1 Ne 14:10 there
are save two churches only¡¦the church of the Lamb¡¦and¡¦the church of the devil
¡°Nephi
had already used the expression ¡®great and abominable church¡¯ in reference to a
specific organization identified in his historical time as being more
destructive and wicked than all other churches of its day. He used that same expression now in a broader
or more general sense. In the context of
his vision, the church or kingdom of God had again been established on the
earth. With the establishment of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the restoration of priesthood
and its keys, there was once again an organization on earth with the authority
to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof; it is by divine
testimony the ¡®only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth¡¯
(D&C 1:30), salvation being found in none other.¡± (McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal
Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 1, p. 109)
Bruce R. McConkie
¡°The
titles church of the devil and great and abominable church are used to identify
all churches or 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¡¦.¡±
¡°Hence
we find our Lord saying, ¡®He that is not with me is against me; and he that
gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.¡¯ (Matt. 12:30.)¡± (Mormon Doctrine,
p.138)