One of the biggest issues with certain denominations is authority. We have the Roman and Orthodox churches claiming direct lineage back to Peter. Then we have so-called Restoration (Joseph Smith related, not Campbellite related.) churches claiming there was a fall or break in the line that had to be "restored." Biblical verses can be cited in favor of each position.

The Lord did tell Peter that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church. (Matthew 16:18) And Paul did warn there would come a falling away first, before the coming of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:3); but in the reformation a new view emerged.

To counter the Roman view, Calvin and others proved through verse that the authority of God was successfully given through Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18) to all believers (John 16:23) saying, where two or more are gathered, or where two agree, Jesus will be there and the Father will respect it. (Matthew 18:19-20)

And so the power shifted from a priesthood line to all true believers. The same was made clear during Jesus' lifetime when his disciples demanded that he stop others (Not ordained as they.) from using his name to cast out devils. But Jesus warned them to "forbid him not" (Mark 9:38-40).

Likewise, the call of Paul to be an apostle came directly from the Lord without either priesthood or church authority (Galatians 1:1,11,12). In fact, when he and Barnabas were called on their first missions, they were called by God's prophets in Antioch, not from Peter, James, or John in Jerusalem (Acts 13:1-4).

[It is important to note that most of the New Testament and early churches were written and planted by Paul.]

Therefore the case for authority through lineage by the Roman, Orthodox, and Restoration groups doesn't even apply. The question is, what does The Book of Mormon say about authority?