1 Nephi 4: Nephi slays Laban at the Lord's command and then secures the plates of brass by stratagem, Zoram choNeposes to join Lehi's family in the wilderness. About 600-592 B.C.

 

1 Nephi 4

Nephi slays Laban at the Lord's command and then secures the plates of brass by stratagem, Zoram chooses to join Lehi's family in the wilderness. About 600-592 B.C.

 1-38

Nephi obtains the brass plates.

I've had a difficult time with this chapter all of my life. I studied it all week and talked to James about it and I have finally come to the conclusion that it was necessary for Nephi to kill Laban. Nephi objected at first but when he realized it was necessary so his family could have the scriptures and that it was the Lord's will, he was able to do it.

Here are some key verses:

1 Nephi 4:6 - And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. 

*The Lord may inspire us to do something without immediately revealing how, when, or why we should do it. Nephi learned how, when, and why the Lord would help him only after he allowed the Holy Ghost to direct him and after he decided to go forth in faith. 

President Harold B. Lee

We often want to see "the end from the beginning" or the outcome before we follow the Lord's direction.

You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and perhaps a few steps into the darkness (the unknown), and you will find that the light will appear and move ahead of you."

Read 1 Nephi 4:7

Nevertheless I went forth, and as I came near unto the house of Laban I beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth before me, for he was drunken with wine.

? What is important about the phrase "nevertheless I went forth?"

? What does Nephi's experience teach about the relationship between our willingness to "go and do" and our ability to be led by the Lord?

Nephi doesn't want to kill Laban even when the Spirit tells him to and that the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands. Here are some reasons he needed to kill Laban:

1. He had sought to take away Nephi's life.

2. He had not hearkened unto the Lord's command. 

3. Laban had taken away Nephi's property. 

Verse 13-18

13 Behold, the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief.

14 Nephi remembered the words of the Lord to him in the wilderness, saying: "Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land of promise."

15 They could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law.

16 Nephi knew that the law was engraven upon the plates of brass.

17 Nephi knew the Lord had delivered Laban into his hands; that I might obtain the records according to His commandments.

18 Therefore, I did obey the voice of the Spirit and took Laban by the hair of his head, and smote off his head by his own sword.

*What justification is there for a righteous man like Nephi to take the life of another person? The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that it is the Lord who sets the standard of right and wrong: "God said, 'Thou shalt not kill; at another time He said 'Thou shalt utterly destroy.' This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted - by revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed. Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire. If we seek first the kingdom of God, all good things will be added. So with Solomon: first he asked wisdom, and God gave it him, and with it every desire of his heart, even things which might be considered abominable to all who understand the order of heaven only in part, but which in reality were right because God gave and sanctioned by special revelation."

Some people have incorrectly felt that the Spirit of the Lord has prompted them to do something contrary to what the Lord has already commanded, such as was the case with Nephi. Today we need not worry that the Lord might prompt us to do something that runs contrary to current commandments. President Harold B. Lee has taught us who the Lord will give such promptings to: "When there is to be anything different from that which the Lord has told us already, He will reveal it to His prophet and no one else." (Stand Ye in Holy Places, 159).

It should be remembered that the Lord gave Laban at least two chances to part with the brass plates without requiring his life. Laban was a liar, a robber, and he had at least twice sought to murder. Stealing and attempted murder could both be punishable by death (see Exodus 21:14; 22:2; Deuteronomy 24:7). The Lord wanted Lehi and his descendants to have the scriptural record even if "one man should perish" for it to happen. The brass plates blessed not only the Nephite and Mulekite nations, but they led to some of the written portions of the gold plates as well (such as Isaiah quotations and the allegory of Zenos). the Book of Mormon has blessed and will bless the lives of millions of people and nations. Ultimately, all this was at stake when Nephi stood over Laban and followed the voice of the Spirit.

 IF WE FAITHFULLY PERSIST IN DOING WHAT THE LORD REQUIRES, IN SPITE OF DIFFICULTY, HE WILL PREPARE A WAY FOR US TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE COMMANDS.

WHEN WE EXERCISE FAITH IN GOD AND SEEK TO DO WHAT HE ASKS, EVEN WHEN WE CANNOT SEE THE OUTCOME, HE WILL LEAD US BY THE INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY GHOST.