“Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” (KJV Exodus 20:3-6, RE Exodus 12:4-5)
Idolatry is such a serious problem in this world that it is among the first things addressed in the ten commandments. Yet today, it is perhaps one of the least understood of all of the commandments. Because it is not understood, many believe it is no longer a big problem today as it once was back then. But believing to be more enlightened on the subject, when in reality it is even less understood, does not make the problem better but perhaps much worse.
In a broad sense, idolatry is hearkening to any voice that is not the voice of God. There are many voices today that are not the voice of God. Is anyone hearkening to them?
When the command says not to “bow down … to them, [or] serve them”, this includes following the council, guidance or instructions that come from these other sources that are not of God.
When the scriptures speak of someone who refuses to bow down and worship an idol, it does not necessarily refer to the literal act of dropping down prostrate on the floor and praying to a statue. To bow down or serve idols can be simply following the counsel or doing the will of any source other than God. To refuse to bow down can be someone who does not give heed to what may be the predominant or prevailing counsel of the great ones of the day. Such may be the case with the virgins that Abraham speaks of, “These virgins were offered up because of their virtue — they would not bow down to worship gods of wood or of stone;” (LDS Abr. 1:11, RE Abr. 1:3)
Those who do not bow down to the prominent idols of the day, can appear to be very strange people because they don’t go along with doing the kind of things that are generally accepted as good practices by societal norms. That doesn’t mean that any ole odd ball is not an idolater. There are many idols and one may simply be following a less popular idol. What distinguishes an idolater from one who is not, is whether what they are following is indeed the word of the true and living God. This is the virtue that distinguishes them; they do not bow down to the idols of the day.
To have no other gods before the true and living God, assumes that there is direct contact with the true and living God. This is a command to not lose direct contact with Him. When this close connection with God is lost, a religion may continue to operate, with the appearance of moving forward but what remains is idolatry.
What is also lost is a correct understanding of the word of God all ready given to them when there was direct contact. You begin to lose things that you all ready had. Alma out it this way, “they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell” (RE Alma 9:3, LDS Alma 12:11). Who knew that the chains of hell could be formed with a “lesser” understanding of the scriptures?
As the understanding is lost, a new understanding can emerge to replace the old. This new, “lesser” version may be called “enlightenment”, even though it can be a complete aberration. It may simply be a move more aligned with prevailing societal or cultural norms, more like the other “gods” of the day. It might even bring greater acceptance of the religion by more people. Whatever direction it goes, the people are left with nothing more than a dumb idol to worship. It is dumb because God is no longer speaking to them, the way He once was.
The gods of old often had their specialties. One god for this area of interest, another god for that area. Abraham speaks of the dominant authorities in his day as “the gods of Elkenah, Libnah, Mahmackrah, Korash, and also a god like unto that of Pharaoh, king of Egypt” (LDS Abr. 1:13). He also speaks of the god of Shagreel, which was the sun (LDS Abr. 1:9). While each of these gods had their own specialty and purpose, there was some cross-over as, “the priest of Elkenah was also the priest of Pharaoh” (LDS Abr. 1:7).
There may be a god for economics, another for health, another for weather, or science or politics, etc… This compartmentalization can bring greater credibility of the priests of these gods in each of their respective areas of expertise, at least in the eyes of the people. Not giving heed to these gods, and the priests who represent them, as the prevailing authorities of the day, could literally put your life in danger, as it was with Abraham. The virtue of Abraham was not merely by being counter cultural. What set him apart is that Abraham gave heed to the only true and living God and put no other gods before Him, on any matter. The Lord is a jealous God, whose wisdom excels in all things, despite the specialties of these other gods.
Whatever “god” may be placed before the only true and living God, it is an idol. Idolaters will find themselves in the Telestial kingdom along side murderers, adulterers, thieves and liars. Some may be surprised to find themselves in that place since idolatry can be a demanding religion to follow. It can also be strikingly close to the truth. Among those in the Telestial kingdom are idolaters, “who are of Paul, and of Apollos, and of Cephas. These are they who say they are some of one and some of another—some of Christ and some of John, and some of Moses, and some of Elias, and some of Esaias, and some of Isaiah, and some of Enoch;” (D&C 76:99-100, T&C 69:26). That whole list is made up of those who are genuine prophets, and even includes Christ! Why would people who are of such great figures be damned to a Telestial kingdom? Could it be that they put these towering figures “before me [God]”? To put something or someone or some god, before Him, is idolatry.
Is it Paul’s fault if those who put themselves in a position to follow him are damned? Is Apollos to blame if people recognize him as bearing a great message and set him before God? Does it prove that Cephas was not a true messenger from God if people are damned for following him rather than following God? Is there a difference between following a messenger from God and following God? Can a messenger be put “before God”? Remember, to “bow down” before these other gods does not have to be literally falling down to worship them. It can be how they are treated and the impeccable respect they are given above others and defending them to the utmost, that can give away the idolatry being practiced. No other gods before Him means precisely that.
Ammon was a true messenger who saw the danger in puffing himself up or boasting of himself or any of his brethren, and confessed, “Yea, I know that I am nothing, as to my strength, I am weak; therefore, I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things.” (LDS Alma 26:12, RE Alma 14:17). It is wrong for a messenger to boast of themselves and it is wrong for others to boast for them. Even Jesus rebuked one who sought to puff him up, “Why do you call me good? There is none good but one — that is, God.” (KJV Matthew 19:17, NC Matthew 9:22). When Jesus thought it wrong to puff him up or boast of him, why would it be okay to do that to another man, or angel, even if they do have a message from God? The tendency to do that stems from idolatry. Having no other gods before him, even refers to those who may very well be God’s own messengers.
Idolatry is a much more pernicious problem than it is generally recognized to be, even today. It needs to be better recognized and repented of. What really needs to happen is for each one to have that direct connection with God and then not allow anything to get between. Without God, we are nothing. Even the greatest among us. God is no respecter of persons and we should not be either. Now is the time and day to repent of our idolatry, in all of its forms.