Ezra Taft Benson
"In the contemporary world, secret combinations take various forms and operate at different levels of society. They are expressed in organized crime and in religious, economic, and political conspiracies. The Lord has warned that secret combinations will be present in modern society (D&C 38:29; Ether 8:20-25). They threaten freedom everywhere. However, Latter-day Saints believe that secret combinations and their practices can be overcome, but only through righteous living and full support of honest government.
"…The Prophet Moroni described how the secret combination would take over a country and then fight the work of God, persecute the righteous, and murder those who resisted. Moroni therefore proceeded to describe the workings of the ancient ‘secret combinations’ so that modern man could recognize this great political conspiracy in the last days: (quotes Ether 8:23-25)
“The Prophet Moroni seemed greatly exercised lest in our day we might not be able to recognize the startling fact that the same secret societies which destroyed the Jaredites and decimated numerous kingdoms of both Nephites and Lamanites would be precisely the same form of criminal conspiracy which would rise up among the gentile nations in this day.” (Conference Report, Oct. 1961, p. 71-2)
Neal A. Maxwell
“There will be combinations built up by the devil to overthrow freedom. (Ether 8:25.) He is still acting out against the principle of freedom.” (Things As They Really Are, p. 41)
Bruce R. McConkie
“At Armageddon that great political power which ’seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries,‘ and which ’bringeth to pass the destruction of all people,‘ and which is itself ’built up by the devil’ (Ether 8:25) -- that very political kingdom, in all its parts, shall be burned with fire. It is the great and abominable church.” (The Millenial Messiah, p. 494)