A Formula For Failure
In I Nephi 22:23 the prophet Nephi gives a list of characteristics that, if found within any church, will cause that church to be consumed as stubble:
For the time speedily shall come that all churches which are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and do all manner of iniquity; yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil are they who need fear, and tremble, and quake; they are those who must be brought low in the dust: they are those who must be consumed as stubble; and this is according to the words of the prophet. (1 Nephi 22:23)
This prophecy is all encompassing for it includes “all churches,” and is particularly interesting to us because it is found in a chapter in which the context is almost exclusively concerned with the Last Days. Nephi says that “all churches which are built up” (1) “to get gain,” (2) “to get power,” (3) “to become popular,”(4) “and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world,” and (5)”do all manner of iniquity…must be consumed as stubble.”
The Breakup of the Church Established by Alma
We are told that when a covenant people fail to live up to every covenant they make in the temple of the Lord they will be in Satan’s power. We find that scenario clearly played out in the breakup of the church that Alma established (Mos. 18:17). In 3 Nephi 6:14, just a few years before the coming of the Lord in great glory to the Nephites, we see that the true Church of God established by the prophet Alma “was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith.” Verse 15 tells us that “the cause of this iniquity…was that Satan had great power” over them, just as is promised to a covenant-breaking people. This power that Satan had gained over them manifested itself in another list unmistakingy similar to Nephi’s list in I Nephi 22:23, as seen in the subject verse:
15 Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this–Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world. (3 Nephi 6:15)
The 3 Nephi covenant people were (1) doing “all manner of iniquity,” (2) puffed “up with pride,” (3) seeking “for power and authority,” (4) “and riches, and…” (5) “…the vain things of the world” (See also 3 Ne 6:10-12).
When we compare the two Nephi’s lists we find, not unexpectedly, great consistency:
|
Nephi’s List |
Alma‘s Church |
| 1. Gain | 1. Riches |
| 2. Power | 2. Power and Authority |
| 3. Popularity | 3. Pride |
| 4. Lusts of the flesh, things of the world | 4. Vain things of the world |
| 5. All manner of iniquity | 5. All manner of iniquity |
It is interesting that the “lusts of the flesh” seems to be so closely associated with “the things of the world.” We usually identify “lusts of the flesh” exclusively with sexual sins, but the “flesh” can also “lust” for an abundance of fine foods and drinks, as well as for automobiles, houses, recreation and other “things of the world.” This is especially true when used in a gluttonous manner. This chapter also makes it clear that this great iniquity came upon them in a very short period of time.
The Breakup of the Church of Christ Established
In 4 Nephi we find the same list present in the description of the breakup of the Church that Christ established while he was among the Nephites and Lamanites:
23 And now I, Mormon, would that ye should know that the people had multiplied insomuch that they were spread upon all the face of the land and that they had become exceedingly rich, because of their prosperity in Christ.
24 And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world.
25 And from that time forth they did have their goods and their substance no more common among them.
26 And they begun to be divided into classes; and they began to build up churches to get gain, and began to deny the true church of Christ.
27 And if came to pass that when two hundred and ten years had passed away there were many churches in the land; yea, there were many churches which professed to know the Christ, and yet they did deny the more parts of his gospel insomuch that they did receive all manner of wickedness, and did administer that which was sacred unto him to whom it had been forbidden because of unworthiness.
28 And this church did multiply exceedingly because of iniquity, and because of the power of Satan who did get hold upon their hearts. (4 Nephi 1:23-28)
Mormon, in verse 23, names riches and prosperity as being a problem. Also pride and “the fine things of the world” are mentioned in this light in verse 24. They broke the Law of Consecration in verse 25. “And they began to be divided into classes,” which always plays on a pride/popularity/power/ authority theme “…and they began to build up churches to get gain” (verse 26; see also verse 30). In verse 27 they ignore or deny many parts of the original gospel of Christ which He had delivered to them and instead embraced “all manner of wickedness.” In verse 28 we are told that this church became very popular and sustained tremendous growth. In an Honors Book of Mormon class taught at BYU and telecast on KBYU on Sundays in the Utah area, the instructor, Hugh Nibley, has commented on 4 Nephi 1:23-28:
…verse 27, and here we see that the new churches retained their traditions, of course. They were not seeking to be original. They claimed to be the old true church…We are in 4 Nephi 1:27: ‘There were many churches which professed to know the Christ, and yet they did deny the more parts of his gospel.’ They took some parts. They kept parts of the gospel, but they got rid of others they didn’t like. Well, we do that the same way. ‘They did deny the more parts of his gospel, insomuch that they did receive all manner of wickedness.’ And they went further than that. They had the gospel. They denied most of it, though, but they still had the forms and the ordinances and they administered them. They ‘professed to know the Christ.’ They accommodated their doctrines to the market. They supplied temple recommends on demand It was very popular. The church grew phenomenally as a result of this. Remember, this is the church we’re talking about. This is not apostates. Give them what they want and you’ll win. This is the Nehor story already. Remember, the Nehors grew like crazy. We do that today, of course. …Verse 28 also teaches another thing–that the phenomenal growth of the church is no proof that it’s true at all, or that it’s on the true path. It grew faster than anything because it was very popular. So don’t use popularity as a gauge either. (Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester. 4, F.A.R.M.S., p. 186.)
