According to the

Book of Mormon The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which, according to Latter Day Saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from 600 BC to AD 421 and during an interlude date ...

, Gidgiddoni () was a prophet and the commander of the Nephite armies in the war between the

Nephite According to the Book of Mormon, the Nephites () are one of four groups (along with the Lamanites, Jaredites, and Mulekites) to have settled in the ancient Americas. The term is used throughout the Book of Mormon to describe the religious, po ...

s and the

Gadianton robbers The Gadianton robbers (), according to the Book of Mormon, were a secret criminal organization in ancient America. First incarnation The society was first founded around 52 BC or 51 BC by Nephite supporters of Paanchi, an unsuccessful candi ...

. He was appointed in about AD 16 by Lachoneus to lead the armies because he had the spirit of revelation and of prophecy. During periods of Nephite righteousness, selection of military leaders possessed of these spiritual gifts was standard practice. Gidgiddoni demonstrated his wisdom by refusing the people's desire to wage offensive war against the robbers. Gidgiddoni at their head, the Nephites were able to defeat the robbers and end the life of

Giddianhi This list is intended as a quick reference for individuals mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Notation Names with superscripts (e.g., Nephi1) are numbered according to the index in the LDS scripture, the Book of Mormon. Missing indices indicat ...

in AD 19. The robbers tried again in AD 21, with a man named

Zemnarihah This list is intended as a quick reference for individuals mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Notation Names with superscripts (e.g., Nephi1) are numbered according to the index in the LDS scripture, the Book of Mormon. Missing indices indicat ...

leading them, but Gidgiddoni knew of the robbers' weaknesses and exploited them, making it impossible for them to retreat, and the Nephites took as many prisoners as would surrender, while putting the rest to death. Zemnarihah, however, was hanged. Finally, after the destruction of the band of robbers, Lachoneus and Gidgiddoni brought peace to the Nephites. Gidgiddoni is not mentioned further in the scripture after this. In the account of the prophet-general Gidgiddoni, the Book of Mormon offers meaningful guidance about the possible justifications for waging war. Prohibiting preemptive strikes, even against a seemingly intractable foe, God tells Gidgiddoni to prepare the Nephite people, gather their armies, and wait, instead of hunting the enemy to "destroy them in their own lands." This restraint was typical of other Nephite military chiefs who, like Gidgiddoni, were also prophets.

References

Book of Mormon prophets {{LDS-stub