The Gadianton army begins its march. As it comes into the southern holdings of the Nephite lands, it finds the land and cities deserted. They have an easy conquest. We should note the nature of the descriptions of the points of origin of this invading army. While some of the locations do sound like places for “robbers,” such as “secret places,” the plural use of “strongholds” may suggest that this is an army that comes from multiple cities rather than just one. It is quite possible, and even probable, that the Nephite territory is not the first attempt at conquest for the Gadiantons.