We see in verse 28 that all of this iniquity prospered “because of the power of Satan who did get hold upon their hearts.” As stated above, Satan gets power over people when they fail to live up to every covenant made in the temple of the Lord.
It is curious that the Church in Alma’s day and Christ’s Church in 3 Nephi each lasted approximately the same number of years before breaking up. Alma’s Church was started about 147 B.C. (see Mos. 18) and broke up in the 30th year A.D. (3 Ne. 6:14), showing that it lasted about 177 years. Christ’s Church began 34 A.D. (3 Ne. 12) and in the “two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who where lifted up in pride” (4 Ne. 1:24) and when “two hundred and ten years had passed away there were many churches in the land” (4 Ne. 1:27). Thus, this church lasted between 167 to 176 years.
Moroni’s Prophecy of Our Day
In Mormon 8:34-35 Moroni tells us that Christ has shown him “great and marvelous things” pertaining to the day in which we now live. “But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me and I know your doing” (verse 35). president Ezra Taft Benson assures us that these verses are referring to us in our own day. (A Witness and a Warning, p.20). Then Moroni goes on to describe the conditions of our day by saying that our “churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted” because of our pride (verse 36).
36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and ail manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.
37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.
38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies–because of the praise of the world?
39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?
40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground for vengeance upon your heads?
41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer. (Mormon 8:36-41)
Perhaps it is time we begin to deal with these verses in a realistic manner. It has been my experience that if we deal with this at all, we claim it to either exclude the LDS Church or that it refers to a time prior to the restoration by Joseph Smith. Yet Moroni helps to clarify these verses by including us with the polluted churches when asking in verse 38 “why have ye polluted the holy church of God?” Elder L. Tom Perry has stated quite clearly in his conference talk given in October of 1992 that these verses are referring to us in the LDS Church:
He [Moroni] writes first to the members of the Church and then to those who have not embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ. Moroni’s last words to the members of the Church are written as a voice of warning. He writes as one who sees the history of his people repeating itself in the future. (Ensign, November 1992, p. 16)
Elder Perry then quotes from Mormon 8:34-38 and continues with his thought:
I guess one of the greatest mysteries of mortality is why mankind fails to learn from history. Why do those who profess to be true followers of Christ so often become victims of the enticements of the world?
…we see so many members seeking worldly pursuits contrary to the words of the Lord’s prophets through the ages. Many of us are more concerned about our fine apparel, the size of our homes, and our cars and their gadgets than we are about the needs of the poor and the needy. (Ensign, Nov. 1992, p. 16)
H. Verlan Andersen, of the Quorum of the Seventy, also sees these verses as referring to us in the LDS church:
Since there is only one ‘holy church of God’ on earth, and since it is being polluted, the blame therefore appears to rest upon teachers and hypocrites within that church. (Great and Abominable Church of the Devil, p. 171)
Even more to the point are Hugh Nibley’s remarks on these verses in Mormon 8:
…Here is our own fashionable, well-dressed, status-conscious, and highly competitive society. The ‘iniquities with which it is charged are interesting, for instead of crime, immorality, and atheism we are told of the vices of vanity, of the intolerant and uncharitable state of mind: pride, envy, strife, malice and persecution. These are crimes of meanness.
…They are dedicated people…These people do not persecute the poor (they are too single-minded for that), but simply ignore their existence.
…It is important to note that these people are church builders (the unbelievers are addressed in the next chapter), and that they include the members of the true church. –
…After the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, moreover, there is only one ‘holy Church of God‘ (1 Nephi 14: 10). expression here, moreover, cannot refer to the primitive church, of which these latter-day Christians know nothing–they are not in a position to pollute it, and pollution is necessarily an inside job. And why should the true Church be any more immune to the blandishments of money and fine clothes and beautiful churches today than it was in the days of the Nephites.
