Pattern of Secret Combinations in the Book of Mormon
Militant Islam or Islamism or Islamists or Islamo-fascism or Jihadists or Islamic Extremists or Islamic Fundamentalism or Radical Islam or Mujahideen or murderous Muslism or terrorist or what ever you want to call them, qualify in every sense of the way as secret combinations.
Moreover, their numbers are not small. It is estimated by scholars that some 10%-15% Muslims support militant Islamists goals that use jihad as the method to enforce its ideology. That translates to 100,000,000 – 150,000,000 who are or favor and support Islamism/Militant Islam! Add to that the general consensus that 50% of Muslims are sympathetic to Islamists and you have 600,000,000 – 750,000,000 Muslims that side with or are sympathetic to the imperialistic, militant Islamic ideology. That is something to remember when you hear the common canard, “these radicals represent only a small, tiny faction of Muslims.”
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Secret Combinations By Avraham Gileadi
The book of Helaman practically starts out with Kishkumen’s murder of the chief judge Pahoran (Helaman 1:9). Kishkumen’s fellow conspirators “entered into a covenant, yea, swearing by their everlasting Maker, that they would tell no man that Kishkumen had murdered Pahoran” (Helaman 1:11). Only later, when Kishkumen tries to kill Helaman, does it come to light that a secret combination led by one Gadianton was conspiring “to murder, and to rob, and to gain power” over the people (Helaman 2:4-5, 8). Though this is the first reported incident of a secret combination among the Nephites, Mormon makes the point that, in the end, “this Gadianton did prove the overthrow, yea, almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephi” (Helaman 2:13).
Helaman tells us that secret combinations originate with “that same being who did entice our first parents to partake of the forbidden fruit–yea, that same being who did plot with Cain, that if he would murder his brother Abel it should not be known to the world . . . . who led on the people who came from that tower into this land; who spread the works of darkness and abominations over all the face of the land, until he dragged the people down to an entire destruction, and to an everlasting hell. Yea, that same being who put it into the heart of Gadianton to still carry on the works of darkness, and of secret murder” (Helaman 6:26-29).
When abridging the history of the Jaredites,describes how the destruction of that mighty nation came about through those secret combinations and compares it to the subsequent destruction of the Nephites. The Book of Mormon thus not only provides a twofold witness but also a prophetic pattern of how secret combinations lead to the entire destruction of a nation of God’s people, even the most blessed and perhaps most powerful nation in the world.
In fact,intersperses his abridgment with pointed warnings to the Gentiles who will live in the last days, whom he has seen in vision (Mormon 8:34-35). He says of secret combinations, “They have caused the destruction of this people of whom I am now speaking, and also the destruction of the people of Nephi. And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed; for the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not.
“Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain–and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be. Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you . . . For it cometh to pass that whosoever buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries” (Ether 8:21-25).
Earlier,had predicted that the Book of Mormon (including its sealed portion) would come forth “in a day when the blood of saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations and the works of darkness” (Mormon 8:27). Nephi similarly saw that secret combinations would exist in this land in the last days. He says, “The Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes . . . And there are many churches built up which cause envyings, and strifes, and malice. And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil” (2 Nephi 26:20-22). Finally, a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith declares that the time would come when those preaching in the east would “teach them that shall be converted to flee to the west, and this in consequence of that which is coming upon the earth, and of secret combinations” (D&C 42:64).
Questions we may ask ourselves could include, Are we reaching that point now? Is the increasing terrorist threat to destroy America and other fredom-loving nations the beginning of what Book of Mormon prophets saw would happen to us? Are we approaching such a state of wickedness so as to be bringing these things upon ourselves? To determine answers to these question, we might compare the Pattern of Secret Combinations the Book of Mormon provides (as follows) with what is happening today:
In the Book of Mormon, secret combinations gain power
- at a time when great contentions and dissensions occur among the people (Helaman 1:1-9; 2:1; 3:17-19; 4:1; 11:1; 3 Nephi 7:7; Ether 11:15);
- when their laws become corrupted and those who choose evil are more than those who choose good (Helaman 5:2-3; 3 Nephi 7:7);
- when riches and treasures become slippery so that one can’t retain them (Mormon 1:18-19; 2:10);
- when there are contentions and dissensions in the church and persecutions of the righteous (Helaman 3:33-34; 4:1, 11-12);
- when miracles occur among the Lamanites that lead to their mass conversion (Helaman 5:23-48);
- and when the Lamanites become more righteous than the Nephites (Helaman 6:1-3, 20-21, 34-38).
