1 Nephi 3:12 - 3:16

1 Nephi 3:12 And he desired of Laban the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, which contained the genealogy of my father.

Laman asked for the brass plates and again mentions that they contain the genealogy of Lehi’s ancestors. This is the second time genealogy is mentioned. It maybe one of the main reasons why Lehi wants them besides the records they contain.

1 Nephi 3:13 And behold, it came to pass that Laban was angry, and thrust him out from his presence; and he would not that he should have the records. Wherefore, he said unto him: Behold thou art a robber, and I will slay thee.

Regardless of how or in what manner Laman asked for the brass plates, Laban became very angry and accused Laman of trying to steal them and was reaching for his sword. Laman ran from the house for his life.

I wonder who was keeping them up to date? Was it Laban or some scribe? And why were the words from what may have been perceived as dissidents recorded as well? Maybe to use the words to condemned them if there were a trial of some sort.

Were there other plates or records being kept by others? Were these plates considered the official records of the state? Or were these just simply records of one family and their impressions of current events?

1 Nephi 3:14 But Laman fled out of his presence, and told the things which Laban had done, unto us. And we began to be exceedingly sorrowful, and my brethren were about to return unto my father in the wilderness.

Laman flees the city and joins up again with his brothers. They are very discouraged and wanted to return to their father in the desert. I guess the Laman and Lemuel thought they had done as much as possible.

1 Nephi 3:15 But behold I said unto them that: As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us.

However Nephi is not ready to give up. He knows that this is a commandment from God and it is up to them to get those plates! The Lord gave them this charge and He wants it done!

1 Nephi 3:16 Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; therefore let us go down to the land of our father’s inheritance, for behold he left gold and silver, and all manner of riches. And all this he hath done because of the commandments of the Lord.

Nephi tries to rouse up the boys again and comes up with idea. He proposes that they use the valuable stuff left behind when they left town to try and buy the plates from Laban. It may have have entered the mind of Nephi that is why the Lord told Lehi not to take his valuable possessions with him. The Lord knew a head of time that He would have the boys use them to try and bride Laban.