By definition and context SZ's citation of smith's statement does mean complete.
I find it incredable the parsing of your words 10. It is stamped in every missionaries mind that the apostasy was complete and total. In the updated "Gospel Principles" it states “More and more error crept into Church doctrine, and soon the dissolution of the Church was complete. The period of time when the true Church no longer existed on earth is called the Great Apostasy”.
smith stated it even more clearly - “Nothing less than a complete apostasy from the Christian religion would warrant the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
- Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., History of the Church, v. 1, p. xl
Notice the word complete - there can be no waffling on its definition - complete is complete. Now if we follow your line of reasoning 10 that the apostasy was not 100% - then the 'apostasy' was NOT complete and there would be no need for the lds church.
Your tack may work for milk to the masses, but the fundamental doctrine of mormonism teaches otherwise.
Bump!
Page XL Announcement of the Universal Apostasy
It looks to be fascinating reading. I'll start in on it asap and get back to you both.
This is a great topic. Clearly apostasy occurred at some level in the Christian Church or the Church of Jesus Christ, no?
That fits if you believe, as the LDS do, that you need authority, baptism (immersion), ordinances, work for the dead, functioning temples, etc.
It seems that you're just arguing beliefs as facts. That you believe differently is known. That the LDS are wrong isn't.