1 Nephi 13:1-9 , see also 1 Nephi 13:26, 34 & 14:10(3, 9-17) In this chapter, Nephi learns of a church that is described as both great and abominable, "whose founder is the devil," ( 1 Nephi 14:17 , see also 13:6 ). The term "great" seems to apply to shear size of its existence and how it prevails throughout the kingdoms of the Gentiles. It is called "abominable", because of its wicked practices and desires. This church that Nephi describes is an organization of material gain and personal gratification. So powerful were such ambitions that in the time period described, any saint that spoke out against it was destroyed ( see 13:9 ). It is also referred to as the mother of abominations and the whore of the whole earth( see 14:10 ). The benefit of hindsight in understanding of whom and what these verses are point to allows me to not focus on any one church in the history books. Though it is in reference to Christianity in general from the death of the ap...
A personal study of the Book of Mormon by Brent Leavitt,
a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.