| Revision as of 17:41, 17 November 2023 editBoyNamedTzu (talk | contribs)209 editsNo edit summaryTag: Visual edit← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:25, 19 November 2023 edit undoBoyNamedTzu (talk | contribs)209 editsNo edit summaryTag: Visual edit: SwitchedNext edit → | ||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
| == Book of Mormon narrative == | == Book of Mormon narrative == | ||
| The story of Nephi obtaining the plates from Laban takes up all of the third and fourth chapters of the First Book of Nephi. In Chapter 3, Lehi tells Nephi that he has had a prophetic dream in which the Lord commanded him to send his four sons back to Jerusalem to obtain a set of brass plates held by a man named Laban. The plates contain "the record of the Jews," which, Lehi believes, his descendants will need when they establish a new civilization in the land that they will inherit.<ref>1 Nephi 3:3</ref> Laman and Lemuel complain about the difficulty of the task, but Nephi accepts the task and proclaims, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them to accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."<ref>1 Nephi 3:7</ref> In the end, all four brothers--Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi--go to Jerusalem. | |||
| When they reach their destination, they cast lots to determine who will approach Laban, and the lot falls to Laman. When Laman asks for the plates, Laban becomes angry, calls Laman a robber, and threatens to have him killed before Laman escapes and returns to his brothers.<ref>1 Nephi 3:11-14</ref> | |||
| == Significance of the event == | == Significance of the event == | ||
| Line 22: | Line 25: | ||
| === Self-defense === | === Self-defense === | ||
| == Depictions in Art and Literature |
== Depictions in Art and Literature | ||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| == | |||
Revision as of 18:25, 19 November 2023
The story of Nephi killing Laban is found near the beginning of the Book of Mormon in 1 Nephi 4:1-38. After the family of Lehi flees Jerusalem and sets up a camp in the wilderness, Nephi sends his four sons back to Jerusalem to obtain a set of brass plates from a religious leader named Laban. Lehi believes that these plates will be necessary for his descendants to preserve their culture and religion in the new land they will inhabit. When Lehi's sons meet with Laban, he refused to give them the plates and attempts to have them killed. Later, Nephi encounters a drunken Laban on the steps of his house. Under direction from the Holy Spirit, Nephi kills and decapitates Laban and then impersonates him in order to obtain the brass plates. The ethical implications of Nephi, an important prophet in the Book of Mormon, taking a man's life in order to secure the long-term prosperity of his descendants have made this one of the most analyzed and debated passages of the Book of Mormon.
Book of Mormon narrative
The story of Nephi obtaining the plates from Laban takes up all of the third and fourth chapters of the First Book of Nephi. In Chapter 3, Lehi tells Nephi that he has had a prophetic dream in which the Lord commanded him to send his four sons back to Jerusalem to obtain a set of brass plates held by a man named Laban. The plates contain "the record of the Jews," which, Lehi believes, his descendants will need when they establish a new civilization in the land that they will inherit. Laman and Lemuel complain about the difficulty of the task, but Nephi accepts the task and proclaims, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them to accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." In the end, all four brothers--Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi--go to Jerusalem.
When they reach their destination, they cast lots to determine who will approach Laban, and the lot falls to Laman. When Laman asks for the plates, Laban becomes angry, calls Laman a robber, and threatens to have him killed before Laman escapes and returns to his brothers.
Significance of the event
Identity of Laban
Importance of the brass plates
Metanarrative considerations
Connections to the Bible
Criticisms of Nephi's actions
Defenses of Nephi's actions
Utilitarian necessity
Obedience
Self-defense
== Depictions in Art and Literature
References
- 1 Nephi 3:3
- 1 Nephi 3:7
- 1 Nephi 3:11-14
==