Helaman 2

"And behold, in the end of this book ye shall see that this Gadianton did prove the overthrow, yea, almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephi.

"Behold I do not mean the end of the book of Helaman, but I mean the end of the book of Nephi, from which I have taken all the account which I have written" (13-14).

M. Russell Ballard spoke in the Oct. 1997 General Conference to the brethren who hold the Priesthood. It was entitled "Standing for Truth and Right." In it he said:

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. Do you remember the pattern? The secret combinations began among the “more wicked part” of society, but eventually “seduced the more part of the righteous” until the whole society was polluted (Hel. 6:38). . . .

The Book of Mormon teaches that the devil is the “author of all sin” and the founder of these secret combinations (Hel. 6:30; see 2 Ne. 26:22). He uses secret combinations, including gangs, “from generation to generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the children of men” (Hel. 6:30). His purpose is to destroy individuals, families, communities, and nations (see 2 Ne. 9:9). To a degree, he was successful during Book of Mormon times. And he is having far too much success today. That’s why it is so important for us as priesthood holders to take a firm stand for truth and right by doing what we can to help keep our communities safe.

We have a responsibility to live up to. We need to beware these secret combinations and stand for truth and right.