Apostasy does not happen overnight; whole peoples do not fall away in a day, a week, even in a year. The process is much slower; a little change here, a little compromise there; a little less rigidity in order to keep up with the times, or to be relevant, or to fit better with the trends of society and culture. Bit by bit, step by step, and, before long a whole nation is doing things that, perhaps a generation or two ago, would have been looked upon in horror. Such was the fate of the ancient Israel and Judah; such was the fate of early Christianity. Such can be the fate of any church, including ours, that does not carefully and jealously guard the sacred truths and practices given it by the Lord.

How does the Memory Text relate with the lesson topic?

Are the standards of our church the same today as it was 30, 20, or even only 10 years ago?

Again, though obedience cannot save us (it is way too late for that), there is no such thing as salvation without it, regardless of how flawed our obedience tends to be.

I think the standards are the same, but the tolerance with deviations from the standards is increasing. Fortunately there are those who still uphold the standards. I praise the Lord because the new GC president seems to be one of these. The promised revival and reformation of the church must occur, so that the Lord can come in our days. I'm reading the book Last Day Events, and this is what I read this morning:

There is no need to doubt, to be fearful that the work will not succeed. God is at the head of the work, and He will set everything in order. If matters need adjusting at the head of the work God will attend to that, and work to right every wrong. Let us have faith that God is going to carry the noble ship which bears the people of God safely into port.—Selected Messages 2:390 (1892). {LDE 52.1}

A Statement by W. C. White
I told her [Mrs. Lida Scott] how mother regarded the experience of the remnant church, and of her positive teaching that God would not permit this denomination to so fully apostatize that there would be the coming out of another church.—W. C. White to E. E. Andross, May 23, 1915, White Estate Correspondence File. {LDE 56.4}

The secret sins, indulged by priests and elders, were the abominable and repulsive worship practices of their culture. Those who should have been leading God’s people in true worship were adapting that worship to the sinful and corrupt customs of their time and environment, thus bringing the abominations of the surrounding culture into God’s holy sanctuary. How ironic that only the coming of the Babylonian army would bring an end to the desecration of God’s temple, and then only by destroying it.

How do you define the standards of the church in Brazil?

Standards of Christian living of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

1. Daily Bible study and prayer.

2. Support of all proper efforts for social order and betterment, maintenance of an uncompromising stand for justice and right in civic affairs, and loyal citizenship.

3. Care in guarding the Sabbath.

4. Reverence for the time and place of worship.

5. Intelligent observance of the laws of health having to do with pure air, ventilation, suitable clothing, cleanliness, proper exercise and recreation, adequate rest, a wholesome diet, and abstinence from the use of intoxicants, narcotics, liquor, and tobacco.

6. Modest dress and abstinence from adornment.

7. Simplicity; abstinence from needless, extravagant expenditure of money to gratify pride.

8. Reading only good literature.

9. Discriminating use of radio and television.

10. Shunning of commercialized amusements, social dancing, the motion-picture theater, and theatrical films.

11. Exercising great care in the choice of music, shunning any melody
partaking of the nature of jazz, rock, or related hybrid forms, or any language
expressing foolish or trivial sentiments.

12. Abstinence from social relationships that might lead to adultery, sexual abuse, incest, or homosexual and lesbian practices.

13. Chaperonage.

14. Not entering into marriage with an unbeliever.