Such a dominance as terrorism has over the theme of our times, makes one wonder of any prophecies in the Book of Mormon (or anywhere else) pointing to the chaos these bands are unlawfully inflicting.  In pondering over this question, one realises that the Book of Mormon, too, has a theme running throughout most of the the history it covers: that of secret combinations, those underground, criminal gangs bent on personal gain at the expense of others’ property and lives.

Whilst narrating the chilling events of 50 BC, where a secret society with the objective of murdering the Chief Judge has just been discovered by the same, the Prophet Mormon breaks from the narrative and adds something he does not do: he informs us of the literary progression the Book of Mormon will take.  Usually, he simply recounts the events of the past and adds his prophetic insight, but here, he becomes a novelist of sorts.

‘And behold, in the end of this book ye shall see that this Gadianton did prove the overthrow, yea, almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephi.

‘Behold I do not mean the end of the book of Helaman, but I mean the end of the book of Nephi, from which I have taken all the account which I have written’ (Helaman 2:13-14).

This gives us idea into the extreme power that secret combinations had over the livelihood of the Nephite nation.  But were they terrorists?

 

The Nephite combinations were highly organised, as terror groups are.  However, the Gadianton Robbers — the foremost of the combinations — were just that, robbers.  It is apparent from a reading of the Book of Mormon that their goal was to attain unto great wealth and power: they did not kidnap, assasinate and cause coups for some political or moral cause.  This is the one great difference we find between terrorists and secret combinations.

It is useful, therefore, to bring dear President Hinckley in on this matter:

‘It is the terrorist organizations that must be ferreted out and brought down.We of this Church know something of such groups. The Book of Mormon speaks of the Gadianton robbers, a vicious, oath-bound, and secret organization bent on evil and destruction. In their day they did all in their power, by whatever means available, to bring down the Church, to woo the people with sophistry, and to take control of the society. We see the same thing in the present situation’ (from “The Times in Which We Live”, Liahona, Jan. 2002, pp. 83–86).

For further validation, I bring in the curious words of President Benson:

‘I testify that wickedness is rapidly expanding in every segment of our society. It is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before. 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’ (from “I Testify”, Ensign, Nov. 1988, p. 86).

However, President Benson also identified another force as the modern day secert combination:

‘Now undoubtedly Moroni could have pointed out many factors that led to the destruction of the people, but notice how he singled out the secret combinations, just as the Church today could point out many threats to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God’s work, but it has singled out the greatest threat as the godless conspiracy. There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon —it is a conspiracy fact.

Then Moroni speaks to us in this day and says, “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” ‘ (from “Civic Standards for the Faithful Saints,” Ensign, Jul. 1972, p. 59).

My linking ancient and modern murders thus is in wondering if terrorism is to have the same effect on us in this dispensation as it did in the Nephite.  One cannot help but be reminded that the Book of Mormon was indeed written for our time and the prophesies such as this one: ‘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) are certainly there for our heeding.

I do not know if the Prophet Mormon was referring to Al Qaeda when he highlighted to his future readers the combinations of his time.  Perhaps he knew terrorism was coming, but knew of a greater secret combination, that of a culture of sin, would arise, to give he gave more attention.