Defeating the Gadianton Robbers

I think the story of the war between the Gadianton robbers and the Nephites in 3 Nephi 3-4 teaches us how we should confront our most challenging problems.  First and foremost we must pray to the Lord with all our heart.  This was the first reaction of Lachoneus to the threat: “He did cause that his people should cry unto the Lord for strength” (3 Nephi 3:12).  They continued to pray fervently throughout the story.  “They did put up their prayers unto the Lord their God, that he would deliver them” and “they did lift their cries to the Lord their God, that he would spare them and deliver them (3 Nephi 3:25, 4:8).  The second thing that Lachoneus did was to get all of the people to gather together in one body.  He commanded them to be gathered “unto one place” and fortify themselves there (3 Nephi 3:13).  Several times we read that they were “one” as a people: “They did dwell in one land, and in one body”, “they were in one body”, “the Nephites being in one body” (3 Nephi 3:25, 4:3-4).  For us I think this means that as we face significant challenges in our families we must be unified and face the problems together with joint faith in the Lord.  The Nephites could not have defeated the Gadiation robbers if they had been spread out upon the land with each trying only to protect himself.  Unity was key.  The third thing that Lachoneus had the people do was to repent of their sins.  “As the Lord liveth,” he taught, “except ye repent of all your iniquities… ye will in nowise be delivered” (3 Nephi 3:15).  The people “did fear the words which had been spoken by Lachoneus, insomuch that they did repent of all their sins” (3 Nephi 3:25).  The fourth thing we see is that the people put their trust in prophets, both Gidgiddoni and Lachoneus.  Mormon told us that the former “was a great prophet among them, as was also the chief judge [Lachoneus]” (3 Nephi 3:19).  They hearkened to the words of Gidgiddoni when he forbade them to go up into the lands of the robbers telling them, “the Lord forbid; for if we should go up against them the Lord would deliver us into their hands” (3 Nephi 3:21).  Because they chose to follow him who was inspired of God, they were protected.  They also did all that Lachoneus commanded them and were preserved because of it.  Lastly, they fought the battle with all their might, and in the end they prevailed.  Because they put their trust in the Lord, joined together in unity, repented of their sins, chose to follow their inspired leaders, and then fought with all had, they overcame and defeated the Gadianton robbers.