The sons of Lehi are trying to get the brass plates from Laban, but their attempts so far have been thwarted. They want to give up altogether, but Nephi speaks to them, hoping to convince them of the importance of their quest.
We pick up in verse seventeen, with Nephi reminding his brothers why they left Jerusalem. In speaking of his father –
17. For he knew that Jerusalem must be destroyed, because of the wickedness of the people.
18. For behold, they have rejected the words of the prophets. Wherefore, if my father should dwell in the land after he hath been commanded to flee out of the land, behold, he would also perish. Wherefore, it must needs be that he flee out of the land.
19. And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these records, that we may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers;
20. And also that we may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which have been delivered unto them by the Spirit and power of God, since the world began, even down unto this present time.
21. And it came to pass that after this manner of language did I persuade my brethren, that they might be faithful in keeping the commandments of God.
Nephi reminds his brothers that his father’s life was in danger, and that, coupled with the destruction of Jerusalem, is why they fled. But they can’t go into the wilderness without obtaining the information that is so precious to them. Words of the prophets are on those plates—to leave without them would be like us moving away from home and leaving behind our scriptures, our scrapbooks, and all of our genealogy.
22. And it came to pass that we went down to the land of our inheritance, and we did gather together our gold, and our silver, and our precious things.
23. And after we had gathered these things together, we went up again unto the house of Laban.
24. And it came to pass that we went in unto Laban, and desired him that he would give unto us the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, for which we would give unto him our gold, and our silver, and all our precious things.
Brass is a valuable element, but it’s not nearly as costly as gold and silver. Nephi and his brothers were making Laban a very good deal. It would seem that this is a win-win situation. Laban would get gold and silver far above the monetary value of the plates, while Nephi would get valuable records that money could not buy. However, Laban was more interested in greed than in anything else. Why sell the plates when he could simply keep everything for himself?
25. And it came to pass that when Laban saw our property, and that it was exceedingly great, he did lust after it, insomuch that he thrust us out, and sent his servants to slay us, that he might obtain our property.
“Lust” is a great word here. Any time we have an addiction, and it rules us, we lust after whatever it takes to feed that addiction. Laban’s desire for wealth was so strong, it caused him to want to commit murder, despite the fact that he was already fabulously wealthy and would be made more by doing business with Nephi and his brothers.
26. And it came to pass that we did flee before the servants of Laban, and we were obliged to leave behind our property, and it fell into the hands of Laban.
So Laban gets what he wants – all the property, and yet the plates are still in his possession. He must be feeling pretty smug right about now.
27. And it came to pass that we fled into the wilderness, and the servants of Laban did not overtake us, and we hid ourselves in the cavity of a rock.
They escape from the servants of Laban and are yet alive, but Laman is furious. He’s done what he was asked to do, although it brought him no joy because he didn’t do it with the right spirit. He thinks this is all a twisted game of his father’s, and he decides to take it out on Nephi.
28. And it came to pass that Laman was angry with me, and also with my father; and also was Lemuel, for he hearkened unto the words of Laman. Wherefore Laman and Lemuel did speak many hard words unto us, their younger brothers, and they did smite us even with a rod.
Laman and Lemuel have no testimony of what they’ve been sent to do, and to them, it’s all wild goose chase. Letting their tempers get the better of them, they start beating Nephi and Sam.
From today’s reading: How can we strengthen our testimonies so that when we’re given a task, we can feel sure that it’s of the Lord?
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