The Formation of the Gadianton Robbers
READ Helaman 1:2-12
What societal circumstances
within the Nephite society gave rise to the Gadianton Robbers?
It happened at a time when great contentions and dissensions occur
among the people and nation, following the turmoil of an extended war (see
Helaman 1:1–9; Helaman 2:1; Helaman 3:17–19; Helaman 4:1; Helaman 11:1; 3 Nephi
7:7; Ether 11:15).
Their laws became corrupted and those who choose evil were more
populous than those who choose good (see Helaman 5:2–3; 3 Nephi 7:7).
Regarding economics, there seems to be two opposite scenarios that
enabled the rise of secret combinations:
1) When riches seem available for
the making (and taking) and the majority of people have set their hearts on
treasure (either what they already have gained or on what they’d like to
acquire), engaging in a secret combination may enable one to get ahead of the
competition and make more money, faster (see Helaman 6:16-17, 31).
2) When riches and treasures
become slippery so that one can’t retain them – economic uncertainty and
upheaval (see Mormon 1:18–19; Mormon 2:10).
The contentions and dissensions spilled over into the Church and
included persecutions of the righteous by Church members, selfish materialistic
behavior by Church members, a multitude of worldly sins, making a mock of that
which is sacred and denying the spirit of revelation, and abominations
perpetrated by Church leaders (see Helaman 3:33–34; Helaman 4:1, 11–12).
What event was the catalyst for
the secret combination?
A hot political debate over the position of Chief Judge.
It was started by Paanchi; instead of honoring the political
process, when he lost the “election,” he organized a rebellion or civil war
against the government; implied is that it was done in secret because he was
“found out” and arrested before he was able to launch it.
That’s why he was sentenced to death, as he was a traitor to his
country.
Since Paanchi was already
condemned to death, why did the secret combination send Kishkumen to
assassinate the Chief Judge, Pahoran II?
For revenge.
Not to put their own candidate in place or for other economic
gain, at this point.
Defining the Elements of a Secret Combination
READ Helaman 6:26-30
Why did the gang swear or
covenant with each other by their “everlasting Maker” instead of by their lives?
Something happened to them which changed their perspective on
power in this world; they had come to realize that power among men (for which
you would covenant your life) is not nearly as powerful as that which
connecting with the spiritual realm can provide.
They learned the covenants directly from Satan, who may have
appeared to them as an “angel of light” or spiritual entity with power
(although no glory, interestingly – see Moses 1:13-14) or as their “everlasting
Maker” or as the “God of this world,” and perhaps they covenanted with him to
be their “father”, in exchange for power on the earth from him to do whatever
they wanted and get away with it.
Interestingly, they did not read about these practices or
covenants from ancient records because they’d been hidden from the public (see
Alma 37:27-29).
Some commentaries suggest that the Robbers were just being ironic
or blasphemous but the nature of these secret covenants is more than setting up
the run rules for an evil association between men, they govern how to form a
real association through the veil with dark entities in the spirit world.
Why compare the Gadianton Robbers
to Cain?
Cain was the first “Gadianton Robber”; his oath with Satan was the
first time a man engaged in a secret combination.
The ancient secret oaths and covenants that Cain made with Satan,
and that were written in the records about the Jaredites, taught one how to
gain power through the veil from dark entities.
This information was hidden by Alma.
READ Moses 5:31,
33-34
What is the "Mahan Principle"?
Trading life for
money (to murder and get gain); it is the monetizing of life or putting a
telestial, finite price on something that is priceless and eternal.
I am free (to sin
without suffering the consequences).
Am I my brother's keeper?
(to act self-interestedly with no responsibility for fellow man); to fare in
your life according to the management of the creature - prosper according to
your genius and strength - Korihor's philosophy; see Alma 30:17.
What are the elements of a secret
combination/organization?
The goal is to gain
power in this world through murder/fear.
