Secret Combinations Pt. I

What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality? Series

The Book of Mormon contains some surprising insights concerning economic inequality.  This series explores several topics addressed by the LDS scripture and its insights for today.

What Are 'Secret Combinations'?

In the Book of Mormon, 'secret combinations' are organizations set up to ensure its members become rich and powerful.  Their strategies to become rich are always dark - stealing, robbing, deceiving, murdering, etc.  They are usually secretive - as their strategies are obviously highly unpopular - but at times they are strong enough, or society is wicked enough, for them to act overtly without consequence.  Their strategies cause, exacerbate, and perpetuate inequalities and the persecution of the poor, and are the essence of the iniquities that the God of the Book of Mormon hates the most.

Secret combinations are behind the destruction contained in most of the history of the Book of Mormon.  They are the downfall of the Jaredite people, as well as King Noah's people (Iniquitous Kings).  Nehor's priestcraft followers formed a secret combination called 'The Order of Nehors' (Priestcraft).  Secret combinations, and their concomitant iniquities and inequality, are the source of all the wars and dissensions among the Nephite people (Dissension and War).

And of course, the largest and most dangerous secret combination are the Gadianton Robbers, who will be addressed specifically in the companion to this article (Gadianton Robbers).

To the Nephites, the only social organizations that exist in their society are the government, churches, and secret combinations; and sometimes the government is controlled by secret combinations, and sometimes churches are secret combinations, or at least their priestcrafts ideologically guide the combinations. There is no economic organization, or for-profit institution or venture which does not fall under these three categories, with 'secret combination' being the broadest category.

Additionally, in the Nephite world everything is black and white - there are people and organizations which seek the welfare of God's Children, and there are the people and organizations which seek after money.  There are no people or organizations that are neutral.  There is no free market, no corporations, no non-profit organizations, no business ventures or institutions of any kind, aside from government, churches, and secret combinations.  There is nothing like our modern and complex economy, and there isn't room in the worldview of the book for there to be - any for-profit venture would probably be considered an evil 'secret combination'.

Now, my point here isn't to say that modern capitalism is just a large collection of vicious secret combinations - that's a discussion for another time - but to provide appropriate context for the phrase.

Activities and Characteristics of Secret Combinations

All secret combinations are united under their singular purpose - for their members to become rich - but their strategies to achieve this goal differ throughout the Book of Mormon.  At times they become rich simply by taking resources; and at other times they become rich not by stealing, but by lying, deceiving, murdering, and doing everything possible to ensure their own members end up in leadership positions as government officials, judges, and lawyers, and then use these positions to rob from the poor.

Let's take a look at some of their main and overlapping strategies.  Remember, the Book of Mormon carefully uses particular words to describe situations, trusting that the reader knows the meaning of the word from earlier context.  In describing the iniquities of secret combinations the Book of Mormon uses similar verbs - like steal, plunder, and rob - where each word has its own particular nuance.  

They Steal

For secret combinations, stealing is a pretty straightforward way to become wealthy.  Fortunately for the people of the Book of Mormon, it is not the easiest.  Strong laws exist against stealing - what civilization can exist without such laws?  For the Nephites, laws against stealing exist from the beginning as that is a part of the Law of Moses.  In Mosiah 29, king Mosiah also establishes more laws against this iniquity, which laws are enforced by the judges of the land after his passing.

In order to get around this, secret combinations seek out to alter the laws.  In Helaman ch. 6 a secret combination is formed by members who make covenants and oaths with each other that they will protect each other from the consequences of their iniquities.  They are called the Gadianton Robbers - who will be discussed in more detail in the next post.  This secret combination murders and deceives in order to obtain powerful government positions.  Once in power they change laws and remove punishments to make their iniquities more easy, including stealing, and destroy any justice and equality in the process.  Helaman 7:4-5

4 [the Gadianton Robbers] having usurped the power and authority of the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright before him; doing no justice unto the children of men;

5 Condemning the righteous because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because of their money; and moreover to be held in office at the head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world, and, moreover, that they might the more easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills."

They Plunder

Plundering is the forceful and violent extreme of 'stealing'.  Secret combinations plunder by introducing chaos to families or entire cities, and then taking resources by force.  This chaos is caused by disrupting government, murdering, and by causing warfare - either behind the scenes or by raising up armies themselves.

They Rob

Robbing is by far the most subtle form of 'stealing'.  To rob from someone resources do not necessarily need to be taken by force, but can refer to denying otherwise justified resources.  In the scriptures when the word 'rob' is used it generally refers to the withholding of resources unjustly.  The most famous use of this word is in Malachi 3, also repeated in 3 Nephi 24:

8 Will a man rob God?  Yet ye have robbed me.  But ye say: Wherein have we robbed thee?  In tithes and offerings.

9 Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

The robbery here is that money, which should have been the Lord's, was not given to Him.  The Book of Mormon usage is consistent with this definition.

The secret combination - the Order of Nehors - among the people of Ammonihah, as well as the Zoramites, rob by vilifying the poor in their priestcraft, and thereby convincing the people that there is no need to give resources to them (and instead should give money to the Order).

King Noah and his priests rob the people - not only because he forcefully taxes them, but when those taxes are used on himself and not on the welfare of the people where the funds justly belong.

The Gadianton Robbers (aptly named) rob the people when they take over the government, and then use their new found powers to disrupt the regulations of the government and to change laws, the new transformation which persecutes the poor.

They Lie and Deceive

Whether it's false priests, lawyers, royal family members, or politicians, every secret combination in the Book of Mormon practices some form of deceit in order to find themselves on the top.

The most dangerous lie they tell is that the iniquities that they commit - the stealing, murdering, and robbing - are not wrong, but are normal.  At times, as with the Gadianton Robbers, they even manage to convince the righteous to practice iniquities with them - to the detriment of the poor.  As iniquities in society increase, so too does the power of secret combinations.

Another dangerous lie many secret combinations practice is priestcraft.  King Noah and his priests, as well as the Order of Nehors and the Zoramites, are a few examples of secret combinations employing this strategy, where they lie about religion in order to deceive people into giving their money willingly, as well as providing justification for the inequality which results from the craft. 