Those who belong to secret combinations
- enter into secret covenants and make oaths in God’s name (Helaman 1:11; 6:21-30; 11:26; 4 Nephi 1:42; Ether 8:14-20; 10:33);
- they murder the chief judge or ruler over the land (Helaman 1:9; 6:15; 8:27; Ether 14:9-10);
- they seek to destroy the lawful government (Helaman 1:9; 6:15, 39; 7:4; 3 Nephi 7:6; Ether 9:1; 10:33; 11:15, 18; 13:18; 14:8-10);
- they spread in cities and over the whole land (Helaman 3:23; 6:18, 38; 11:32; 3 Nephi 1:27, 29; 2:11; 4 Nephi 1:44, 46; Mormon 1:18; 2:8; 8:9; Ether 13:26);
- they trample the laws of God and of the land under their feet (Helaman 6:31; 7:4-5; 3 Nephi 7:6);
- they kill the prophets of God (Alma 37:30);
- they cause havoc and carnage throughout the land (Helaman 11:2, 27; 33; 3 Nephi 2:11; Mormon 2:8);
- and they give those who resist their power an ultimatum to surrender or be destroyed 3 Nephi 3:1-10).
Posted on September 17, 2006, in Book of Mormon, Islamism, Mormonism/LDS Church. Bookmark the permalink. 14 Comments.
LDS Patriot 
Boy, America has done a number of those things that “those who belong to secret combinations do…..overthrow governments, assassinate leaders, destroy lawful governments, cause havoc and carnage throughout the land……
what if the American government is a secret combination? Look how secretive the Bush Administration is. If they had nothing to hide, why hide anything?
Since the Nephi makes the first reference to “secret combinations”, we should probably see what he says about them. He gives a fairly general definition of them in 2 Nephi 26:23 by stating what doesn’t qualify as a secret combination by saying that the “Lord God worketh not in darkness”. Therefore, any group operating in secret would seem to qualify.
Needless to say, there are plenty of people and organizations working for the United States who insist on the necessity of not letting anyone know of what they’re doing, including those who would insist on secret evidence that can’t be presented in an open trial, secret foreign prisons where secret things are being done to our enemies in order to gain what is claimed to be valuable information about our enemies.
It’s not the guys from the outside that will result in the destruction of America. It’s the guys who will end up taking us down who are working on the inside.
redhatmandan
When and if American(s) do that to their own county, then yes, America would qualify as a secret combination.
But Bush et al has not entered into secret covenants and make oaths in God’s name of which murder is the intent, rather his oath is to defend America and its constitution.
Nor has Bush et al murdered any chief judges or rulers over the land, which is to say he hasn’t murdered one American chief judge or ruler, and he certainly has not committed suicide.
Nor has Bush et al sought to destroy the lawful government, rather, he is the lawful government!
Nor has Bush et al they in cities and over the whole land, became a guerilla fighter, and have hideouts in mountains.
Nor has Bush et al trampled the laws of God and of the land under their feet, rather, Bush is a Godly man and a goodly man, a defender of freedom and protector of Americas laws and land.
Nor has Bush et al they killed the prophets of God, in fact, he just met with President Hinckley for 40 minutes last week.
Nor has Bush et al caused havoc and carnage throughout the land America. But you could make a case that Dems have!
Nor has Bush el al become a dictator and said to Americans, that those who resist their power an ultimatum to surrender or be destroyed.
Lastly, I’d remind you, that President Hinckley supports Bush’s war effort, and more specifically, the regime change in Iraq. If Bush is the leader of a secret combination you claim him to be, they so is President Hinckley! For President Hinckley has cast his lot in support of Bush, providing the moral and spiritual stamp of God to the War on Terror.
Mark N, one of the most complicated portions of the Book of Mormon is the redacted efforts of Mormon & Moroni to interlace secret combinations throughout the record. This means we must look at the entire record to “get it”, to see the pattern they intended us to see; we should not read a single scripture and draw conclusions; only a view of all accounts of secret combinations will lead to an understanding of what these ancient prophets were talking about and warning America and the world about.
Having said that, I think you are missing the bigger picture; missing what is actually happening. It is incorrect to claim that the secret combo threat Book of Mormons prophets wrote about is only an inside job, and that it is meant only for the an American audience. The Book of Mormon and its message is a worldwide message, and as such secret combinations can and are a worldwide phenomenon. Read the warnings from the standpoint of a Lebanese or Iranian and the meaning of the Book of Mormona takes on a whole new level of meaning; its universal and applies to all peoples of all nations.
It is a worldwide phenomenon that concerned Mormon and Moroni, “Ether 8: 25 For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up 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; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning;”
…overthrow the freedom fo all lands, nations, and countries…
That, my friend, is exactly ideology of the Islamists of militant Islam!
