In the 4th chapter of Nephi, Nephi takes matters into his own hands and slays Laban, with the Lord's command to do so, and receives the brass plates and returns to Lehi and his family in the wilderness.
In verses 1-4, Nephi is telling his brothers that they should have faith, and that they should fear not and go back to Jerusalem, by having the faith in the Lord that they will be protected, they should go back and destroy Laban.
Nephi has been very strong in keeping his commandment towards the Lord, and he is being rewarded with the clarity and piece in knowing that he will be safe even while up against Laban's thousands of followers. (Sometimes we have a hard time standing up for what we believe in, whether it be religious, or any other type of belief, and here is Nephi, being so full of faith ready to take on an Army.) Nephi tries to talk his brothers into going with him, but even while having been greeted by an angle of the lord, they still are in disbelief and do not have the faith in which Nephi has, they followed Nephi but only to the walls of Jerusalem.
Nephi goes into the walls of the house of Laban by himself to take the plates, he then is stopped by the sight of a drunken man who indeed ends up being Laban himself. Nephi then took Laban's own sword and vowed not to kill him, because he did not want to kill a man, but was quickly prompted by the lord telling him that he had delivered Laban into his (Nephi's) hands for him to slay him, reminding him that it is "better that one mand should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief." Nephi reminded himself of his previous meeings with the Lord telling him that "Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of Promise.
Nephi obey's the voice of the spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and with using Laban's own sword, Nephi then put on Laban's clothes and went to take Laban's treasure. Pretending to be Laban, Nephi commanded a servant in the voice of Laban to take him to the treasure, and to follow him as he took the plates to his brothers outside the walls of Laban's fortress.
Nephi and the servant came to Laman and Lemuel, who by the look of Nephi, they thought he was Laban, and the became very afraid, for they thought Laban had slayed Nephi and that he was going to do the same to them.
Laban's servant tried to flee, but Nephi grabbed him and held him there, where, Nephi told him that he would not kill him, but that he would keep him alive, and that he could be free if he were to follow Nephi and his brothers into the wilderness. Zoram, which is the name of the servant did decide to follow them into the wilderness. and promised he would continue in their journey, only if the fact that the Jews would not follow them into the wilderness to destroy them. They then took the plates and the belongings of Laban back to Lehi into the wilderness.
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Things to think about
As you continue your study of the Book of Mormon, watch for evidence of the importance of the brass plates in the subsequent history of the Nephites.
1) Why did Nephi have the courage to go into the house of Laban on his own?
2) Nephi was prompted by the Lord to kill Laban, he even handed him to him, has the Lord ever just handed you something?
3) What are you doing right now in your life, to be able to receive such a blessing/prompting?
4) Was there a Church anciently, and if so, how was it organized and regulated? answer
5) Zoram made an oath to Nephi to follow him into the wilderness, have you ever made such a strong oath?
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Personal Thoughts
I think that Nephi is an amazing man, he is a prime example of how we should be as followers of the church, but just as a human in general. I look at Nephi and I see someone who knows and appreciates the blessings he has received from the Lord, and that he knows that he needs to always be a good sheep to his Shepard.
I wish to follow his example into my everyday life, to follow the promptings i feel from the Lord through the Holy Ghost, and from our dear Prophet and Prophets of old. I want to remember everyday that I am truly blessed, and that with the Lord's help, and with the strength that i have, that I can fulfill all my duties and responsibilities.
I hope to use this lesson to better myself as a father, and to be a better husband, as well as a better son, and son to our great and passionate Father in Heaven. I know that this is THE true church and that, we have been sent here to do the Lord's work, and to continue to build, I know that President Monson is a Prophet, and converses with the Lord regularly, and I know that through his guidance, and teachings, that I can achieve my goals, thank you so much, amen.
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