The method is through
secrecy/disguise/identifying tokens - no one outside the brotherhood is to know
- enables you to sin and get away with it.
The principle is loyalty;
it requires a covenant not to tell - ultimate loyalty is to the brotherhood,
protect each other in whatever circumstances they find themselves.
READ Helaman 6:22-25
Why is secrecy such a key tactic for an organization
like this?
Their business is
evil but they must appear virtuous to pull it off.
They are much more
successful if no one realizes what is really going on - a full frontal assault
is not nearly as effective for them.
Think corrupt
politicians and judges, insider trading on Wall Street, fraudulent businesses
and money laundering, embedded terror cells, and secret Satanists.
Notice that even
within the organization, very few people know who else is a member - hence the
need for secret signs to distinguish a brother.
So the covenant is
not so much with each other, although that is the indirect effect - it is with
Satan and/or his officiator(s).
This is why those who
get in to the organization cannot get out again except by death - either in the
cause or at the hands of their brothers if they betray the covenant.
How Did the
Gadianton Robbers Rise to and Retain Power?
READ Helaman 2:2-11
What has now changed with regards to the goals of the
secret combination?
They want legitimate
political power.
They want to take
over the government but not in an obvious external coup; their plan is to
secretly infiltrate the government from the inside and staff it with their
people, who appear to be virtuous.
What was Gadianton's craft and why was it also
important that he was expert in "many words"?
His craft was that of
criminal mastermind.
But his ability to
flatter people and speak eloquently with "many words" is absolutely
critical if he is to be electable by the voice of the people after the
incumbent (Helaman II) has been killed.
He could even speak
out against violence and promise safety and peace as a way to become appointed
by the people.
He is truly a
politician, in the worst sense of the word.
How does priestcraft (see 2 Nephi 26:29) differ from
Gadianton robbery and how is it the same?
Priestcraft is to set
yourself up as a light to get gain and power; it uses flattery to win support.
Gadianton robbery is
to hide yourself in plain sight to get gain and power; it uses flattery to win
support.
The end results are
the same and both use flattery but one is ego-driven and obvious while the
other is about blending in and wearing wolf's clothing.
How did the government find out about the secret
organization?
Only through
infiltrating it.
After the murder of
Pahoran II and the foiled rebellion of Paanchi, it is possible that the
government began to try to infiltrate secret organizations to gather
intelligence on them or perhaps they first got wind of it serendipitously, but
then made plans to infiltrate it.
What is implied by the fact that
no one suspected that Kishkumen and Gadianton were behind the murder of
Pahoran?
They are wolves in sheep’s clothing; they appeared very
respectable and righteous; enough so that they were never suspected.
These were not stereotypical “low-life criminals”.
What strategies do “Gadiantons”
in all ages use to gain and retain power?
Those who belong to secret combinations enter into secret
covenants and make oaths in God’s name (see Helaman 1:11; Helaman 6:21–30;
Helaman 11:26; 4 Nephi 1:42; Ether 8:14–20; Ether 10:33).
They murder the chief judge or ruler over the land (see Helaman
1:9; Helaman 6:15; Helaman 8:27; Ether 14:9–10).
They seek to destroy the lawful government (see Helaman 1:9;
Helaman 6:15, 39; Helaman 7:4; 3 Nephi 7:6; Ether 9:1; Ether 10:33; Ether 11:15,
18; Ether 13:18; Ether 14:8–10).
They increase their popularity in the sophisticated cities and
spread over the whole land (see Helaman 3:23; Helaman 6:18, 38; Helaman 11:32;
3 Nephi 1:27, 29; 2:11; 4 Nephi 1:44, 46; Mormon 1:18; Mormon 2:8; Mormon 8:9;
Ether 13:26).
They trample the laws of God and of the land under their feet (see
Helaman 4:22; Helaman 6:31; Helaman 7:4–5; 3 Nephi 7:6).
