The Book of Mormon has quite a lot to say about the evils of organized crime and gangs. Among the ancient American civilizations, there were thieving bands that entered secret criminal gangs, entering oaths to murder, lie, and steal to get gain. The Book of Mormon calls this kind of crime, secret combinations. I couldn’t do a study on the 8th commandment without the addition of this kind of thievery. It is a type we see much in our free republics, in which the thieves work in the dark to subvert our institutions, rather than in places where the governments are the criminals. If we are not careful to oppose these “secret combinations” they can and will infiltrate our institutions and governments to overthrow the peace and liberty of our people, as they did so in ancient America.
“It was the object of all those who belonged to his band to murder, and to rob, and to gain power, (and this was their secret plan, and their combination)…” — Helaman 2:8, Book of Mormon
“They began to set their hearts upon their riches; yea, they began to seek to get gain that they might be lifted up one above another; therefore they began to commit secret murders, and to rob and to plunder, that they might get gain.” — Helaman 6:17, Book of Mormon
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