1 Nephi Chapter 4 Overview

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. Between 600 and 592 B.C.

This is a kind of coming of age chapter for Nephi. He was converted back in chapter 2, but this is the first real test of his mettle or his faith. It’s one thing to make the trip to get the plates, it’s another thing to act on your faith. He goes into the city totally relying on the Spirit. He has no plan, and certainly did not expect to kill Laban. That would be a real test of your faith, to kill somebody at the Lord’s command. This chapter also tells us how Zoram joins the family.