A Church Which Is Most Abominable

 

1 Nephi 13:1 = 9, NC1 Nephi 3 par. 19

And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying, Look. And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms. And the angel said unto me, What beholdest thou? And I said, I behold many nations and kingdoms. And he said unto me, These are the nations and kingdoms of the gentiles. And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the gentiles the formation of a great church. 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 foundation of it. And I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and scarlets, and fine twined linen, and all manner of precious clothing; and I saw many harlots. 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.

The Stick of Joseph in the Hand of Ephraim 1 Nefi 3 par. 19

And it came to pass that the angel spoke unto me, saying, Look. And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms. And the angel said unto me, What do you behold? And I said, I behold many nations and kingdoms. And he said unto me, These are the nations and kingdoms of the Goyim. And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Goyim the formation of a great church. And the angel said unto me, Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slays the k’doshim of Elohim, yes, and tortures them, and binds them down, and yokes them with a yoke of iron, and brings them down into captivity. And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church, and I saw HaSatan that he was the foundation of it. And I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and scarlets, and fine twined linen, and all manner of precious clothing; and I saw many harlots. And the angel spoke 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 k’doshim of Elohim and bring them down into captivity.

Why are the nations of the gentiles assessed so negatively in the Book of Mormon?

Is it important that we understand the obstacles we are fighting against as descendants from those gentile nations?

When we read the Book of Mormon and we read the term gentiles is it proper to look inward and apply the comment concerning the gentiles to ourselves?

Can we ever escape what binds us down and keeps us from approaching God if we are not shown and accept the reality of where we find ourselves?

Isn't God being merciful to us by allowing us to see what They see?

They see truth; things as they are and as they were and as they are to come.

Wouldn't we benefit greatly from believing what They are showing to us through Nephi?

Are They, God, able to see through all darkness and deception and view things as they really are?

If we work to adopt Their view of all things can we eventually come to know the truth of all things?

If we start by looking at the term "church" and get a proper definition of that term, and then we look at how the Lord sees the world in terms of a church or churches, would it be possible to get a more focused idea of what Nephi is seeing here and recording in his vision?

This is the definition the Lord Himself has set forth as His "church" here on the earth.

Behold, this is my doctrine: whosoever repents and comes unto me, the same is my church. Whosoever declares more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me. Therefore, he is not of my church.  And now behold, whosoever is of my church and endures of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. (D&C 10:19 - 20, Teachings and Commandments, Section 1, Joseph Smith History, Part 10, pars. 19 - 20) 

Christ declares that His doctrine defines what or rather who composes His church.

What does it mean to repent? 

Repentance is a subject that is impossible to even approach in this blog because of what ought to be communicated concerning this principle.  We as a gentile culture are so full of false ideas concerning repentance that we must be disabused of these ideas before we are capable of applying repentance.

I would invite anyone who wants to really look into the principle of repentance to read talk number 3 "Repentance" of the talk series titled "40 Years in Mormonism" found as a free pdf download on Denversnuffer.com in the downloads section.

The following is an excerpt from this talk.

Take a look at Doctrine and Covenants 93: 36: “The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one.” What if, instead of repentance being related to your misdeeds, which are so plentiful and persistent, and will continue; instead it is related to the acquisition of light of truth - that is intelligence? What if repentance requires you to take whatever it is you have that is a foolish error, a vain tradition, or a false notion and replace it with truth?

My suspicion is, that whatever it is that is troubling you, will trouble you considerably less if you begin to fill yourself with light and truth. Until at last you arrive at a point you look back upon your sins and you say. “I have no more disposition for that. Now I know enough not to do that anymore because I prefer the light. I prefer God's intelligence and glory over that which I used to trade, or substitute for it.” You see repentance may have a whole lot more to do with your own feeble education in the things of God than it has to do with the time you spend wasted, looking at some vile picture or other. We have these Victorian sexual mores that everyone in Wall Street tacks against. Like when you're in a sailboat and there's a head wind you "tack" against it. By using this cultural background they get instant attention by showing something sexually suggestive to sell you beer, or fast food, shoes, ships, sealing wax and cabbages. Quite frankly, I find most of the marketing exploitation of sex to be boring, not titillating. Some of the more graphic use of sex is somewhat medical, but it's not enticing. From a certain perspective, if you will acquire enough light and truth, you're not going to be contaminated by exposure to the things that are degrading.  

