Secret combination (Mormonism)
Encyclopedia
In the Latter Day Saint movement
, a secret combination is a secret society
of "people bound together by oaths to carry out the evil purposes of the group." Secret combinations were first discussed in the Book of Mormon
, published in 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr. The most notable example of a secret combination is the Gadianton robbers
, a conspiracy throughout much of the Book of Mormon narrative. According to the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
, Cain also entered a secret combination with Satan
and became Master Mahan
.
is a religious text held by the Latter Day Saints to be record of several groups of people who inhabited ancient America. The movement holds that prophets of these people proclaimed principles and warnings for latter-day believers. Moroni, a Nephite
prophet
, addresses his words to later generations and speaks of secret combinations in the Book of Ether
: "When ye shall see these things [secret combinations] come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation."
The Book of Mormon denounces secret combinations as "most abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God." They are also considered to be one of the signs that a people is ripe for the Lord's vengeance, and according to the Book of Mormon, in the last days will be prevalent on the earth.
Moroni also warns that the Gentiles of the latter day should repent of their sins and not allow that "murderous combinations get above you, which are built up to get power and gain." Moroni goes on to warn that anyone who builds up a secret combination "seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies."
Moroni tells an example of a secret combination in the story of a son named Jared who rebels against his father Omer, who is Jaredite
king of the land. Trying once and not succeeding to overthrow his father, Jared's daughter tells him of the power of conspiracy and refers to ancient writings of "secret plans to obtain kingdoms and great glory". She devises a plan to establish her father as ruler of the land. She tells him she can dance for Akish
, a man of authority, and entice him. If he is pleased with her and desires to wed her he would have to agree to deliver the head of Jared's father, King Omer. To fulfill Jared's wish, Akish formed a circle of men who swore upon their lives that they would never divulge the secret, their plot, or their brethren. To join this secret group one had to perform a series of oaths administered by Akish. Moroni explains that these promises or covenants were "kept up by the power of the devil" through the ages. After finishing the account, Moroni tells of the effect the secret combination had upon the nation saying, "They have caused the destruction of this people of whom I am now speaking, and also the destruction of the people of Nephi."
Another group of people that practiced secret combinations in the Book of Mormon are the Gadianton robbers
.
, LDS Apostle Ezra Taft Benson
repeatedly described communism
as a secret combination. Apostle Bruce R. McConkie
claimed that "[r]eliable modern reports describe their existence among gangsters, as part of the governments of communist countries, in some labor organizations, and even in some religious groups." LDS Apostle M. Russell Ballard
described secret combinations as including "gangs, drug cartels, and organized crime families. ... They have secret signs and code words. They participate in secret rites and initiation ceremonies. Among their purposes are to 'murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their country and also the laws of their God.'" LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley
compared modern terrorists to the "Gadianton robbers, a vicious, oath-bound, and secret organization bent on evil and destruction."
Ezra Taft Benson also stated in the November 1988 edition of the Ensign) in an article entitled "I Testify", that "A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world."
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
, a secret combination is a secret society
Secret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
of "people bound together by oaths to carry out the evil purposes of the group." Secret combinations were first discussed in the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, published in 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr. The most notable example of a secret combination is the Gadianton robbers
Gadianton robbers
The Gadianton robbers, according to the Book of Mormon, were a secret criminal organization in ancient America.-Origins and rise to power:The society was founded around 52 BC or 51 BC by Nephite supporters of Paanchi, an unsuccessful candidate for the position of chief judge...
, a conspiracy throughout much of the Book of Mormon narrative. According to the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
The Joseph Smith Translation , also called the Inspired Version , was a revision of the Bible by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Smith considered this work to be "a branch of his calling" as a prophet. Smith was murdered before he ever deemed it complete, though most of...
, Cain also entered a secret combination with Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
and became Master Mahan
Master Mahan
In the religious texts of the Latter Day Saint movement, Master Mahan is a title assumed first by Cain and later by his descendant Lamech. The title indicates that Cain and Lamech were each the "master" of a "great secret" whereby they covenanted with Satan to kill for personal gain...
.