And this proves beyond doubt that it does not have to be an “inside job” as you point out.
It must, however, be of such a threat that it is beyond America, that it must have the means and capability and intention and power to “overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries.” In no way can you claim America and Bush et al qualify for that label! In fact, that is what Bush et al are trying so hard to fight and to prevent! How can anyone not see that; I just don’t get!?!
How can anyone make Bush et al the enemy, all the while the true enemy is plotting our destruction? Bush et al are trying desperately to prevent our destruction and rid the world of the menace of murderous Muslisms bent on changing the world after their image, replacing the freedoms found in the constitution with anti-freedom sharia law, killing any and all who stand in their way!
Name the Secret Combo of our time that even comes close to the worldwide threat and magnitude of the Islamists of militant Islam?
eh, you’ve found your boogeyman. Too bad it is more akin to an inflatable doll compared to our past enemies, and the enemies within our nation.
to all your rebuttals, ldspatriot, how can you know that Bush doesn’t belong to a secret combination if it is a secret combination? 😉
let me just say this, and I think I’m done with your blog.
Terrorists don’t frighten me. They have no power over me. They are weak imbecelic cowards who use the lowest of the lowest forms of violence to get their message accross. Why should I be afraid of them?
No, the people I am afraid of are those that wish to lower the standards of my country and create a police state where individuals are taken out of their constitutional rights and tortured. Those are the people that frighten me. That is power.
Terrorists have no power over me because they hold no law over my head. The leaders of my country have power over me because they hold the laws of my country over my head. I fear them far more than I fear any terrorist.
So what if they kill my body. Who cares? I’m off to heaven and happy as a clam. They’ll get their due.
One thing that many Mormons have forgotten in their quest for “protection” is what happened in Alma 14. Innocents were being thrown into a pit of fire right in front of the eyes of a prophet of the Lord. Alma could have used his powers to save them from destruction, but he didn’t. Why not? What say you, ldspatriot? Why did Alma let the innocent die? Moreover, did Alma lower his standards to torture anyone? He could have. It is a tool he could have used, but he didn’t. Why not?
The protection of life is not the overriding priority of life on earth. The following of Gospel principles is of far greater value, because that endures. Life ends, but Christ endures.
yeah, you’ve found your boogeyman, the bad guy you conservatives have been lusting to find ever since the Cold War ended. Enjoy your wars, enjoy going at each others’s throats, but don’t blame me for the two of you killing each other.
Americans used to sacrifice their lives for their principles, now they are sacrificing their principles for their lives. Something is wrong in this equation.
How can anyone make Bush et al the enemy, all the while the true enemy is plotting our destruction?
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. I’m sure that President Bush believes he is operating with only the best of intentions in mind, I see those intentions as having the unintended consequences of gutting the United States Constitution.
Once upon a time, the majority of Americans believed in “liberty and justice for all“. Now that so many are willing to look the other way with regards to torturing our neighbor (don’t forget, the Samaritans were utterly despised by the Jews in Jesus’ day), I don’t think I’m going to be able to respond with anything but laughter the next time I hear someone try to defend the importance or the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.
I did a HP Quorum lesson on ‘Secret Combinations’ recently and discovered a couple of things I think are pertinent to these postings. 1) in every case of secret combinations rearing their heads in the Book of Mormon or the Book of Ether, they were spear-headed by individuals from the same group they were operating against; and 2) they focused on overthrowing the government/people they belonged to, normally targeting the top levels of government, and killing many of the Chief Judges, for instance. Sorry LDS Patriot, but this pattern DOES NOT fit Moslem ‘terrorists’. Furthermore, President Benson in his ‘I Testify’ Fall 1988 Conference talk said: ” Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. 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.” Notice how he said “secret combinations (plural) . . . are flourishing”, but went on to say ” ‘A’ (singular) secret combination” is increasing its . . . control over America . . . . .”. In other words he is making note of a single secret combination that is increasing its control in America. Again, this COULD NOT be Moslem terrorists. They had no control over America in 1988, nor do they have any control over America now.
Redhat man and Mark N. are on the money in their replies to you. How indeed could you know Bush has not taken oaths of feality to a secret combination? He’s been spear-heading SPP of NA under the table. Rep. Rob Bishop, for instance, knew nothing about SPP of NA when I asked him about it at the Republican Convention in May. He has speared-headed the support of the practice called ‘rendition’, which is essentially kidnapping people off the streets and sending them to foreign countries or secret CIA prisons for torture.