The Book of Mormon was abridged by a man who lived in an environment filled with sex and violence. He was untouched by it. He was a man of righteousness. Why is it that he could preserve himself in such an abhorrent environment? Because he was filled with light and truth. He educated himself, and had learned the things that are true. When you minister to someone who is suffering, their sins ought not to shock you. They should cause compassion to well up in you. People struggle with some very difficult, very challenging things. You need to try and overcome that by the light within you. The glory of God is intelligence. Be intelligent. ("Repentance", 40 Years in Mormonism Series, Denver Snuffer, 29 Sept. 2013, pgs. 9 - 10)

Is it possible as gentiles in a culturally gentile church that we have been taught and accepted a false principle dealing with repentance?

Is it possible as put forth above that repentance is to discard false and vain traditions and to replace these with truth?

How does one come unto Christ?

Is it possible that the following conversation between Nephi, the Lord, and the Father shows us how this is to be done?

And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water to fulfill all righteousness, Oh, then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water? And now I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfill all righteousness in being baptized by water? Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he sheweth unto the children of men that according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments. Wherefore, after he was baptized with water, the holy ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove. And again, it sheweth unto the children of men the straitness of the path and the narrowness of the gate by which they should enter, he having set the example before them. And he said unto the children of men, Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? And the Father said, Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son. And also the voice of the Son came unto me, saying, He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the holy ghost like unto me. Wherefore, follow me and do the things which ye have seen me do. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ by baptism — yea, by following your Lord and Savior down into the water according to his word — behold, then shall ye receive the holy ghost. Yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the holy ghost, and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

But behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying, After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the holy ghost, and can speak with a new tongue — yea, even with the tongue of angels — and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me. And I heard a voice from the Father saying, Yea, the words of my beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. And now my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved. Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shewn unto me: that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the holy ghost. And then are ye in this straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life. Yea, ye have entered in by the gate, ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son, and ye have received the holy ghost, which witness of the Father and the Son unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way, ye should receive.

And now my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this straight and narrow path, I would ask if all is done. Behold, I say unto you, nay, for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ, with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. (2 Nephi 31:5 - 20, NC 2 Nephi 13 pars. 2 - 4)

Does the Lord's statement "...And now behold, whosoever is of my church and endures of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them..." match with the Father's statement to Nephi  "Yea, the words of my beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved."?

Who is the rock to be established on?

... I am Messiah, the King of Zion, the Rock of Heaven, which is broad as eternity; and whoever comes in at the gate and climbs up by me shall never fall. ..." (Moses 7:48 - 53, OC Genesis 4 par. 20)

According to all of the above, does Christ's church exist in an earthly institutional form?

Is this something important to consider?

What are the views of God concerning "churches" on the earth?

And it came to pass that when the angel had spoken these words, he said unto me, Remember thou the covenants of the Father unto the house of Israel? I said unto him, Yea. And it came to pass that he said unto me, Look and behold that great and abominable church, which is the mother of abominations, whose foundation is the Devil. And he said unto me, 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 14:8 - 10, NC 1 Nephi 3 par. 27) 

According to the angel speaking with Nephi, they, God, see that there are only two churches that exist upon the earth.

Shouldn't that be sobering to us?

Both times we have mentioned this church which is most abominable, which rises from among the gentile nations, mention is clearly made that the foundation of this abominable church is the Devil.

Isn't that an exceedingly serious matter?

Christ declared that anyone who declares more or less than He declared in order to be a part of His church is not of His church but against His church.

Could that statement by the Lord be equivalent in meaning to saying that if one is not of the Lord's church they are of the only other church that exists on the earth who's foundation is the Devil?

Is this most abominable church made up of any single denomination, creed, institution, philosophy, or culture?

Would it be appropriate to say that any denomination, creed, institution, philosophy, or cultural idea that opposes or that is more or less than Christ's doctrine constitutes part of this church which is most abominable?

If we seriously look at the "fruits" Nephi sees that are produced by this most abominable church would we be able to recognize if our religious, cultural, philosophical, or institutional traditions are part of this most abominable church?

I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and scarlets, and fine twined linen, and all manner of precious clothing; and I saw many harlots. 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.

If what we participate in culturally, philosophically, institutionally, or religiously are focused on gold and silver or the acquisition of gold and silver (financial wealth and power) can we appropriately say that we are participating in something that is part of a most abominable church?

If what we participate in culturally, philosophically, institutionally, or religiously puts an emphasis on precious clothing, silks, scarlets, and fine twined linen (ie. Do they have a dress code that requires one to dress finely to participate?) can we appropriately say that we are participating in something that is part of a most abominable church?

Didn't Alma run into this problem among the Zoramites in the Book of Mormon?

