Each of these groups (Protestants, Mormons, JWs, etc.) that claims the others have “fallen away” from Christ’s original teachings believes that theirs is the only true way. They do not believe their’s is the only true denomination, they believe that Christ set up one true Church, and their’s is it.
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You obviously do not know much about Protestantism. First of all, Mormons and JW’s are not protestants (by their own admission) - also by the Catholic church’s admission and all protestant churches admission.
Secondly, no protestant church believes it is the ‘only true church’. Sorry. Early protestant leaders saw the Catholic church having fallen away from its earlier teachings, but not that a restoration was needed (as if it never held truth) but that a reformation (a return to the church of Late Antiquity) was required. Most of this had to do with serious ecclesiastical issues like simony, indulgences, and political conflicts.
However, I am seeing that you don’t really want to discuss this, your general hatred for protestants (which even the Catholic church doesn’t have) is showing.
“Secondly, no protestant church believes it is the ‘only true church’.”
I wish that were true; however, many Texas Southern Baptists have been taught from the pulpit that if you’re not SB you’re going to hell. C of C’ers believe if you’re not C of C, you’re going to hell. Wisconsin Synod Lutherans believe if you’re not WSL, you’re going to hell.
I quite agree, which is why I listed the three groups separately.
Secondly, no protestant church believes it is the ‘only true church’.
I presume whichever Church I came up with that believes exactly this, you would pull the "no true Scotsman" bit and claim they aren't really Protestant.
There are thousands of "Protestant" groups around the world, and you can confidently state that not one of them believes it is the only true Church? You must really get around.
not that a restoration was needed (as if it never held truth) but that a reformation (a return to the church of Late Antiquity) was required.
Restoration: restoring of something to former condition: the restoring of something such as buildings or furniture to an earlier and usually better condition.
I don't think the word "restoration" means what you think it means. Here's a link I found in just a few minutes of a Protestant who seems to think the Reformation "restored" the church to its original purity.
http://www.reformationtheology.com/2007/10/the_story_of_martin_luther_the.php
In secular terms, I think restoring our Constitution to its original place in our society would constitute both a reformation and a restoration.
IOW, one of the ways something can be reformed is to restore it to a prior and more desirable state.
BTW, I bear no hostility to either Protestants or Catholics (or Mormons or JWs) for that matter.