Jesus said, "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Therefore, his plan for carrying on the work of Christ included a church, and one that would endure. His words implied for his church the very utmost of stability.
Did Jesus intend that his church should be abandoned upon his ascension or departure? There is no evidence that he did. On the contrary, his last words, according to the four gospels and Acts 1:8, included directions for continuing and completing the organized work he began. Indeed, the final expression of his intention—his last will, so to speak—provided for the continued activity of his followers, as a body of Christian salvationists, "even unto the end of the world."
Did Mary Baker Eddy intend that her church, the Church of Christ, Scientist, should be dissolved if and when she could not be consulted in the course of its administration? She did not express this intention; she expressed the opposite to it. For instance, her last will consisted mainly of bequests, permanent in character, to The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. See also Miscellany, 342:19. Nevertheless, since it is proverbial that the devil can quote Scripture, it is to be expected that erroneous arguments for the dissolution of The Mother Church will be accompanied by quotations from the writings of its Founder.