They Take Away Rights and Freedom

The only freedoms secret combinations care about is the freedom to commit iniquities and other wickedness.  When in power they change the laws and social/religious rules which put limits on their economic wickedness, while on the other hand removing freedoms from ordinary citizens.  Moroni warns in Ether 8:

25 For it cometh to pas that whoso buildeth [secret combinations] up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies...

The freedom most targeted is the freedom of worship.  This is because religion can be a very effective tool against iniquities and inequality, as well as an effective tool of galvanizing the government and people into hunting and destroying secret combinations. 

We will discuss more about strategies to combat secret combinations and inequality later in the chapter on Solutions to Inequality.

They Murder

Murder is a constant tool used by secret combinations; used directly in order to more easily plunder and terrorize, or indirectly to facilitate political maneuvering.  Laws are altered, and deceptions made, to make it easy for their members to murder and get away with these murders.

But there is a deeper connection that secret combinations have to murder.  Between Helaman 6 and Ether 8 we learn that the first secret combination was between Satan and Cain, when Satan put the idea of murder into Cain's heart, and so he killed his brother Abel.  Cain then became the master deceiver and murderer in order to get gain, or become rich. All secret combinations thereafter are built from Cain's plans and Satan's whisperings, and have murder at their heart.

But this verb 'murder' does not only refer to the act of Cain's violent slaying of his brother, but to any secret plan which leads to the deaths of human beings.  Secret combinations also murder by stealing, plundering, and robbing - and thereby taking away life-giving resources from those in need.  They murder by creating lies and priestcrafts which corrupt morality and government into justifying death and war in the pursuit of economic development.

Murder is at the soul of secret combinations, and death follows them wherever they go.

Consequences of  Secret Combinations

There are several obvious consequences of secret combinations.  Their attempts to become rich, and the spreading of iniquities throughout the land, causes serious economic inequality, and its concomitant pride and persecution of the poor.  The inequality found during several Pride Cycles are caused by the activities of secret combinations, including Mosiah 11, Helaman 3,4,6, and 13, and 3 Nephi 6.

Any equality in justice is also lost when secret combinations become powerful, as laws and morality is eroded away to facilitate the quick generation of wealth for a few, and the many iniquities which accompany that process.  Justice comes down hard on the poor, and their resources robbed, while the rich get away free because of their money.

If secret combinations and their iniquities become omnipresent then there is economic collapse.  Helaman 13, Ether 14, and Mormon 1 each chronicle events of serious economic recession and collapse in association with the iniquities of secret combinations.  In each case it is described that a 'curse' has come upon the land, where every treasure that is hidden up then disappears, and thieves infest the land.  Then everyone becomes paranoid and poor.  For example, Ether 14:

1 And now there began to be a great curse upon all the land because of the iniquity of the people, in which, if a man should lay his tool or is sword upon his shelf, or upon the place whither he would keep it, behold, upon the morrow, he could not find it, so great was the curse upon the land.

2 Wherefore every man did cleave unto that which was his own, with his hands, and would not borrow neither would he lend; and every man kept the hilt of his sword in his right hand, in the defense of his property and his own life and of his wives and children.

The 'curse' in each of the chapters are the natural consequences of rampant dishonesty and the erosion of economic justice - cooperation and trust between people ends.   When laws are eroded for the pursuit of riches, and wealth is robbed from the people, it dispels trust in the economic system and invites further dishonesty and theft.  In a desperate attempt to survive economic chaos, people hide up their treasures instead of sharing them with those in need, but find later that these are lost anyways. 

The treasures do not magically disappear, but are stolen - stolen likely by people who have been driven to desperation, and who have followed in the footsteps of the Gadianton Robbers in doing the only economic action which the law now facilitates - iniquity.  All thoughts of justice, equality, and charity are thrown out the door as everyone then embraces the idiom 'every man for himself', and society devolves into desperation, selfishness, iniquity, and violence.

This article will continue with a special look at a particular secret combination, the Gadianton Robbers.

What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality - Table of Contents

 

Secret Combinations Pt. II - Gadianton Robbers

What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality? Series

The Book of Mormon contains some surprising insights concerning economic inequality.  This series explores several topics addressed by the LDS scripture and its insights for today.

Who are the Gadianton Robbers and Murderers?

There are many groups of secret combinations in the Book of Mormon - a list of which is at the end of this post - but the greatest detail is given to the worst of the bunch, the Gadianton Robbers.

The Gadianton Robbers practice every strategy mentioned in the last article - in fact that list is largely generated from details about Gadianton - but they use different strategies at different times in Nephite history.  Their activities are markedly different in the book of Helaman than 3 Nephi, so let's take a look at each of those books separately.

Gadianton Robbers in Helaman

The beginning of the book of Helaman contains an election for the new chief judge.  Pahoran II wins the election, but one of his opponents, Pahoran's brother Paanchi, is so angry about his loss that he forms a secret combination of his friends and supporters and they secretly plot Pahoran's death.  His plans are discovered and he is punished by the law, but his combination nevertheless sends an assassin to kill Pahoran who is successful.

The government hunts the assassin, and his secret combination, but are only partially successful at seeking them out and destroying them over the next several chapters.  A man named Gadianton takes over the band of murderers and robbers, and the secret combination is called after his name thereafter.  Throughout the book of Helaman these Gadianton Robbers act subtly - conducting secret murders, taking advantage of weak government and laws in order to rob and steal, and always seeking to put their own members in powerful positions.

In Helaman 3 economic inequality grows as a result of Gadianton's secret activities - and social contentions, iniquities, and dissensions accompany the inequality.  The new chief judge, Helaman, diligently acts to reduce the contentions and to hunt Gadianton, but the Robbers flourish in settled parts of the land and where the government is unaware of their existence (Helaman 3:23).  Eventually, the inequality is so great that even the members of the church become prideful and begin persecuting the poor - which has been discussed in the article on the Pride Cycle.

A ten year war humbles the people, and even results in the conversion of the Lamanites, during which time the Gadianton Robbers lose power.  Once the fighting ends in Helaman 6, both the Lamanites and Nephites become wealthy through trade with each other, and the people begin to set their hearts upon riches and to support the Gadianton Robbers.

