Coming to Christ: Book of Mormon Studies 2c Nephi and Laban

I decided not to move on with my comments, because there is something some people find disturbing in the first five chapters of Nephi, and I wanted to talk about it.  This is the story in 1 Nephi 4, of Nephi getting the Brass Plates.

To summarize the story, Lehi commands his sons to go and get the Brass Plates from Laban who lives in Jesusalem.  Laman and Lemuel complained and did not think it was possible.  Nephi responded saying, "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: 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 that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (1 Nephi 3:7)  Nephi and his brothers tried two times unsuccessfully to get the plates.  They tried asking for them, and purchasing them with their worldly possession which they had left behind.  Laban rutned them down, stole their possessions, and sent guards to kill them.  Finally, after being beaten by a rod by his brothers, and an angel compelling his brothers to stop, Nephi goes the third time alone, "And I was lead by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless I went forth,..." (1 Nephi 4:6-7)

And now comes the part of the story that some people have trouble with.  Nephi finds Laban in a drunken stupor.  The Spirit tells Nephi to kill him.  Nephi hesitated to do so, and the Spirit says, "Behold the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands... Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands;  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.  (1 Nephi 4 11-13)

And so, at the beginning of the Book of Mormon, we have a test of faith.  While on my mission, an investigator concluded that the Book of Mormon was not true based on this story.   God would not tell someone to murder someone else.  But the history in the scriptures is much different.  Even though God said "Thou shalt not kill"  (Exodus 20:13)  But this is the same God, who would tell the Israelites to utterly destroy cities from time to time, for the God is Lord of the law.  "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass."  (Samuel 15:3)

And so if God is a living God, which he is, then he has power to alter the basic commandments as seemeth Him good.  Consider also Jesus and the apostles picking corn on the sabbath.  The same standard applied.  

However in having this faith, that God guides and directs his church, it is important to check oneself and make sure the Spirit you are following is of God and not some other source.  I remember the case many years back in Logan, when a man had a delusion, thinking he was commanded by god to kill his baby, and ended up causing a serious stab wound to the baby with a scissors. 

For our day and age such instruction, to go against a commandment of God would only come through the  prophet. The Institute Manual talks of this.  "Some people have incorrectly felt that the Spirit of the Lord has prompted them to do something contrary to what the Lord has already commanded, such as was the case with Nephi.  Today we not not worry that the Lord might prompt us to do something that is contrary to current commandments."  The Manual then  quotes Harold B. Lee.  "When there is to be anything different from that which the Lord has told us already, He will reveal it to his prophet and no one else."  (SMR p 16 quoting Harold B. Lee; Stand Ye in Holy Places, 1974)

There is a pattern set.  God is Lord of all, including the commandments.  He speaks through His prophets.  We have a living prophet today, who guides and directs us.  For our part, we have the responsibility to seek out inspiration for our calling, families, and duties. 

It is interesting that such a story would appear at the first of the Book of Mormon.  The reason it appears, is because it is a true story, and relates what actually happened.  The Book of Mormon talks of the benefit of the Brass Plates.  Laban had two earlier opportunities to give the Plates, and had refused to do so.  So in this case, the Lord determined that Laban's death would be required, that Lehi and his family might have the scriptures, and thus preserve their language, their religion and their faith.

I know the Book of Mormon is God's words, and I am coming closer to Christ through this study.