It is an incredible phenomenon to me how so many LDS sign on board in support of their government, no questions asked, please, in the light of their history of being hounded by governments, including City, County, State and Federal for at least 70 years of their history. The only thing I can think of is their need for feeling ‘safe’ and the need to belong. It’s kind of like they are suffering from a massive case of the Stockholm Sydrome, where hostages come to love their captors. We won’t even mention how legislation was passed at the Congressional level just last week that essentially gutted the 4th Amendment. LDS Patriot, you need to pull your head out of the sand, seriously.
Another thing to point out is that the BOM asks us to “awaken to a sense of our awful situtation” in regards to secret combinations. this implies that the saints are asleep and need to wake up to the reality. About 80 percent of the saints think that the terrorists are the secret combination and only 20 percent think the secret combination is within our own government. If it is true that the secret combination is the terrorists, then it appears we have no need to wake up. The people see it for what it is. If the secret combiantion lies within our own goverment then the saints are definatley in need of awakening like the BOM asks us to do. This alone tells us who are behind the secret combinations
The BOM also tells us that the secret combinations were secretive in thier murders. We are told by our government that bin laden actually claimed credit for the hit on 911 in that bogus looking confession tape. Remember, these acts are done secretly so no one knows who did it. The conspirators would not shout thier guilt from the rooftops as we are being told bin laden has done. However, it would make sense for the guilty parties to blame the 911 murders on soemone else so they can keep their guilt in these murders secret. (government commits the muders then blames bin laden)
Lastly, The BOM points out that the more righteous part of the nephites were seduced to partake of the spoils of the gadiantons secret murders. Do you think the more righteous part of the LDS would ever partake of the spoils of the terrorists? Do the terrorists even have spoils to offer any of us? I cant think of any. But our government has many spoils they can share with us and seduce us with. (cheap petroleum, high paying government jobs, welfare, socialized benefits etc)
And as to this notion that President Hinckley has given his stamp of approval on this unrighteous war, think again. If this is really true that Hinckley is rubber stamping the war on terror, then the brethren are contradicting thenselves on this issue.
Go read Elder Nelsons fall 2002 conference talk. In that talk in reference to the build up to war in the middle east, he asks the government to engage in prayerful negotiation and not resort to violence. I cant see how the brethren would encourage the US to not go to war in 2002 and then 6 months later after the war has started, flip 180 degrees and say “oh yeah maybe this war is a good thing after all”.
The cowardice of those that support this war amazes me. One of the reasons why I dont support this war is that I am not willing to give my life or limb in this cause. Therefore I am not willing to cast a vote that would send one of my brethren to die in my stead. It is amazing to me that so many LDS support this war but expect others to do the fighting and dying!
Shamefull and cowardly if you ask me!
Amen Marc,
I hope and pray thet LDS Patriot has come around to your way of thinking. I think he probably has, somewhat, judging by the paucity of recent pro-Bush, pro-war posts on his site.
The Bush regime is evil. They lied repeatedly to lure us into an unrighteous war in Iraq and now they are trying the same tactic to get us involved in Iran.
It is now acceptable to torture enemies under the Bush regime and that is deplorable and against the Geneva convention. Other Latter Day Saints have put it all on the line declaring their opposition to the inhumanity of the Bush regime’s torture policies. One of the more noteworthy was Army Specialist Alyssa Peterson, who committed suicide when she was told that she would have to commit torture as an interrogator. See this article for info:
http://www.bloggernacle.org/?p=474
We have had so many of our freedoms imposed upon by the current administration. Thanks to Bush we are now on the threshold of a brave new world. The Fascist Collective of America, soon to be just another part of the North American Union.
We have been sold out and Bin Laden wasn’t the one tasking the cash. He’s been dead for a few years, after all. The time for complacency is over. It’s time to wake up, shake off the shackles of complacency and start talking about the evil that surrounds us.
“Other Latter Day Saints have put it all on the line declaring their opposition to the inhumanity of the Bush regime’s torture policies. One of the more noteworthy was Army Specialist Alyssa Peterson, who committed suicide when she was told that she would have to commit torture as an interrogator.”
This is one of the more revolting comments I’ve heard from a twoofseeker. And for a movement that claims that the jews framed Hitler for the Holocaust and if it did happen it was because the jews asked for it, that is saying alot.
I know something of the pain the Peterson family must feel, my own cousin took his life the night before his brother returned from his mission.
That you claim Sister Peterson was adverse to wringing information out of a violent, racist neanderthalic savage who embraced wife-beating as a religion to save American lives, yet didn’t feel constrained by the churches teachings against self-murder is not only patently absurd, but is also a disgusting and blatantly self-serving attempt to hijack another familys tragedy to stroke your own holier-than-thou ego.