They kill the prophets of God (see Alma 37:30).
They cause havoc and carnage throughout the land (see Helaman 11:2,
27, 33; 3 Nephi 2:11; Mormon 2:8).
They give those who resist their power an ultimatum to surrender
or be destroyed (see 3 Nephi 3:1–10).
READ Helaman 3:23-24
How and why did Gadianton establish his secret
combination in the more settled parts of the land?
The secret
combination is all about obtaining wealth and power; what better place to find
people who want to obtain more wealth and power than in areas where the
wealthier people live; a portion of these people are predisposed to be
interested.
And no one would
suspect the wealthy and respectable to be criminals.
Why did the government not know or suspect the
Gadianton’s had a foothold in the wealthier areas of the land?
Since the band must
be wolves in sheep's clothing to be successful, establishing the band among the
wealthy, respectable, and seemingly law-abiding model citizens living in the
nicer areas would make it much harder to find or even suspect.
It’s because the
Gadianton’s WERE wealthy, respectable, successful people themselves – they
established the group among their own.
Twenty-five years
after the Gadiantons had first been formed, they had become established within
both the Nephite and Lamanite civilizations.
However, because of an event we will discuss in Helaman 5, many of the
Lamanites had embraced the gospel.
READ Helaman 6:18-21
and Helaman 6:37-40
Describe the difference between how the Nephites
reacted to finding Gadiantons among them vs. how the Lamanites responded?
The Lamanites
rejected the Robbers and were sorrowful that they were among them; they hunted
them down and either sought to convert them to the gospel or cast them out from
among them to the degree that the covenant was eradicated or vanquished from
among the Lamanites (notice they didn't kill them).
The Nephites joined
with the Robbers in their conspiracies; they entered into their brotherhood to
profit from it including all those in government; this became a cultural
phenomenon to the degree that even the majority of the righteous were seduced
by the lifestyle of materialistic, comfortable Babylon; much like what we in
the Church have done today.
READ Helaman 2:13-14
What eventually destroyed the Nephite civilization,
both before the time of Christ's visit and during the life of Mormon?
Secret combinations
(see also Ether 8:21-25).
It is the anti-Zion;
instead of being of one mind, and one heart, dwelling in righteousness with no
poor among them (see Moses 7:18), they each have their own plan to better themselves,
they don’t care for each other and have no love in their hearts, they violate
God’s commandments or eternal law, and they seek to have more than each other,
and at each other’s expense.
The way to do this is
to form a secret organization whereby one can hide the truth and benefit from
it, materially.
A Gadianton
Society Nearing the Fullness of Iniquity
In the Book of
Mormon, we've read of the promise/curse of America, that the people will be
swept off when they are "ripe" or "full" in their iniquity…
READ Helaman 4:11-13,
21-25
The Nephites began to suffer military losses including in
the land of Zarahemla; why did this happen?
The wickedness and
abominations of the members of the Church including disbelieving and denying
the spirit of revelation; they are in a state of unbelief or believing things
that are wrong.
The pride and wealth
of the members of the Church and their unwillingness and even opposition to
living the principles of Zion – sinning against (i.e. turning away from or
denying) a greater amount of light has consequences.
Changing of the Laws
of the land by removing God from the Law.
Because the Lord does
not dwell in unholy temples, He removed His Spirit or support and left them to
their own strength, as they had been boasting in it anyway, allowing the
natural consequences of fighting a much larger enemy to occur.
READ Helaman 1:18
What enables the Lamanites to successfully attack the
heart of the Nephite civilization?
So much contention
among the people.
So much difficulty or
divisiveness or distraction in government – evil men fighting evil men for
power.
That they had not
kept sufficient guard; they got distracted or had to redeploy resources to deal
with issues of domestic unrest.
And they
underestimated their enemies out of the pride stemming from past success in war.
All of this was
caused directly or indirectly by the work of the Gadiantons.
