Defensive Warfare is fighting undertaken by the Nephites to protect their lands, homes, families, rights, liberties, worship, and church. Their design was to support “their lands, and their houses, and their wives, and their children” and preserve them from enemies while retaining liberty to worship God according to their desires (Alma 43:9). They gathered to battle “to defend their lands and their country, their rights and their liberties” before the Lamanites came (Alma 43:26).
The Nephites were taught “never to give an offense” and never to raise the sword except against an enemy or to preserve their lives (Alma 48:14). Gidgiddoni refused to lead his people against the robbers in their lands, directing them instead to prepare in the center of their own lands and wait for the robbers to come against them (3 Nephi 3:21). The Nephite armies were smitten because they “went up unto the Lamanites” (Mormon 4:4).