THE BOOK OF MORMON. Joseph F. Smith
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.
1 Nephi 3:29
29 And it came to pass as they smote us with a rod, behold, an
angel of the Lord came and stood before them, and he spake unto
them, saying: Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod?
Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a ruler over you,
and this because of your iniquities? Behold ye shall go up to
Jerusalem again, and the Lord will deliver Laban into your hands.
1 Nephi 3:30
30 And after the angel had spoken unto us, he departed.
1 Nephi 3:31
31 And after the angel had departed, Laman and Lemuel again
began to murmur, saying: How is it possible that the Lord will
deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he
can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?
1 Nephi 4 Chapter 4
1 Nephi 4:1
1 And it came to pass that I spake unto my brethren, saying: Let
us go up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be faithful in keeping
the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all
the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea,
or even than his tens of thousands?
1 Nephi 4:2
2 Therefore let us go up; let us be strong like unto Moses; for
he truly spake unto the waters of the Red Sea and they divided
hither and thither, and our fathers came through, out of
captivity, on dry ground, and the armies of Pharaoh did follow
and were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea.
1 Nephi 4:3
3 Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that an
angel hath spoken unto you; wherefore can ye doubt? Let us go
up; the Lord is able to deliver us, even as our fathers, and to
destroy Laban, even as the Egyptians.
1 Nephi 4:4
4 Now when I had spoken these words, they were yet wroth, and
did still continue to murmur; nevertheless they did follow me up
until we came without the walls of Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 4:5
5 And it was by night; and I caused that they should hide
themselves without the walls. And after they had hid themselves,
I, Nephi, crept into the city and went forth towards the house of
Laban.
1 Nephi 4:6
6 And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things
which I should do.
1 Nephi 4:7
7 Nevertheless I went forth, and as I came near unto the house
of Laban I beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth before
me, for he was drunken with wine.
1 Nephi 4:8
8 And when I came to him I found that it was Laban.
1 Nephi 4:9
9 And I beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the sheath
thereof; and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the
workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the
blade thereof was of the most precious steel.
1 Nephi 4:10
10 And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that
I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time
have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I
might not slay him.
1 Nephi 4:11
11 And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord hath
delivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had
sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken
unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our
property.
1 Nephi 4:12
12 And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me again: Slay
him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands;
1 Nephi 4:13
13 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 4:14
14 And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered
the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness,
saying that: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments,
they shall prosper in the land of promise.
1 Nephi 4:15
15 Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the
commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they
should have the law.
1 Nephi 4:16
16 And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the plates of
brass.
1 Nephi 4:17
17 And again, I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into my
hands for this cause—that I might obtain the records according
to his commandments.
1 Nephi 4:18
18 Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit, and took Laban
by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own
sword.
1 Nephi 4:19
19 And after I had smitten off his head with his own sword, I
took the garments of Laban and put them upon mine own body; yea,
even every whit; and I did gird on his armor about my loins.
1 Nephi 4:20
20 And after I had done this, I went forth unto the treasury of
Laban. And as I went forth towards the treasury of Laban,
behold, I saw the servant of Laban who had the keys of the
treasury. And I commanded him in the voice of Laban, that he
should go with me into the treasury.
1 Nephi 4:21
21 And he supposed me to be his master, Laban, for he beheld the
garments and also the sword girded about my loins.
1 Nephi 4:22
22 And he spake unto me concerning the elders of the Jews, he
knowing that his master,