Was the “Great Apostasy” just a loss of truth, or was it a loss of power? In our latest installment of the Apostasy to Restoration: Reformation or Restoration – That is the Question series, I examine the structural and spiritual disintegration of the First Century Church and the divine pattern required to restore it.
Watch the Premiere Join me for the full lesson at 7:30 PM PST as I connect the dots between the ancient Church and the modern Restoration.
The Divine Pattern of Authority Before the Church could conquer the world, it had to be organized. In Acts 1, Peter uses three specific words to define the vacancy left by Judas:
- Diakonia: The duty to serve.
- Episkopē: The position of oversight (acting as a proxy for God’s visitation).
- Apostolē: The commission to go out as an ambassador.
However, structure alone wasn’t enough. The Apostles were commanded to wait for “power from on high.”
Pentecost and the Kirtland Temple One of the key insights from this lesson is the parallel between the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and the dedication of the Kirtland Temple (1836). By using the lens of the Restoration, we can see that Pentecost was not just a revival; it was a Temple Endowment.
- The Upper Room: Functioned as a “Holy of Holies.”
- Cloven Tongues of Fire: Signified the investiture of the High Priesthood upon every believer.
- The Kirtland Parallel: Early Saints recorded identical manifestations—rushing winds and tongues of fire—confirming that Joseph Smith didn’t just invent a new church; he restored the ancient experience.
Peter’s Sermon as a Temple Text We also discuss the work of scholars who argue that Peter’s sermon follows a liturgical “Temple Text” pattern: Gathering, Instruction on the Atonement, and Covenant Making (Baptism). Peter wasn’t just preaching on a street corner; he was officiating as a High Priest.