Nephis act intertwines the sword of laban with the word of god, linking the two at their core. They believe the witness of brigham young and others was them mentioning a dream of some cave in mexico somewhere. Jun 17, 20 laban had a steel sword long before steel came into use. A whole life can be shaped by an old trauma, remembered or not. The sword of laban is one of the most iconic objects in the book of mormon. Those who believe in the mesoamerican theory of the book of mormon dont believe there was a cave at cumorah. Aug 06, 2008 the sword of laban was included in the various relics that were given to joseph smith, along with the plates of the book of mormon. Such ancient swords were unknown at the time the book of mormon was published. From the time that nephi drew labans sword from its sheath and slew him with it,1 the weapon held special significance for the nephite nation. Oct 18, 2019 near the beginning of the book of mormon, there is a troubling story. The book of mormon claims the existence of steel in or around jerusalem before the invasion and captivity of babylon. From the time that nephi drew laban s sword from its sheath and slew him with it, the weapon held special significance for the nephite nation.
The sword was used as a model for the nephites to make their own weapons when they were faced with warfare against their. Laban, a descendant of joseph of egypt, was living in jerusalem at the time of lehis exodus. Nephi was commanded by the spirit to slay laban in the early chapters of the book of mormon. The sword of laban as a symbol of divine authority and.
Although not a member of the church, elizabeth kane lived in st. As they were walking up the hill, a door opened and they walked into a room about 16 ft square. Jan 23, 2018 the sword of laban is one of the most iconic objects in the book of mormon. The bond between sword and word carries on throughout the book of mormon. The sword was used as a model for the nephites to make their own weapons when they were faced with warfare. The sword of laban and the tree of life the golden plates, volume one michael d.
It was passed down from generation to generation mosiah 1. Modern readers might stumble over any justification for killing laban, as nephi does at first. Yet the book of mormon does not give much information about how the sword looked. Sword of laban as a symbol of divine authority book of. In the book of first nephi, chapters three and four. However, looking through the cultural context of a believing hebrew from 600bce sheds new light on understanding the account. Mormon orthodoxy maintains that the sword exists to the presentday, and was hidden away with the gold plates found by joseph smith, jr book of the law of the lord. Apr 15, 2012 labans death combines, in an instant, the noblest and most base tendencies of human nature. Sword of laban come follow me enos words of wisdom. Evidence of steel has been found in the near east during the same time frame that is claimed by the book of mormon. Evidence supporting the steel sword of laban in the book of. Nephi and his brothers have been sent by their father, lehi, to retrieve a sacred record contained on brass plates which are in the possession of a man named laban. Jan 24, 2020 a young nephi kills drunken laban with labans own sword only four chapters into the book of mormon see 1 nephi 4. Swords have often been seen as symbols of divine authority and kingship numerous examples from the mythology, literature, and history of the world attest to distinct.
It was passed down from generation to generation and was apparently still being used in battle even during the time of king benjamin. The sword of laban and the tree of life the golden plates. The book of mormon references the sword of laban on multiple occasions. Unlike many of the other book of mormon characters, laban neither ends up in the new world, nor is he a biblical character. Every commentator on the book of mormon has pointed out the many cultural and historical anachronisms, such as the steel sword of laban in 600 b. We are also told that nephi used labans sword as a model to construct other swords. The symbolism associated with the sword of laban reaches to our day.
Each sword of laban is hand crafted by artisans who have handed down from generation to generation the art of sword making. Laban book of mormon religionwiki fandom powered by wikia. Although he only makes a brief appearance in the narrative, his brass plates would play an important role amongst the nephites, who are the books main protagonists. There is a treatise in the journal of book of mormon studies entitled. George, utah, and entertained the company of brigham young. Why was the sword of laban so important to nephite leaders. The sword of laban and its possible prelaban origin daniel n. How could laban have possessed a sword of most precious. In june of 1829, 1 the lord told oliver cowdery, david whitmer. After the first 116 pages were lost, god supposedly took back the plates from joseph smith and he was left to translate the entirety of the book of mormon using a small round chocolate colored seer stone previously used by smith in treasure seeking.
The three witnesses to the book of mormon were promised a view of the sword of laban, along with the breastplate and the urim and thummim. Apparently laban s sword was passed down through the centuries to future prophets, kings, and warriors, as it is mentioned many centuries later in the book of mormon. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1999. Laban, lying before nephi in a drunken stupor, has not been guiltless in his dealings with lehis family. A number of articles have been published about this aspect of labans sword in various issues of the journal of book of mormon studies. Oct 10, 2017 i have wanted to know what the sword of laban from the book of mormon would have truly looked like for most of my life and after much study and research i have figured it out, basing my conclusions on authentic archaeological references. The sword of laban has an extensive history in the book of mormon nephis younger brother, jacob, relates that nephi wielded the sword of laban in the defense of the nephite people many times. The hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and the blade thereof was of the most precious steel. The sword of laban as a symbol of divine authority and kingship. For instance, nephi said that in order to protect his people he did take the sword of laban, and after the manner of it did make many swords 2 nephi 5.
For the sake of discussion, we have divided its usage into two categories. The sword of laban from the book of mormon fits these patterns and can be compared to the sword of goliath. Jun 25, 2019 the sword of laban figures prominently in the book of mormon and later in church history. The book of mormon mentions the sword 156 times william j. The sword of laban can also be traced as part of the royal regalia that provides authority throughout nephite history and later as it appears in the restoration. May 26, 2019 on 26 mar 2019 a book entitled the sealed book of mormon was published. The sword of laban as a symbol of divine authority and kingship brett l. Book of mormon genealogy chart lehi a descendant of joseph through manasseh laban sariah ishmael a descendant of ephriam laman wife of ishmael eve devil lucifer, satan lemuel sam nephi zedekiah king of judah lamb of god jesus christ zoram servant of laban daughter of ishmael daughter of ishmael daughter of ishmael daughter of ishmael jacob. Laban, a book of mormon contemporary of nephi 1 in jerusalem c. May 10, 2008 the symbolism associated with the sword of laban reaches to our day. In short, the sword initially belonged to a man called laban. It begins with a testimony of three witnesses from brazil who claim to have seen the plates of mormon and the sword of laban, and to have shaken hands with the angel moroni.
They also believe the sword of laban and the liahona fit in the stone box with the plates and the urim and thummim. Laban had a steel sword long before steel came into use. In what little we know the man, laban has at least. The bible and book of mormon are clearly shouldertoshoulder on such an issue. Jacob noted that nephi wielded the sword of laban in their defence jacob 1.
A compelling historical book of mormon musical, centerville, utah. The sword of laban from the book of mormon by shadbrooks on. Brent merrill, the book of mormon mentions the sword 156 times, more than any other weapon. Lehi testifies that this assignment came from god, and nephi responds that. Laban and his forefathers had kept the records of their progenitors on plates of brass, beginning with the creation of the world and continuing through adam, moses, and the other holy prophets down to the. He related a story told him by hyrum smith which was as follows.
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