1 Nephi 13:4 - 13:8

1 Nephi 13:4 And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the formation of a great church.

Nephi is shown an organization that exists among all the nations he sees. It is referred to as a “church.” I guess it so referred because people look to it for direction instead of Jehovah. If people look only to Jehovah, there would only be one Church and no other organizations of any kind.

Just a side note: why did not Lehi see all this stuff? Maybe he was so concerned for the reaction of his family members in the vision, he did not asked for more insights or go deeper into the mysteries just under the surface.

Just shows that people will act differently to the same thing even though we would naturally think we would all react in the same way and get the same insights from heavenly visions What we bring to visions are our desires and our curiosities. It takes much reflection and a hunger to know more before the mysteries can found.

I wonder if there are even more mysteries in this vision that even Nephi did not see that are available for me if I would seek them with diligence? I think there are but the Lord may not want me to know about them as they would hold me accountable for what I would learn and He is giving me a break so I can use ignorance as an excuse for acting against what I do not know.

1 Nephi 13:5 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.

The church persecutes the righteous. This would included all organizations that have either killed or tortured or persecuted in anyway those who were trying to live the commandments of God.

On this would included governments, political groups, churches other than the one sanctioned by God and just any group that is not organized by Jehovah himself. So this abominable church is not any particular organization.

Every group that is telling people they have the answers to how to obtain true happiness or how to perfect themselves, is not of God and lead people astray. Now even if they know not that they are doing so do not matter. If they do it out of ignorance, it is ok for them, but their philosophy is wrong and will not achieve the desired effect. And most of the time it so that the leaders of these organizations can have power and get gain.

1 Nephi 13:6 And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of it.

Nephi sees that these organizations which are all lopped into one group has as its founder and keeper satan. These organizations are an effort to keep people from finding the true church or using them to subdue it if it is present on the earth.

1 Nephi 13:7 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.

The real desire of those who run such organizations is shown by the precious things that are in the hands of those who either run them or are members. It seems that money, fine clothing and sex is their main motivation to keep these programs going.

1 Nephi 13:8 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.

Nephi reiterates again the outward appearance of these organizations are the clothing, money and sex. These are the motivating desires of such groups which are either out in the open in the forms of ornate buildings or the clothing the leaders ware. Behind the scenes is the sex and various pleasures of the flesh.

Does this apply to benevolent organizations such as SPCA or programs that provide food, clothing and education to poor children around the world? I think it does. Let's not forget someone is providing and managing these services and is receiving a salary for doing so. Some of these providers are getting large salaries and/or bonuses as part of their compensation for managing such programs. These organization do good, no doubt, but some are in it only for the money they can made or skim off for doing so. That is why the church humanitarian programs are run by unsalaried people like full time missionaries. Those who are managers back home that receive a salary are those with management skills to run such programs but do not have so much access that they can give themselves high salaries or bonuses. In addition, these programs such as the welfare programs are under the direction of the church leadership. This means that the Lord is running the programs and no men.