The Slippery Road to Apostasy ~ The Mesoamerican Church of Jesus Christ.

The Nephites had an idyllic society for awhile.  The Prophet Nephi kept the records of the Church and when he died, passed them on to his son, Amos.  A generation passed away and then two, then three.  One by one the disciples whom Christ had ordained died, save it were the three who were translated.  They remained alive and active among the people of the Church. 

Then, about 180 A. D., a few dissidents  left the Church and began to call themselves Lamanites again.  In the beginning, this was not a problem and had it been the only thing happening, it may not have marred the picture.  But things were happening among the Nephites themselves.  Because the Lord had blessed them abundantly during these years, some began to be lifted up in pride, wearing costly apparel, jewels, and such.  They no longer had things in common and they began to be divided into classes again.

A few years later, Amos died also and gave the plates to his son who was also named Amos.  By the time 200 years had passed, those who had actually seen Christ had died as had their children and grandchildren.  Many people living then could have been as many as seven biological generations removed from the time of the great miracle. (Sorenson)

In addition to a layered class structure, the people also began to build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny the true church of Christ. (4 Nephi 1: 26)  According to Sorenson, these church still considered themselves followers of Jesus Christ/Precious Serpent, just as the church in the old world, but they had strayed far from the plain and precious truths.  The Prophet Mormon wrote:

And it came to pass that when two hundred and ten years had passed away there were many churches in the land; yea, there were many churches which professed to know the Christ, and yet they did deny the more parts of his gospel, insomuch that they did receive all manner of wickedness, and did administer that which was sacred unto him to whom it had been forbidden because of unworthiness. [1]  And this church did multiply exceedingly because of iniquity, and because of the power of Satan who did get hold upon their hearts.

 And again, there was another church which denied the Christ; and they did persecute the true church of Christ, because of their humility and their belief in Christ; and they did despise them because of the many miracles which were wrought among them . . . [and] the people did harden their hearts, for they were led by many priests and false prophets to build up many churches, and to do all manner of iniquity. And they did smite upon the people of Jesus; but the people of Jesus did not smite again. And thus they did dwindle in unbelief and wickedness, from year to year, even until two hundred and thirty years had passed away. (4 Nephi 1: 27-29, 34)

 

These apostate groups wielded great power and they attempted to persecute the 3 Nephite disciples who tarried, but without success.  The Lord kept the three there so long as there was a pocket of righteous people, but by the time 300 years had passed, the vast majority of the people were so wicked that God removed His disciples from among the people.

I will discuss on Monday some archaeological findings from this period that support the idea of a Mayan/Nephite apostasy.

 

 [1] Ordinances such as baptism and the sacrament

 

Text copyright January 2014, Gebara Education

 

Pictures:

Christ and the children in a millennial setting from www.gospelbondservant,com

Mayan baptism from www.clio.missouristate.edu

(Missouri State labeled this picture baptism; I didn't)

Classic Mayan container representing the multiple layers of Mayan society from www.authenticmaya,com