…Why should they now think that all these warnings are not meant for them, but only for the wicked outsiders? It is exactly the attitude which Nephi and Samuel the Lamanite attacked with such vigor. The Book of Mormon was given to us because if was meant for us. (Since Cumorah, vol. 7 of H. N. Collected Works, pp. 378-379. Emphasis added).
As we read these verses in Mormon 8 we see Nephi’s list clearly manifested. We find ourselves accused by Moroni of an excessive love of riches throughout verses 36-40, but “money” is specifically mentioned in verse 37 and getting “gain” in verse 40. We see power and authority manifested again by class distinctions, persecutions, envyings, strifes, malice and the ignoring of the poor and the needy, along with “pride” which is the dominant topic of verse 36. Also, popularity is manifested in verse 38 by our seeking the “praise of the world.” The vain things of the world are listed in detail in verses 36 and 37 as well as verse 39 which describes them as “that which hath no life.” Verse 36 completes our list with the phrase describing us as being involved with “all manner of iniquities .”
|
Nephi’s List |
Alma’s Church |
Christ’s Church |
LDS Church |
| 1. Gain | 1. Riches | 1. Riches, Gain | 1. Money, Gain |
| 2. Power | 2. Power, Authority | 2. Power, Authority | 2. Envy, Strife, Malice, Persecutions |
| 3. Popularity | 3. Pride | 3. Pride, Popularity | 3. Pride, Praise of World |
| 4. Lusts of flesh, Things of the World | 4. Vain things of the World | 4. Fine things of the World | 4. Substance, Fine apparel, Adorned churches |
| 5. All manner of iniquity | 5. All manner of iniquity | 5. All manner of wickedness | 5. All manner of iniquities |
Perhaps the consequences of the above comparison should concern us
a great deal. It has the tendency to change the emphasis of who among us requires repentance in order to please God. We have long looked at the outward sins commonly exemplified by immorality, breaking the Word of Wisdom and general activity in the Church as the ultimate division between “we the righteous” and “they the sinners.” Nephi and Moroni, however, give us a whole new order of things, a brand new list, which is really an old list, emphasizing the inward sins; sins that are quite acceptable to the world as a whole but which bring upon us the Lord’s “sword of vengeance” (Morm 8:40-41).
Interestingly Mormon 8 chooses to use the more timely word of “money” instead of “riches” and the “power and authority” category in Mormon 8 is detailed and itemized rather than the general terms used in the other columns. It also becomes more specific in area 3, where Moroni suggests in verse 38 that we are not just looking to be accepted in the world and be among the popular churches of the day, but we are willing to give up virtually everything for “that which will canker” (see also D&C 56: 16) and “the praise of the world.” After a heritage of persecution we seem to be willing to compromise (1) . Our excessive clothing and church buildings seem to be singled out as specifics of “the vain things of the world”, as well as the more general category of “substance” (verse 37).
The surprising thing to us in all of this is the emphasis on economics. But it should not be too big of a surprise because it is everywhere in our scriptures. The establishment of Zion, one of the first commandments in this dispensation (see D&C 6:6-7; 11:6-7), is very much an economic order based on equality as opposed to inequality (see D&C 49:20; 70:14; 78:5-7; 104:14-18; 105:2-6; Mos. 4:15-27). If we were to be asked “what was the great sin of Sodom?” we would most likely answer “sexual sin.” But Ezekiel 16:49-50 says:
49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy
50 And they were haughty and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. (Ezekiel 16:49-50)
It sounds like Mormon 8 (See James 1:27)(2).
The Priesthood and the List
34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson–
36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven can not be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man. (D&C 121:34-37)
One valuable concept that the Lord has given us is that, of those of us who “hold” the priesthood almost none really possess it. The priesthood “may be conferred upon us” but when we “gratify our pride” or exercise power or authority over others “in any degree of unrighteousness”, (or iniquity), “Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man” (verse 37). Therefore “many are called, but few are chosen” (verse 34-35). In order to be chosen we cannot have our hearts set upon the vain “things of this world” or aspire to the praise of the world (verse 35) (combining the wording from Nephi’s list with that of D&C 12 1 : 34-37 Nephi’s terrible list has found it’s way into the Doctrine and Covenants showing the consistency of the scriptures on this particular subject, lending emphasis to the principle being taught.
