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.