Seems like we are firmly in it right now. They have gotten above us; parasites indeed!:
We are seeing the Book of Mormon being replayed in our time.
Do you recognize it?
"Let us summarize the essential nature of what some have called 'Gadiantonism':
"Objectives.
'Power and gain,' the two being interactive: power wins gain and gain wins power for whoever has either.
Control or overthrow of the government; using political office 'to rule
and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory'
(Helaman 7:5).
"Methods.
Secret agreements between individuals and groups. The Gadiantons are essentially an underground movement.
Assassination. These two things, 'secret combinations' and 'that men
should shed blood,' have been forbidden by God 'in all things . . . from
the beginning of man' (Ether 8:19).
"Payola": 'Akish did offer them
money' (Ether 9:11); 'letting the guilty . . . go unpunished because
of their money' (Helaman 7:5).
Skillful propaganda and public relations: 'flattering words.'
The hate campaign: a steady output of charges, accusations, and rumors,
in the manner of Amalickiah: Accuse--always accuse. Eagerness to accuse
is from the devil, as Brigham Young often taught.
Intimidation: 'breathing out many threatenings,' operating 'by the hand of secrecy,' wearing fearsome disguises (3 Nephi 4:7).
Showmanship, e.g., the picturesque uniforms and romantic appeal to the young (3 Nephi 1:29).
Tight control of members--death penalty for betrayal (Ether 8:14; Helaman 1:11).
"Attitude.
The Gadiantons were totally partisan, the laws and interests of the
combination taking priority over all other laws and interests.
All were ambitious, hence the labor for power and gain: Cain is the type and model.
The combinations were highly competitive, feuding fiercely among themselves.
They sought to project a noble image, with much talk of rights and
wrongs, high courage and upright character (the letter to Lachoneus).
They professed piety and religion, swearing their forbidden oaths not
by the demons but 'by the God of heaven' (Ether 8:14), 'by their
everlasting Maker' (Helaman 1:11).
They were paranoid, always
attributing their troubles to the wickedness of others; never the
aggressors, they are constantly seeking to avenge their wrongs.
Vengeance is their watchword.
"Ecology.
They flourish best in an affluent business society, and wither in times of poverty.
They crystallize around ambitious individuals.
They readily coalesce with king-men, would-be nobility, great families,
ambitious local officials, and rapacious Lamanite overlords, i.e., with
all who are opposed to popular government among the Nephites.
They have destroyed every civilization in the New World in which they have been able to thrive.
They cannot thrive or even survive without the acceptance and
encouragement of the society in general. Being predatory and
non-productive, i.e., parasites, they must have a complacent society to
host and support them. Such a society is one which accepts as desirable
the Gadianton goals of power and gain.
They can become dormant for
long periods of time and then, when circumstances are favorable,
suddenly appear in full strength and vigor, their plans having been
buried and preserved intact against the day of opportunity.
"The
Gadiantons, terrible as they were, are treated more as a symptom than as
a disease: the society that has them is sick, but they are like maggots
that prey only on dead tissue; they simply exploit the evil situation
that gives them their opportunity." (Hugh Nibley, Adapted from Since
Cumorah, pp. 370-2)
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