Moronihah had spent years trying to recover the cities lost to the Lamanites. His hard work had resulted in the regaining of half of all their possessions (Hel 4:10). What happened to the other half? They remained under Lamanite control until Nephi and Lehi had performed this great work among them. After converting to the Lord, the Lamanites willingly gave up their unrighteous dominion. This is probably the best example in the Book of Mormon of the principle taught in Alma, ’the preaching of the word had a…more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else’ (Alma 31:5).