Interpreting by context, the title Master Mahan means simply “Master of the Secret Combination.” It is first claimed by Cain, and then by Lamech, Cain’s great, great grand-son. In understanding the significance of this term it is important to realize who Cain was. His father was Adam, son of God, prophet on Earth and first holder of the Priesthood. Neither Cain nor Abel were the first children of Adam (Moses 5:2, 16), but certainly Adam taught them in the ways of God, and they would both have received the Priesthood from him. This is a key fact – Cain knew of the Priesthood pattern of covenants and ordinances, laws, and sacred things. This is the same pattern that is to be twisted and perverted within the evil that is the Secret Combination of Master Mahan, for all the greatest evil must necessarily follow as a deviation from a correspondingly great good.
The first stories of the Human Race as contained in Genesis and particularly Moses are richly illustrated in terms of decisions and consequences. Following Cain we can clearly see the beginnings and the results of his tragic choice to turn from the God he knew – a being he knew so certainly as to maintain conversation with (note Moses 5:22-25, where Cain does not seem astonished to hear the voice of God). As certainly as we can tell, it began with a choice to love Satan more than the Lord (5:16,18). As a result, he then gave heed to Satan, even unto an offering unto the Lord (5:18-19) – Cain not questioning the odd request, which the great Deceiver knew would give Cain an excuse to be offended.
Satan succeeded in humiliating Cain and simultaneously deceiving Cain into believing it was Abel who had caused the embarrassment. Feelings of pride, jealousy, covetousness, and greed are then magnified by that voice which Cain has already given list to. These fester within Cain for a period of time after the perverted offering he had made until his soul has become spoiled like any of the fruit he mistakenly offered on the altar. It is at this over-ripe time, in verses 29-31 of Moses 5, that Satan enters into a black covenant with Cain. The anti-Priesthood covenant, it is a covenant of secrecy, sworn in blood, performed unto death – as opposed to those sacred rites of the priesthood, covenants of holiness, sealed by the Spirit, performed unto life.
In reaction to this heinous act of murder performed by Cain, now called Perdition (5:24), God mercifully gives him a chance similar to Adam after partaking the forbidden fruit – he asks a question that would give him the opportunity to take responsibility (5:34). Cain does not follow in the steps of his noble father but claims ignorance and apathy, keeping his vow with Satan even against God. He is cursed, with his livelihood being denied him by the earth itself, banished without a home. His final reaction is to cry in pitiful fear and complaint, even now refusing to see anything beyond his own state, “fallen” as his countenance (5:21-22). Despite the merciful promise of the Lord, to repent is a thing he never considers. thus we see that the ultimately wicked cannot repent – not because God won’t allow them, but because they cannot allow themselves to do it.
A trait of those who condemn themselves to Perdition and become Sons of Perdition – following in his footsteps – is glorification in their wickedness (5:31). They burn every bridge of mercy which the Lord has built for them and crucify Christ unto themselves. From beginning to end, this is the significance of Master Mahan, those who lead in the Secret Combination, the Whore of All the Earth, the Great and Abominable Church of false covenants. They indulge in secrecy, murder, and seeking gain unto the loss of their souls. They know God and only pervert that knowledge, eventually destroying themselves after inflicting pain on those they can touch. Their ultimate payment is only from he whom they serve.