The cleansing impact of the terrible war with the Gadiantons was phenomenal. The first three verses of this chapter made it all worthwhile.
The clear cut policies of the Nephite leaders in dealing with the surviving Gadiantons should be a lesson for the leaders of all nations in any age:
“And now it came to pass that when they had taken all the robbers prisoners, insomuch that none did escape who were not slain, they did cast their prisoners into prison, and did cause the word of God to be preached unto them; and as many as would repent of their sins and enter into a covenant that they would murder no more were set at liberty. But as many as there were who did not enter into a covenant, and who did still continue to have those secret murders in their hearts, yea, as many as were found breathing out threatenings against their brethren were condemned and punished according to the law. And thus they did put an end to all those wicked, and secret, and abominable combinations, in the which there was so much wickedness, and so many murders committed.”