularly early Christian doctrine, for which it provides a good overview.
-Someone who is favorably disposed to Christianity, but is unsure which denomination to align with.
Representative passage:
The early Christian writers taught that the preaching of the gospel to the dead was not limited to the Savior’s few days in the spirit prison. The Shepherd of Hermas informs us that the apostles and others followed the Savior to the spirit world after their respective deaths….
Thoughts
This is a very exhaustive comparison of modern LDS theology with early Christian theology, and I came away from it very impressed not only by the author but by the staggering number of ways in which LDS doctrine lines up very well with early Christian theology, and where both share very little resemblance to historical Protestant and Catholic doctrine. Which definitely speaks to some sort of Apostasy, thus the title of the book.
In particular I thought the chapters examining how teachings and ordinances of the early Church were changed or lost, with new ones taking their place, were especially interesting. Not only was this the meat of the book, but it seemed to draw in the most quotes from the early Church Fathers, which gave things quite a bit of heft.
Criticisms
This is one of those books that is very persuasive, but you have to wonder what a book written from the other side would look like. Is it possible Callister is overselling some pieces of evidence and ignoring others? It feels pretty comprehensive, but it’s also clearly written from a perspective which is biased towards the LDS church.
Additionally, he ends up with a list of 13 pieces of evidence and each get a chapter, and essentially equal weight, but not all pieces of evidence are equal. For example the idea that there would have been no Dark Ages without the apostasy, seems far more speculative than some of the other evidence he offers.
If you were going to take only one thing from the book:
Most of what seems unusual or even blasphemous about LDS doctrine, turns out to have at least some support, and in many cases a lot of support, in the writings of the early church fathers.
If you’re a member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints (LDS), and you enjoy reading books about religion, then I think you’ll enjoy this book.
If you’re not LDS, then there are two other groups of people who might benefit from reading this book:
-People who are curious about theology in general, particularly early Christian doctrine, for which it provides a good overview.
-Someone who is favorably disposed to Christianity, but is unsure which denomination to align with.
Representative passage:
The early Christian writers taught that the preaching of the gospel to the dead was not limited to the Savior’s few days in the spirit prison. The Shepherd of Hermas informs us that the apostles and others followed the Savior to the spirit world after their respective deaths….
Thoughts
This is a very exhaustive comparison of modern LDS theology with early Christian theology, and I came away from it very impressed not only by the author but by the staggering number of ways in which LDS doctrine lines up very well with early Christian theology, and where both share very little resemblance to historical Protestant and Catholic doctrine. Which definitely speaks to some sort of Apostasy, thus the title of the book.
In particular I thought the chapters examining how teachings and ordinances of the early Church were changed or lost, with new ones taking their place, were especially interesting. Not only was this the meat of the book, but it seemed to draw in the most quotes from the early Church Fathers, which gave things quite a bit of heft.
Criticisms
This is one of those books that is very persuasive, but you have to wonder what a book written from the other side would look like. Is it possible Callister is overselling some pieces of evidence and ignoring others? It feels pretty comprehensive, but it’s also clearly written from a perspective which is biased towards the LDS church.
Additionally, he ends up with a list of 13 pieces of evidence and each get a chapter, and essentially equal weight, but not all pieces of evidence are equal. For example the idea that there would have been no Dark Ages without the apostasy, seems far more speculative than some of the other evidence he offers.
If you were going to take only one thing from the book:
Most of what seems unusual or even blasphemous about LDS doctrine, turns out to have at least some support, and in many cases a lot of support, in the writings of the early church fathers.
April 21, 2020
This book is amazing! I wanted to read this book because I’ve never really understood why the Restoration of the Church was so long in coming and why millions of people came to earth during a time when there wasn’t even a shot for them to hear the gospel in this life. This book explained that and so much more. It’s very doctrinally dense at times but I really appreciated the research and analysis that was included to explain all the doctrines that were lost in the Great Apostasy. It made me appreciate the Restoration and those who helped to bring it about so much more. Great read!
August 13, 2019
I like Tad R. Callister as an author. I like the way he thinks and expresses himself. His use of the English language is exceptional. He writes clearly, logically and is easy to understand. This book was harder to read than others of his books. The reason is that he includes so much detail in this book that at times I felt he was trying too hard to prove his points. It is an excellent reference book because it is so well supported by his research.
November 25, 2024
Very slow listen through this book via Audiobook. Definitely lots of content to get through and I think he does a good job at backing up all of his positions each chapter with scriptural evidence and early writings from Christian fathers/leaders. He does use a ton of the same personal anecdotes and analogies as he does in “The Blueprint of Christ’s Church”. Not sure which one he wrote first, but I guess these two books could be companion books in that they are two sides of the same topic
May 10, 2019
Life changing
I haven't read a book that changed my way of thinking since Jesus the Christ. This isn't easy reading but I am so glad I read it. It strengthened my belief that there is and always has been a plan.
I haven't read a book that changed my way of thinking since Jesus the Christ. This isn't easy reading but I am so glad I read it. It strengthened my belief that there is and always has been a plan.
February 29, 2020
A very thorough discussion of the apostasy. The author has extensive notes and pulls frequently from early Christian writers. This explains very fully the view of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
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