“Churches of The Devil”

Alan C. Miner

In 1 Nephi 22:23, Nephi declares the following:

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 to 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.

According to Hugh Nibley, the four things that Nephi talks about; money, power, popularity, and the lusts of the flesh are repeated a number of times in the Book of Mormon. (For examples, see: 2 Nephi 26:20, 26:29; Alma 1:3, Alma 39:9; Helaman 7:5, 7:21; 4 Nephi 1:26; Mormon 8:33, 8:40, 9:28; Ether 8:22-23.) [Hugh W. Nibley, Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 3, p. 52]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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