1 Nephi 13:5

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.

Further evidence that this church which is most abominable above all else cannot be assigned a specific denomination or religion is this verse. It describes this church as slaying the saints, torturing and binding them down into captivity. I think this is talking in a spiritual sense, otherwise it would probably not distinguish between saints and others who are not saints.

When Alma was telling his son, Helaman, about his conversion he confessed that he had “murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction” (Alma 36:14). He is not referring to murdering the body, but the soul, which includes the spirit. Death is a separation, and spiritual death is our separation from God. When someone causes that separation to happen, it is spiritual murder just as surely as if they had physically killed or murdered. The death of the physical body is not nearly as tragic as killing the spirit. That becomes very clear as Alma and Amulek are watching the believers getting burned in the place of martyrdom (Alma 14:10–11). As Amulek expresses his horror at watching women and children literally burned alive for their beliefs, he turns to his priesthood leader and suggests that they use that priesthood to end the suffering. Alma’s answer is fascinating. He doesn’t deny they could stop the murder (physical), but that they should not stop it, because the “the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory.” These wicked people didn’t understand that killing the body is so temporary, swallowed up in the resurrection as it is.

Physical murder is no small thing either, and this great and abominable church is guilty of that as well, but it may be that the physical murder often comes as a result of frustration for not being able to commit spiritual murder. There are some great examples of that throughout the scriptures, but a couple come quickly to mind. Amulon threatens that “whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death” (Mosiah 24:11). If they didn’t pretend to be spiritually dead, he would make them physically dead. Another very clear example of the frustration Satan feels when he can’t kill the spirit is Nehor and Gideon (See Alma 1:7–9). Nehor tried to convert Gideon away from his testimony of God (i.e. spiritually slay him). Gideon “withstood him with the words of God,” which frustrated Nehor. So he took out his sword and killed Gideon’s body. What a great illustration of using the armor of God. Gideon withstood Nehor with “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). Nehor could not overcome that defense, so he opted to kill the body instead.

Probably the biggest weapon Satan has is deception. Christ taught that in the latter days Satan’s lies would deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24). These are the saints slain by Satan, “blinded by the craftiness of men”(D&C 76:75).

• Jeremiah 28:14 (10–15)
• Revelation 17:6 (3–6)
• Revelation 18:24
• 1 Nephi 14:13
• 2 Nephi 10:16
• Alma 36:14

1 Nephi 13:4

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

It is important that we not get too specific in attaching a denomination or even a religion to this great church that Nephi saw being formed. Even if there is a specific denomination that Nephi sees here, he does not tell us what it is. If we assume it is the Catholic Church, for example, we run the risk of forgetting that there really are only two churches. (see 1 Nephi 14:10) It doesn’t matter how far away from God’s true church a church is, if it does not provide the authority and ordinances to take someone to exaltation, it is not God’s church. In fact, I think that one of the sneakiest things Satan could do is provide so much truth that a person is completely complacent and does not feel a need for authority or ordinances.

• 1 Nephi 13:26 (26, 34)
• 1 Nephi 14:10 (3, 9–17)

1 Nephi 13:1–3

1 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms.

2 And the angel said unto me: What beholdest thou? And I said: I behold many nations and kingdoms.

3 And he said unto me: These are the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles.

As Nephi’s vision continues, the angel takes a moment to simplify things for Nephi. He shows him all the kingdoms and nations of the world and lumps them into a category: Gentiles. This would be all the nations that are not specifically descendents of Israel. Although, in my mind I usually think of the European nations as the Gentiles, I think this is a broader definition that includes any people that do not accept the covenants of the chosen lineage, Israel. The Book of Mormon makes this same kind of simplification throughout by dividing the descendants into Nephites and Lamanites, even though there are other lineages besides Nephi and Laman. (see Jacob 1:13–14) This makes sense later in the vision when Nephi is told there are only two churches: God’s and everyone else’s. (see 1 Nephi 14:10)

1 Nephi 13 Overview

Nephi sees in vision: the church of the devil set up among the Gentiles; the discovery and colonizing of America; the loss of many plain and precious parts of the Bible; the resultant state of gentile apostasy; the restoration of the gospel, the coming forth of latter-day scripture, and the building up of Zion. Between 600 and 592 B.C.

This is a very interesting chapter for a couple of reasons. Nephi, thanks to this vision he’s been in since chapter 11, outlines the history of the world, focusing on the American continent. But this is no outline, as you would read in history books. Rather this is history from a “God’s-eye view,” so to speak. In this history, recorded before it happened, we see how involved our Heavenly Father is in the events of mankind. We also see how involved Satan is in those events. We learn about the importance of the scriptures. Nephi sees the foundation of both the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of the devil as established on the earth. In a sense, he sees the battle plans of both sides.

1 Nephi 12:23

23 And it came to pass that I beheld, after they had dwindled in unbelief they became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations.

True believers, true Christians, are not generally lazy and idle. It’s interesting to see that personified by the Lamanites. After they dwindled in unbelief is when they became dark, loathsome, filthy, and idle people full of “all manner of abominations.” This is not to say that all industrious people are Christian, or that all Christians are industrious. It’s just that generally speaking, truly converted Christians tend to be industrious.

1 Nephi 12:22

22 And the angel said unto me: Behold these shall dwindle in unbelief.

The Lamanites described here were generations, or at least years after the Lamanites beat the Nephites. These had dwindled in unbelief, but their forefathers, the ones who started the wars, “did [willfully] rebel against the gospel of Jesus Christ.” (4 Nephi 1:38) Those who rebelled taught their children to not believe, and so they dwindled in unbelief. It’s so important that we teach our children the right. As the scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants states so clearly, if we don’t teach our children right, the sin is ours. (D&C 68:25) Certainly, dwindling in unbelief is less serious than open rebellion.

• 4 Nephi 1:38

1 Nephi 12:21

21 And I saw them gathered together in multitudes; and I saw wars and rumors of wars among them; and in wars and rumors of wars I saw many generations pass away.

I have often thought that The Book of Mormon events are a kind of foreshadow of events surrounding Christ’s Second Coming. If that is the case, then this verse definitely applies to today’s world events. At the time of this writing (December 2003) the United States is leading a world war of sorts. It isn’t like the first two world wars, and nobody has yet officially declared this war on terrorism “World War III,” but the whole world is involved at some level. Nephi saw the end of his generations, and the continuation of the Lamanites. However, the Lamanites were at war one with another, and there was no peace. Is that what today’s world is in for? Once we are finished with our common enemy, will we turn on each other? Only time will tell.

• Mormon 8:8
• Moroni 1:2