In 3 Nephi 28-30 we find evidence of ancient wicked secret covenants:
And they did enter into a covenant one with another, yea, even into that covenant which was given by them of old, which covenant was given and administered by the devil, to combine against all righteousness.
Therefore they did combine against the people of the Lord, and enter into a covenant to destroy them, and to deliver those who were guilty of murder from the grasp of justice, which was about to be administered according to the law.
And they did set at defiance the law and the rights of their country and they did covenant one with another to destroy the governor, and to establish a king over the land, that the land should no more be at liberty but should be subject unto kings.
Victor Ludlow notes that 17 of the 154 references to "covenant" in the Book of Mormon relate to evil, secret covenants made between men and the devil. Fifteen of these secret covenant references are found in 12 verses in the book of Helaman and the first chapters of 3 Nephi. From the book of Deuteronomy we find that the covenant making process can be divided into the five steps: (1) Historical background (2) Stipulations (3) Blessings and Curses (4) Witnesses (5) Remembrance. These are the same steps that a sovereign ruler would use to establish a covenant or treaty relationship with his vassals in the ancient Near East. These same five steps also exemplify the covenant process between the Heavenly Sovereign of this earth and his children, particularly as demonstrated through baptism and the temple ordinances. We will see that all five of these steps are found among the imitation secret covenants of wicked men as recorded in Helaman and 3 Nephi. Analyzing these specific verses will tell us much about secret, evil vows. . . . The key elements and covenant steps are highlighted in charts (see illustrations). [Victor L. Ludlow, "Secret Covenant Teachings of Men and the Devil," in The Book of Mormon: Helaman through 3 Nephi 8, According to Thy Word, pp. 265-279] [See the commentary and charts for Helaman 1:11-12, Helaman 6:21-22]
3 Nephi 6:28 And they did enter into a covenant . . . which was given by them of old [[Illustration]] Secret Covenant Verse 9 = 3 Nephi 6:28. Secret Covenant Verses 10-11 = 3 Nephi 6:29-30. [Victor L. Ludlow, "Secret Covenant Teachings of Men and the Devil," in The Book of Mormon: Helaman through 3 Nephi 8, According to Thy Word, pp. 276-278]