Initially, the Gadianton Robbers are most numerous among the Lamanites, but the converted Lamanites are so ashamed of the iniquity among them that they hunt down and destroy or convert the Robbers among them, until they cease to exist (Helaman 6:20,37).  The Nephites, on the other hand, do just the opposite:

38 And it came to pass on the other hand, that the Nephites did build them up and support them, beginning at the more wicked part of them, until they had overspread all the land of the Nephites, and had seduced the more part of the righteous until they had come down to believe in their works and partake of their spoils, and to join with them in their secret murders and combinations.

39 And thus they did obtain the sole management of the government, insomuch that they did trample under their feet and smite and rend and turn their backs upon the poor and the meek, and the humble followers of God.

The lies of these robbers were so convincing that they managed to persuade the righteous to practice iniquities with them, and even to join in their murders (probably not overt murders - these were still the "righteous" people - but deaths caused through withholding resources).  Once in power, they used their political leverage to immediately persecute the poor, as they had been doing all along through their robbing and priestcrafts.

The prophets Nephi and Samuel address the iniquities of the people in the rest of the book of Helaman.  Some listen to their words, but most only repent after a serious economic collapse and a famine.

Gadianton Robbers in 3 Nephi

In 3 Nephi the Gadianton Robbers try some new tactics.

In chapter 1, they make defensible strongholds in the mountains, and then convince dissenters to leave in droves from both the Nephites and the Lamanites.  The people throughout the land are wicked and iniquitous, and these iniquities strengthen the Robbers.

In chapter 2, the Robbers become powerful enough to leave their strongholds in armies in order to murder and to pillage, and even to destroy entire villages, and then to retreat back to their strongholds, where the governments of the Nephites and Lamanites could not touch them.

In chapter 3, Giddiani, the new leader of the Gadianton Robbers, writes to Lachoneous, the leader of the Nephites demanding the surrender of their possessions:

6 Therefore I write unto you, desiring that ye would yield up unto this my people, your cities, your lands, and your possessions, rather than that they should visit you with the sword and that destruction should come upon you.

7 Or in other words, yield yourselves up onto us, and unite with us and become acquainted with our secret works, and become our brethren that ye may be like unto us - not our slaves, but our brethren and partners of all our substance.

This is an invitation for the Nephites to abandon their economic laws and beliefs and to join in the economic system of the Gadianton Robbers.  It is not a direct lie, those who join would be partners, but they would lose whatever measure of equality they previously created by their laws, as well as their freedom of worship and their church, which preached against the iniquities of Gadianton.

The righteous Nephites and Lamanites see that in order to defend their freedoms and liberties, as well as their very lives, they would need to ban together to defeat the Gadianton Robbers.  All the righteous are gathered into one part of the land, and the people share their resources and build fortifications and armies.  The Gadianton Robbers come to battle, but are repulsed by the courage and renewed ethics of equality and liberty of the Nephites and Lamanites.

The righteous wait in their fortified land for seven years, having plenty of resources once they combined against the Robbers.  The Robbers on the other hand, having never had a sustainable economic system as they relied on robbing and plundering, eventually starve, and their combination collapses. 

The Nephites and Lamanites then are able to return to their lands and to enjoy prosperity purchased through law, renewed economic morality, and their warfare with the Robbers.

Unfortunately, the prosperity and peace do not last.  In chapter 6 the people become unequal and prideful, and a pride cycle ensues.  This pride cycle was detailed in the second article concerning the pride cycle - it features not only inequality of wealth, but serious inequality in access to education which leads to many social problems.

This instance of pride and persecution of the poor is so bad that it leads to the breaking up of the church of God among the people for the first time since its organization with Alma and King Mosiah.  The wickedness also gives the last remaining secret Gadianton Robbers enough power to destroy the government and its laws once and for all in chapter 7:

6  And the regulations of the government were destroyed, because of the secret combination of the friends and kindreds of those who murdered the prophets.

The government collapses, and for the rest of the history until the coming of Jesus the people are divided into tribes.  The Gadianton Robbers thus had finally managed to destroy the laws of the land which limited their ability to steal, rob, murder, and commit other iniquities.

The Nephites and Lamanites gave the Robbers the power to destroy the government because of their love of money, and after only a few short years since they had sacrificed everything in order to defeat them.

Save for the complete destruction of the Nephites at the end of the Book of Mormon, this episode is the greatest tragedy of the book.  It was all thanks to the greed and iniquities of secret combinations, and the inequality and other disasters that ensue when their lust for money is accompanied with political power.

Chapters about the Gadianton Robbers and Other Secret Combinations

Online Scriptures
Ether 8-11, 14-15 - Secret combinations among the Jaredites
Mosiah 11-12, 23-24; Alma 24-25, 43  - King Noah and his priests
Alma 1,4, 8-16, 21-22, 31-35 - The Order of Nehors - Amalekites, Zoramites
Alma 37 - Concerning the Jaredite Record
Alma 46-48  - Amalikiah
Alma 51, 61-62 - The King-men
Helaman 2-13 - Gadianton's secret society
3 Nephi 1-7 - Wars against the Gadianton Robbers
4 Nephi, Mormon 1 - Reemergence of Gadianton


What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality - Table of Contents

Twilight of the Nephites and Conclusions

What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality? Series

The Book of Mormon contains some surprising insights concerning economic inequality.  This series explores several topics addressed by the LDS scripture and its insights for today.

Highlight and Twilight of the Nephite Civilization

In this article I would like to conclude the historical narrative of the Book of Mormon, which is best done by sharing what may be the most illuminating chapter in the Book of Mormon on inequality - 4 Nephi.

4 Nephi covers nearly 300 years of history in unfortunately only 4 pages.  But first we need to finish up the history of 3 Nephi.

After the crumbling of the church and government described in the post on Gadianton Robbers, those who destroyed the government so that they could more easily become rich are destroyed by earthquakes and storms, while many of the righteous remain safe and gather in another part of the land.

Jesus appears.  He heals the sick, teaches the gospel, and establishes a church among the people similar in organization to the church of the Apostles in the New Testament.

He institutes the Law of Consecration among them (which will be discussed further in the chapter of Solutions to Inequality).  In short, the Law of Consecration, or "having all things common" among the people, means that there is no socio-economic inequality - all resources are shared.  The same system was established by the Apostles in Acts 2.

