2 Nephi 26:20-23

²⁰ And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have ‘stumbled,’ because of the greatness of their ‘stumbling block,’ that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.  ²¹ And there are many churches built up which cause envyings, and strifes, and malice.

2 Nephi 26:20-21 (Emphasis mine)

20  Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Ezekiel 3:20 (Emphasis mine)

15  What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor?  saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Isaiah 3:15 (Emphasis mine)

In the last days, Nephi(1) saw that pride would become a major problem for both the people and the churches.  Many churches will be built that will “put down” the miracles of God and preach their own wisdom in place of the word of God. 

Neal Maxwell explains how King Benjamin, in his great sermon understood the importance of this prophesy.

“But the path of wisdom [King Benjamin] cited is sharply distinguished from the ‘world and the wisdom thereof’ (1 Nephi 11:35). Benjamin knew that without revelations, prophets, and sacred records, mankind must settle for ‘preach[ing] up . . . their own wisdom’ (2 Nephi 26:20), which is not much of an offering. Only the Holy Ghost can keep us on the strait and narrow path, which is wisdom's path (see Mosiah 2:36).” [1] (Emphasis mine)

Richard Draper explains how we see this in our society today.

“Partaking of its easy abundance, Americans often forget from whom the blessings flow. In their blindness, they attribute their success to themselves and desire more. Pride sets in. As in the case of Nephite society, ‘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’ (3 Nephi 6:12). Nephi knew this was exactly the condition that would beset those upon this continent in the latter days. The Gentiles, he attested, ’are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor’ (2 Nephi 26:20).” [2] (Emphasis mine)

²² And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.  ²³ For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.

2 Nephi 26:22-23 (Emphasis mine)

18  Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:

Isaiah 5:18 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) warns us of the evils of secret combinations.  These groups do what they do in “darkness.”  The devil is the founder of these things.  It is another way the binds us and leads us to Hell. 

Nephi(1) reminds us “the lord God worketh not in darkness.”

Richard Rust writes about the threats of secret combinations.

“The nature, rise, and effect of secret combinations is a third significant type of narrative that is reinforced and confirmed by repetition. Jacob anticipates the problem of Gadiantonism when he warns the Nephites about the devil's stirring up secret combinations (2 Nephi 9:9). Likewise, Nephi's prophecies of secret combinations among the Gentiles and Alma's testimony that the Jaredites were destroyed because of their secret works (2 Nephi 26:22; Alma 37:30) prefigure the effect such works of darkness will have on the Nephite nation. The character of secret combinations is presented dramatically and frighteningly in the detailed accounts of Kishkumen and Gadianton and their band (Helaman 2–16) and of Akish's machinations (Ether 8). One account confirms the other. “ [3] (Emphasis mine)

Alyson Skabelund Von Feldt observes:

“The motif returns for a last time in 2 Nephi 26—28. Nephi describes the Gentiles of the last days as building up many churches that minimize ‘the power and miracles of God.’ Rather, they ‘preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor (2 Nephi 26:20). Nephi introduces ‘secret combinations’ here, which he says are founded by the devil (2 Nephi 26:22). They bring to mind the gangs of Proverbs 1:8—19, established to kill the innocent in order to acquire their ‘precious substance’ (v. 13). 

“Nephi warns of the seductive powers of the devil, who, like the evil man of Proverbs 2:12—15, uses his power of speech to deceive and ensnare. He will stir some up to anger, while pacifying others, lulling them into a feeling of security, flattering them, whispering in their ears ‘until he grasps them with his awful chain’ (2 Nephi 28:19—23). Like the strange woman whose paths are ‘unto the dead’ (Proverbs 2:18) and the evil man whose paths are dark and crooked (Proverbs 2:15), the devil ‘cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell’ (2 Nephi 28:21).” [4] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] King Benjamin's Sermon: A Manual for Discipleship, Neal A. Maxwell, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 30, 2011.

[2] Hubris and Ate: A Latter-day Warning from the Book of Mormon, Richard D. Draper,
Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 30, 2011.

[3] "To Show unto the Remnant of the House of Israel" - Narrators and Narratives, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 30, 2011.

[4] "His Secret is with the Righteous": Instructional Wisdom in the Book of Mormon, Alyson Skabelund Von Feldt, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 30, 2011.