And it came to pass that they did go forth, and began to preach the word of God unto the people, entering into their synagogues and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach the word in their streets. And it came to pass that after much labor among them, they began to have success among the poorer class of the people. For behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel, therefore they were not permitted to enter into their synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness. Therefore, they were poor; yea, they were esteemed by their brethren as dross; therefore, they were poor as to things of the world; and also they were poor in heart. (Alma 32:1 - 3, NC Alma 16 par. 22) 

If we are involved in anything culturally, religiously, institutionally, or philosophically that looks down upon or casts out those who we would consider to be coarsely dressed don't we find ourselves a part of something that loves silks and scarlets and fine twined linen and precious clothing?

What about harlots?

The following is an excerpt from the Glossary of Terms found in the appendix to Teachings and Commandments for the title Great and Abominable Church.

The other, all-inclusive, great church is comprised of all philosophies, all belief systems, all unbelief systems, all rationalizations, all theories, and all vanities that distract people from repenting and following Christ. These vary from very good things that are uplifting (and possess even great portions of truth) to the degrading and perverse. This all-inclusive church is a “whore” because she is completely indiscriminate and open for all to have her acceptance and affection. She welcomes all, the only requirement being that one have false beliefs. “The great illusion of a whore is to imagine she likes you. To imagine she cares for you. To imagine she desires what you desire and is cooperating with you because she finds you attractive, appealing, and that you fulfill her longing. It is a lie, an illusion, and a fraud. Her bodily diseases are less virulent than her contamination of the soul. Empty, false, vain, and foolish thoughts occupy the imagination of those who have intercourse with the great whore. She prefers the lie, relies on it. You would not be her customer if not for the lies.”

Under this definition isn't anything that is a lie that entices you to be a part of Babylon or the world under the pretense that Babylon or the world likes you and desires what you desire appropriately referred to as a harlot?

If the principle of defiling oneself is associated with being with a harlot then couldn't we reasonably state that anything we associate with in the world that causes us to be defiled is in effect an association with a harlot?

Do we not contaminate our souls when we are a part of anything that seeks the acceptance of this world?

Doesn't Nephi refer to Babylon as the "whore of all the earth" or in other words the harlot of all the earth?

Now let's consider the other "fruit" of this most abominable church that Nephi mentions.

And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints of God and bring them down into captivity.

Is it possible that this statement above is very closely related to the following statement from Nephi?

Yea, they have all gone out of the way, they have become corrupted; because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride, they are puffed up. They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing, and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart because in their pride they are puffed up. They wear stiff necks and high heads, yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray, save it be a few who are the humble followers of Christ. Nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men. (2 Nephi 28:11 - 14, NC 2 Nephi 12 par. 2) 

Do churches change their teachings or are teachings of churches corrupted by the precepts of men to make them more appealing to the world at large?

Do churches allow their teachings to be changed or in other words corrupted by the precepts of men in order to get the praise of the world?

Could being a humble follower of Christ reasonably be equated to being a saint of God?

If a humble follower of Christ could reasonably be equated to be a saint of God then wouldn't teaching humble followers of Christ precepts of men in order to gain praise from the world or acceptance from the world be the same as destroying the saints of God because your teaching of the precepts of men cause them to err?

If you are a church teaching precepts of men to humble followers of Christ, which leads them in many instances to err, aren't you bringing saints of God into the captivity of the Devil because they are unable to follow Christ because they are in error?

What did the Lord say to the lawyers or teachers of the church in His day?

 Woe unto you lawyers, for you have taken away the key of knowledge, the fullness of the scriptures. You enter not in yourselves into the kingdom, and those who were entering in, you hindered. And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be angry and to urge vehemently, endeavoring to provoke him to speak of many things, lying in wait for him and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him. (Luke 11:45 - 54, NC Luke 8 par. 17) 

By changing the teachings of the scriptures the teachers of the church took away the key of knowledge which hindered those who were entering into the kingdom (ie. causing the humble followers of Christ to err.)

Have any of the teachings of the Prophet Joseph been changed or discarded since the beginning of the restoration the Lord began through him?

Were these teachings changed or discarded to gain the praise or acceptance of the world?

How about the ordinances established through the prophet Joseph?

Have they been changed to gain the acceptance or praise of the world?

What did Isaiah say about changing ordinances?

The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore has the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. (Isaiah 24:1 - 15, OC Isaiah 7 par. 1) 

How about the Prophet Joseph?

What does he say about changing the ordinances?

