2 Kings 16–25
For they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. 2 Kings 17:12
Introduction
When many of us hear the word idolatry, our minds immediately drift to ancient scenes of people bowing before stone statues or golden calves. However, the biblical concept of idolatry is far more pervasive and personal, framed as a fundamental breach of the relationship between God and humanity. Derived from the Greek term eidololatreia (ειδωλολατρεια), it literally translates to “idol service or servitude,” referring to any instance where divine honor is paid to a created object rather than the Creator. It involves suffering oneself to love and worship the “god of this world” rather than “the God of Heaven”.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, idols are often described with disdainful vocabulary such as elilim (אֱלִיל), meaning “worthless gods” or “nothings,” or gillulim (גלולים), which is associated with dung. These terms highlight the irrationality of seeking security in objects that are powerless to hear, speak, or save. Beyond physical images, the Bible identifies internal and intangible idols such as greed, power, and even excessive rage, which exalt the human ego over the sovereignty of God.
Ultimately, idolatry represents an inversion of the created order, where humans seek significance in that which is not everlasting. It is an attempt to satisfy the deep human need for a tangible and material form to worship, often resulting in “God-things” being replaced by “good things” like career, family, or property. By exploring these scriptural roots, we can recognize the modern idols that quietly demand our devotion today.
Idolatry and Ancient Scriptures
The Hebrew and Greek languages use several terms to describe idolatry and the idols themselves, reflecting various theological nuances and historical periods.
General Terms for Idolatry (The Practice)
The Old Testament often uses derisive or descriptive vocabulary to refer to idols, highlighting their perceived worthlessness or the materials from which they were made. The most common term used in post-biblical and rabbinic literature for idolatry is avodah zarah (עבודה זרה), which literally translates to “foreign worship”. Other designations for the practice include avodat kochavim (עבודת כוכבים) which is “worship of stars” and elohim acheirim (אלהים אחרים) which is a biblical phrase meaning “other gods”. Moreover, the Bible commonly uses dismissive vocabulary when referring to idols, drawing attention to their uselessness or the materials they were fashioned from.
In the New Testament, the Greek term for “idol worship” is eidololatria (εἰδωλολατρία), a compound of eidolon (εἴδωλον) meaning image or idol and latreia (λατρεία) meaning service or worship. The term appears in several New Testament epistles to warn against both literal image-worship and figurative idolatry such as greed or covetousness, which equates to serving material wealth. It is in the original Greek texts of Galatians 5:20, 1 Corinthians 10:14, and Colossians 3:5.
Idolatry, as described in the Book of Mormon, involves the ancient practice of bowing to statues and the contemporary spiritual inclination towards worldly treasures, recognition, and influence. It’s constantly decried as depravity and the source of God’s wrath.
Specific examples include:
• Sacrificing to Idols: The prophet Mormon records that during the final destructions of the Nephites, the Lamanites captured and sacrificed Nephite women and children to their idol gods (Mormon 4:14–15, 21).
• The Zoramite Rameumptum: In Alma 31, the Zoramites practiced a highly formalized, ritualistic form of idolatry. They built a holy stand called the Rameumptum, gathered to repeat a prayer boasting of their election, and immediately returned to their daily lives, placing their hearts upon gold, fine apparel, and other “vain things of the world” (Alma 31:9-28).
• The Cult of King Noah: Wicked King Noah and his priests supported themselves in their “laziness,” “idolatry,” and “whoredoms” through heavy taxation of their people, turning away from true prophetic teachings (Mosiah 11:6).
• Idolatry of Riches: The Book of Mormon frequently equates the love of money and the pursuit of luxury with modern idolatry. For example, the Lamanite people were initially described by the sons of Mosiah as “an indolent people, many of whom did worship idols,” primarily because they prioritized material riches and hated the Nephites (Alma 17:15).
• “Works of Men’s Hands”: The scriptures repeatedly warn against the worship of graven images and idols made of gold, silver, brass, wood, and stone. Prophets like Isaiah (quoted in 2 Nephi 12:8) declare that the land is “full of idols” and that people worship “the work of their own hands”.
