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What a crock of bull. You ASSUME God INTENDED for his church to remain on the earth when it was established in the first century. Can you prove it? Of course not. The Scriptures, and the irrefutable fact there was NO single Christian church in the first century both refute this assumption. I can actually PROVE THIS (http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/bicycleroad/21/id32.htm).

What was so incredibly important in the first century was the Incarnation, Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. EVERYTHING ELSE IS SECONDARY. The first century’s early portion of the church’s apostasy soon after inception (the loss of genuine authority) is irrelevant to the mission of Christ. The heavenly portion of the church remained intact. No one, before or after the first century, is irretrievably lost because everyone will have a chance of accepting the gospel, either in mortality or the next life. The creation of the church in the 19th century was when God intended to permanently establish his earthly church.

Furthermore, who do you think you are to speak for what Mormonism really believes? I am a Mormon and have been for 22 years. I speak for me and my faith - not you, whoever you are. I do not believe people who lived between the first and 19th centuries are damned and neither has my church ever said so.

So before you attempt to spout such nonsense with me; get your facts straight. I’m not someone who is impressed or intimidated when someone cites Scripture or religious arguments.

Besides, it makes me giggle to read such dogmatic declarations (”Mormonism is not Christianity”) since it automatically tells me the shallowness and dishonesty of the speaker. Sure sounds like another mindless, irrational fanatic with nothing better to do.

Calm down, Ed. I did not assume The Church remain on Earth, the Bible testifies The Church is within the believers on Earth and believers have populated the Earth since even before the crucifixion (I hope you understand that reference). God clearly intends for His Church to remain within the believer and believers on Earth until the snatching away. As to 'where/when' The Church is in Heaven, well, we can discuss that if you wish.

"What was so incredibly important in the first century was the Incarnation, Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. EVERYTHING ELSE IS SECONDARY." Edward Watson ... Wow, Ed, you missed the entire point of the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection! Jesus established something that even the gates of Hell will not prevail against, much less time or the death of the last Apostle who lived with Jesus. The 'incredible importance' of that is reiterated every time a human soul bows before the Christ and is Saved through the atoning death and affirming resurrection. It is heresy to assert that such left the Earth following the death of the last Apostle, Ed.

"No one, before or after the first century, is irretrievably lost because everyone will have a chance of accepting the gospel, either in mortality or the next life." I'm sorry, Ed, you'll have to prove this with Scriptures from the Bible before most of us will contemplate your assertion. Hearing the Gospel and rejecting it in this life ends your chance to be born again IN THIS LIFE OR BEYOND, Ed. Jesus taught this to Nicodemus, as you well know. Mormonism tries to place the emphasis upon water baptism but Jesus placed the crux upon being born of the Spirit.

Dissembling is not pretty, Ed: "I do not believe people who lived between the first and 19th centuries are damned and neither has my church ever said so." You might reread what I offered. I have asserted that fundamental to Mormonism is the FALSE notion that God's Holy Spirit did not come into those confessing Christ after the death of the last Apostle and a man like Joe Smith was therefore essential to restoring the presence of The Holy Spirit. But that was a good try at constructing a strawman which you appear to have well burnt, Ed. GRIN