Tag: Church

There Are Two Churches Only

~ Richard Rowley

In teaching Nephi about the events of the last days, and the great division that will occur between those who serve the Lamb of God and those who reject Him (See The Lamb of God Will Work a Great and Marvelous Work), the angel of the Lord explains to Nephi that ultimately there are only two churches.

“And [the angel] said unto me: Behold there are two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.” (1 Nephi 14:10)

-If God has set Himself to test the hearts of all people in our time (as discussed in the post previous to this one—see The Lamb of God Will Work a Great and Marvelous Work), will the division between the church of the Lamb of God and the church of the devil become more distinct and recognizable than ever? In this scenario of clarification, how powerful would the draw of the work of the Lamb of God be to all good and sincere people (of all faiths and denominations) as the distinction unfolds and the true destructiveness and evil of the church of the devil is revealed?

Video from Book of Mormon Central:

The Great and Abominable Church

~ Richard Rowley

After the meaning of his father’s dream is revealed, Nephi continues to receive a prophetic vision through the Spirit and the help of an angel. He is shown that after the formation of Christ’s church another church would form in opposition to it:

“And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity. And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of it…And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and abominable church. And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints of God, and bring them down into captivity.” (1 Nephi 13:5-6,8-9)

Questions:

-Does reference to the great and abominable church signify a specific, officially organized church? Or, does it signify a church that forms and functions spontaneously among all people due to the influence and deception of the devil?

-Would the abominable church be more active among societies and cultures that also have the fullness of Jesus Christ’s gospel established within them? Or, would it be better established among those societies and cultures that do not have a fullness of the gospel?

-What is the ultimate motivation of this great and abominable church? What do those who belong to it ultimately desire?

-Is destruction of those who are striving to serve God an indirect byproduct of the aims of the great and abominable church, which seeks the praise of the world? Or, is it a direct focus?

-Is it possible to be part of (or take some part in) the great and abominable church without realizing it?

-What are some safeguards you could employ to ensure you and your family are not drawn into participation with the great and abominable church?

-If its goal is popularity and the accumulation of material pleasures and things, how likely is this great and abominable church to have a strong influence over many media, advertising, and entertainment outlets?

Latter-day Prophets, Seers, and Revelators…

“The titles church of the devil and great and abominable church are used to identify all … organizations of whatever name or nature—whether political, philosophical, educational, economic, social, fraternal, civic, or religious—which are designed to take men on a course that leads away from God and his laws and thus from salvation in the kingdom of God” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 137–38).

Ye Shall Defend Your Families Even unto Bloodshed

~ Richard Rowley

The Lord does not expect His followers to be pacifists. In cases where patience and repeatedly “turning the other cheek” are not sufficient to secure a people’s physical safety and freedom, defensive bloodshed is justified. The passage below describes why the Nephites went to war with the Lamanites (a group who was intent on destroying the Nephites)

“…The Nephites…were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church. And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies. And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion.” (Alma 43:46-47)

Questions:

-Is it easy to identify the situations where bloodshed is justified by God?

-Based on the passage above, is there any question that such action should be a last resort?

Whosoever Will Not Repent of His Sins the Same Shall Not Be Numbered Among My People

~ Richard Rowley

The Lord, speaking to Alma (the leader of the Nephite church), declares that only those who truly repent are numbered among His people.

“…Whosoever will not repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people.” (Mosiah 26:32)

Questions:

-How popular are churches that consistently call people to true and sincere repentance?

-How likely is it that God’s true church will be a widely-accepted church?

-Does repentance require work? Does any real growth occur without work?