Hugh Nibley, in an article on the priesthood, has said:
Is not the priesthood everything? Not on this earth. On this earth it is nothing, and as soon as we try to use it for any kind of status, power, rule or authority it automatically cancels out.
Though some may find it hard to believe, I find no cause for boasting in my priesthood–nothing is easier than conferring it upon one, but that is only the beginning; for it to be a real power requires a degree of concentration, dedication, and self-discipline which few ever attain to, and for the rest priesthood is not a blessing but a terrible risk.
Very few men on earth, including those in the Church are really qualified. In terms of prestige, status, power, and authority and riches, the priesthood has absolutely nothing to offer The world laughs at it, the latter-&y saints abuse or ignore it, those who take it seriously do so in “fear and trembling.” (“Priesthood”, Sunstone Magazine, December 1990.)
Zoramites
We are frequently advised to repent. But repent of what? Too often we think that the “bad guys” are out “there” someplace and “they” need to repent of the “big things” while “we the righteous” need to repent of the “little things”. This theme is played out almost every Sunday in almost every ward. It’s in our talks, our lessons and in our comments. We use our scriptures to prove to ourselves that “we” are right and “they” are wrong. We read into redundancy the verses that tell us what we already know; and ignore the passages that may prove controversial even if they may be trying to teach us something essential to our salvation. And Heaven forbid we should bring up something that told us of our sins, let alone accused us of polluting “the holy church of God”.
This may remind us of the Book of Mormon Zoramites found in Alma 31. The Zoramites would allow one person at a time to take center stage in their church, “stretch forth his hands toward heaven” (verse 13-14) and thank God that He had separated them from their foolish brethren who were obviously in error, they considered themselves the elect of God, and that they would be saved while everyone else would be consigned to a lesser kingdom (verses 16- 18). After the Zoramites had said these things they would return to their homes “never speaking of their God again” (verse 23) until they gathered together the next week (verse 12). This broke Alma’s heart because he saw they were caught up in riches, “all manner of fine goods” (verse 24), “boasting” and “pride” (verse 25), all manner of “gross wickedness” (verse 26), “the vain things of the world” (verse 27), “costly apparel, and their ringlets and their bracelets, and their ornaments of gold, and all their precious things…yet they cried…we thank thee, O God, for we are a chosen people unto thee, while all others shall perish” (verse 28). This perversion of the ways of the Lord (verse 11) by this highly religious people not only “astonished” (verse 19) and “grieved” (verse 24) Alma, but he considered them to be an extremely “perverse” and grossly wicked people (verses 24, 26). See also Isaiah 1:1l-31.
Polluted
At some time in our repentance process we must come to terms with Moroni calling us, and our “teachers,” “pollutions” and “hypocrites” (Morm. 8:38). The word “polluted” as used in Mormon 8 appears to be synonymous with the dreaded “A” word (apostasy) which we only use when referring to “them.” The “A” word fits quite nicely for us when describing early Judaism or Christianity; we wouldn’t even have a difficult time attaching it to Alma’s Church in 3 Nephi 6 or the break-up of Christ’s Church in 4 Nephi. However, 1 Nephi 22:23 sets up the criteria for a polluted church and 3 Nephi 6 and 4 Nephi give us examples of a polluted church; all three situations parallel Moroni’s description of the polluted “holy church of God” in our day. The word “polluted” is only used three times in the Book of Mormon outside Mormon 8. One is quoting Isaiah (1 Ne. 20:11); another is referring to the awful polluted state of the Lamanites (who were in apostasy at the time) (Mos. 25: 11); and the other is Ammon describing the sinful and polluted state that he, his brothers and Alma the Younger were in before their great change (by anyone’s definition–apostasy) (Alma 26: 17). There does appear to be at least some justification for considering the possibility that Moroni in Mormon 8 is accusing us of being in some form of apostasy.
We are grateful to President Benson, Elder Perry, Elder Anderson, and Brother Nibley for pointing out to us Moroni’s accusation. But if they are correct, and Moroni is referring to us and we have “polluted the holy church of God” and the Lord’s “sword of vengeance” hangs over us (Morm. 8:38, 41; compare D&C 112:24-26; 97:25-26) why isn’t there more conversation on this subject? Why doesn’t every lesson manual have at least one chapter that deals with these verses? Why don’t we discuss it in our quorums and our classes? I would guess that fewer than 10 percent of the Church are familiar with these verses and still fewer realize that Moroni is referring here to the LDS Church. How can we correct errors we are not aware of? (continued—-> )
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