The effects of this equality are tremendous.  4 Nephi:

3 And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift. ...

10 And now, behold, it came to pass that the people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceedingly fast, and became an exceedingly fair and delightsome people. ...

15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.

16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.

17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.

Equality in temporal things leads to a removal of social problems, or spiritual iniquities, and the people are happy.  All of their previous problems - the iniquity, the strife, the lies, the murders, and the warfare - came because of inequality, and the priestcrafts and secret combinations that created the inequality.  When the inequality is removed, so too are all of their problems.

Their peace lasts 200 years, until the equality ended.  Somehow, although everyone theoretically should have had equal resources, some are able to flaunt their wealth and pride, and then everything falls apart.

 24 And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world.

25 And from that time forth they did have their goods and their substance no more common among them.

26  And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny the true church of Christ. ...

28 And this church did multiply exceedingly because of iniquity, and because of the power of Satan who did get hold upon their hearts. ...

34 Nevertheless, the people did harden their hearts, for they were led by many priests and false prophets to build up many churches, and to do all manner of iniquity. ...

42 And it came to pass that the wicked part of the people began again to build up the secret oaths and combinations of Gadianton.

46 And it came to pass that the robbers of Gadianton did spread over all the face of the land... And gold and silver did they lay up in store in abundance, and did traffic in all manner of traffic.

Once economic inequality is reintroduced the people quickly return to their iniquities - their priestcrafts, robbing, dissensions, persecutions, strife, envyings, and secret combinations.  Throughout the last books in the Book of Mormon, the iniquity of the people led to all the usual consequences - more inequality, social strife and contention, all manner of wickedness, the erosion of government, recession, murder, chaos, and war, as well as other serious consequences including the removal of the Church which Jesus establishes.

The people, now all of them wicked and iniquitous, divide themselves into tribes based on their race - or their family line.  Year after year, battle after battle, war after war, hundreds of thousands of people are killed on both sides of the conflict.  Unlike earlier wars, this bloodshed is not a conflict of iniquity vs. righteousness, or freedom to commit iniquity vs. regulation - but is a free-for-all of iniquity, greed, and unnatural hatred.

Eventually, the entire culture of the Nephites, and the remnants of their government and religion, which fought for so long against iniquity and inequality, are completely destroyed, leaving only a record which speaks from the dust as a warning against unfettered iniquity, and unaddressed inequality.

Conclusions

There are a lot of important lessons I feel the historical narrative of the Book of Mormon can offer regarding economic inequality, but here is a summary of the highlights:

• Under the reign of kings the people of the Book of Mormon are frequently, and fiercely, unequal.  The iniquities of these kings also often leads to the iniquity and general wickedness of all the people.  The church of God, and the government of the land, are formed in response to this inequality - and thereafter remain as a bulwark against inequality and iniquity.

• Even with a religion and civil laws which restrict iniquity, economic inequality still at times afflicts the Nephites.  The sharp divide between the rich and poor creates pride, the persecution of the poor, further inequities, strife, malice, and severe recession.  It also leads to other forms of inequality, including inequities in education and justice.

• Most of the time, inequality exists among the Nephites because of organized or systematic iniquity - or calculated actions of a few to rob the people.  The Nephite religion and government is designed to fight individual and organized iniquity, and by so doing limit inequality.

•  Systematic iniquity comes in a few main forms:
• Priestcrafts - or the twisting of religion in order to enrich a few, or to justify iniquities and inequality
• Secret combinations - or secret groups which rob, murder, steal, lie, and disrupt/control government in order to enrich a few
• Dissensions - the breaking away from culture, religion, and government in order to practice iniquities without interference

• Iniquity and greed - especially through dissensions - are the primary cause of war in the Book of Mormon.  These long and bloody campaigns can be boiled down to a conflict between anarchy, dissension, inequality, and unrestricted greed on one hand, and laws, government, justice, equity, liberty, society, regulation, and religion on the other.

• Economic inequalities in the narrative may be connected to racial inequities and tensions.  It is possible these tensions are used to further the agenda of organized iniquity.

• When the Nephites experience equality then there are no signs of social problems, iniquity, and other forms of wickedness among the people.  When the Nephites experience inequality - especially orchestrated inequality - then iniquity, wickedness, and chaos abounds.  Eventually, it is inequality which leads to the destruction of an entire civilization.

So, what do you think?  I hope I have been clear in my presentations, but I am bound to have forgotten to include my reasoning for thinking a certain way somewhere in these articles.  Please civilly let me know if you have any questions, comments, and concerns.

The next two chapters in this series, on Teachings of the Book of Mormon and Solutions to Inequality, will be posted soon.  In the meantime, read the lists of highlighted chapters I included after several posts.  Better yet, just read Mosiah through 4 Nephi, and then let me know your thoughts.


What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality - Table of Contents

Priestcraft

What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality? Series

The Book of Mormon contains some surprising insights concerning economic inequality.  This series explores several topics addressed by the LDS scripture and its insights for today.

What Is Priestcraft?

Priestcraft is a unique word used in the Book of Mormon.  It refers to when people use the gospel in order to become rich and/or famous - directly or indirectly.  It is not at all a type of sorcery, like 'witchcraft'.

At times, individuals accused of priestcraft in the Book of Mormon are liars who pretend to be teachers of God in order to deceive the people into giving them riches.

At other times the priestcraft is more subtle - where a group or class of people benefit temporally from an incorrectly applied, or completely perverted, doctrine.

Priestcraft is problematic in the Book of Mormon in two ways.

First, it introduces the concept that one can and should be able to charge money for religious services.  This is an evil and an iniquity, and is not a part of the Gospel of Christ according to the Book of Mormon.  Furthermore, it can cause inequality by redistributing money from the many to the few.

2 Nephi 26 should make that clear:

27 Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation?  Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.

28  Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness?  Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.

29  He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.

30  Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing...

31  But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.

The second way priestcraft is dangerous is because it justifies inequality.  It is an ideology that suggests there should be inequality, that some should possess more than others, and that the poverty of others is justified.  Priestcrafts then become the ideological underpinnings of inequality in Nephite society - where social, civil, and religious checks to inequality could be eroded away through the twisting of religion.

So, in order to understand why priestcraft causes inequality (and why that is a serious problem) we need to introduce a few events in the Book of Mormon.

