Church, The Wealthy, Corrupt, and Utterly Wicked

Mankind is commanded to not unite with this church, which is described as wealthy, corrupt, and utterly wicked (1 Nephi 3:27). This church is symbolically described as Babylon—or the world. Using a typological comparison, the prophet Nephi prophesied that the world in the last days will be separated into two divisions. One is this corrupt and utterly wicked church, and the other is the congregation of the Lamb of God (Christ) (1 Nephi 3:27-28). The other utterly wicked church, described originally in the 1830 translation as “great and abominable,” is all-inclusive and 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. See also GREAT AND ABOMINABLE CHURCH.