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I was recently in conversation with a lady who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She said they are the "true" church because apostolic authority was lost after the death of Jesus' 12 disciples, and that authority was not regained until Joseph Smith met with Moroni (son of Mormon).

Reading the Introduction from The Book of Mormon, it says (in part):

The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after his resurrection... On September 21, 1823, the same Moroni, then a glorified, resurrected being, appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith... Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah.

What I can't find are any official LDS statements to support her claim that apostolic authority was lost after the death of Jesus' 12 disciples, and that authority was not regained until Joseph Smith was given it by God.

Before I can respond to this LDS lady I need more information on the LDS view of apostolic authority being granted to Joseph Smith.

Lesley
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    Some thoughts: Why do you need to “respond” to this woman? Does she do harm in believing in Jesus Christ? Are you offended or bothered that she believes that the LDS consider themselves “true”? Does that somehow lessen your own faith in Christ? What do you think will come by trying to convince her that LDS are wrong? To what other random faction of Christianity do you think her life would be improved by tearing down her belief? – Dúthomhas Dec 07 '23 at 04:46
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    @Dúthomhas - Christians are admonished "togive the reasonfor the hope" we have(1 Peter 3:15) and Jude (verse 3) urges us "to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (in the first century). I have been asked how to respond to this lady and that's why I've posted my question on CSE, knowing there are LDS participants who can give the official reasons for their faith. I am not in the least bit offended or bothered by her beliefs, just as I am not offended by the claims of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches that they have the only "true" religion. – Lesley Dec 07 '23 at 07:47
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    @Dúthomhas. My own faith in Christ Jesus is not lessened by engaging with people who have different views on Christianity. It is not my objective to convince her that LDS is wrong and I would never attempt to tear down her beliefs. But how can I answer her questions if I don't understand what the official position is? All I can ever hope to do is to point people to Christ Jesus and the inspired and inerrant word of God, the Holy Bible. I had LDS neighbours - a lovely family - and we often discussed our differing views. Likewise with a lovely Islamic family. There was nothing contentious. – Lesley Dec 07 '23 at 07:52
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    I am glad to hear that. As Christians we should all remember that there is a difference between contending for the faith and contention over doctrines. The first is approved by God, the latter is not. It only sounded to me like someone other than this woman has asked you to respond to her — most LDS (and I suspect most Christians) are happy to elucidate their own position but have no interest in taking effort to defend it against competing understandings. Thank you for being conscientious and kind. – Dúthomhas Dec 07 '23 at 17:20
  • Will you please drop all that about 'I was recently in conversation with a lady who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She said they are the "true" church because apostolic authority was lost after the death of Jesus' 12 disciples, and that authority was not regained until Joseph Smith met with Moroni (son of Mormon)…' and concentrate instead on what CLDS or the Book of Mormon says? – Robbie Goodwin Dec 14 '23 at 21:49
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    @RobbieGoodwin - The first two sentences explain why I posted this question. I did not know if what she said was accurate. As I subsequently discovered from deeperm's answer, it was not Moroni who gave John Smith apostolic authority. The purpose of Christianity Stack Exchange is to get answers to questions. It was my conversation with this very nice LDS lady that inspired my question. By the way, I have a copy of the Book of Mormon. – Lesley Dec 15 '23 at 12:26
  • Thanks Lesley. Please either quote her exact words, or the research you've done to try to recreate those words, or why not just drop what you think you might remember she could have said as being more confusing than useful?

    Are the useful parts of that last Comment that Depperm's Answer told you it was not Moroni who gave John Smith apostolic authority, and that you have a copy of the Book of Mormon?

     – Robbie Goodwin Dec 15 '23 at 22:25
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    @RobbieGoodwin I concede that what this LDS lady said about Moroni was confusing and, as it turns out, inaccurate. There is no point in me removing that from the body of my question because that would invalidate what Depperm said about it (which was useful). My question has provided an opportunity for an official LDS response to the question “What is the significance of the LDS claim that apostolic succession was lost till Joseph Smith was granted divine authority?” – which has been given (although I do not agree with it). I got a 1981 Book of Mormon when I was in Colorado in 2012. – Lesley Dec 16 '23 at 09:27
  • If you see clarity and your Question as incompatible, carry on!

    How would it be hard to craft a new Question that dropped the confusion and inaccuracy but kept Depperm's contribution, whether or not you're citing that as an official LDS response. Are you?

    When an Answer has been given and you don't agree should you not explain your disagreement, or keep it quiet?

    When you got a 1981 Book of Mormon in Colorado in 2012, how was that helpful?

     – Robbie Goodwin Dec 22 '23 at 21:24
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    Gosh, Lesley. Could you try to more accurate in future? – Robbie Goodwin Dec 24 '23 at 17:43
  • @RobbieGoodwin - Yes, I take your point and I apologise for my less than gracious comment. Have a joyful and peaceful Christmas. – Lesley Dec 24 '23 at 17:46
  • P.S. I've removed that last comment I made. – Lesley Dec 24 '23 at 17:54
  • Thanks and a Merry Christmas to you! – Robbie Goodwin Dec 24 '23 at 17:55

1 Answers1

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The importance of the priesthood according to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints1:

...priesthood is the power and authority that God gives to man to act in all things necessary for the salvation of God’s children.

...

