The Restoration of All Things

In the beginning, Adam walked and talked with God. He was taught the fulness of the gospel in every aspect. Adam, in turn, taught all of his children the gospel is its purest form. Unfortunately, because of the gift of free agency, some of Adam's children turned from the gospel and even embraced the teachings of Satan. However, the teachings of God were handed down from generation to generation. (See Genesis 2-5)

Throughout Adam's posterity the Patriarchs, that is Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, and down through Lamech and Noah, taught their children the gospel and administered the necessary ordinances. Because so many of Heavenly Father's children chose iniquity, all but Noah and his family were destroyed by the flood. After the flood, Noah continued to live the gospel.

From the time of Noah, the Lord sent His Prophets among the people to teach faith in the promised Messiah and obedience to His commandments. Whenever the people were faithful and obedient, they would enjoy great blessings and happiness. On the other hand, calamity and darkness would always accompany individual or widespread apostasy and the people would remain in various degrees of bondage until they would repent and remember the Lord.

When Christ walked the earth during His mortality He not only taught those who would listen, but He also instituted His church. "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." (Matthew 10:1) "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (1 Corinthians 12:28) The Church of Jesus Christ was set up in many different areas including, Corinth, Rome, Ephesus, and Jerusalem. When the Savior was crucified His Apostles continued His work. Paul, who was converted after administering severe persecution to the members of the Church, lived the rest of his life as a missionary and was ordained an Apostle (Galatians 1:1).

One by one, the Apostles were killed or exiled from among the people. Darkness began the envelop the earth just as Isaiah had prophesied (Isaiah 60:2). We refer to this period as the Great Apostasy or the Dark Ages. The Priesthood was taken from the earth and man was left to charter the turbulent waters of life without continuing revelation from God. Paul spoke a great deal of the divisions among the churches and how many followed after man and not God. There were many good men and women of faith who made great sacrifices to promote truth, faith, and obedience, but the oracles of God and the authority to administer the saving ordinances of the Gospel were no longer upon the earth.

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