Objection · Case 11 · Mormonism

This is the church describing itself. Where is the evidence that the Great Apostasy didn’t happen?

One objection from the free evidence repository at apologetics.pro.

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Response

This exhibit is descriptive by design, and the question deserves its own answer. The Christian reply is that the second-century sources (Ignatius, Clement, Justin, Irenaeus) show continuity of teaching on the core doctrines; that Jesus promised the gates of hell would not prevail against his church; and that the specific LDS doctrines said to have been lost (an embodied Father, exaltation, temple ordinances) are absent from the earliest Christian sources rather than present and then suppressed. A total apostasy should have left a trace of what was lost, and the early record shows the opposite.

About this exhibit

This objection is to “The Only True and Living Church,” Gospel Topics, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The church’s own teaching explains that it holds a unique commission and priesthood authority not found elsewhere, and that the fullness of the gospel was lost after the apostles and restored…

Under Claim 01: The Great Apostasy the Restoration requires did not happen: the earliest Christian sources show continuity on the core doctrines, and the teachings said to have been lost are absent from them rather than suppressed.