Moroni did not write the “oaths and combinations” of the secret bands (v. 20) for the same reason that Alma commanded his son Helaman to not write them, lest the reader “fall into darkness also and be destroyed” (Alma 37:27). Those oaths and combinations are among all people (Ether 8:20); therefore, we must avoid them even though Moroni did not write them. Another parallel is given by Moroni—they caused the destruction of both the Jaredites and the Nephites (v. 21; see also Helaman 2:12).
Moroni now warns the nations of our day (see also Ether 8:23). Notice that the combinations are plural in this warning (v. 22). There are apparently a variety of organizations that seek power and gain. There are probably a variety of depths or secretness in them as well. The blood of the saints will be shed, showing that the combinations will target church members. This will probably be because of the refusal of the saints to become a part of them when they are disclosed as they spread over the nation. The Lord will repay those combinations for their murders. As Moroni said, quoting a scripture that is now lost from the Bible, “vengeance is mine also, and I will repay” (Mormon 8:20; see also 8:40 and Mormon 3:15).
Moroni gives the nations of the Gentiles four things that must be done to avoid coming under the power of the combinations and being destroyed. The first thing to do is to repent of your sins (Ether 8:23). The combinations work illegally and concentrate on people who are in danger of financial setbacks or social embarrassment. Temptations for quick fixes to the problems, promises of great material gain, and questionable obligation must be thoroughly investigated and avoided. This process is the second thing that Moroni cautions them to do; suffer not these combinations to get above you” (v. 23).
The third thing Moroni tells the Gentiles to do is to “awake to a sense of your awful situation” (v. 24). To awake implies you have been asleep. Wherefore, become aware of how and where things originate and operate. The twenty-first century has begun with many disclosures of corruption in financial corporations. Beware of similar corruptions in every aspect of your lives. Remember that Satan and his combinations are among all people (v. 20). We must thoroughly examine everything we do.
We must also awake to political operations among us. Notice that Moroni speaks singular of “this secret combination” (v. 24). Nephi warned us of the kingdom of the devil and those who belong to it (see 1 Nephi 22:23; 2 Nephi 28:19). While there are also a variety or many facets of political corruption in various nations, they are all under the devil’s influence (Ether 8:25). Those political machines are also responsible for the murder of people (v. 24). Notice that the blood of those slain is not of the saints, but will also bring the vengeance of God upon them. The Lord has given us the Constitution that really “belongs to all mankind” and has admonished his saints to befriend it for “whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil” and its “law also maketh you free. Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn” (D&C 98:6–9). The Lord has given us the solution. “Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil” (D&C 98:10). If we fail to do this, the freedom of this land as well as all lands will be taken over by the devil (Ether 8:25).
The fourth thing that Moroni tells us to do is to do good continually (v. 26). If we are anxiously engaged in good causes we cannot only “bring to pass much righteousness” (D&C 58:27), but will not have time to get involved in evil things. The Lord said it this way: “And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God” (D&C 98:11).
The devil can influence us … “only as we permit him. The moment we revolt at anything which comes from God, the devil takes power” (TPJS, 181). If we do good continually we will “come unto this fountain of all righteousness and be saved” (Ether 8:26). May we do the things Moroni has told us to do.