Chapter 28
Many false churches shall be built up in the last days—They shall teach false and vain and foolish doctrines—Apostasy shall abound because of false teachers—The devil shall rage in the hearts of men—He shall teach all manner of false doctrines. About 559–545 B.C.
1 AND now, behold, my brethren, I have spoken unto you, according as the Spirit hath constrained me; wherefore, I know that they must surely come to pass. 2 And the things which shall be written out of the book shall be of great worth unto the children of men, and especially unto our seed, which is a remnant of the house of Israel. 3 For it shall come to pass in that day that the churches which are built up, and not unto the Lord, when the one shall say unto the other: Behold, I, I am the Lord's; and the others shall say: I, I am the Lord's; and thus shall every one say that hath built up churches, and not unto the Lord— 4 And they shall contend one with another; and their priests shall contend one with another, and they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance.
2 Nephi 28:1-2 (Emphasis mine)
Nephi(1) testifies to us that he had been compelled of the Spirit to speak as he has. These things will come to pass.
The day will come when churches are built up. In that day, these churches will contend with each other; their priests shall contend with each other. What they teach will their learning. The Lord’s truth will not even be considered.
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (Emphasis mine)
John Welch writes:
“”Likewise, prophecies in the Book of Mormon about the conditions that would prevail in Joseph Smith's day might be combed for indication of the characteristics of the late period of the apostasy. Thus, in 2 Nephi 26:20—22, one reads of pride, stumbling, putting down of miracles, relying on one's own wisdom, seeking to get gain, grinding on the poor, contending, envying, and forming secret combinations; 2 Nephi 28:4 portrays members contending with each other, priests contending with each other, teaching with their learning and denying the Holy Ghost.” [1] (Emphasis mine)
Daniel Peterson observes:
“At 2 Nephi 28:4, Nephi says that the latter days will be characterized by contentions between ‘priests,’ who will "teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance.’
“This apparently negative attitude may perhaps reflect the unpleasant experience that Lehi and his family seem to have had with the political and ecclesiastical authorities in Jerusalem. .. the negative attitude was actually the Lord's, reflecting his evaluation of the corruption wrought among his people in the Old World. Nevertheless, whatever may have been the attitude of the early Nephites toward the potential abuses of priesthood authority, it is clear that their earliest records contain very little positive material—indeed, very little material of any kind—on priests and priesthood.” [2] (Emphasis mine)
5 And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men; 6 Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work.
2 Nephi 28:5-6 (Emphasis mine)
1 THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (Emphasis mine)
Nephi(1) surely saw our day. In the last days, churches will deny the power of God. They will say that “the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work.” Things like this no longer occur “for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work.”
Critics of the Church reject the claim that the Lord speaks to man today; that He reveals His will to his prophets. Let’s not even begin talking about additional scripture. That’s nonsense. We have all that God wants us to have. We don’t need anything more.
Critics of the Church reject the claim that the Lord speaks to man today; that He reveals His will to his prophets. Let’s not even begin talking about additional scripture. That’s nonsense. We have all that God wants us to have. We don’t need anything more.
Nephi(1) makes it clear that they have turned away from the truth. It will be a day of apostasy and denial of God.
[1] Modern Revelation: A Guide to Research about the Apostasy, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed January 5, 2012.
[2] Authority in the Book of Mosiah, Daniel C. Peterson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed January 5, 2012.
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