3 Nephi 3
Gadianton Leader, Giddianhi, Writes to Lachoneus
3 Nephi 3:1–2
1 And now it came to pass that in the sixteenth year from the coming of Christ, Lachoneus, the governor of the land, received an epistle from the leader and the governor of this band of robbers; and these were the words which were written, saying:
2 Lachoneus, most noble and chief governor of the land, behold, I write this epistle unto you, and do give unto you exceedingly great praise because of your firmness, and also the firmness of your people, in maintaining that which ye suppose to be your right and liberty; yea, ye do stand well, as if ye were supported by the hand of a god, in the defence of your liberty, and your property, and your country, or that which ye do call so.
Comments
As we have seen multiple times, Mormon is much more interested in times of conflict than in times of peace. Perhaps part of the reason is that times of peace so often led to Nephite prosperity, which then led to forsaking God’s commandments, and therefore falling subject to the negative aspect of the promise of the land.
We begin 3 Nephi 3 with the introduction of yet another conflict. Mormon prepared us for this conflict by describing the Nephite turn to apostasy even after the miracle that was shown of Christ’s birth. That they should so soon turn away was sad, but Mormon declares that it was also dangerous, but both apostate Nephites and dissident Lamanites had joined with the Gadiantons, who had become extremely powerful. This chapter begins with the powerful leader of the Gadiantons sending a message to the Nephite government that they should submit or be conquered.
Verse 9 in this chapter tells us that the letter comes for Giddianhi. Giddianhi clearly knows something of the Nephite nation, for he taunts them with principles that are foundational. He “praises” them for “maintaining that which ye suppose to be your right and liberty . . . as if ye were supported by the hand of a god.” Giddianhi understands that those are Nephite foundational principles, but he declares them simply ideas and not realities.
3 Nephi 3:3–5
3 And it seemeth a pity unto me, most noble Lachoneus, that ye should be so foolish and vain as to suppose that ye can stand against so many brave men who are at my command, who do now at this time stand in their arms, and do await with great anxiety for the word—Go down upon the Nephites and destroy them.
4 And I, knowing of their unconquerable spirit, having proved them in the field of battle, and knowing of their everlasting hatred towards you because of the many wrongs which ye have done unto them, therefore if they should come down against you they would visit you with utter destruction.
5 Therefore I have written this epistle, sealing it with mine own hand, feeling for your welfare, because of your firmness in that which ye believe to be right, and your noble spirit in the field of battle.
Comments
Giddianhi was a master of sarcasm. He notes that he has a very large army, one that has been proved in battle, and which has an “unconquerable spirit.” Even worse, they have an “everlasting hatred” for the Nephites. They are ready, they are even anxious, to be sent to destroy the Nephites.
Giddianhi writes that he feels for the Nephites and is personally holding off this army that is straining for the command to go to battle. Only out of such kindness is Giddianhi writing. It is an attempt at intimidation, but one that does not appear to care whether the Nephites are intimidated. Giddianhi clearly believes that he can conquer the Nephites.
3 Nephi 3:6–8
6 Therefore I write unto you, desiring that ye would yield up unto this my people, your cities, your lands, and your possessions, rather than that they should visit you with the sword and that destruction should come upon you.
7 Or in other words, yield yourselves up unto us, and unite with us and become acquainted with our secret works, and become our brethren that ye may be like unto us—not our slaves, but our brethren and partners of all our substance.
8 And behold, I swear unto you, if ye will do this, with an oath, ye shall not be destroyed; but if ye will not do this, I swear unto you with an oath, that on the morrow month I will command that my armies shall come down against you, and they shall not stay their hand and shall spare not, but shall slay you, and shall let fall the sword upon you even until ye shall become extinct.
Comments
Giddianhi suggests that the only hope for the Nephites is to submit to him and his people. That would avoid warfare and the death of many. That part was certainly true, but it would also mean the end of the Nephites. Part of the conditions would be that they “unite with [the Gadiantons] and become acquainted with [their] secret works, and become [their] brethren that [the Nephites] may be like unto [the Gadiantons].”