The priesthood includes the authority to administer ordinances of salvation to all human beings who are willing and worthy to accept them. Without the priesthood and the saving ordinances thereof, “the whole earth would be utterly wasted” (see Doctrine and Covenants 2:1–3; see also Doctrine and Covenants 84:21–22).

So the significance is that the authority to act with God's power was lost and none of the churches had that authority. With the restoration through Joseph Smith that authority and power is back on the earth.

Moroni did not restore the priesthood authority. Quick summary of the Priesthood leaving the earth, from Gospel Topics: Restoration of the Priesthood

When Jesus Christ was on the earth, He established His Church and gave His Apostles the priesthood, which is the power to act in His name (see Luke 9:1–2). After His Crucifixion and the death of His Apostles, priesthood authority and the fulness of the gospel were taken from the earth because of wickedness and a rejection of the truth (see 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3).

It continues on who restored the priesthood authority:

In the early 1800s, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ restored the gospel to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. This Restoration included the restoration of priesthood power and authority.

While Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were working on the translation of the Book of Mormon, they read about baptism for the remission of sins. On May 15, 1829, they went to a wooded area near Joseph’s home in Harmony, Pennsylvania, and prayed about what they had learned.

In answer to their prayer, John the Baptist, under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ, appeared and conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood, saying, “Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins” (Doctrine and Covenants 13:1) ...

Sometime after John the Baptist’s appearance, the ancient Apostles Peter, James, and John also appeared to Joseph and Oliver, again under the direction of Jesus Christ, and conferred upon them the Melchizedek Priesthood (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:20). “The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:8). With this authority again on the earth, the Church of Jesus Christ could be restored in its fulness.

Where does Moroni fall in all of this? He is more tied to the Book of Mormon, than priesthood restoration (though it was during the translation of the Book of Mormon which led to the restoration of the Aaronic priesthood).

From Guide to the Scriptures, Moroni, Son of Mormon

Moroni sealed up the plates and hid them in the hill Cumorah (Morm. 8:14; Moro. 10:2). In 1823 Moroni was sent as a resurrected being to reveal the Book of Mormon to Joseph Smith (D&C 27:5; JS—H 1:30–42, 45). He instructed the young prophet each year from 1823 to 1827 (JS—H 1:54) and finally delivered the plates to him in 1827 (JS—H 1:59).

Emphasis mine

1 Gospel Topics: Priesthood

depperm
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  • Thank you for the official LDS view on how priesthood authority was conferred upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowderey and also for clarifying how Moroni was not directly involved in this aspect. I did not down-vote your answer, by the way. – Lesley Dec 06 '23 at 14:49
  • @Lesley you're welcome, I expect 1-2 downvotes every time I answer, it doesn't really bother me – depperm Dec 06 '23 at 14:53
  • Just as well! I notice your edit partially answered the point about the significance of the claim that apostolic succession was lost after the death of Jesus' apostles. Is there an LDS link that explains this in more depth? No rush, but it would be useful to see how this claim is supported. – Lesley Dec 06 '23 at 15:03
  • @Lesley the link to Gospel Topics: Priesthood covers a bunch of it. If that doesn't answer what you're looking for, can you try to clarify what you're looking for and I'll attach relevant sources – depperm Dec 06 '23 at 15:08
  • Will take a closer look at that link, thank you. – Lesley Dec 06 '23 at 15:10
  • @depperm Ah yes, the obligatory downvote that comes for writing a post with an LDS perspective =). PS great summary! – Hold To The Rod Dec 08 '23 at 21:44
  • @HoldToTheRod - I agree depperm has given a good summary but the significance of the LDS perspective with regard to apostolic authority being lost after the death of Jesus' disciples, and not being restored till the early 1800's, eludes me. That's why this question remains open. – Lesley Dec 09 '23 at 14:56
  • @Lesley priesthood is the power and authority that God gives to man to act in all things necessary for the salvation of God’s children, no church/denomination had the authority to perform ordinances (baptism, sacrament, etc) or to be the mouth piece of God on earth (revelation). – depperm Dec 09 '23 at 21:40
  • @depperm: I fail to see how Luke 9:12 or 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 prove that priesthood authority and the fulness of the gospel were taken from the earth and not restored till Joseph Smith was given the Aaronic priesthood by John the Baptist and the Melkizedek priesthood by Peter, James and John. BTW only Christ Jesus himself can lay claim to being the priest Melkizedek, and no mere mortal has ever been given that priestly title or role. Also, if the Aaronic priesthood was given to Joseph Smith, does that mean they offer daily animal sacrifices to God? I'm struggling to understand this. – Lesley Dec 10 '23 at 13:42
  • @Lesley the apostles did have the priesthood authority (as they do today). The apostasy was a gradual event as apostles were killed (I believe all of the New Testament after the gospels the priesthood was still present). LDS don't teach that Jesus was the priest Melkizedek or that others are, just that they have the higher Priesthood named after the man who lived ~2000BC. No animal sacrifices, many of theses points need to be clarified in OP or in a new question if you want further reference – depperm Dec 10 '23 at 19:23
  • @Lesley see this answer https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/84703/22319 – depperm Dec 11 '23 at 13:06
  • Thank you. Your answer, and that by Kutschkem, explain the LDS view. Quotes from the Book of Mormon are used but I remain unconvinced that the world had to wait till the early 1800's before the "true" religion could be established. Jehovah's Witnesses make a similar claim. Nonetheless, you get 15 points for persistence and patience! – Lesley Dec 11 '23 at 14:48