As we have already noted, the soldiers of Gidgiddoni succeeded in taking as prisoners all the robbers who were not killed. The Word of God was preached to them, and those who repented and covenanted to cease their evil practices were set at liberty. In their magnanimity the Nephites gave them lands according to their numbers "that they might have, with their labors, wherewith to subsist upon." The remainder were condemned for their crimes, and punished according to the law. This entirely broke up the Gadianton bands of robbers and murderers, and peace and righteousness again prevailed. (21 A.D.)
However, it was not until five years later that the Nephites returned to their old homes, each man and his family taking with them their belongings, for there was much which they had gathered and not used during the years of their refuge into which they had gone for mutual protection against the repeated raids of the Gadiantons. Besides food which they had not eaten, their silver and gold and also other precious things, they returned with their flocks and herds, their cattle and horses; it seems reasonable to suppose that many of their livestock and beasts of burden had increased both in number and in fine condition during their sojourn in the Lands of Zarahemla and Bountiful, whereto their leaders had called them. Nevertheless and in spite of their dwelling in a place as temporary residents, they amassed while there a great store of worldly goods, and soon "they began again to prosper and to wax great." (verse 4)
The next year after the return of the Nephites to their own possessions the laws of the Republic were revised according to justice and equity. They had, doubtless, been violently tampered with during the times that the Gadianton Robbers held control of the administration and elected the officers to conduct its affairs. Good order now prevailed throughout the whole land. Soon new cities were rounded, old ones repaired, roads and other means of communication were built, and here the Sacred Record notes "now there was nothing in all the land to hinder the people from prospering continually, except they should fall into transgression." (verse 5)
Mormon, in his abridgment of the Larger Plates of Nephi, gives full credit for the "great peace" that was then established in the land to its two appointed leaders, Lachoneus, the Governor of the Land and also its Chief Judge, and Gidgiddoni, the righteous military Commander of its armed forces. Mormon meant to imply that it was by obedience to constituted authority that the people were blessed through God's grace, and that peace, His most precious gift, once again brought joy and happiness to the Nephite homes.
To acquaint the reader more fully with the leadership afforded the Nephite people, we quote Mormon's words concerning these two masterful guides: "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. 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. Now the chiefest among all the captains and the great commander of the armies of the Nephites was appointed, and his name was Gidgiddoni. Now it was the custom among all the Nephites to appoint for their chief captains, (save it were in 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." (III Nephi 3:16-19)