Since the robbers were among the Lamanites, it must have been impossible to preach the word of God unto them as they had done before (see Helaman 6:37). Therefore, the Nephites resorted to another principle taught earlier, “whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our words, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions, let us resist them with our swords, that we may retain our freedom” (Alma 61:14; see also 31:5). The Nephites’ own iniquity was a reason for the sword not being as effective as it might have been (Helaman 11:34).