A Short History of Priestcraft

Iniquitous Kings

The first priestcraft to plague the Nephites are iniquitous kings - especially King Noah, for which there is great detail.

We know from the book of Jacob that at the beginning of their society the people were taught that wealth inequality and persecuting the poor is "iniquity and abomination" (Jacob 2:12-21).

And yet, that is certainly not the message that King Noah's partners in crime, the High Priests, taught. They taught the people in word and deed that it was okay for a class of people to be fabulously wealthy, and well within the rights of King Noah to tax the people in order to facilitate that wealth.


King Noah used the High Priests to keep himself in power and wealthy, while the High Priests twisted religion to make themselves and the king wealthy.  Their actions are priestcraft and therefore evil in its own right, but with the added iniquity of causing serious inequality among the people.

When Abinadi the prophet came to challenge the put to death for challenging the authority of the king and his priests, for he threatened the carefully crafted scheme.

You know from the iniquitous kings article that after King Noah the Nephites formed a new church and a new government focused on eliminating the iniquities of the past. 

Nehor

Shortly after the new church and government is organized, Alma, who is the leader of both, receives his first challenge in Alma 1.


A man named Nehor begins teaching the people a very easy, but ultimately false, doctrine that all people will be saved, and there is no need for people to do anything (including serving the poor).  Many people enjoy his ideas so much that they give him money, and he thereafter establishes a church, with him as the rich and famous head.  He even begins teaching that priests such as himself ought to be rich and popular - so therefore it should be a requirement of the faithful to facilitate this.

Alma is unsure how to deal with the false teachings.  After all, his government protects religious freedoms, but Nehor's teachings were not only false, but caused inequality by massively redistributing wealth from the many to Nehor and his cronies.  Furthermore, Nehor's example and sophistry caused the people to commit iniquities.

Before Alma can form an appropriate response to Nehor's priestcrafts however, Nehor murders Gideon, a hero of the revolution against King Noah.  Nehor is then put to death for his crime.

Nehor's death unfortunately does not stop the priestcrafts.  His strategies are passed on to others and these followers are thereafter referred to as the 'Order of Nehors', a secret combination which plagues the Nephites and the Lamanites for generations after Nehor as false churches are established in order to extract wealth from the people.

The episode with Nehor proves to Alma that he must act to limit future priestcrafts.  His reactions offer further insights into what the priestcrafts were all about.

Alma strengthens laws to prevent people from using religion to lie, steal, rob, and persecute others. People were free to believe in false teachings, but not to practice their beliefs if those beliefs deceive the people and steal from them.

Alma also recognizes the need to counteract the dangerous ideas that Nehor introduced to the people.  He taught his priests to believe this, Alma 1:

26  ... and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.

27  And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely.  ...

29  And now, because of the steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of all things whatsoever they stood in need...

30  And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all... without respect to persons as to those who stood in need.

31  And thus they did prosper and become far more wealthy than those who did not belong to their church.

So Alma and the teachers espouse equality in their behaviors and teachings, including in giving to the poor and needy.  Because of their equality everyone has an abundance of what they need, but when wealth comes the people do not turn away the poor.

Equality, in ethic and practice, led to more wealth generation than those who were not part of Alma's church, who practiced priestcraft and iniquities.


Order of Nehors - Zoramites

After Nehor's death, his followers hone their skills and priestcrafts, causing economic and spiritual chaos among the Nephites and Lamanites alike.  The article Dissension and War details several of the activities of these priestcraft-practicing dissenters. 

The most detailed of these stories are the Zoramites - found in Alma 31-35.

Alma - now solely the religious leader of the land - leads a group of missionaries to reclaim the Zoramites who have dissented from the religion and government and have formed a camp to themselves away from the Nephites.  They observe the strange practices of the Zoramites - including their once a week religious observance of standing on a tower and chanting about how much better they are than other people, and how God elected them to be superior.

Of course, not all the Zoramites receive this 'elected' status.  A class of poor people, who had built the synagogues and tower of the Zoramites themselves, were barred from entering them.  And yet they stayed in the camp of the Zoramites because they believed that their only chance of connecting with God was by praying at the very synagogues they were barred from entering.

The Zoramites had separated themselves from the Nephite government and religion because both had made it more difficult to practice priestcrafts.  They practiced the priestcrafts in order to become rich - in this case by deceiving an entire group of people into working for them in poverty, without receiving any religious benefit.

The priestcraft was carefully calculated to create this inequality.

Alma and his missionaries have no success with the wealthy Zoramites, but the poor are humble enough to listen to them.  Alma teaches the poor that they do not need synagogues and towers to pray, but should pray wherever and whenever they can.  He then offers this stern warning, Alma 34:

28 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need - I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.

Alma's counsel is the opposite of the philosophy of the Zoramites.  His teaching "destroys the craft" of the Zoramites, ie destroys their money-making scheme.  In retribution, the Zoramites dissent to the Lamanites, and wage war on the Nephites in order to impose their scheme on all people.

So How do These Priestcrafts Contribute to Inequality?

It Directly Causes Inequality

By deceiving people into believing that false teachers should be compensated for their services, priestcrafts redistribute money from the majority to a deceitful minority, creating inequality.  To the Book of Mormon people, aside from wicked kings and their taxes, there is no mechanism that can distribute money to a minority.

In the new government, leaders are volunteers or justly compensated for their time - they do not become fabulously wealthy (unless the Gadianton Robbers take over).  There are no corporations, no enterprises, and no products that everyone simply must have - there is no reason for a small group of people to receive a portion of money from everyone else, except through priestcraft.

In a society where mass redistribution of income is unheard of, and inequality is considered an 'abomination', priestcrafts are very alarming.

Why wouldn't people see the unjust redistribution and simply not give their money to practitioners of priestcraft?

The Nephite people seem to rely heavily on priests and teachers to learn of the scriptures and the gospel.  The average person does not have access to education, literacy, copies of scriptural records, and travel experience.  Without these tools it is easy to fall prey to teachers you are raised to trust.  And thus the inexperienced and the uneducated also become the poor.

They Use Religious Authority to Excuse Inequality
 

Remember that the Nephites are taught that inequality is an 'iniquity and abomination' (Jacob 2), and that they covenant to share their resources with the poor, or lose their remission of sins (Mosiah 4).  Priestcrafts of necessity include some false teaching that it is actually okay for inequality to exist, and therefore it is okay to withhold resources.  This ideology is necessary for any serious economic inequalities to persist in Nephite society.