The stick after this carrot was that it was going to happen either way. If the Nephites did not submit, it would happen by force of arms.
3 Nephi 3:9–10
9 And behold, I am Giddianhi; and I am the governor of this the secret society of Gadianton; which society and the works thereof I know to be good; and they are of ancient date and they have been handed down unto us.
10 And I write this epistle unto you, Lachoneus, and I hope that ye will deliver up your lands and your possessions, without the shedding of blood, that this my people may recover their rights and government, who have dissented away from you because of your wickedness in retaining from them their rights of government, and except ye do this, I will avenge their wrongs. I am Giddianhi.
Comments
Verse 9 teaches us something about how Mormon is using the name Gadianton in his text. Giddianhi is the leader and declares that he is the governor over this group that Mormon has called Gadiantons. Mormon has Giddianhi declare that he is the governor “of this the secret society of Gadianton.” The way Mormon uses the name Gadianton suggests that the name is probably something Mormon has added to the letter. The purposes for which Mormon is using the name also tell us why Giddianhi declares that he leads a “secret society.”
When one puts into a political letter that they lead a “secret society,” it stretches the imagination to see it as “secret.” In this case, Giddianhi uses the name and description for intimidation factor. A society that is truly secret could not be intimidating, because no one would know about it.
What we are seeing is Mormon using the Nephite historical record to teach the lesson from history that his future readers need to know about. Mormon has declared that the Gadiantons will be the force that destroys the Nephites in Mormon’s day (see Helaman 2:13). He is setting up his readers’ understanding of the dangers of that society, and linking them to the secret societies that destroyed the Jaredites.
This light manipulation of history should not be thought of as Mormon being inaccurate, or that there is anything wrong with the translation of the text. This is the same type of history that we see in much of the Old Testament, where historical events are used as the foundation for the stories that would educate the readers. It is a sign that the Book of Mormon follows ancient canons of how history should be used, rather than those of the more modern society in which Joseph Smith lived.
Nephites and Lamanites Gather in a Central Defensive Location
3 Nephi 3:11–15
11 And now it came to pass when Lachoneus received this epistle he was exceedingly astonished, because of the boldness of Giddianhi demanding the possession of the land of the Nephites, and also of threatening the people and avenging the wrongs of those that had received no wrong, save it were they had wronged themselves by dissenting away unto those wicked and abominable robbers.
12 Now behold, this Lachoneus, the governor, was a just man, and could not be frightened by the demands and the threatenings of a robber; therefore he did not hearken to the epistle of Giddianhi, the governor of the robbers, but he did cause that his people should cry unto the Lord for strength against the time that the robbers should come down against them.
13 Yea, he sent a proclamation among all the people, that they should gather together their women, and their children, their flocks and their herds, and all their substance, save it were their land, unto one place.
14 And he caused that fortifications should be built round about them, and the strength thereof should be exceedingly great. And he caused that armies, both of the Nephites and of the Lamanites, or of all them who were numbered among the Nephites, should be placed as guards round about to watch them, and to guard them from the robbers day and night.
15 Yea, he said unto them: As the Lord liveth, except ye repent of all your iniquities, and cry unto the Lord, ye will in nowise be delivered out of the hands of those Gadianton robbers.
Comments
The key to this event will be the statement in verse 12 that Lachoneus “was a just man.” The evidence that he was a “just man” comes in his response: “he did cause that his people should cry unto the Lord for strength.” He was a believing Nephite and turned to the Lord. When the Nephites are faithful to Yahweh they are protected, and Lachoneus is reminding his people of that promise.
However, as with all human actions, while we pray fervently to God for assistance we should also be working just as fervently to make the desired outcome happen. Thus, along with prayer, Lachoneus “caused that fortifications should be built round about them.” Still, after all human preparation was done that they could do, Lachoneous reminds his people: “except ye repent of all your iniquities, and cry unto the Lord, ye will in nowise be delivered out of the hands of those Gadianton robbers.”
3 Nephi 3:16–18
16 And so great and marvelous were the words and prophecies of Lachoneus that they did cause fear to come upon all the people; and they did exert themselves in their might to do according to the words of Lachoneus.
