“…as if ye were present…”

Moroni, the last Nephite Prophet concludes the history of his people with a brief rehersal of events since their final battle followed by a beautiful, descriptive prophesy regarding the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. In that prophesy he speaks directly to us, “I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.” (Mormon 8:35) He continues to warn & chasten us over the next several verses, speaking principally about pride in its various forms and then asks several questions. In verse 40 he asks, “why do ye build up your secret abominations…?” In this same segment of writing he tells us he has seen our day, preaches against pride & warns of secret abominations (combinations). In Ether 8:20 he indicates that these combinations and oaths “are had among all peoples…”. Even up to the recent past whenever these combinations were mentioned in Sunday school or Priesthood I have assumed that they referred to gangs & drug runners, with their “secret signs” & evil desires they appear to be Gadianton incarnate. Upon further reflection however, I believe that assertion fell somewhat short of the mark.

My intention here is not to try & identify living Gadiantons, only to establish the likelihood of their contemporary existence, that we may be watchful & “suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above (us)…to (our) overthrow and destruction…” (Ether 8:23). In my brief study I found both method & motive. The desire of these people is “to get gain”, “to be praised of men”, to commit whoredoms & all sorts of evil contrary to the laws of man & God, “to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations and countries” all that they might have power. (Helaman 2:8, 6:23, 7:21, Mormon 8:40, Ether 8: 15-16, 23, 25, 11:15 & Moses 6:15) They want to be in control, to rule over everything & everyone around them. There is no humility, only selfishness & greed. Their specific methods described by scripture (surely not an all inclusive list) are murder, thievery, plunder & to bear false witness. (Helaman 2:8, 6:17,21,23) They would certainly be capable of doing anything which might in anyway further their self indulgent cause. This mode of operation is routinely followed by evil of all calibers & description, hence my misplaced label. But does it seem likely that the most powerful Gadiantons will be content with petty turf wars for domination of a few city blocks when by using similar methods they can control entire governments(Helaman 6:39) & thereby nations? Satan’s desires, make no mistake he is the author of all secret combinations, have never been minor league. Right from the beginning he sought to take all power & glory. His modern minions surely harbor the same ambition.

“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…”(Ether 8:22) Moroni indicates that these combinations brought about the destruction of both the Jaredites & the Nephites.(Ether 8:21) We have a responsibility, a command that “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” (Ether 8:24). I believe that we have a duty to be watchful, to be aware, to fight evil wherever & and in whatever form we find it. A lone individual has a limited sphere of influence, however united we can stem the tide of evil & complacency which threatens to overwhelm our great nation. I hope that there are modern Moronis, we need men & women of his stature to once again raise a standard of liberty. A lesser know though no less valiant hero of the Book of Mormon was Pahoran Chief Judge of the Nephite nation, I close with his words, (Alma 61:14)

“Therefore, my beloved brother, Moroni, let us resist evil, and whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our words, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions, let us resist them with our swords, that we may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the great privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God.”

For what it’s worth

Ryan