After Gidgiddoni's strategy had won, and righteousness had triumphed over wickedness, the good over evil, and the right over wrong, the Nephites took as prisoners all the robbers who were not slain. They cast them into prison, and there they preached the Word of God. Many repented of the course they had pursued, of the evil they had done, and expressed a determination to do them no more; these the Nephites set free upon them covenanting with their captors that they would "murder and rob no more."
But there were still some of the captives who, although beaten, cherished the thought of continuing their evil practices, perhaps when peace had again softened the hearts of the Nephites against iniquity, and when pride had once more robbed them of their faith in God. Any of the captives who expressed such a desire, and who, in addition, refused to enter into the prescribed covenant that they would rob and murder no more, and threatened their brethren with harm, "were condemned and punished according to the law." This entirely broke up these bands of murderers and robbers, and peace and righteousness again prevailed (21 A.D.), but it was not until five years later that the Nephites returned to and possessed their old homes.