***Does this or does it not mean the Catholic Church was the original Christian church?***
Certainly doesn’t mean it didn’t wander off into heresy, nor does it?
Is God sovereign?
Did He found a church?
Did He promise that the gates of Hell would not prevail against His church?
Did He promise the Holy Ghost to guide His church in all things?
Would He allow His sheep to be without a shepherd for 1500 years? If He would, why not 1800 until He sent Joseph Smith?
Were His sovereign powers sufficient to prevent His entire church from "wandering off into heresy"?