We actually have evidence of the faithfulness of some of the Churches of Asia. Polycarp of Smyrna, being chief among them and representing the faithful there. He clearly refers to Paul multiple times in his Epistles and is evidence that the Church at Smyrna didn't completely abandon Paul, at least not the extent Mormons want. We also have not only his Epistle but also his example of him preferring death for his King (Christ) over offers of the Romans to be spared.
Not only do we have Polycarp but we have Ignatius' letters to the faithful of those Churches, such as to Ephesus, Smyrna and Philedelphia. No doubt you dissagree with Ignatius in many of the things he said, but I ask in the absence of a a Prophet which God should have sent what can you expect of the Church? They had to decide on matters of leadership and clearly believed the Apostles had left them the Bishopric model.
So if you're going to argue for a universal apostasy, you will have to do so on the basis of what was clearly known in the first and second century. You can't just assert that your Mormon doctrines were believed by the Apostles and Christ and assert they were lost by corruption. We have no evidence of a Prophetic model of leadership being intended by the Apostles, for if they intended it they would have appointed apostles or if it was not in their power to do so, God should have appointed Apostles. Since God did not appoint Apostles and Prophets and left the Church to it's own devices I think it's a miracle they were able to even survive and flourish, them being a corrupt form of Christianity! Think about it, from the Mormon perspective the pagans had more correct than the Christians did.
I might be partial to your description of the Church as game of thrones in latter centuries, especially as the Church became more political after Constantine, but in the second century? No, not so much. There were obviously conflicts but nothing like the disputes between Bishops of different sees when the Church became dominant. Still, not even that impugns the Church since we can point to faithful ministers and shepherds who kept the faith even in those times.
I still prefer those fathers to the person of Joseph Smith or Brigham Young. Ignatius was far superior to Smith in his devotion to Christ and willingness to abandon all earthly pleasure for him.
Acts 14:23
They also chose elders for each church and stopped eating for a period of time to pray for them. These
elders were men who had put their trust in the Lord Jesus, so Paul and Barnabas put them in his care.
Acts 15:6Then
the apostles and the elders gathered to study this problem.
Acts 21:1[ Paul Goes to Jerusalem ] After we said goodbye to the elders, we sailed away straight to Cos island. The next day we went to the island of Rhodes, and from there we went to Patara.
Philippians 1:1Greetings from Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ. To all of you in Philippi who are God’s holy people in Christ Jesus, including your elders and special servants.
1 Timothy 3 King James Version (KJV)
3 This is a true saying, if a man desire the
office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A
bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the
office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the
deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
1 Timothy 4:14Remember to use the gift you have, which was given to you through a prophecy when the group of elders laid their hands on you.
1 Timothy 5:16-18 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she[a] should take care of them herself. Then the church will not have that burden and will be able to care for the widows who have no one else to help them.
More About Elders and Other Matters
17 The elders who lead the church in a good way should receive double honor—in particular, those who do the work of counseling and teaching. 18 As the Scriptures say, “When a work animal is being used to separate grain, don’t keep it from eating the grain.”[c] And the Scriptures also say, “A worker should be given his pay.
Titus 1:4-6 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
4 To Titus, a true son to me in the faith we share together.
Grace and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Titus’ Work in Crete
5 I left you in Crete so that you could finish doing what still needed to be done. And I also left you there so that
you could choose men to be elders in every town. 6 To be an elder, a man must not be guilty of living in a wrong way. He must be faithful to his wife,[a] and his children must be faithful to God. They must not be known as children who are wild or don’t obey.
James 5:14Are you sick? Ask the
elders of the church to come and rub oil on you in the name of the Lord and pray for you.
1 Peter 5:1
[
The Flock of God ] Now I have something to say to the
elders in your group. I am also an
elder. I myself have seen Christ’s sufferings. And I will share in the glory that will be shown to us. I beg you to
1 Peter 5:5
Young people, I have something to say to you too. You should accept the authority of the
elders. You should all have a humble attitude in dealing with each other. “God is against the proud, but he is kind to the humble.”
2 John 1:1
Greetings from the
Elder.
3 John 1:1
Greetings from the
Elder. To my dear friend Gaius, a person I truly love.
Revelation 11:17
The
elders said, “We give thanks to you, Lord God All-Powerful. You are the one who is and who always was. We thank you because you have used your great power and have begun to rule.
Acts 1:20
For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his
bishoprick let another take.
Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the
bishops and deacons:
1 Timothy 3:1
This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a
bishop, he desireth a good work.
1 Timothy 3:2
A
bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Titus 1:7
For a
bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
1 Peter 2:25 speaks about Jesus.
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and
Bishop of your souls.
