Lesson 3: “I Had Seen a Vision”, Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Class Member Study Guide, 4
Reading assignment: Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26; Our Heritage,pages 1–4.
After Jesus Christ was crucified, His Apostles presided over the Church. But soon persecution, divisions, and apostasy increased. Within a few decades, there was a falling away from the Church, as the Apostles had prophesied (Acts 20:28–30; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3; 2 Timothy 4:3–4). This falling away is known as the Great Apostasy.
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• What were some of the consequences of the Great Apostasy? (See D&C 1:15–16; Joseph Smith—History 1:8–9, 19, 21; Mormon 1:13–14.)
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• Why was Joseph confused about which church he should join? (See Joseph Smith—History 1:5–10.) How was Joseph’s situation like that of people today who are searching to know the truth?
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• What are some of the truths we can learn from the First Vision?