With King Noah, Nehor, and his successors, the lie was that it was okay for a king, or priests, to become wealthy - it was part of the religion.

For the Zoramites, they pushed a lie that they were for some reason elected of God, superior to all other people, and therefore it was acceptable for them to be temporally superior as well.

For Korihor in Alma 30, he taught that the people should prosper "according to their genius" and strength - or that it was okay if someone had more, because they earned it with their intelligence and work, and therefore it was also okay if others were poor.  No action should be required to correct inequality or poverty.

This is a very dangerous precept, because a people who no longer see inequality as an evil and injustice, and rather see it as justified by religion, will not act against it, even though doing so would actually be in the best interest of themselves and their religion in its true form.

They Relinquish the Obligation to the Poor

Alma's teachings to serve the poor in reaction to priestcrafts indicates that serving the poor is a teaching priestcrafts purposefully omitted.  Nehor and his successors were popular precisely because of that omission.  Their teachings were easy - the requirement to help the poor is difficult, especially if you consider passages like Jacob 2 "be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you".

By teaching the people that they no longer had to care for the poor a religious mechanism for mitigating and eliminating inequality was also removed.

In the place of care for the poor comes disdain and hatred.  The easiest way to remove the guilt of seeing poverty and inequality is to cover that guilt with hatred.  The easiest way to do this is to attack the character of the poor.  To exaggerate the sins and character flaws of the poor in an attempt to justify their predicament.

If true teachers and prophets come to challenge iniquity, priestcrafts, and the persecution of the poor, then their are viciously attacked, or simply murdered as in the case of Abinadi and many other prophets.

Inequality thus increases, in addition to its other consequences, like increasing iniquity and social instability.  Priestcraft is thus a central part of nearly every pride cycle, as the inequality in the pride cycle is caused by priestcraft.

Priestcrafts cause the Zoramites to not only cease temporally providing for the poor, but also come to hate the poor.  This emotionally allowed them to take advantage of the poor against any healthy conscience, while simultaneously also deceiving the poor into remaining in their camp, although they were being exploited.

Ultimately, priestcraft is the ideology which allows for inequality to even exist.  In the chapter on Teachings about Inequality we will look at how the Book of Mormon dismantles several modern priestcrafts.

Chapters Concerning Priestcrafts

We were only able to look at a few passages about priestcrafts in this article, but feel free to take a look at a few more:

2 Nephi 26 and 2 Nephi 28 - Prophesies concerning priestcraft
Mosiah 11 - Priestcrafts of King Noah and his priests
Alma 1 and Alma 4 - Alma and Nehor
Alma 8-16 - The Mission to Ammonihah

Alma 21; 22; 24; 25; and 43

Alma 21; 22; 24; 25; and 43 - Amulonites and Order of Nehors among the Lamanites

(Alma 21; 22; 24; 25; and 43

Alma 30 - Philosophy of Korihor
Alma 31-35 - The Mission to the Zoramites
Helaman 13 - Samuel the Lamanite's Mission to the Nephites


What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality - Table of Contents

Book of Mormon vs. Mainstream Christian Understanding of Inequality

What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality? Series

The Book of Mormon contains some surprising insights concerning economic inequality.  This series explores several topics addressed by the LDS scripture and its insights for today. 
Table of Contents 

Understanding Inequality in the Book of Mormon

In the last article we addressed how the Book of Mormon frequently discusses social problems, but describes them in very different terms and in different ways than we would in modern academia.  As the title to this article suggests, the Book of Mormon also greatly differs from much of modern Christianity in how it discusses sin, wickedness, and iniquity.  This article addresses those differences.

The Book of Mormon mentions several types of sin and wickedness - both at the individual and societal scales.  As you will be clear throughout this series, the sin which is most common among the people of the Book of Mormon, and invokes the greatest retribution from God and His prophets, is inequality between the rich and poor - and the pride, persecution of the poor, social strife, and other immorality that always seems to coincide with inequality.  

These conditions are summed up in one word: iniquity.
 

When modern religious discourse contains words like 'sin' and 'wickedness' what is usually being referred to is a departure from what is morally good and right on a personal scale - for example the "seven deadly sins" of lust, gluttony, envy, greed, sloth, wrath, and pride.  The primary consequence of such a sin is the personal separation from God.  

As sin is largely a personal phenomenon, the solution requires personal introspection, communion with the divine, repentance and reformation, and forgiveness of self and others.

The 'iniquity' of the Book of Mormon is not your classic Christian deviation from morality, but it uses some of the same religious terms to describe mistakes which the society makes, or mistakes that an individual makes which can lead to social problems.   

This isn't to say that the Book of Mormon does not address the common forms of immorality discussed in modern Christianity, but that the Book of Mormon authors predominantly address larger social problems, described as 'iniquities'.

The God of the Book of Mormon is upset when his people contend with one another, when family obligations are not taken seriously, when his people are economically unequal, when the poor are not taken care of, etc.  Personal wickedness is rarely mentioned.  Even the few times the book discusses sexual immorality, the primary problem addressed is that the immorality affects the faith and well-being of other people (Jacob 2, Mosiah 11, and Alma 39).  

The inequalities described in the historical narrative of the Book of Mormon, as both a moral and social problem, is impossible to understand with a paradigm that views wickedness solely on the personal scale.  To be sure, people can be personally prideful, greedy, wrathful, and slothful in situations including some form of economic inequality, but if personal problems are the only errors that the Nephites in the Book of Mormon have, then the solution would simply be for prophets to teach these sins, and invite the people to repent, and be humble.  

And yet, that is not the message the Nephites hear.  They are told again and again that they need to share their resources; to sacrifice of their riches not only to meet the needs of the poor, but to correct the inequality once and for all.  Furthermore, the Nephites form a government which combats inequality, and punishes those who would commit iniquities, and thereby create inequality.

Consider for now one example:

Jacob 2:

13... and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they. ...

16 O that he would rid you from this iniquity and abomination.  And, O that ye would listen unto the word of his commands, and let not this pride of your hearts destroy your souls!

17 Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.