Secret combinations in the Book of Mormon
The Book of MormonBook of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
is a religious text held by the Latter Day Saints to be record of several groups of people who inhabited ancient America. The movement holds that prophets of these people proclaimed principles and warnings for latter-day believers. Moroni, a Nephite
Nephite
According to the Book of Mormon, a Nephite is a member of one of the four main groups of settlers of the ancient Americas. The other three groups are the Lamanites, Jaredites and Mulekites. In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites were a group of people descended from or associated with Nephi, the...
prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
, addresses his words to later generations and speaks of secret combinations in the Book of Ether
Book of Ether
The Book of Ether is one of the books that make up the Book of Mormon. The Book of Ether tells of an ancient people , descendants of Jared and his companions who were led by God to the Americas shortly after the confusion of tongues and the destruction of the Tower of Babel...
: "When ye shall see these things [secret combinations] come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation."
The Book of Mormon denounces secret combinations as "most abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God." They are also considered to be one of the signs that a people is ripe for the Lord's vengeance, and according to the Book of Mormon, in the last days will be prevalent on the earth.
Moroni also warns that the Gentiles of the latter day should repent of their sins and not allow that "murderous combinations get above you, which are built up to get power and gain." Moroni goes on to warn that anyone who builds up a secret combination "seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies."
Moroni tells an example of a secret combination in the story of a son named Jared who rebels against his father Omer, who is Jaredite
Jaredite
The Jaredites are a people written of in the Book of Mormon, principally in the Book of Ether. In the Book of Ether, the Jaredites are described as the descendants of Jared and his brother, at the time of the Tower of Babel. According to the Book of Mormon, the people fled across the Ocean via...
king of the land. Trying once and not succeeding to overthrow his father, Jared's daughter tells him of the power of conspiracy and refers to ancient writings of "secret plans to obtain kingdoms and great glory". She devises a plan to establish her father as ruler of the land. She tells him she can dance for Akish
Akish
According to the Book of Mormon, Akish was a prominent figure in the society of the Jaredites, as related in the Book of Ether. In the book's narrative, Akish first established secret combinations among the Jaredites after they came to the Promised Land. This secret combination among the Jaredites...
, a man of authority, and entice him. If he is pleased with her and desires to wed her he would have to agree to deliver the head of Jared's father, King Omer. To fulfill Jared's wish, Akish formed a circle of men who swore upon their lives that they would never divulge the secret, their plot, or their brethren. To join this secret group one had to perform a series of oaths administered by Akish. Moroni explains that these promises or covenants were "kept up by the power of the devil" through the ages. After finishing the account, Moroni tells of the effect the secret combination had upon the nation saying, "They have caused the destruction of this people of whom I am now speaking, and also the destruction of the people of Nephi."
Another group of people that practiced secret combinations in the Book of Mormon are the Gadianton robbers
Gadianton robbers
The Gadianton robbers, according to the Book of Mormon, were a secret criminal organization in ancient America.-Origins and rise to power:The society was founded around 52 BC or 51 BC by Nephite supporters of Paanchi, an unsuccessful candidate for the position of chief judge...
.
Alleged secret combinations in the modern world
During the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, LDS Apostle Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson was the thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both terms of the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower.-Biography:Born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho, Benson was the oldest of...
repeatedly described communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
as a secret combination. Apostle Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce Redd McConkie was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1972 until his death...
claimed that "[r]eliable modern reports describe their existence among gangsters, as part of the governments of communist countries, in some labor organizations, and even in some religious groups." LDS Apostle M. Russell Ballard
M. Russell Ballard
Melvin Russell Ballard, Jr. is an American businessman and a religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was called to serve in the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1985. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Ballard is accepted by the church members as a...
described secret combinations as including "gangs, drug cartels, and organized crime families. ... They have secret signs and code words. They participate in secret rites and initiation ceremonies. Among their purposes are to 'murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their country and also the laws of their God.'" LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
compared modern terrorists to the "Gadianton robbers, a vicious, oath-bound, and secret organization bent on evil and destruction."
Ezra Taft Benson also stated in the November 1988 edition of the Ensign) in an article entitled "I Testify", that "A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world."