=1. Degeneracy of Worship Incident to the Apostasy.=--That, as
the priesthood disappeared from the earth after the apostolic
period, the forms of worship were perverted, while many pagan
influences and practices crept in, may be reasonably inferred
from the records of history. Mosheim, an authority of note in
ecclesiastical history, has this to say regarding pagan
innovations during the fourth century:--"The Christian bishops
introduced, with but slight alterations, into the Christian
worship, those rites and institutions by which, formerly, the
Greeks and Romans and other nations had manifested their piety
and reverence towards their imaginary deities; supposing that the
people would more readily embrace Christianity, if they saw that
the rites handed down to them from their fathers still existed
unchanged among the Christians, and perceived that Christ and the
martyrs were worshiped in the same manner as formerly their gods
were. There was, of course, little difference, in these times,
between the public worship of the Christians and that of the
Greeks and Romans. In both alike, there were splendid robes,
mitres, tiaras, wax tapers, crosiers, processions, illustrations,
images, golden and silver vases, and numberless other things."
Of the form of professedly Christian worship in the fifth
century, the same authority says:--"Public worship everywhere
assumed a form more calculated for show and for the gratification
of the eye. Various ornaments were added to the sacerdotal
garments, in order to increase the veneration of the people for
the clerical order.... In some places it was appointed that the
praises of God should be sung perpetually night and day, the
singers succeeding each other without interruption: as if the
Supreme Being took pleasure in clamor and noise, and in the
flatteries of men. The magnificence of the temples knew no
bounds. Splendid images were placed in them; ... the image of the
Virgin Mary holding her infant in her arms occupied the most
conspicuous place."
=2. Early Beginning of the Apostasy.=--Orson Pratt, an apostle of
the present age, has written as follows concerning the early
falling away from the authorized practices of the Church:--"The
great apostasy of the Christian church commenced in the first
century, while there were yet inspired apostles and prophets in
their midst; hence Paul, just previous to his martyrdom,
enumerates a great number who had 'made shipwreck of their
faith,' and 'turned aside into vain jangling,' teaching 'that the
resurrection was already past;' giving 'heed to fables and
endless genealogies;' 'doubting about questions and strifes of
words whereof come envyings, railings, evil surmisings, perverse
disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth,
supposing that gain is godliness.' This apostasy had become so
general that Paul declares to Timothy 'that all they which are in
Asia be turned away from me;' and again he says, 'at my first
answer, no man stood with me, but all men forsook me;' he further
states that 'there are many unruly, and vain talkers, deceivers,'
'teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.'
These apostates, no doubt, pretended to be very righteous, 'for,'
says the apostle, 'they profess that they know God, but in works
they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every
good work reprobate.'"
=3. The Rule of the Priesthood.=--That the power of the
Priesthood is to be exercised in the spirit of patience and love,
and not in opposition to individual free agency, is apparent from
many scriptures, among which is the following:--"Behold, there
are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this
world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn
this one lesson--That the rights of the Priesthood are
inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the
powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the
principles of righteousness. That they may be conferred upon us,
it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to
gratify our pride, or vain ambition, or to exercise control, or
dominion, or compulsion, upon the souls of the children of men,
in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw
themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is
withdrawn, Amen to the Priesthood, or the authority of that man.
Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against
the pricks; to persecute the saints; and to fight against God. We
have learned, by sad experience, that it is the nature and
disposition of almost all men: as soon as they get a little
authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to
exercise unrighteous dominion. Hence, many are called, but few
are chosen. No power or influence can or ought to be maintained
by virtue of the Priesthood, only by persuasion, by
long-suffering, by gentleness, and meekness, and by love
unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly
enlarge the soul without hypocrisy and without guile; Reproving
betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and
then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom
thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; That he
may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of
death. Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men,
and to the household of faith; and let virtue garnish thy
thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the
presence of God, and the doctrine of the Priesthood shall distil
upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. The Holy Ghost shall be
thy constant companion, and thy sceptre an unchanging sceptre of
righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting
dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee
forever and ever."--Doc. and Cov. cxxi, 34-46.