And again, God purposed in Himself that there should not be an eternal fullness until every dispensation should be fulfilled and gathered together in one, and that all things whatsoever, that should be gathered together in one in those dispensations unto the same fullness and eternal glory, should be in Christ Jesus; therefore He set the ordinances to be the same forever and ever, and set Adam to watch over them, to reveal them from heaven to man, or to send angels to reveal them. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pg.168)

The power, glory and blessings of the Priesthood could not continue with those who received ordination only as their righteousness continued; for Cain also being authorized to offer sacrifice, but not offering it in righteousness, was cursed. It signifies, then, that the ordinances must be kept in the very way God has appointed; otherwise their Priesthood will prove a cursing instead of a blessing. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pg. 170)

Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed. All must be saved on the same principles. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pg. 308)

Where there is no change of priesthood, there is no change of ordinances, says Paul. If God has not changed the ordinances and the priesthood, howl, ye sectarians! If he has, when and where has He revealed it? Have ye turned revelators? Then why deny revelation? (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pg. 308)

Christ said to His disciples (Mark 16:17 and 18), that these signs should follow them that believe:—“In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover;” and also, in connection with this, read 1st Corinthians, 12th chapter.  By the foregoing testimonies we may look at the Christian world and see the apostasy there has been from the apostolic platform; and who can look at this and not exclaim, in the language of Isaiah, “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, and broken the everlasting covenant? (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 16)

If God reveals an ordinance in order to give power to the children of men to return to His presence and escape the captivity of the Devil, then isn't it bringing the saints of God into captivity to the Devil to change the revealed ordinance and therefore to break the power that the ordinance contains to allow the individual to come back into the presence of God?

Remember knowledge is power and the knowledge given in an ordinance allows an individual to approach God for more knowledge and power until they can enter back into Their presence.

Changing an ordinance removes knowledge necessary to approach the God.  It begins the process of unbelief we discussed earlier.

Unbelief is believing in incorrect or incomplete knowledge.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him.”

 

The caution is always added to “watch and pray always.” It is not enough to fall into the correct way. You must prevent, at every turn, a misstep taking you off that path.

 

The devil always tempts to “do more or less” than we are instructed. To accomplish his desired results, the devil only needs to persuade you to do a little more, or do a little less, and he will have succeeded. He does not need to cut you off by a great big sin when a small one will work just as well.

 

Lately, we’ve been looking carefully at the details of the account of the sacrament among the Nephites. As with anything, varying this by “more or less” is a temptation. That temptation comes from the devil. He knows better than any of us that changing ordinances is intended to rob them of their efficacy.

 

When good intentions lead to the conclusion that you can or ought to change an ordinance in any particular, it does not matter how well intended the underlying reason is for the change. The purpose is to defile. As Isaiah put it: “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.” (Isa. 24: 5.)  For what reason would you change the Lord’s ordinances:

-People are not interested in them?

-People are offended by them?

-They seem to include unimportant details?

-They seem to conflict with your understanding of another scripture?

-The performance is uninspiring to the skeptical mind?

-The performance can be improved by a change?

-They seem to hold no real meaning?

-They can have better acceptance if altered?

-People no longer know or understand them?

-People just don’t care enough to observe the details?

 

Perhaps there are ten-thousand reasons for making a change. Maybe you are not tempted by all, but just one of those reasons. But so long as there is one reason which persuades you, that is enough. The devil knows he must only persuade you on one point, one time to get you to change the ordinance. Once he has managed that, he has robbed the ordinance of power, defiled the earth because of its inhabitants, persuaded you to transgress the law, and destroyed the everlasting covenant.

 

This is a wonderful teaching from Christ. He would like us to be ever watchful precisely because the devil intends to interrupt the Gospel every time it appears on the earth. In general, it takes less than 200 years for an apostasy to set in among the people chosen by God to receive a dispensation of the Gospel. Only in a few isolated instances, among a few people, have there been occasions where the ordinances remained unchanged. Those people successfully resisted every argument presented in favor of changing the ordinances and breaking the covenant with God.

The goal of our adversary is to lead us into captivity. When we lose the key to knowledge because we forfeit the light given by ordinance to us, then we struggle about in the dark. Left to your own reasoning, it is possible to establish all kinds of aberrations, calling bad good, and the light darkness.  Then only isolated voices remain to challenge the overwhelming majority who believe they have improved things by their tampering.

 

This pattern is warned against by the Lord. He lays bare the source of such things. It is all of the devil. He is the architect of that ruin.

 

So it is with the entire sermon the Lord has delivered, along with the new ordinance He has just introduced. The whole is meant to be understood and followed. It is the path back to truth and light. It was meant to become our guide, our way of life. For the most part, we have very good reasons why we do not follow it. ("3 Nephi 18:15", Denversnuffer.com, 11 November 2010)

When Nephi records that this abominable church  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, can we look at history and even at the present day and see that these things have happened and continue to happen to the saints of God?

