Ether 8

Moroni describes the beginning of the secret combinations that led to the destruction of the Jaredites and also of Moroni's own people. A secret combination is not just a club with a secret handshake. This is organized criminal activity. The members swear to protect each other from prosecution for their wickedness and keep each other's criminal deeds secret. Their purpose is to get power.

We clearly have these in our day. Organizations like Al Qaeda and its cousins seem obvious. What is concerning is that there are certainly secret combinations among us.

Moroni gives this warning to us:

23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.
24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.
25 For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it 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