You will pay a price for this behavior someday, Michael. I pray for your sake it will be sooner rather than later.
I dont know when these comments were made so i might be a little late. I just about agree with everything said here except for what LDS Patriot had to say. When i have studied about secret combinations (Ether, Heleman 6 and 7, Alma 37:21-25 to name a few) I come away with a few things. Secret combination desire unlimited wealth and power, and seek to overthrow and destroy the freedoms of all nations and countries by lying, decieving and murder.. They murderer for both power and wealth. They always operate under cloak of secrecy and conceal from general public. They take secret oaths and covenets for protection and support.”And thus they did obtain the sole management of the government, insomuch that they did trample under their feet and smite and rend and turn their backs upon the a poor and the meek, and the humble followers of God.” If you violate these oaths of secrecy the price is your life. (There must be exception to the rules when it comes to Osama Bin Laden). They also seek to head of governments so they can steal and enslave.
Last I checked it isn’t Osama Bin Laden who is signing our rights away at every given chance.. He didnt sign the federal Reserve Act, or Obama health care bill, he isn’t bailing out the big banks, and he surely didn’t sign the Patriot act which completely violates the 4th and 5th amendments. We have been told countless time to NEVER to give up our freedoms for the sake of security because we do we will lose both. The patriot act is the exception though right??
Lds Patriot maybe you should read a book highly recommended by Ezra Taft Benson in general conference called None Dare Call it Conspiracy by Gary Allen. David O McKay also recommended a conspiracy book as well by Cleon Skousen. This book makes claims and proves it with evidence and facts that the communist revolution was financed by rich American and Europeans capitalist. There’s more , It also makes the argument that our own government ( once again proves it with evidence) is run from behind the scenes by a non constitutional body called The Council Of Foreign Relations. Since Richard Nixon administration every president since, all of their appointees come from this group. ALL OF THEM. Mitt Romney and John Huntsman are both members of this group which prophets have criticized big-time. It also lays out how the insiders of a world-wide conspiracy are increasing their evil influence and control over America and the entire world through a “New World Order”. It helped me Awake as Moroni says and is a great book to an alternative view of the 20th Century.
If anyone here reads and likes NDCC might also want to check out all of Gary Allens books. They are all free online. One in particular is about Henry Kissinger called; Kissinger: The Secret Side of the Secretary of State. This man represents everything that is not American. He was at the side of Richard Nixon for his entire presidency and every President since.. He had a major role in Bay of pigs, Watergate scandal, Vietnam war, the Korean war ext…. He is one of the most evil men I have ever read about. But the crazy thing is he has been right there on the right hand of every president since Richard Nixon. Just a couple weeks ago he was in the oval office right next to our President, Barrack Obama while discussing and signing an arms treaty with Russia. Whenever China or Russia are at the table with our country he is right there next to our president. No one elected this guy so why does he get a front row seat on every administration? All the unconstitutional trade agreements our presidents signs Henry Kissinger is right there on their side. Obama swore to get rid of the Washington insiders but I guess the biggest insider of them all didn’t bother him, It didnt bother Bush either.. If you read it you will come away upset and sick and ask yourself how this man still around, and why he hasn’t been hung for all his acts of treason. The crazy thing is Gary Allen died in 1986. So the question is what has he Kissinger been up to since? For one, This Evil man also was the very man George Bush Jr. put in charge of the “911 Commission Report” He had to resign from it because there was a conflict of interest. He owns one of the biggest Firms in the entire world with many rich people as his clientele. You know what this conflict of interest was? Well the families of the victims of 911 ( jersey girls)who pleaded with Bush for years for the investigation, were allowed to meet with Kissinger after he was selected to lead the investigation. They ask him two questions. First question was “ Do you have any Saudi American clients we should know about? If so, who?” He wouldn’t answer the question. So they moved right to the next question which was, “Do you represent anyone with the name Bin Laden? He walked straight out of the room without answering and resigned hours later.” Its hard to believe but it is true. Now why would Bush ever assign someone to head one of the most important investigation in our countries history who represents the very mans family who they said committed the act of 911?? Yea I would say that is a conflict of interest. The man that replaced him wasn’t any better. Also Bush HAS made oaths ( i believe satanical ) that take precedence over his oath of office. He is a member of the secret society Skulls and Bones. Just go read about their oaths and tell me there is not a major conflict of interest.
But the book None Dare Call It Conspiracy is a general description of the secret combination in detail talked about in Ether chapter 8 which seeks to destroy the freedoms of all land, countries, and nations.. Also Skousens books The Naked Communist and Naked Capitalist back up the claims of None Dare Call It Conspiracy.
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