Abominable

In the scriptures, specifically the Book of Mormon, specifically Nephi/Nephi quoting Isaiah, there are references to the "Abominable Church." There have been speculation by people, even people of high Church standing, but there is something important to know about where my Church gets official doctrine. Basically, it is anything said during our semi-annual world wide conference called General Conference. During this conference, leaders in our church speak to the entire church body, and in reality the entire world, on doctrinal points and such - and we take what they say to be official church doctrine.

In April 1988 General Conference, Elder Packer (one of the 12 living Apostles) gave a talk called "Atonement, Agency, Accountability" where he defines the abominable church using a scriptures from 2 Nephi 10:16

“Wherefore, he that fighteth against Zion, both Jew and Gentile, both bond and free, both male and female, shall perish; for they are they who are the whore of all the earth; for they who are not for me are against me, saith our God”

So basically the abominable church is really just a grouping of all people who are opposed to building up God's Kingdom. It really isn't that complicated.

Another point that there is an emphasis that sexual sin is the third most abominable sin you can commit, next to murder and denying the Holy Ghost. It also talks about how once you have a change of heart, people will try and get you to go back to your old way of living - but once you have you're eyes opened to the fact that there are sides (God's side or wickedness) you have to make a choice what side you're going to be on.

The idea that struck me the most though, that was a new idea to me, was from Leviticus 18:30

30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the Lord your God.

I have been pondering for the past couple years WHY ordinances are important, like baptism. I knew that it had something to do with an outward expression of your devotion, and I knew it had something to do with the fact that doing something physical was important because the fact that we have bodies is important - but I never thought of ordinances as a way to protect ourselves from doing wickedness. I guess there is a right way and a wrong way to outwardly worship God - and God didn't want us doing things that he would consider abominable, even if our hearts were in the right place. This is kind of an understand example, but it might be like stealing an engagement ring for your fiancee. Sure when you give it to them it has all the same good lovey feelings, but how you went about it would probably horrify a lot of girls. I guess ordinances might be seen in kind of the same way, where God has laid out for us HOW he wants us to go about showing our devotion to him, so we don't accidentally sin.