1 Nephi 4:17

17 And again, I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into my hands for this cause—that I might obtain the records according to his commandments.

Nephi shows a huge amount of faith that he’s doing the right thing, not to mention confidence in his receiving some difficult revelation here as he affirms that Laban was delivered into his hands to get the plates. Again, Nephi keeps his eye on the purpose of the mission.

1 Nephi 4:16

16 And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the plates of brass.

Again, I wonder why Laban would have these plates of brass. They contained the Law of Moses, the record of the Jews that was kept current (1 Nephi 5:12), and also the prophecies of the prophets, including the current prophet, Jeremiah (1 Nephi 5:13). Obviously, Laban had no personal use for these things. Why would he keep them current, especially the prophecies? Was he some sort of official record keeper? Was this happening without him knowing it? Was there some official reason for keeping these things current?

1 Nephi 4:15

15 Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law.

One of the convincing arguments that Nephi thinks about as he considers killing Laban is the importance of these records in teaching his posterity to live the Law of Moses. There is no way that the whole Law could have been taught without records. Their memory just wouldn’t allow that, and besides, each successive generation would forget more and more until there was nothing left. This is why it is so important to have the printed scriptures. We know the Nephites lived the Law of Moses because it is recorded in Jacob 4:5 that they did. They also understood why they had and kept the Law. Compare that to the Mulekites, whose language and religion had both become corrupted. This was because they had no records (see Omni 1:17). This is why it’s so important to study the scriptures themselves instead of just commentaries. Always return to the source. They needed the brass plates because they were a primary source.

• Jacob 4:5
• Omni 1:17

1 Nephi 4:14

14 And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise.

Here is mention again of prospering in the land of promise if Nephi and his seed keep the commandments. I see this as a multi-layered expression. The obvious and most visible layer is exactly what is said, that Nephi’s seed will prosper in the land as long as they are obedient. Ether 2:7–12 brings that promise to any nation that inhabits the land, and Mormon here speaks directly and pointedly to us Gentiles of the last days. This promise extends to any nation that possesses the land. Getting more specific, in Mosiah 2:22, King Benjamin makes this a personal promise, that “if [we] do keep his commandments he doth bless [us] and prosper [us].”

The whole concept of the “Promised Land” can be taken even deeper as a metaphor of this life’s journey and our return to our Heavenly Father. In 1 Nephi 2:20, where Nephi is first given this promise, the Lord tells him that he would be led to “a land which I have prepared for you; yea a land which is choice above all other lands.” This reminded me of John 14:2, where Christ tells his disciples that in “my Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you.” This life is a spiritual journey leading back to Heavenly Father. 1 Nephi 17:13 talks about how the Lord will lead them to the promised land, which is how we return to the “most promised land” of the Kingdom of God. That is, only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

• Omni 1:6
• Mosiah 2:22
• Ether 2:7 (7–12)

1 Nephi 4:13–18

Here Nephi is reminded of the main purpose for this whole mission of getting the plates. He’s reminded that he has to think beyond himself (as we all do in fulfilling callings for the Lord). He has a whole nation of his seed to consider. The Lord promised him that his seed would prosper in a promised land if they would keep the commandments. He realizes that if he doesn’t get the plates, which have the Law of Moses engraved on them, his people will not learn it, and therefore won’t be able to keep those commandments. Nephi also realizes that this opportunity was provided by the Lord. So he obeyed the voice of the Spirit and killed Laban. It’s interesting to glimpse Nephi’s thought process as he struggles to keep this commandment. It tells me that even after we are converted, as Nephi most definitely was, we sometimes struggle with a commandment. There is no shame in the struggle, unless we decide to not keep the commandment. Even though this instruction or commandment from the Spirit went against everything that Nephi had been taught and believed about “Thou shalt not kill,” etc., acting with faith that it really was the right thing in this case, Nephi killed Laban. It reminds me of an example I have used since my mission to explain the relationship between the scriptures and living prophets. A living police officer directing traffic at an intersection might give instruction different from, even contrary to the signal from the traffic light. We follow the instruction of the living officer (living prophet) instead of the light (scriptures), which works perfectly well. The traffic light is the default, but the officer is aware of the particular circumstance with the traffic. The scriptures give us the law and the principles to live by, but the living prophet is aware of how those teachings apply to the current circumstances.

1 Nephi 4:13

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.

Nephi is reminded that the Lord makes way for His righteous purposes often by removing the wicked obstacle. He teaches us to do the same thing with our personal obstacles. In Matthew 5:29–30 we are taught that if there is something preventing our righteousness, we should remove it (“if they right eye offend thee, pluck it out…it is profitable for thee that one of thy members shall perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”). It is not God’s work that is frustrated, but man’s. And if the wicked need to be removed to make room for the righteous, so be it. This really does have application in our personal lives. If there is a part of our personal lives that is preventing our coming to Christ, some sin that is an obstacle, we should remove it and replace that sin with a positive righteous practice. In this way we repent; in this way we return to our Heavenly Father. I’m reminded of King Lamoni’s father, who in praying after Aaron taught him, said he would “give away all [his] sins to know [God].”

• Matthew 5: 29–30
• D&C 3:1–4

1 Nephi 4:11–13

11 And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our property.

12 And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me again: Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands;

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.

