The Great and Abominable Church, Part 3

Do we want to remain in our awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind? Is it worth calling upon the Father in the name of Jesus Christ and seeking Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit? Ether 4:15 God is in a position to reveal truth to us. He has the power to redeem us through the blood of the Lamb. Is it worth talking to Him about such things? Do we believe He hears and answers our prayers? Have we tried? We may underestimate God’s willingness and desire to reveal truth and forgive sins if we only cared enough to ask with a sincere heart and real intent.

If you were to receive a message from a bearer of light and truth, would you listen? Would the message be worth considering? Would you want it confirmed as a true message from heaven by praying and asking God directly? Is receiving a witness from the Holy Ghost necessary or important to obtain? Moroni 10:4-5 

Having obtained a witness from heaven declaring truth, and having received the assurance from the Holy Ghost, would you repent of false traditions, incorrect teachings, distorted doctrines, errors, misconceptions, inaccurate claims, mistakes, and transgressions? Would you conform your life to the revealed truth, and practice it? What if it went contrary to what you have been taught all your life and against family or social traditions?

Do we hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray or to the evil spirit that teacheth him that he must not pray? 2 Nephi 32:8 Would it be wise to proceed and “not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul?” 2 Nephi 32:9

By asking questions to, receiving answers from, and obeying God, we will avoid many mistakes, disappointments, and frustrations. Satan will have less power over us and will lack the ability to lead us down the dark detours to hell. By seeking and following the One who perfectly lives and understands eternal law, we can exercise faith in Christ, repent, witness unto the Father that we are willing to take upon us the name of Christ by baptism, receive the Holy Ghost, make covenants, keep them, receive the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

If you were to receive a witness from heaven that urged you to seek, learn, and follow the doctrine of Christ, would you do it? Would you embrace the doctrine of Christ even if most religious entities, people, and traditions were in opposition to it?  Even if you were persecuted, mocked, and reviled? Would you be determined to preserve the plain and precious truths of heaven in spite of abominations and persecutions? Would the plain and precious truths being held back by the great and abominable church possibly be the doctrine of Christ? Could it include the fullness of the gospel, connection with God, and the opening of the heavens? 2Nephi 31:10-20 

“And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.” 2 Nephi 31:21

Is it worth believing in and practicing the doctrine of Christ? Is His true and complete doctrine appealing to you? Or would a diluted version work better? How about correlated doctrines and boundaries of belief defined by men? Would that pass with God? Which do we choose? The doctrines and philosophies of men mingled with scripture or the doctrine of Christ? When the doctrine of Christ is chosen, we find ourselves in direct opposition to the great and abominable church lead by the devil.

Since this is life eternal, to know the only true God and Jesus Christ, John 17:3 would that be a plain and precious truth that is needed for mankind to be redeemed? To obtain salvation? To receive further light 2 Corinthians 4:6 and knowledge D&C 130:19,

and avoid damnation? Mosiah 16:11 Wouldn’t it be important to have the scales of darkness 2 Nephi 30:6 fall from our eyes? 

Would it be beneficial to reject the abominations that lay before us in plain sight? How about eliminating unbelief Mark 6:3-6, which hides up knowledge Ether 4:13 and reduces and eliminates miracles Mormon 9:20, and causes us to depart from the living God? Hebrews 3:12 Would it be useful to promote belief in and obedience to eternal laws of God? D&C 130:20-21 

Is there any significant meaning, implication, or lasting consequence when we choose to exercise faith in Jesus Christ, recognize Him for who he really is, repent, become sanctified, and embrace Him? Ether 4:7 There will be many who falsely claim to have prophesied in His name, known Him, and qualified for redemption. But they didn’t speak with Him face to face, forfeited the opportunity to really know Him, and failed to hear His own voice declare their redemption. “And then will I (Christ) profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” Matthew 7:23.

Nephi taught that beyond the revealed doctrine of Christ, there will be no more doctrine given until after he (Jesus) shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. When He comes to you and declares doctrine, do what He says! Don’t allow unbelief, wickedness, ignorance, and stiffneckedness to get in your way. Nephi felt pain for those who will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be.” 2 Nephi 32:6-7 

Is it important to obtain the testimony of Jesus and have Him personally bear witness to you?  Why is it essential to believe on His name, be baptized with water, be washed and cleansed from all sins, be baptized with fire, receive the Holy Ghost, and experience the ordinances offered and performed by God? Is individual connection with heaven necessary in this life? Or is it sufficient to piggy-back off the testimony of another?

Joseph Smith declared the following: “…Reading the experience of others, or the revelation given to them, can never give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God. Knowledge of these things can only be obtained by experience through the ordinances of God set forth for that purpose. Could you gaze into heaven five minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject.

“We are only capable of comprehending that certain things exist, which we may acquire by certain fixed principles. If men would acquire salvation, they have got to be subject, before they leave this world, to certain rules and principles, which were fixed by an unalterable decree before the world was.

“The disappointment of hopes and expectations at the resurrection would be indescribably dreadful.” TPJS Page 324-325 

Is it worth understanding and becoming subject to certain rules and principles required for salvation? Should we do it now, in this life? Later? When? Is it important for you to distinguish between truth and error? Would it be helpful to find and be part of the church of the Lamb of God? Is it necessary to denounce the church of the devil and philosophies of men? Are these important choices to make? What’s going to happen if our work is not done during the daytime but procrastinated until the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed? Alma 34:33

The angel told Nephi, “Behold there are save 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

Are you interested in identifying the great and abominable church? Would you like to discover who is involved in it, what institutions support it, and which entities, leaders, and movements actively participate in and promote the great and abominable church?  Would it be wise to abandon false doctrines, denounce counterfeit or evil traditions of men, and deplore corrupt and vain abominations of churches in our midst?

Would you like to find the church of the Lamb of God and belong to it? Is it worth the effort, obedience, and sacrifice to know God? Those who fail to know Him will have to depart from Him. That’s pretty tough doctrine! I want to know Him and receive His testimony. How about you?