KnoWhy #377 - Why Does the Book of Mormon Use the Phrase “Secret Combinations?” (3 Nephi 7:6)

Throughout the Book of Mormon, the phrase “secret combinations” is used to describe the evil activities of secret, oath-bound societies like the Gadianton robbers. Some have suggested that during Joseph Smith’s day, “secret combinations” exclusively referred to a well-known fraternity called the Freemasons (or Masons), and that this fact supports the theory that the Book of Mormon was fabricated using 19th century ideas. Modern search engines, however, have demonstrated that “secret combinations” was not at all an exclusive code name for Freemasons during the 1820s. Studying the development of this issue can provide valuable lessons about how to deal with doubts and concerns that might otherwise trouble one’s testimony.