A turning away from the truth by individuals, the Church, or entire nations.

General apostasy: Israel had to guard against their hearts turning away from the Lord, Deut. 29: 18. Where there is no vision, the people perish, Prov. 29: 18. They have broken the everlasting covenant, Isa. 24: 5. The winds beat upon that house, and it fell, Matt. 7: 27. I marvel that ye are so soon removed unto another gospel, Gal. 1: 6. They commenced in the good path but lost their way in the mist, 1 Ne. 8: 23 (1 Ne. 12: 17). After they had tasted of the fruit, they fell away into forbidden paths, 1 Ne. 8: 28. Nephite apostasy caused a stumbling block for nonbelievers, Alma 4: 6-12. Many members of the Church became proud and persecuted other members, Hel. 3: 33-34 (Hel. 4: 11-13; 5: 2-3). When the Lord prospers his people, they sometimes harden their hearts and forget him, Hel. 12: 2; 13: 38. The Nephites hardened their hearts and fell under Satan's power, 3 Ne. 2: 1-3. Moroni prophesied about apostasy in the last days, Morm. 8: 28, 31-41. Apostasy will precede the Second Coming, D&C 1: 13-16.

Apostasy of the early Christian church: This people draw near me with their mouth, Isa. 29: 10, 13. Darkness shall cover the earth, Isa. 60: 2. The Lord will send a famine of hearing the words of the Lord, Amos 8: 11. There shall arise false Christs and false prophets, Matt. 24: 24. Grievous wolves shall enter in among you, Acts 20: 29. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him, Gal. 1: 6. There will be a falling away before the Second Coming, 2 Thes. 2: 3. Some people err concerning the truth, 2 Tim. 2: 18. Some people have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof, 2 Tim. 3: 5. The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, 2 Tim. 4: 3-4. There will be false prophets and false teachers among the people, 2 Pet. 2: 1. Certain men crept in denying the only Lord God, Jude 1: 4. Some men said they were Apostles and were not, Rev. 2: 2. Nephi saw the formation of a great and abominable church, 1 Ne. 13: 26. The Gentiles have stumbled and built up many churches, 2 Ne. 26: 20. They have strayed from mine ordinances and have broken mine everlasting covenant, D&C 1: 15. Darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the minds of the people, D&C 112: 23. Joseph was told that the churches were all wrong; their hearts were far from God, JS-H 1: 19.