Whore of the earth

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Criticism

Critics claim that Latter-day Saints believe that the "church of the devil," the "great and abominable church," and the "whore of all the earth" refer to a specific religion.

Source(s) of the criticism

• Internet message boards

Response

The criticism is based upon references in the Book of Mormon to the "church of the devil," which is referred to as the "whore of all the earth." For example:

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 14:10)

The scriptures do not associate this "church" with a specific organization or religion. Several early 19th century church leaders stated their opinions regarding who they considered the "whore of all the earth." For example, George Q. Cannon publicly associated the "whore of all the earth" with those that persecuted the Church:

And to-day, those who are inciting mobs against this people; those who go to Congress, and incite persecutions against us; those who fulminate threats and frame petitions; those who meet together in conventions; those who gather together in conferences, are those who belong to this "mother of abominations," this "whore of all the earth," and it is through the influence of that accursed whore, that they gather together and marshal their forces in every land against the Latter-day Saints, the Church of the living God. ^[1]

Heber C. Kimball associated the "whore of all the earth" with the national government that failed to help the Saints during their times of persecution:

It is very easy to be seen that the nation that has oppressed us is going down. The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith something about the judgments that await the inhabitants of the earth, and he said in the revelations that the judgments should commence at the house of God. I will read to you parts of the revelations which speak of these things....and that great and abominable church, which is the whore of all the earth, shall be cast down by devouring fire, according as it is spoken by the mouth of Ezekiel the Prophet... ^[2]

Modern church leaders have stayed close to the definition in the Book of Mormon, by identifying the "great and abominable" church as any organization the leads people away from the Church of Jesus Christ. Bruce R. McConkie stated:

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. ^[3]

Endnotes

1. [note] George Q. Cannon, "PREDICTIONS IN THE BOOK OF MORMON, etc.," Journal of Discourses, reported by Geo. F. Gibbs, John Irvine, and others, (April 6, 1884), Vol. 25 (London: Latter-day Saint's Book Depot, 1884), 128.off-site
2. [note] Heber C. Kimball, "OBSERVANCE OF THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD," Journal of Discourses, reported by G.D. Watt and J.V. Long, (January 6, 1861), Vol. 9 (London: Latter-day Saint's Book Depot, 1862), 131.off-site wiki
3. [note] Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd edition, (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), 760. GL direct link

Further reading

FAIR web site

• FAIR Topical Guide: