Combination = Conspiracy

The Book of Mormon makes numerous references to secret combinations and that secret combinations overthrew the Nephite government and caused the destruction of their people.  Mormon and Moroni also warned that secret combinations would seek to overthrow the freedom of all lands in the latter days.  I've often wondered what the word combination means.  In looking at Webster's dictionary of the 1828 version around when Joseph translated the Book of Mormon, the word combination has a direct reference to conspiracy and conspiracy has a direct reference to combination.

Some people within the church get turned off by the word conspiracy.  People get labled as fanatics, whacko, or out of touch, etc. when the word conspiracy is used.  However, members are all too familiar with the word secret combination which really means secret "conspiracy."