058. Orthodox Religion

Orthodoxy, from Greek ὀρθοδοξία, meaning "right opinion" or "right belief", signifies an adherence to accepted creeds, especially in religion. In the Christian sense the term means "conforming to the Christian faith as represented in the creeds of the early church". Adherents of orthodox churches will argue that their church was the first, the original, or the most true of all the churches. However, according to the Book of Mormon, there are only two churches (1 Nephi 14:10-17): 1) the Church of the Lamb of God and 2) the church of the devil, which are legion.

Orthodox churches emerge from the teachings of God's messengers, long after they are gone. The original disciples of Christ were not the founders of any orthodox, first century church. Christ did not establish an orthodox church in 30AD, nor did Peter or Paul establish any orthodox church after Christ's resurrection. Although the first orthodox church was an organization based on the teachings of Christ, it was a man-made organization. Councils were formed to search the scriptures and put into words a common belief about the nature of the Trinity or ordinances such as sacrament or other doctrines.

An orthodox church quickly becomes an idol unto itself, requiring the devotion and allegiance of its adherents to its doctrines, priests, or iconography. Reverence is given to things that are not of God, because people are no longer focused on knowing or seeking to follow Jesus Christ. Instead, adherents worship leaders and the traditions of men, and do things that God did not command them to do. Orthodox churches are heavily intertwined with business and government interests. In the pre-1990 temple endowment, satan tries to deceive Adam by sending a preacher from an orthodox religion to distract and confuse him (see prior post); in other words, to lead Adam away from the true messengers, light, and truth he was promised by God, if faithful. Orthodox churches are not of God and will deceive you.

The original disciples of Christ met together in fellowship in one anothers' homes where they preached the gospel to one another. They did not attend church services in large church buildings like we have today. They did not have beautiful buildings with carvings, fine tapestries, gold, luxurious furniture, comfortable seats, or stained glass windows. The disciples of Christ never oversaw businesses or made friends with the world or its leaders. They did not have idols on their walls in the form of pictures of their leaders, religious iconography, such as crosses, or statues. They did not have complicated rules and policies to govern themselves. All they had were the Old Testament scriptures and what they had had been taught directly from John the Baptist or Jesus Christ, or what others had written down about what they said. These disciples were making efforts to write and record the Gospel of Christ. They were then focused on exhorting people to pray, repent, be baptized, and receive and be guided by the Holy Spirit.

True disciples of Christ seek to know him by studying His words through the teachings of His servants the prophets. They seek to follow Him by keeping His commandments. They try to hear and follow His voice instead of hearing and following the voice of a leader of an orthodox church. They have as their focus of worship the Lord Jesus Christ instead of the idolatry inherent in the orthodox churches. Because it is very difficult to come to know Christ and be lead by His Spirit when participating in an orthodox church, the disciples of Christ are usually found outside such institutions. Christ's disciples separate themselves from the world. They are few.

Most will not choose to follow Christ, but will instead choose to follow the leaders, tenants, and traditions of their orthodox churches. Yet, you cannot serve two masters. Why is this so critically important?

10 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.

 11 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.

 12 And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.

 13 And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations did gather together multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God.

 14 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.

 15 And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out upon that great and abominable church, insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth.

 16 And as there began to be wars and rumors of wars among all the nations which belonged to the mother of abominations, the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold, the wrath of God is upon the mother of harlots; and behold, thou seest all these things—

 17 And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth, whose founder is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants, which he hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel.