Church of the Devil. Also known as the “Great and Abominable Church.” This generally means any organization opposing Mormonism. According to Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, “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” (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, 137-138). A church seminary book agrees, adding, “The ‘church of the devil’ does not refer to a specific church but to any person, group, organization, or philosophy that works against the Church of Jesus Christ and the salvation of the children of God” (Book of Mormon Seminary Student Study Guide, 2004, 25).

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