1 Nephi Chapter 3 Overview

Lehi’s sons return to Jerusalem to obtain the plates of brass—Laban refuses to give them up—Nephi exhorts and encourages his brethren—Laban steals their property and attempts to slay them—Laman and Lemuel smite Nephi and are reproved by an angel. Between 600 and 592 B.C.

In this chapter, Lehi is told in a vision that his sons were to return to Jerusalem to obtain the plates of brass from Laban. These plates were apparently more than merely a genealogy or record of the Jews, because I’m sure they could have found other records someplace. Who was Laban, that he should keep these records? It almost sounds as if Lehi was not aware of either the record’s existence, or his claim to them, seeing that they contained his genealogy, as the Lord told him. There are some great lessons in this story, as well as some mystery relative to Lehi’s relationship to Laban, the record, etc.

1 Nephi 2:24

24 And if it so be that they rebel against me, they shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in the ways of remembrance.

I originally thought the focus of this verse was punishment, as in Mormon 4:5, where we read clearly that the wicked punish the wicked. But upon further reflection, I think it has more to do with the value of opposition, as in 2 Nephi 2:11, where we read that there must be opposition in all things. The Lord purposely allows opposition to remain for our benefit. He did the same thing for the Children of Israel when they came to their Promised Land. These oppositions or weaknesses are given to us to keep us humble, as it tells us in Ether 12:27. This was the purpose of the Lamanites. They helped the Nephites get back in line when they (the Nephites) strayed from righteousness. As much as we would like wickedness to be removed from the world, as much as we would like to not be tempted, these things play an important role in our lives. The Lord will not remove these things without our efforts. We need to do our part so He can strengthen us against opposition. If we are able, with the Lord’s help, to remove opposition, it will be when we are truly converted. When Satan is bound in the Millennium, it will be because we bind him through our righteous desires. That’s why he will have no influence over us, because we won’t allow it. I don’t think it will be because the Lord physically removes him from our presence (although that is also possible). I think we’ll be humble and righteous even without the “Lamanites” to keep us in line.

• Mormon 4:5; 8:7–8
• Ether 12:27
• 1 Nephi 12:2–3
• Joshua 23:12–13

1 Nephi 2:23

23 For behold, in that day that they shall rebel against me, I will curse them even with a sore curse, and they shall have no power over thy seed except they shall rebel against me also.

It helps to know who all the antecedents are in this verse; there are a lot of pronouns.

“For behold, in that day that they [thy brethren] shall rebel against me, I will curse them [thy brethren and their seed, the Lamanites] even with a sore curse, and they [the Lamanites] shall have no power over thy seed [Nephites] except they [Nephites] shall rebel against me also.”

What does it take to rebel against the Lord? Consider the Lamanites, Laman and Lemuel in particular. As their story unfolds, we see them do some pretty bad things that would seem to indicate rebellion: beating up on Nephi several times, tying him up while crossing the ocean, trying to kill their father, the prophet. Verse 13 in this chapter says they were “like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of [Lehi].” This all seems pretty rebellious. And yet, in verse 23 the Lord says he will curse them “in that day they that they shall rebel against [Him].” The Lamanites weren’t cursed, at least not outwardly with the dark skin, until it got so bad that Nephi had to leave with his people. (2 Nephi 5) I think at this point they were so far gone that there was no way they were repenting. So finally, the Lord cursed them. They got a lot of chances up until then, though. Clearly He keeps His own counsel to forgive often, as state in Matthew 18:21–22. The Lord expects more from those who covenant with Him.

1 Nephi 2:22

22 And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren.

This promise has an obvious temporal aspect, but I believe there is a type here that we can learn from. Nephi was a teacher, and therefore a ruler to Laman and Lemuel and their people as long as Lehi was alive. As soon as Lehi died and there was nobody to keep them in check, Laman and Lemuel rebelled, Nephi left, and he no longer was a teacher or ruler over them. I want to look at this in terms of spiritually taking charge of our temptations and hardships.

In the next couple of verses we will see that Laman and Lemuel served a specific purpose for Nephi and his people. 2 Nephi 2:11 teaches that there needs to be opposition in all things. That seems to be the Lamanites’ purpose, and the Lord was not going to take that opposition away. As long as we keep the commandments we will have power over our opposition. Or to put it in the words used here, “thou shalt be made a ruler” over thy opposition.