Nephites Defeat the Robbers

Toward the end of 18, the Gadianton armies began to come down from the hills and mountains and out of their secret places and wilderness strongholds, taking possession of the lands in the north and south that had been deserted by the Nephites.

The Gadiantons found that there were no more wild animals to be hunted in these deserted lands. They could only find game in the wilderness, so they could not survive in the abandoned Nephite cities. The Nephites had left their lands desolate by gathering their flocks, herds, and all their belongings into one area. By doing this, the Nephites kept the robbers from stealing their food. The only way the robbers could get food from the Nephites was to fight them out in the open. The Nephites’ plan was to destroy the robbers by holding out against them in one large group, for they had gathered a seven year’s supply of food and provisions.

Within the next year, 19, Giddianhi and his people were in great need of food. They could only survive by stealing and killing, so they had to attack the Nephites. The robbers did not dare spread out over the land to raise their own grain, for fear of being attacked by the Nephites.

During the sixth month of 19 the robbers made their attack. They looked terrifying, for they had shaved their heads and had painted themselves with blood. They also wore armor, helmets, and lamb-skin loin cloths. When the Nephite armies saw Giddianhi’s army, they fell to the earth and prayed to the Lord to deliver them from their enemies. When Giddianhi’s army saw this, they began to shout with joy, thinking that the Nephites had fallen in fear of them.

But they were soon disappointed, for the Nephites did not fear them. They feared their God instead, and were asking for His protection. As Giddianhi’s army rushed upon them, the Nephites were prepared to meet them in the strength of the Lord. This battle resulted in the greatest slaughter ever known since the time of Lehi. In spite of Giddianhi’s oaths and threats, the Nephites beat the robbers. Gidgiddoni commanded his armies to chase the robbers as far as the borders of the wilderness, and that they should not spare any that fell into their hands by the way. This is exactly what the Nephites did.

Giddianhi, who had stood and fought with boldness, was pursued as he fled. Because he was so tired from fighting, he was overtaken and killed. Then the Nephite army returned to their place of security, and the robbers did not attack them again for over a year.

In 21, the robbers surrounded the Nephites, thinking they could cut them off from their lands and force them to surrender. The robbers had appointed a new leader, Zemnarihah, who had ordered this siege. The Nephites had the advantage, because it was impossible for the robbers to lay siege long enough to have any effect on their food supply. Meanwhile, the robbers had no grain, but only the meat they could hunt in the wilderness. Soon wild game became scarce, and the robbers were about to starve to death. The Nephites continually went out against the weak robbers day and night, killing tens of thousands of them. Because of this, Zemnarihah’s people wanted to end their siege. So Zemnarihah withdrew and had his armies march to the most northern part of the land. Gidgiddoni was aware of Zemnarihah’s plan, and knowing that the robbers had been weakened, he sent out his army at night to cut off their retreat. In the morning, the robbers were met by Nephite armies ahead of them and behind them, leaving them no place of retreat. Several thousand robbers surrendered, and those who did not surrender were killed.

Their leader, Zemnarihah, was taken to a tree and hung. When Zemnarihah was dead, the Nephites cut down the tree and shouted, “May the Lord preserve His people in righteousness and holiness of heart. And as this man has fallen to the earth, may the Lord cut down all who seek to kill the righteous with their power and secret combinations.”

The Nephites rejoiced and cried again with one voice, “May the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob protect this people in righteousness, as long as they call upon Him for protection.” Together they sang praises to their God for the great thing He had done for them in preserving them from falling into the hands of their enemies. They cried, “Hosanna to the Most High God! Blessed be the name of the Lord God Almighty, the Most High God!”

Their hearts were swollen, and they cried with joy because of the great goodness of God in delivering them out of the hands of their enemies. They knew they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction because of their repentance and humility.