The solution matches the economic component and social scale of the problem.  Preaching against envy, hubris, and sloth can only address pride - a second wave of wickedness which seems to always coincide with inequality - but to address the socioeconomic immorality of inequality the Nephites are told to correct the inequality.

Inequality as an Abomination

You may have noticed in the above quotation that Jacob referred to the inequality of the people as both an 'iniquity' and an 'abomination'.  This word 'abomination' is used less often than 'iniquity' in the Book of Mormon - but when it is used it is in the context of institutional inequality, or practices which bring about inequality. 

Viewing inequality as a serious word such as 'abomination' requires religious paradigm shift.  The God of the Book of Mormon is most indignant when social inequities are caused and perpetuated.  

This is not to say that He does not care about personal sin, but the Book of Mormon evidences that His greatest concern is when a sin affects lots of people - and the most common sins to do so are 'iniquities'.

I realize that for many of you it may be hard to understand and accept a world where God's most hated sin - an 'abominable' sin - is inequality and iniquity.  It is alien to much of what is taught in modern Christianity.  

Furthermore, many people today would claim that some of the iniquities described in the Book of Mormon are not sins at all - such as the iniquity of not giving resources to the poor which not only address their needs, but also their wants.

And yet, the Book of Mormon narrative and teachings cannot be read and understood without this paradigm shift.  

For the record, I have been contrasting the Book of Mormon with modern mainstream Christianity.  The same arguments above could be made for contrasting the Bible with mainstream Christianity as well.  Later in the series we will take a look at where the Bible confirms the teachings of the Book of Mormon.

Chapter 2 of this series on Teachings of the Book of Mormon on Inequality is dedicated towards contrasting Book of Mormon teachings with modern economic ideas, including many informed by mainstream Christianity.  It will continue this discussion.


When you are ready, check out chapter 1, the historical narrative of the Book of Mormon, and see what the narrative of the book has to say about inequality.


What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality - Table of Contents

Academic Vs Religious Approach to Inequality

What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality? Series

The Book of Mormon contains some surprising insights concerning economic inequality.  This series explores several topics addressed by the LDS scripture and its insights for today.
Table of Contents

Understanding Inequality in the Book of Mormon

Before we begin our discussion about the inequality content of the Book of Mormon, I believe it would be beneficial to introduce some differences between how the book describes social problems and how we do today.  This post will focus on the difference between using academic terms to describe inequality vs. using religious Book of Mormon terms, and also to point out that academic literature communicates information differently than scripture does.

Book of Mormon Inequality

First of all, it is important to emphasize that the Book of Mormon is a religious record.  The characters in the book have no concept of a separation between religious and secular concepts, to them everything is religion, and the history recorded therein reflects this.  Therefore, when social problems arise they are described in religious terms - including words like 'sin', 'wickedness', 'iniquity', 'abomination', etc.

Today, although inequality is a moral problem, we most often discuss economic inequality in academic terms, using very different terminology than the words used in religious discourse.  For this reason, it can be very easy to overlook the economic commentary in the Book of Mormon. 

In the history portion of the Book of Mormon, although the people are frequently unequal, the word 'inequality' is seldom used, and not usually in the same connotation that is commonly used today.  Instead, other words are used - like 'wickedness', 'pride', 'persecutions', and 'crime', but when you look at the context what is really being referred to is inequality.

The most common word which describes wickedness in the context of inequality is 'iniquity'.

The Book of Mormon uses the word 'iniquity' 213 times.  Of all the terms used to describe wickedness, 'iniquity' is the most commonly used.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes iniquity as a gross injustice, something that is unfair or evil, or the quality of being unfair or unequal.  As an example, in Joseph Smith's day, when the Book of Mormon was translated, the word iniquity was often used to describe the institution of slavery in the U.S.

In the Book of Mormon, 'iniquity' is almost always used to describe social sin, often committed by entire societies.  If it is used to describe an individual's actions they are actions which lead to large-scale problems - like robbing from the poor, and therefore worsening poverty and inequality.

As you will see in this series, the eventual consequence of iniquity is inequality between the rich and poor, the persecution of or withholding resources from the poor, stealing and robbing, strife, envy, malice, and any act that supports priestcrafts and secret combinations.

Later in this series we will look closely at each of the above problems as it is addressed in the historical narrative of the book. 

Examples of Iniquity and Inequality in the Book of Mormon

Here are a few examples of how the words 'iniquity' and 'inequality' are used in the Book of Mormon.  All italics area added.

Alma 4 - There is a great division between the rich and the poor.  Rich members of the church become prideful because of their riches and begin to persecute the poor, and no longer share their resources:

11 .... and he saw also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people.

12 Yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and the naked...

3 Nephi 6, another example - The people become wealthy, and wealth begins to divide them:

12 And the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches.

13 Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions...

14 And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up...

15 Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this - Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority and riches, and the vain things of the world.

Mosiah 29 - King Mosiah has just reviewed the record of the Jaredite civilization, and their long history of selfish Kings; as well as the history of King Noah who heavily taxed his people in order to pay for his lavish palaces:

17 For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!

18 Yea, remember king Noah, and his wickedness and his abominations, and also the wickedness and abominations of his people.  Behold what great destruction did come upon them; and also because of their iniquities they were brought into bondage.   ...

21 And behold, now I say unto you, ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous king save it be through much contention, and the shedding of much blood. ...

31  For behold I say unto you, the sins of many people have been caused by the iniquities of their kings; therefore their iniquities are answered upon the heads of their kings.

32 And now I desire that this inequality should be no more in this land, especially among this my people; but I desire this land be a land of liberty, and every man may enjoy his rights and privileges alike...

As you can see, the Book of Mormon does point out inequality directly - but as I said it seldom does so (these three passages represent half of the usages of 'inequality' in the book).

 Meaning is Not Always Explicit in the Scriptures

Rather than use the word 'inequality', most of the passages that we will look at in this series will either point out the economic division between the rich and poor, and the concomitant persecution of the poor; or they will simply say that the people commit "iniquities", without offering details about about what these iniquities are.

As in many cases in scripture, it is up to the reader to know the context of the word based on previous usages.  Today in academics, we are accustomed to the author's point being explicitly pointed out for us.  The scriptures require a lot more work, and because of this they resist simplistic interpretations.

