Gidgiddoni commands the Nephite armed forces during this time of fierce engagement with the belligerent Gadianton robbers around AD 16 to AD 21. Gidgiddoni strengthens the Nephite defenses to the maximum extent possible. In every respect, he is as strong a spiritual leader as he is a skilled military commander. “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” (3 Nephi 3:19). The people want to go up against the Gadianton robbers to battle, but Gidgiddoni counsels them otherwise: “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” (verse 21).