1 Nephi 3

Vs1-2 Ok, very interesting exchange here. Nephi reports returning from speaking with the Lord, which is short for saying, Nephi asked God for confirmation that what Lehi had done with his family was right. Nephi was also told that God would be guiding Lehi et al to the promised land, which was definitely not Jerusalem country. But what does Nephi hear, first thing, when he returns to the tent of his father? Lehi has had another dream (a visionary man!) and this time God wants Nephi and brothers to return to Jerusalem.

God’s reason for sending the brothers back to Jerusalem was for them to obtain the “plates of brass;” a genealogy and some form of what we now call the old testament. What an interesting idea to send the murmuring brothers, Laman and Lemuel back to where they want to be in the first place. Quite the test me thinks. Of course Nephi (and his younger brothers?) has no problem with this idea since he has received confirmation from the Lord and a “softening of heart.” His oft quoted response is that he will go and do the will of the Lord because whenever God commands he prepares a way for the fulfillment of that commandment.

But why didn’t God rearrange the order of the visions he gave to Lehi? Get plates first, then flee Jerusalem. Of course there was the danger, as Nephi and company discovered, that Laban would try to kill them for even asking for the plates. This scenario makes it quite clear that it was smart to hide in the wilderness first, and then send a small band of brothers in to retrieve the brass plates.

To return to Jerusalem and retrieve the plates, like all challenges was unique to each individual who it touched. Lehi had to hope that God would spare his sons. He knew Jerusalem was a tought place and I’m sure he knew Laban wasn’t the most understanding of men. Sariah, Lehi’s wife, of course had the typical motherly anxiety, which we learn later she loudly expressed to Lehi. Nephi’s faith in his recent confirmation from God that what they were doing was correct was being tried. Laman and Lemuel’s test was slightly different. Could they withstand the temptation of returning to Jerusalem and then having to return to their dessert dwelling family. Once in Jerusalem they had a house, lots of riches, old friends, why in the world would they return to the wilderness? It’s not like Lehi would have sent Nephi and Sam to rough them up, had they decided to stay in Jerusalem once they had returned. What’s even more interesting is that Lehi it seems didn’t even live in Jerusalem. Vs 22 suggests that after Laban first rejects Laman’s request to have the plates, Nephi proffers the idea of buying the plates off Laban. So Laman, Lemuel and Nephi, pack up and head to the “land of our inheritance.” I wonder, what do the people think as they see the sons of “crazy old Maurice” returning to pick up a bunch of “treasure” from their abandoned home? Did Lehi really just leave all his goods at his house? And no one stole anything? Did he just leave his servants there? His flocks? His merchandise? Or did he sell the business? Or was his brother running the show, and took pity on the three sons when they came asking for some gold and silver?

So of course Laban loves the gold and silver he is offered for the plates. He chooses option C, take the treasure, keep the plates, kill the boys. The boys flee into the wilderness and hide, and Laban’s murderous servants have to go home without any blood to show for their efforts.

As is sometimes natural in tense situations there is a lot of stress. Laman and Lemuel having been humiliated and scared “to death” begin to take their frustration out on their younger brother Nephi. Sadly, I can imagine this wasn’t anything new. Laman and Lemuel seem the type to have been bullies growing up, and good natured fun, I’m sure, had often turned into physical abuse. But this time an angel appears (vs 29) to referee the fight. As per God’s usual technique, a rhetorical question is asked, “why do you smite your brother with a rod?” I can imagine Laman and Lemuel’s sub-frontal-cortex thoughts, because we have been ashamed, and feared for our life, and some else has to feel our pain (i.e. Big ape slapped me, I’ll pass the love along and slap a smaller ape).

The angel tells them all that Nephi will be a ruler over them and that they will go back to Jerusalem and the Lord will deliver Laban into your hands. Not a second passes in the narrative and Laman and Lemuel are complaining again. Apparently it was common-place enough for angels to appear that Laman and Lemuel are able to shrug it off as a bad nightmare.

In summary,
The boys are sent back to Jerusalem to obtain the brass plates. They try asking and are rejected. They try buying and are chased. They are frustrated and take it out on Nephi. God says Nephi will be a ruler over you and by the way, now that you have tried twice I will give Laban into your hands. Interestingly the angel doesn’t say, go back and Laban will give you the plates, or I will help you get the plates, simply I will give Laban into your hands. A little foreshadowing being done, since as Nephi is writing this he surely remembers exactly what happened. He killed Laban.