Here is where Nephi has to show a lot of faith. The Spirit is commanding a reluctant but determined Nephi to kill a defenseless man, which, under normal circumstances, would have been murder. Even though it is the Lord commanding him to do this, Nephi still struggles with justifying this thing that is against everything he has been taught. He remembers his past experiences with Laban. He’s reminding himself that Laban is not just a bad guy, he’s done personal harm by stealing Lehi’s property, and by trying to kill Nephi and his brothers. Even at that, the Spirit has to remind Nephi that the Lord sometimes works this way. He sometimes kills the wicked so that his righteous purposes can be accomplished. This is consistent with D&C 3:1–4 that tells us that God’s work is not frustrated, but man’s. Still, it’s interesting that the Lord had Nephi kill Laban instead of just doing it himself. I think this was one of the very defining moments in Nephi’s life, similar to Abraham being willing to sacrifice Isaac. Just how committed are you, Nephi, to obeying the Lord?

1 Nephi 4:10

10 And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.

I suppose I would doubt myself if I received inspiration to kill someone. Knowing that murder is on of the most serious of sins, I would struggle with inspiration to kill a helpless person like Laban was at this point: passed out drunk. I might even question the source of my inspiration. This must be what was going through Nephi’s mind. But when the Lord tells you to kill someone, you do it, or the sin of disobedience overshadows. In 1 Samuel 15:3–33 we read about king Saul and how he was told by the prophet Samuel to wipe out the Amalekites. He wasn’t supposed to leave anyone or anything alive. So they went in, wiped out the Amalekites, but kept the king alive and the best of the flocks and herds for the purpose of sacrificing. When Samuel chastised him, Saul tried to repent, but it was too little too late. While he was allowed to worship the Lord again, the kingdom was taken from him, and he no longer had the blessing of the Lord. So when the Lord tells you to do something, do it, even if it seems against what you have been taught.

1 Nephi 4:9

9 And I beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the sheath thereof; and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel.

It seems that Nephi was being led to do things he normally would not do, one step at a time. For example, as we see in the next couple of verses, Nephi was not a man drawn to violence, yet he took special note of Laban’s sword, to the point of actually drawing it from its sheath. I just wonder what was going through his mind at that time. Why would a non-violent person draw a sword and admire its craftsmanship, especially when the sword belonged to someone else. Did he already know that he was going to have to kill Laban? Maybe this is why Nephi was “led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things [he] should do.” (vs. 6) If he had known that he was to kill Laban ahead of time, would he have had the courage to go into the city? How often do we start a calling, a marriage, parenthood, whatever, not knowing beforehand what it will involve? If we had known that, would we have the courage to move forward?

1 Nephi 4:7–8

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.

8 And when I came to him I found that it was Laban.

It’s interesting to me how often the Lord uses the effects of alcohol to accomplish His purposes. We see it sprinkled throughout the scriptures. I’m not sure that it means anything in particular, but it’s interesting.

1 Nephi 4:6

6 And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.

Sometimes we have to take these leaps of faith where all we know is that we’re doing what the Lord wants us to do. We can’t always know why He has us do certain things or go certain places. The important thing is that we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit. This goes for callings in the Church as well as other, more mundane activities as well.

• Proverbs 3:5–6

1 Nephi 4:5

5 And it was by night; and I caused that they should hide themselves without the walls. And after they had hid themselves, I, Nephi, crept into the city and went forth towards the house of Laban.

Laman and Lemuel don’t seem to be too impressed by this visit from an angel. However, as before, they went to try one more time, even though they didn’t want to. Once again, they are doing the right thing, but, but for the wrong reason. This reminds me of 1 Corinthians 13:1—3, where we learn that keeping the commandments does us no good if we do it with the wrong attitude. In contrast, when Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac, he didn’t grumble and murmur, rather he obeyed faithfully. Brigham Young said, “It is not by words, particularly, nor by actions, that men will be judged in the great day of the Lord; but, in connection with words and actions, the sentiments and intentions of the heart will be taken, and by these will men be judged.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, p.273 - p.274. My emphasis.)

The whole experience didn’t seem to have much effect on Laman and Lemuel. They were still angry and reluctant about the whole thing. This is where Nephi takes charge. He now becomes the leader of the expedition. It’s like he gave Laman the first chance to lead; he couldn’t do it, so now Nephi has to take over. It’s as if the angel gave him the go-ahead to take the lead.

1 Nephi 4:4

4 Now when I had spoken these words, they were yet wroth, and did still continue to murmur; nevertheless they did follow me up until we came without the walls of Jerusalem.

Unbelievable that they still complain after what they have just witnessed!

1 Nephi 4:3

3 Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that an angel hath spoken unto you; wherefore can ye doubt? Let us go up; the Lord is able to deliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Laban, even as the Egyptians.

Nephi gives his brothers two really strong reasons to believe that God would deliver the plates and help them accomplish their mission. First, he reminds them that the Lord CAN deliver them, and he uses an historical reference to back that up. If the Lord can divide the Red Sea, surely He can deliver to us a set of plates. Second, Nephi reminds them that they just saw an angel of God. This would seem to be a strong indication that the Lord was behind the mission. In other words, not only CAN the Lord deliver us, He WILL deliver us, because this is His project. Given those two strong arguments, Nephi again asks why they are doubtful. For Nephi’s part, he was all about the mission from the beginning. After the angel left, there was no wasted time confirming and reiterating what he said about no beating their brothers. Nephi didn’t rub that in their faces, but instead he got right back on task: get the plates.