Secret combos

[_zeezrom]

I just learned (or re-learned) that secret combos are mentioned in the Book of Moses (CH 5, v 51). So, secret combos are mentioned early on in history (days of Cain) but the entire Bible is void of any mention. Then, out of the blue come the secret combos again in the Book of Mormon.

This is a little odd.

[_George Miller]

I just learned (or re-learned) that secret combos are mentioned in the Book of Moses (CH 5, v 51). So, secret combos are mentioned early on in history (days of Cain) but the entire Bible is void of any mention. Then, out of the blue come the secret combos again in the Book of Mormon.

This is a little odd.

Of course you and probably no other 21st century Biblical scholar would see secret combination in the Bible. However, early 19th century Masons did see these secret combinations in the Bible. Masonic scholars thought that the mystery traditions associated with idol worship and polytheism were a form of Spurious Masonry. If you look at the Biblical narrative with those Masonic tinged glasses, I think you might see substantially more Masonry in the Old Testament. Of course you would have to take those glasses off to see clearly.

[_rich kelsey]

I just learned (or re-learned) that secret combos are mentioned in the Book of Moses (CH 5, v 51). So, secret combos are mentioned early on in history (days of Cain) but the entire Bible is void of any mention. Then, out of the blue come the secret combos again in the Book of Mormon.

This is a little odd.

Secret Combination:

For, from the days of Cain, there was a secret combination, and their works were in the dark… (Book of Moses 5:51)

Neither the term, “secret combination;” nor the word “combination” can be found in the Bible. Yet, in the Book of Mormon we find the plural version of this term — secret combinations — used thirteen times.[xiv]

Also, as the Book of Moses was being written, Joseph Smith received a revelation containing this term:

And even now, let him that goeth to the east teach them that shall be converted to flee to the west, and this in consequence of that which is coming on the earth, and of secret combinations. (February 9, 1831, D&C 42:64)

This was a popular term in Smith’s day, to describe the practices of Freemasonry:

"…at the time of the Book of Mormon's publication the term 'secret combinations' was used almost exclusively to refer to Freemasonry." (Mormonism's Anti-Masonick Bible, p. 18)

It’s worth mentioning that Joseph Smith’s father Joseph Smith Sr. was a practicing member of a Masonic lodge in upstate New York. On May 7th 1818 when the young Smith was about to turn 13 his father rose to the degree of Master Mason.[xv] The Prophet himself sought[xvi] and achieved[xvii] the title of Master Mason shortly before his death.[xviii]
(Flim Flam Man — Rich Kelsey)

Endnotes:
[xiii] For behold, they murdered all the prophets of the Lord who came among them to declare unto them concerning their iniquities; and the blood of those whom they murdered did cry unto the Lord their God for vengeance upon those who were their murderers; and thus the judgments of God did come upon these workers of darkness and secret combinations. (Alma, 37:30)

 Yea, and cursed be the land forever and ever unto those workers of darkness and secret combinations, even unto destruction, except they repent before they are fully ripe. (Alma, 37:31)

 For the Lord worketh not in secret combinations, neither doth he will that man should shed blood, but in all things hath forbidden it, from the beginning of man. (Ether, 8:19)

 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; for the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not. (Ether, 8:22)

 Now the brother of Shared, whose name was Gilead, also received great strength to his army, because of secret combinations. (Ether 14:10)

 And it came to pass that one of the secret combinations murdered him in a secret pass, and obtained unto himself the kingdom; and his name was Lib; and Lib was a man of great stature, more than any other man among all the people. (Ether 14:10)

 And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness. (2 Nephi, 9:9)

 And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever. (2 Nephi, 26:22)

 And it came to pass in the *forty and ninth year of the reign of the judges, there was continual peace established in the land, all save it were the secret combinations which Gadianton the robber had established in the more settled parts of the land, which at that time were not known unto those who were at the head of government; therefore they were not destroyed out of the land. (Helaman. 3:23)

 May the Lord preserve his people in righteousness and in holiness of heart, that they may cause to be felled to the earth all who shall seek to slay them because of power and secret combinations, even as this man hath been felled to the earth. (3 Nephi, 4:29)

 And it shall come in a day when the blood of saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations and the works of darkness. (Mormon, 8:27)

 And now I, Moroni, proceed with my record. Therefore, behold, it came to pass that because of the secret combinations of Akish and his friends, behold, they did overthrow the kingdom of Omer. (Ether 9:1)

 Wherefore, it came to pass that in the first year that Ether dwelt in the cavity of a rock, there were many people who were slain by the sword of those secret combinations, fighting against Coriantumr that they might obtain the kingdom. (Ether 13:18)

