Ether 8

“The Lord Worketh Not in Secret Combinations”

Secret combinations plagued several groups of people throughout the Book of Mormon. This pattern emerged among the Jaredites and even led to their destruction. As he wrote about the Jaredites, the prophet Moroni added important truths we can learn from these destructive occurrences. This lesson can help you understand the need to reject secret combinations by following Jesus Christ.

Help students seek relevance. When students can relate what they are studying in the scriptures to their own situations and circumstances, they are generally more motivated to learn and apply gospel teachings. Invite students to seek relevance by asking them questions such as “How might this event or teaching be similar to your experiences?” or “How does this truth apply to your life?”

Student preparation: Invite students to read “Secret Combinations” in Guide to the Scriptures at scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Possible Learning Activities

Acts in secret

Write the word secrecy on the board, then ask the following questions:

• What are some ways Satan uses secrecy to accomplish his evil purposes?

• How would such secrecy impact a person’s relationship with Jesus Christ? Why?

• What would you want someone to know who feels that they can get away with doing evil because they keep it a secret?

Today you will learn about a group of people who participated in secret acts of wickedness known as a secret combination. As you study, look for teachings that help you understand the danger of secret combinations.

Wickedness among the Jaredites

You might recall that after the Jaredites arrived in the promised land, they appointed a king to rule over them despite the brother of Jared’s warnings that doing so would lead to captivity (see Ether 6:22–23). In the generations that followed, wicked kings caused divisions and suffering among the people.

You could invite a few willing students to take turns reading the following verses aloud to the class while the rest of the students follow along in their scriptures.

Read Ether 8:1–10, looking for what took place when a man named Omer became king.

Jared agreed to his daughter’s wicked plan. When Akish asked for Jared’s daughter in marriage, Akish, Jared, his daughter, and other family members entered into a secret combination to kill Omer (see Ether 8:11–15).

The dangers of secret combinations

A secret combination is “an organization of people bound together by oaths to carry out the evil purposes of the group” (“Secret Combinations,” Guide to the Scriptures, scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Satan is the originator of secret combinations (see Helaman 6:25–30).

As the narrator of this story, the prophet Moroni shared several important teachings and warnings about secret combinations. Read Ether 8:18–25, looking for how the Lord feels about secret combinations.

Invite the students to discuss what they learned from these verses. In addition to the following questions, you might also consider asking, “What warnings did Moroni give to those who participate in secret combinations?”

• What did you learn about secret combinations from these verses?

One truth we can learn from these verses is that secret combinations are abominable in the sight of God (Ether 8:18).

To help you further understand why secret combinations are abominable to the Lord, read the following scriptures, looking for what you learn about Jesus Christ:

• 2 Nephi 26:22–24

• Alma 39:8

Invite the students to discuss what they learned from these verses. The following questions could be used.

• What did you learn from these verses that could have helped the people you studied about in Ether 8?

• What did these verses teach you about the Lord?

• How could these teachings help teenagers today?

Moroni concluded his teachings about secret combinations by explaining why he included these warnings. Read Ether 8:26, looking for what Moroni wanted us to know.

• What did you learn about why Moroni included these teachings in the Book of Mormon?

• What have you learned today that could persuade you to follow Jesus Christ more fully?

Consider sharing your testimony about how the truths taught in this lesson motivate you to trust in and follow Jesus Christ.

Commentary and Background Information

What are ways we see secret combinations today?

President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:

The Book of Mormon teaches that secret combinations engaged in crime present a serious challenge, not just to individuals and families but to entire civilizations. Among today’s secret combinations are gangs, drug cartels, and organized crime families. The secret combinations of our day function much like the Gadianton robbers of the Book of Mormon times. They have secret signs and code words. They participate in secret rites and initiation ceremonies. Among their purposes are to “murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their country and also the laws of their God” (Helaman 6:23).

If we are not careful, today’s secret combinations can obtain power and influence just as quickly and just as completely as they did in Book of Mormon times. (M. Russell Ballard, “Standing for Truth and Right,” Ensign, Nov. 1997, 38)

Why do we need to be honest with ourselves and with the Lord about our sins?

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:

In our desire to repent, honesty becomes critically important. First and foremost, we must be honest with our Heavenly Father and with ourselves. Dishonesty and deception are at the foundation and root of almost all sin. Sometimes when someone begins to repent, he or she begins by exposing only a part of a larger issue. Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking the whole picture need not be told, or that part of what occurred was another’s fault. Good people can deceive themselves and be deceived. Any deception delays the repentance process. (Neil L. Andersen, The Divine Gift of Forgiveness [2019], 194)

In the following video, “Being Honest in Our Repentance” (4:05), Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles discusses thoughts in relation to his book The Divine Gift of Forgiveness (2019). He shares about two people who dealt with a similar sin but in different ways: one honestly and the other dishonestly.

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alternative beginning

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) taught that the Book of Mormon “was written for our day” (“The Book of Mormon—The Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 6).

You could invite students to discuss some of the messages or warnings from the Book of Mormon that could help people in our day.

After students share their answers, explain that one of the warnings Book of Mormon prophets shared with latter-day readers was about the danger of secret combinations. Encourage students to pay attention as they study to what the Lord wants them to know about secret combinations and how they can avoid them.

The rest of the story

You may want to summarize Ether 9:1–13 by explaining that as a result of their secret combination, Akish and his friends were able to overthrow the kingdom of Omer. However, God warned Omer that he should flee with his family, thereby saving their lives. Omer’s wicked son, Jared, became king and gave his daughter to Akish in marriage. Akish and his friends continued with their evil plans, killing Jared and even one of Akish’s sons. These actions led to a war between Akish and his sons that eventually destroyed almost all the Jaredites and restored Omer to the throne.

Secret combinations in the Book of Mormon

You may want to refer to Guide to the Scriptures, “Secret Combinations,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, for other examples in the Book of Mormon that show additional warnings and dangers of secret combinations.