Materialism is just one more manifestation of the idolatry and pride that characterize Babylon. Perhaps we can learn to be content with what is sufficient for our needs.
President D. Todd Christofferson
Idolatry in Our Age
The Lord warned us at the beginning of this dispensation about those who “walketh in [their] own way, and after the image of [their] own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:16).
In a 1976 article for America’s Bicentennial, “The False Gods We Worship,” President Spencer W. Kimball expanded the definition of idolatry beyond ancient graven images. His warning was that societal trends to prioritize wealth, career advancement, and comfort, can insidiously supplant God as the core of a believer’s focus.
He also said, “We are a warlike people, easily distracted from our assignment of preparing for the coming of the Lord. When enemies rise up, we commit vast resources to the fabrication of gods of stone and steel—ships, planes, missiles, fortifications—and depend on them for protection and deliverance. When threatened, we become anti-enemy instead of pro-kingdom of God; we train a man in the art of war and call him a patriot, thus, in the manner of Satan’s counterfeit of true patriotism, perverting the Savior’s teaching: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
President Oaks cautioned that idolatry involves prioritizing anything or anyone over the God we claim to worship. He taught that the Second Commandment, which explicitly forbids making “graven images,” signifies something broader and more crucial for our current era by identifying the ultimate priority in our lives.
President Eyring said that idolatry is “going after strange gods”. He drew from the Book of Hosea to show that idolatry was akin to betraying a sacred covenant. The scriptural metaphor portrays the covenant people as a wife who has “terribly betrayed” her husband, Jehovah, by pursuing other “lovers,” or false gods.
Modern Forms of Idolatry
In a modern context, idolatry rarely involves physical statues. Instead, it manifests as “serving” other gods by giving them top priority in our lives. The sources identify several common priorities that can become modern idols:
- Material Possessions and Wealth: Modern idolatry often takes the form of relying on “material things” or the “arm of flesh” rather than exercising faith.
- Power, Prominence, and Prestige: Seeking worldly honors, fame, or political power as a primary goal.
- Career Aspirations: Allowing professional success to override spiritual and family responsibilities.
- Recreational Pursuits: Prioritizing sports, entertainment, or “pleasure errands” ahead of worship, especially on the Sabbath.
- Cultural and Family Traditions: Adhering to traditions that are contrary to gospel commandments and covenants.
- “Causes” and Ideologies: President Oaks cites C.S. Lewis to warn that even good causes like extreme patriotism or pacifism can become a “Cause” that displaces God and becomes a person’s primary religion.
- Political Correctness: Choosing the shifting standards of the world over the unchangeable truths of God.
- Covetousness: President Brigham Young explicitly identified covetousness as a form of idolatry, stating that it does more injury to the people of God than the “hordes of hell”.
- Military and Political Power: President Kimball warned of relying on “gods of stone and steel”—such as ships, planes, and missiles—for protection and deliverance rather than relying on the Lord.
- Worshipping the “Self”: President Holland warned that one of the most profound forms of idolatry described is the worship of oneself. He identified it as the core of Lucifer’s rebellion—a “raging ego” that demanded its own way and sought its own honor rather than God’s glory.
- Scientific Fetishism: Elder Gerrit W. Gong asked, “Can artificial intelligence replace God?” He suggested that while the question is provocative, we live in an age when we turn to algorithms for answers, guidance, and even comfort. It is a type of idolatry. True intelligence is defined as “light and truth,” and it cannot be manufactured and is not artificial.
Conclusion
The essence of idolatry isn’t the adoration of physical idols, but a spiritual condition wherein an entity other than God occupies the central position of one’s worship and focus. Authentic spirituality means recognizing no other deities besides our Heavenly Father. Consequently, those who are “idolaters” and cannot make God their top priority “shall not inherit the kingdom of God”. In contrast, those who have their “eye single to the glory of God” are promised that their whole bodies will be “filled with light” and they will eventually “comprehend all things”.