What is the relationship between secret combinations
and the fullness of iniquity?
Secret combinations
enable a society to get to a fullness of iniquity.
They flatter people
and promote pride, the arm of the flesh, materialism and gaining wealth, even
at the expense of others, especially the poor.
They promote their
cause by secret acts of violence which desensitizes a society, leading
eventually to the victimization of women and children as men lose all civilized
restraint.
They enjoy and profit
from immorality, as a man with a vice is a man you can make money from.
They take over the
government and change the laws toward a secular, economically and militarily
focused society; they cast God out of the Law, which gives them the ability to
legally persecute the righteous.
They perform oaths
and abominations which are occult-like in nature (and sometimes in reality).
Where are the Nephites on the "Fullness of
Iniquity Maturity Scale"?
Pride - especially of
the Church members (see Helaman 3:1, 33-34, 36; Helaman 5:11-13).
Secret combinations
(see Helaman 1-2; Helaman 3:23).
Violence (see Helaman
3:14, Helaman 4:1,5,11-12).
Worship false gods -
materialism and military might/arm of the flesh (see Helaman 4:12-13, 26).
Rejection of all that
is good - change the Law to reflect their relativism/humanism and cast out/kill
the righteous people (see Helaman 4:22, Helaman 5:2).
Perversion of the
procreative gift (see Helaman 3:14, Helaman 4:12).
Fascination with
evil/occult.
Without
civilization/victimizing of women and children.
They have checked the
box on 6 out of 8 dimensions (see Michael Wilcox’s book A Nation at the
Crossroads for more details on this Fullness of Iniquity framework).
READ Helaman 6:32-33
Why can a society move so quickly toward a fullness of
iniquity?
When the righteous
are persecuted and cast out, especially by the Church itself, the Lord is
grieved and removes His Spirit.
When this happens,
the people are left to themselves and the devil moves in very quickly to fill
the void, appearing as an angel of light or mimicking what they think is the
Holy Spirit with emotion, rationalizing in their heads about how righteous they
still are while carefully leading them down to hell (see 2 Nephi 28:3-9, 12-16,
21-26).
Living Righteously
in a Society Heading Toward Destruction
READ Helaman 3:19-20,
27-30, 33-35
How do you live righteously in a society heading toward
the fullness of iniquity?
Embrace the gospel
covenant by entering into the Gate by experiencing the baptism of fire and the
Holy Ghost - the earlier in your life, the better.
Preach with power and
serve with charity as defensive strategies - the story about the man preaching
in Sodom: "I used to preach to change them, now I keep preaching because
I'm afraid that if I don't, they'll change me."
Receive the
ministering of angels - to prepare you to enter the presence of the Lord in the
flesh and be redeemed from the fall.
Come unto Christ and
enter into His rest in the flesh - receive the Second Comforter and be sealed
up to Eternal Life (see D&C 132:21-25).
Establish ZION with
other people who have also entered into the rest of the Lord - the polar
opposite of the Babylon which is careening toward the fullness of iniquity -
pure in heart, ONE in Christ's gospel covenant, filled with charity, seeking to
and entering the rest/presence of the Lord, abiding with or communing with or
taking up a habitation with the Lord.
READ Helaman 6:34-36
How did the Lamanites turn their
society around while the Nephites headed toward destruction?
It is about knowledge – what they each believed.
The Nephites rejected the truth and dwindled in unbelief (lost
light because they chose to believe things which were false); while the
Lamanites grew in their knowledge of God (see Alma 12:10-11; 3 Nephi 11:14-15).
The Nephites followed after their own hearts – seeking wealth and
joining with the Gadiantons to make it; the Lamanites kept God’s commandments
and grew in light as a result of their obedience.
The Nephites grieved the Spirit with their hard hearts behaviors, and
the Lord withdrew from them; while the Lord poured out His Spirit upon the
Lamanites because of their willingness to believe His words and come unto Him.
