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What does D&C 18:20 mean?

Contend against no church, save it be the church of the devil.

Was The Lord telling the early Latter Day Saints to avoid contending with Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians, and to contend only with Roman Catholics?

What do all the passages in 1 Nephi, that speak about the great and abominable church" mean?

Are they speaking of the Roman Catholic Church?

Did the first Presidency ever clarify this?

inquiringmind wrote:What does D&C 18:20 mean?

Contend against no church, save it be the church of the devil.

Was The Lord telling the early Latter Day Saints to avoid contending with Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians, and to contend only with Roman Catholics?

What do all the passages in 1 Nephi, that speak about the great and abominable church" mean?

Are they speaking of the Roman Catholic Church?

Did the first Presidency ever clarify this?

1 Nephi 14:10 answers your question for you

"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."

I was raised in a TBM family and I remember my father stating that any faith outside the LDS church was the church of the devil. I was not allowed to play with non member kids in my youth. I was however, encouraged to invite them to my church while the very idea of me attending their church was unthinkable.

Gotta love religious bigotry.

I was not allowed to play with non member kids in my youth.

Your family, not the Church.

bcspace wrote:

I was not allowed to play with non member kids in my youth.

Your family, not the Church.

We were told from the pulpit, and in Sunday School that we needed to choose our friends carefully. We were told that if we associated with too many nonmembers that we might be influenced by their non LDS ideas and become corrupted.

No LDS youth in the wards that I have lived in were ever allowed to play with or associate with non LDS youth.

When I was growing up I had two really good friends.

We were inseparable.

We remained close friends until I left the church.

I never criticized the church in front of them and never talked to them about why I left.

They just act as if I don't exist now.

It would bother me, but I have gained many new friends since leaving that don't care about my religious views. They like me for me.

bcspace wrote:

I was not allowed to play with non member kids in my youth.

Your family, not the Church.

The church is continuously playing with non-member kids.
The play is called "Your Church Was Apostatized, Choose Our One".

The ward president of my wife is a man of brave, stupid, good in scrimmage one.
He uses - frequently - the word cathalic. He knows with every fiber of...
He is (really!) an insurance broker. A little better than an used car salesman.

No, I don't joking.
Members of I know, - especially leaders - don't speak about official doctrine.
They parrot their predecessor's words.

I remember once when I was in Kindergarten I asked a fellow classmate if he went to church.

He told me he was a Catholic.

I told him that I was a Mormon and that he needed to join our church because we had the full truth and he didn't.

He got offended and retorted.

Several other Mormon kids joined with me in attacking his "false" religion.

Utah is a wonderful place.

All is well in Zion.

Is it OK for me to have good friends who are not members of the Church?
It is important that you choose friends who share your standards, but that does not mean that all of your friends will be members of the Church. President Thomas S. Monson taught: “Everyone needs good friends. Your circle of friends will greatly influence your thinking and behavior, just as you will theirs. When you share common values with your friends, you can strengthen and encourage each other. Treat everyone with kindness and dignity. Many nonmembers have come into the Church through friends who have involved them in Church activities” (“That We May Touch Heaven,” October 1990 general conference).

Source: "For The Strength Of Youth" booklet, 'Questions & Answers' section.

Bazooka wrote:

Is it OK for me to have good friends who are not members of the Church?
It is important that you choose friends who share your standards, but that does not mean that all of your friends will be members of the Church. President Thomas S. Monson taught: “Everyone needs good friends. Your circle of friends will greatly influence your thinking and behavior, just as you will theirs. When you share common values with your friends, you can strengthen and encourage each other. Treat everyone with kindness and dignity. Many nonmembers have come into the Church through friends who have involved them in Church activities” (“That We May Touch Heaven,” October 1990 general conference).

Source: "For The Strength Of Youth" booklet, 'Questions & Answers' section.

TSM is essentially commenting that having friends outside the Church is acceptable because such friends might join the Church someday.

A definition of friendship - Mormon style - that one should bear in mind.

DrW, but only acceptable if they already follow Mormon standards.

"It is important to choose friends who share your standards..."

Your family, not the Church.

We were told from the pulpit, and in Sunday School that we needed to choose our friends carefully. We were told that if we associated with too many nonmembers that we might be influenced by their non LDS ideas and become corrupted.

Meaningless. I'll be willing to bet you cannot find actual doctrine supporting your "I was not allowed to play with non member kids in my youth" rule.