Urroner, have you really read Matthew 16:18? Here, let me refresh the last portion of it:
upon this rock
I will build my church,
and the gates of Hades
will not overcome it
Notice, it doesn't say either "them" (the people as the church),
or "him" (lowercase) -- Peter
or "Him" (uppercase) -- Jesus
Jesus said "it" -- the Church
Is Jesus an "it," Urroner? (if not; then may I suggest you withdraw your "optional" alternative interpretation...we'll even do some face-saving & not make you leave, dragging your dragon's tail between your legs)
No, Urroner: "It" will NOT be overcome.
Ephesians 3:21, which you and all Mormons MUST also wrestle with, says that God will receive glory "in the church...throughout all generations, for ever and ever!"
BOTH Matthew 16:18 AND give lie to the Mormon claim that Jesus abandoned His Church to Satan's wiles. He didn't. He prophesied its protection; and the Holy Spirit spoke through Paul that it would provide glory to the Father every single generation, forever & forever.
These two verses alone should cause Mormons to pause, and reconsider the deceptive lies told by their leaders for 180 years. But they don't. They just repeat these lies, making them equally culpable in the eyes of God in...
...militating against His Word;
...and calling both Jesus and the apostle Paul as false "prophets" who prophesied falsely...
...they didn't...
...either Jesus & Paul are false prophets, or Mormon leaders are...
...Mormons...take your choice...
BOTH Matthew 16:18 AND Ephesians 3:21 give lie to the Mormon claim that Jesus abandoned His Church to Satan's wiles.