3 Nephi 3

In the 16th year after the birth of Jesus Christ, Governor Lachoneus received a letter from the Gadianton Robbers’ leader, Giddianhi. “Noble Governor Lachoneus,” it read, “I write to praise you and your people for the firmness with which you maintain your supposed rights and freedoms. You stand as if you were supported by the hand of a god in the defense of your lands and your so-called country. It seems a pity to me, noble Lachoneus, that you should be so foolish and vain as to imagine that you can stand up against the many brave men at my command who only wait for my word to destroy you. I know of my men’s indomitable spirit and their enduring hatred of you for the many wrongs that you’ve done to them. If I say so, you will be utterly destroyed.

“So I write to you,” Giddianhi continued, “out of regard for your own welfare. If you surrender your army, your lands, your cities, and your possessions I will spare you from destruction. I invite you to unite with us, embrace our secret conspiracies, and become like us. We want you as partners, not as slaves. If you do as I say, I swear that you will not be destroyed. If you do not do as I say, I will command my armies to come against you until all of your people are extinct.

“I, Giddianhi, am the governor of the secret society of Gadianton. I personally know that our society, which has been handed down to us from ancient times, is good. I write in hopes that you will surrender without the unnecessary shedding of blood. I only want to restore my people to the rights and possessions that you have stolen from them. If you refuse my offer, I will avenge their wrongs.”

When Governor Lachoneus read this letter he was amazed at the boldness of Giddianhi. He was demanding possession of the Nephite’s lands, and threatening to avenge the supposed wrongs of people who hadn’t been wronged at all. These people had only themselves to blame for defecting to the abominable robbers. Since Lachoneus was an honest and courageous man, he couldn’t be frightened by the demands and threats of these insidious robbers. He paid no attention to the letter. Instead, he commanded his people to cry out to God for strength against the horde of robbers who now threatened them.

Lachoneus sent out a proclamation among his people to gather their families and their livestock into one place, and then ordered the construction of fortifications to protect them. He placed an army of Nephites, including the former Lamanites who were now Nephites, as guards to watch over them day and night. “Unless you repent of your sinfulness,” he said to them, “and cry out to God, you will be destroyed by these Gadianton Robbers.”

So powerful were these words and prophecies of Lachoneus that the people became fearful if they didn’t comply. So the Nephite people once again turned to God as Lachoneus had commanded them to do.

Lachoneus then organized his people into armies led by captains. The chief captain was a man named Gidgiddoni, who was also a great prophet and chief judge chosen by the people. “Let us go to the mountains,” the people said to Gidgiddoni, “and destroy the robbers in their own lands.”

“No,” replied Gidgiddoni. “If we attack them there, God will permit our defeat. We must prepare ourselves for their attack, and gather our armies together. We will wait until they attack us. If we do this, God will give us victory.”

In the 17th year after the birth of Jesus Christ tens of thousands of Nephites gathered together near Zarahemla with their cattle, horses, chariots, and harvests of grain, to defend themselves against their enemies. They gathered to the south of Zarahemla because there was a great curse on the land to the north.

When they all came together as a unified group, they came to fear the words that Lachoneus had spoken. So they repented for all their sins, and prayed to God for deliverance from their enemies when the great battle came. While they waited for their enemies to attack Gidgiddoni had them make weapons, shields, and armor of every kind, according to his instructions.