149 Now behold, it is these secret oaths and covenants, which Alma commanded his son should not go forth unto the world, lest they should be a means of bringing down the people unto destruction.
150 Now behold, those secret oaths and covenants did not come forth unto Gadianton from the records which were delivered unto Helaman;
151 But behold, they were put into the heart of Gadianton, by that same being who did entice our first parents to partake of the forbidden fruit; yea, the same being who did plot with Cain, that if he would murder his brother Abel, it should not be known unto the world.
152 And he did plot with Cain and his followers, from that time forth.
153 And also it is that same being who put it into the hearts of the people, to build a tower sufficiently high that they might get to heaven.
154 And it was that same being who led on the people who came from that tower into this land; who spread the works of darkness and abominations over all the face of the land, until he dragged the people down to an entire destruction, and to an everlasting hell;
155 Yea, it is that same being who put it into the heart of Gadianton, to still carry on the work of darkness, and of secret murder; and he has brought it forth from the beginning of man, even down to this time.
156 And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin. And behold, he doth carry on his works of darkness and secret murder, and doth hand down their plots, and their oaths, and their covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness from generation to generation, according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the children of men.
157 And now behold, he had got great hold upon the hearts of the Nephites; yea, insomuch that they had become exceeding wicked;
158 Yea, the more part of them had turned out of the way of righteousness, and did trample under their feet the commandments of God, and did turn unto their own ways, and did build up unto themselves idols of their gold and their silver.
159 And it came to pass that all these iniquities did come unto them, in the space of not many years, insomuch that a more part of it had come unto them in the sixty and seventh year of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi.