Are these not terrible things?

Wouldn't it be important for us to seriously consider if we are a part of anything that contributes to slaying, torturing, binding down, yoking with a yoke of iron, or bringing into captivity the saints of God?

If we do not turn from everything that brings about these serious offenses against the saints of God or if we uphold anything that brings about these offenses then aren't we complicit with the very things that bring these offenses about?

Would it be reasonable to assume that we can escape the judgments of God for such serious offenses against His saints if we do not actively fight against anything that brings these offenses about by leaving this most abominable church and entering into the Church of the Lamb of God?

What did the Prophet Joseph declare?

It is an imperious duty that we owe to God, to angels with whom we shall be brought to stand, and also to ourselves, to our wives, and our children who have been made to bow down with grief, sorrow, and care under the most damning hand of murder, tyranny, and oppression, supported, and urged on, and upheld by the influence of that spirit which has so strongly riveted the creeds of the fathers, who have inherited lies upon the hearts of the children, and filled the world with confusion, and has been growing stronger and stronger, and is now the very mainspring of all corruption, and the whole earth groans under the weight of its iniquity. It is an iron yoke, it is a strong band; they are the very handcuffs, and chains, and shackles, and fetters of hell.  Therefore, it is an imperious duty that we owe, not only to our own wives and children, but to the widows and fatherless, whose husbands and fathers have been murdered under its iron hand, which dark and blackening deeds are enough to make hell itself shudder, and to stand aghast and pale, and the hands of the very Devil to tremble and palsy. And also it is an imperious duty that we owe to all the rising generation and to all the pure in heart (which there are many yet on the earth, among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it), therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness wherein we know them and they are truly manifest from Heaven. (D&C 123:7 - 13, Teachings and Commandments 139 pars. 14 - 15) 

How shall we fulfill our duty to expose to the humble followers of Christ who are only kept from the truth because they are blinded by the craftiness of men, the hidden works of darkness that exist in the church who's foundation is the Devil if we ourselves do not seriously look inward to see if we are blinded by the craftiness of men and a part of this most abominable church?

Shouldn't what Nephi is bringing to our attention here be a serious consideration for us?

Would it be foolish to pass by this and say, "Well this is referring to others not to us"?  

Satan “desires to have you.” You are wanted. Not because he has your best interest in mind, but because he wants control. He wants to gain power over others, limit their choices, and make them his slaves.

The manner wheat was sifted was to use a sieve to separate grain from husks, tares, stones and other chaff. The wheat would be kept, the refuse tossed into a pile to be discarded. Sifting was vigorous and tossed the grain about to separate it. This suggests being completely under Satan’s control, being tossed about, and being discarded. It is a horrifying image, because the result would be domination by the adversary of your soul.

Satan’s great desire has always been to separate men from their agency. He seeks to enslave those who fall under his power. Using wickedness, appetites of the flesh, drug dependence or other addictions, the end goal is always the same. He seeks control. He craves the god-like power to have dominion over others. Since he forfeited any right to gain power in a godly way, he seeks now ungodly power through coercion and compulsion.

Whenever you find compulsion, dominion, control, or force being employed, you have found Satan. (D&C 121: 37-41.) He wants to cut you off from heaven, and  uses control to limit access to the heavens. When people voluntarily surrender their responsibility to follow the Lord, Satan has acquired by persuasion what he craves to acquire through force.

The antidote for falling under Satan’s control is to “watch and pray always.”  Why watch? Why “pray always?”

To watch is to be observant and detect elements of control, dominion and compulsion. It is to become vigilant in separating the will of men from the will of God. It is to keep the Lord’s teachings in mind, and to measure any person’s teachings, actions and persuasions against the standard the Lord has explained.

To “pray always” is to retain a personal connection with heaven. Particularly, to retain that connection through the Holy Ghost, and through Christ’s Spirit, you seek to always have with you. If this is a lively connection, you are able to avoid being “sifted.” If it lapses into darkness, you are vulnerable to being taken captive.

These are simple expressions anyone can understand. It is not the difficulty of the teaching, but the difficulty of the implementation which keeps people bound in darkness. Traditions, widespread acceptance of false ideas, excuses for failure, and rationalizations for why things are as they are, all prevent us from reading these teachings with the eyes of a child. The Lord’s teachings are distorted even as they are being read by the blinders we wear. When the eye is filled with darkness, how great is the darkness within. Christ spoke about that in the previous sermon. ("3 Nephi 18:17 - 18", Denversnuffer.com, 12 November 2010)

We would be well served to take what Nephi is saying very seriously here.