17 And it came to pass that Lachoneus did appoint chief captains over all the armies of the Nephites, to command them at the time that the robbers should come down out of the wilderness against them.
18 Now the chiefest among all the chief captains and the great commander of all the armies of the Nephites was appointed, and his name was Gidgiddoni.
Comments
Lachoneus had asked two things of his people: prepare spiritually and prepare physically. To their credit, this time they listen.
One of the next important decisions was to appoint a military leader. The “chiefest among all the chief captains” was to be Gidgiddoni. Gidgiddoni turns out to have been a very wise general.
3 Nephi 3:19–21
19 Now it was the custom among all the Nephites to appoint for their chief captains, (save it were in their times of wickedness) some one that had the spirit of revelation and also prophecy; therefore, this Gidgiddoni was a great prophet among them, as also was the chief judge.
20 Now the people said unto Gidgiddoni: Pray unto the Lord, and let us go up upon the mountains and into the wilderness, that we may fall upon the robbers and destroy them in their own lands.
21 But Gidgiddoni saith unto them: The Lord forbid; for if we should go up against them the Lord would deliver us into their hands; therefore we will prepare ourselves in the center of our lands, and we will gather all our armies together, and we will not go against them, but we will wait till they shall come against us; therefore as the Lord liveth, if we do this he will deliver them into our hands.
Comments
The people had done as they asked, and then made assumptions of what the next best course might be. They felt that they were prepared, and sufficiently repentant that the Lord would be on their side. They ask Gidgiddoni to “let us go up upon the mountains . . . that we may fall upon the robbers and destroy them in their own lands.”
Gidgiddoni realized that while they were strong, the Gadiantons were not only stronger, but that they probably had better defensive positions in mountains that they knew well. While difficult for some to understand, rather than attack Gidgiddoni has them wait to be attacked. He promises that this tactic will allow them to have a victory. Perhaps the most difficult thing to do in hard times is wait for the victory which will only come later.
3 Nephi 3:22–24
22 And it came to pass in the seventeenth year, in the latter end of the year, the proclamation of Lachoneus had gone forth throughout all the face of the land, and they had taken their horses, and their chariots, and their cattle, and all their flocks, and their herds, and their grain, and all their substance, and did march forth by thousands and by tens of thousands, until they had all gone forth to the place which had been appointed that they should gather themselves together, to defend themselves against their enemies.
23 And the land which was appointed was the land of Zarahemla, and the land which was between the land Zarahemla and the land Bountiful, yea, to the line which was between the land Bountiful and the land Desolation.
24 And there were a great many thousand people who were called Nephites, who did gather themselves together in this land. Now Lachoneus did cause that they should gather themselves together in the land southward, because of the great curse which was upon the land northward.
Comments
Part of Gidgiddoni’s tactics was a scorched earth policy. He pulled all of the people and their flocks from the land near to where the Gadiantons were, and moved them all north toward the land Bountiful. While that conceded land to the Gadiantons, it did not provide them any way to raid for food. It also concentrated the Nephites in a smaller area, making themselves not only more defensible, but providing more people in a concentrated area to fight against the Gadiantons should they come upon them.
Of course, while this policy had advantages, it also had the difficulty of uprooting peoples and lives. Many were greatly inconvenienced by the actions. It was not a painless solution.
3 Nephi 3:25–26
25 And they did fortify themselves against their enemies; and they did dwell in one land, and in one body, and they did fear the words which had been spoken by Lachoneus, insomuch that they did repent of all their sins; and they did put up their prayers unto the Lord their God, that he would deliver them in the time that their enemies should come down against them to battle.
26 And they were exceedingly sorrowful because of their enemies. And Gidgiddoni did cause that they should make weapons of war of every kind, and they should be strong with armor, and with shields, and with bucklers, after the manner of his instruction.
Comments
In addition to withdrawing to a more defensible position and removing available food from the Gadiantons, the people continued to prepare militarily. In addition to defensive works, Gidgiddoni armed his people.
This is clearly not the end of the story, and this was not the end of a chapter in the 1830 edition. That edition used a single chapter for our chapters 3–5.
