Reason 6 of 10
The church never vanished
Joseph Smith said he was told every church was wrong and every creed an abomination, because the true church had fallen away. Jesus promised that the gates of Hades would not prevail against his church and that he would be with it always.
What Latter-day Saints are taught
Joseph Smith's 1838 account of his First Vision says he was told to join none of the churches, because they were all wrong and their creeds were an abomination. The Church teaches that a great apostasy followed the death of the apostles, and that the priesthood and the true church had to be restored through Joseph Smith.
19I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
Joseph Smith—History 1:19 · read it at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
What Jesus promised
Jesus said he would build his church and the gates of Hades would not prevail against it. He promised to be with his disciples always, to the end of the age. Paul praised God for glory in the church to all generations. Jude speaks of the faith delivered once for all to the saints, not one that would be lost and need to be delivered again.
A total apostasy would mean those promises failed for some seventeen hundred years. The Bible warns of false teachers within the church, which is true in every age, but never of the church itself disappearing.
18I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18 (WEB) · context
20teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matthew 28:20 (WEB) · context
21to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:21 (WEB) · context
3Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Jude 1:3 (WEB) · context
Where the faith was all those centuries
Across those centuries Christians copied the Scriptures, confessed the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, baptised, gathered at the Lord's Table and died for Jesus. They were imperfect, as we are, and they were his church.
What Latter-day Saints answer
Latter-day Saints cite passages that predict a falling away, such as 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and Amos 8:11.
3Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 (WEB) · context
Why that answer falls short
A falling away by some is not the disappearance of all. In the same letter Paul tells the Thessalonians to stand firm and hold to the teachings they were given, which assumes the faith continues. Jesus' promise was about his church, and he does not fail.
Sources
- Joseph Smith—History 1:19 (churchofjesuschrist.org).