[xv] “[The Joseph Smith family] was a Masonic family which lived by and practiced the estimable and admirable tenets of Freemasonry. The father, Joseph Smith, Sr., was a documented member in upstate New York. He was raised to the degree of Master Mason on May 7, 1818 in Ontario Lodge No. 23 of Canandaigua, New York. An older son, Hyrum Smith, was a member of Mount Moriah Lodge No. 112, Palmyra New York.” (The Mormon Church and Freemasonry (2001), Terry Chateau)

[xvi] “I officiated as grand chaplain at the installation of the Nauvoo Lodge of Free Masons, at the Grove near the Temple. Grand Master Jonas, of Columbus, being present, a large number of people assembled on the occasion. The day was exceedingly fine; all things were done in order, and universal satisfaction was manifested. In the evening I received the first degree in Freemasonry in the Nauvoo Lodge, assembled in my general business office.” (History of the Church, by Joseph Smith, Deseret Book, 1978, Vol.4, Ch.32, p.550-1)

[xvii] “Smith was initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason at the Nauvoo lodge on March 15, 1842. The next day, he was raised to the degree of Master Mason; the usual month-long wait between degrees was waived by the Grand Master of Illinois,” (Bushman 2005,p. 449).

[xviii] "...with uplifted hands they gave such signs of distress as would have commanded the interposition and benevolence of Savages or Pagans. They were both Masons in good standing. Ye brethren of 'the mystic tie' what think ye! Where is our good Master Joseph and Hyrum? Is there a pagan, heathen, or savage nation on the globe that would not be moved on this great occasion, as the trees of the forest are moved by a mighty wind? Joseph's last exclamation was 'O LORD MY GOD!' "

(Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, p. 585)

"When the enemy surrounded the jail, rushed up the stairway, and killed Hyrum Smith, Joseph stood at the open window, his martyr-cry being these words, 'O Lord My God!' This was not the beginning of a prayer, because Joseph Smith did not pray in that manner. This brave, young man who knew that death was near, started to repeat the distress signal of the Masons, expecting thereby to gain the protection its members are pledged to give a brother in distress.” (Mormonism and Masonry, by Mormon writer: E. Cecil McGavin, p. 17)

[_rich kelsey]

Here is a little more from an unpublished work that deals with the same basic theme:

Meridian of time:

…even him whom he declared should come in the meridian of time, who was prepared from before the foundation of the world. (Moses 5:57)

…the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who shall come in the meridian of time. (Moses 6:57)

…through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time. (Moses 6:62)

And the Lord said: It shall be in the meridian of time, in the days of wickedness and vengeance. (Moses 7:46)

It is worth mentioning that in the supposed revelations given through the Prophet Joseph Smith this same phrase is also found:

…after he came in the meridian of time… (D&C, 20:26)

The same which came in the meridian of time unto mine own, and mine own received me not; (D&C, 39:3)

The term Meridian can point to the midpoint in a day, high noon, when the sun is at the top of the earth’s circle of rotation. The word[xxii] stems from Latin meridianus and also from Middle French meridien where meri refers to center; in the way of a midpoint, and dien from the Latin word for “day.”

“The meridian of time has been defined by one LDS apostle as ‘the middle or high point of that portion of eternity which is considered to be mortal time’" (MD, 1966, p. 486).

While found four times in the Book of Moses; neither the phrase “meridian of time,” nor the word “meridian” can be found in the entire Bible.[xxiii]

What is the likelihood that Moses used this doctrinal term in his original writings, only to have all four of those passages deleted by dishonest scribes? Are those odds worth gambling on? That is what every person who places their faith in Joseph Smith is doing! They are risking their spiritual destiny on impossible odds.

Anachronisms within the Book of Moses are solid-irrefutable-proof that Moses did not write the Book of Moses. Yet, Joseph Smith claimed he did! The Book of Moses is nothing more than a poorly crafted forgery, dictated by Joseph Smith himself, then falsely attributed to an ancient holy man.
(The Flim Flam Man — Rich Kelsey)

[_Bond James Bond]

I was hoping for a thread about Mortal Combat cheats/button combos. :S

[_moksha]

I just learned (or re-learned) that secret combos are mentioned in the Book of Moses (CH 5, v 51). So, secret combos are mentioned early on in history (days of Cain) but the entire Bible is void of any mention. Then, out of the blue come the secret combos again in the Book of Mormon.

This is a little odd.

Not at all, the Nephite Prophets forsaw the coming of multi-level marketing.

[_jon]

Practices typically found within secret combinations:
1. Secrecy, nobody outside of the secret combination is to be told the secrets.
2. Secret methods of identifying members of the secret combination such as special handshakes and symbols.
3. Special clothing only to be worn when members of the secret combination are gathered together.
4. Agreed penalties for secret combination members if they breach the trust of secrecy.

Hmmm...