3 Nephi 4

In this chapter, the Nephites defeat the Gadiantons and slay or execute their leaders. The good guys will always win. I think that's why loved westerns as a kid. The Lone Ranger always got the bad guy even though it seemed there was no way he could possibly do it. The great thing about that show was at the end, the Lone Ranger always stated the principle of right that could not be defeated. In the last chapter of 1 Nephi, the Lord promises that he will preserve his righteous and the righteous need not fear. He makes this promise a number of times in the scriptures, but he says it numerous times just in that one chapter. We can use this chapter to illustrate why I think this is true. First, the Nephites were led by men of faith who put their trust in God, whose actions were based on righteous principles. The Gadianton leaders were motivated by greed. Their goal was to gain power, territory and possessions. The Nephite people were in tune with the Spirit, their motives were pure and selfless and so they were able to make wise judgments and correct decisions. The Gadiantons were motivated by a desire to do evil, to kill and destroy. This darkness of the mind inhibits the ability to make wise decisions not only for the present, but especially for the future. These are important factors in the Nephites victory. But the most important factor was the Gadiantons were fighting against God, and you don't win the battle when he's on the other side. Giddianhi was slain while fleeing from the battlefield. Their next leader was hung from a tree. When God is the general, the army wins. Evil may flourish for a season, but righteousness always prevails. After the war is over, the people of Nephi prayed in thanks to God for preserving them. Mormon says that "their hearts were swollen with joy... because of the goodness of God in delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; and THEY KNEW it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction." That's was the difference then and it will always be the difference whether it's in our personal battles or the wars of our nation.