And yet, we need to come to some simple interpretations to have a conversation on the topic of inequality.  And so, I will define iniquity as so:

Book of Mormon Iniquity: a form of wickedness, often economic in nature, which creates social inequities.  This includes, but is not limited to, robbing, lying, withholding resources from the poor, persecutions, and priestcrafts.  It is the most common sin addressed by prophets in the book, and the most serious risk to society and prosperity the Nephites face.

In Book of Mormon vs. Mainstream Christian Sin we will explore how the Book of Mormon differs from mainstream Christianity in addressing inequality, and other social wickedness.


What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality - Table of Contents

Introduction - What Does the Book of Mormon Say about Inequality?

What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality? Series

The Book of Mormon contains some surprising insights concerning economic inequality.  This series explores several topics addressed by the LDS scripture and its insights for today.

 

Introduction

'Inequality' is a popular topic today.  Whether you are talking about income, wealth, racial, gender, or marriage inequality, discussions concerning inequities are everywhere you look.  Many approach these problems through the gratuitous nastiness that is partisan politics.  While it would be interesting to filter through this nastiness and discuss the good arguments along all of the political spectrum, this series will explore inequality through a religious discussion of the Book of Mormon.

Why religion?

I should state first that I believe political inclinations should be founded on a rational thought process, and not alone on religious belief.  This is not to say that religion has no place in the public sphere, which is untrue, but that we live in a religiously diverse nation and world, and policies which affect everyone really should be based on ideas and conclusions that can be shared with and experienced by everyone.

With that being said, religious beliefs nevertheless inspire political beliefs directly, and heavily influence how people think about political issues indirectly.  Understanding how religion influences people's opinions concerning inequality is important, regardless of whether or not you yourself have the same convictions.

Furthermore, inequality is not wholly a political issue, or even mainly a political issue.  In fact, addressing inequality as a moral and theological problem is central to many religious messages, especially Jesus Christ whose teachings in the Book of Mormon will be a large part of this discussion.  Religious organizations should be doing, and many are doing, their part to address the problems of inequality, and in the end may have more success than any political endeavor.

To reemphasize, regardless of whether or not you agree with the religious convictions of others we can still work together to resolve issues that we all experience; and understanding the beliefs of those around you will help you to do so.

Why the Book of Mormon?  

Why would I approach this topic using the Book of Mormon instead of a different religious text like the New Testament?

Two reasons, first although Mormons in the U.S. are relatively few (about 2% of the US population I believe), they have had a profound affect on politics, especially in Utah and surrounding states, but also on the national stage.  Former Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is Mormon, as well as the previous senate majority leader Harry Reid (a democrat).

Second, even though the New Testament has plenty of material on inequality, the Book of Mormon is even more plentiful on the topic, perhaps even more than any religious book.  However, there will be times when I report major parallels with the New Testament within this series

I should note that while this series will be a discussion about the Book of Mormon, it is focused primarily on what the Book of Mormon teaches about inequality.  This will not  be a discussion about the Book of Mormon itself, Joseph Smith, or the LDS church.  Therefore, the articles will be limited to such a discussion, and I would ask that your comments follow suit.

So What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality?

The Book of Mormon is a mixture of Pauline Epistle-style gospel teaching and Acts-style historical narrative.  Both have quite a lot to say about inequality, but mainly on economic inequality which will be the focus of this series. 

As for the Book of Mormon's historical narrative, it turns out that the most common sin of the people of the book was allowing inequality into their society.  During the thousand year span of the Nephite civilization every time (which as it turns out was very often) the Nephites are described as wicked and are destroyed by their own designs, it is because their society is grossly unequal.

The process of destruction always begins with the people becoming wealthy, and this wealth eventually leading to major disparities between the rich and poor.  Pride, or the neglect and hatred of the poor then develops, leading to social strife and disorder.  Finally, the people are either humbled by their unequal and volatile circumstances, and use their religion and government to correct the inequities, or they are destroyed in the ensuing chaos.

This process is often referred to as the "Pride Cycle", and is among the central themes of the historical narrative.

The pride cycle worsens half-way through the Book of Mormon when groups referred to as 'secret combinations' begin institutionalizing the inequities between the rich and the poor through secret societies that murder, rob, deceive, twist religion, persecute the poor, dominate politics, disrupt government, and do whatever else it takes in order to enrich its own members. 

In addition to the history lessons, the Book of Mormon is also abundant in its direct teachings on the subject of economic inequality.  Economics is not a neutral issue for the God of the Book of Mormon - inequality is described as an 'abomination', any action which brings about inequality an 'iniquity', while serving the poor is among the central commandments given to the people, addressed through their religion, society, and government.

The topics in the Book of Mormon are very applicable to today, but in order to make these applications one needs a sound understanding of what the Book of Mormon says.  Therefore, I will hold off on most direct applications until the end of the series.

If any of these topics are of interest to you then I would encourage you to keep up with this series.  And just as a heads up - I have over 30 separate articles planned for this series.  So enjoy!

Organization

There is a lot to say about this topic, so I have divided this series into several sub-series, each with several topical posts.  Here are the sub-series which will be included:

• Introduction - a few articles, including this one, a table of contents, and two others offering a few helpful tools to understanding economic inequality in the Book of Mormon

• The Historical Narrative - includes several articles describing the cyclical history of the people in the Book of Mormon - especially featuring their frequent economic inequities, their causes and consequences

• Teachings of the Book of Mormon - this chapter will point out the distinct teachings of the Book of Mormon concerning wealth, poverty, inequality; especially pointing out the differences between the Book of Mormon and modern Prosperity Theology Christianity, as well as related economic ideologies.

• Solutions to Inequality - this chapter will highlight both the historical examples and teachings which are used in the Book of Mormon to address inequality

• Prophesies Concerning our Day - the Book of Mormon contains many prophesies about our day, highlighting the main problems in are day as the same economic inequities portrayed in the Book of Mormon

• Applying the Book of Mormon Message - this last sub-series will attempt to bring everything together and suggest several ways we can apply all the messages in the earlier sub-series to today

What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality - Table of Contents
Introduction - What Does the Book of Mormon Say about Inequality
    Academic vs Religious Approach to Inequality
    Book of Mormon vs Mainstream Christian Understanding of Inequality