I was reading
an article about how the Book of Moses seems to have been more representative
of what was in the Brass Plates versus the Bible as we have it today. How many teachings
that are found solely in the Book of Moses are integrated into the teachings of
the Book of Mormon. The one that I found most interesting that changes the perception
of Laman towards Nephi I quote it here:
A remarkable passage in the first part of the Book
of Mormon pulls all these book of Moses themes about Satan together — to
describe someone else. The implication is unmistakable when Laman characterizes
his brother Nephi as one who lies
and who deceives our eyes, thinking to lead us away for the purpose of
making himself “a king and a ruler over us,
that he may do with us according to his will and
pleasure” (1 Nephi 16:38).
Laman insinuates that Nephi, who chastises his wayward brothers, is himself
like the devil. And resistance against him is not only righteous but required.
This account has the added complexity that it is a speech of Laman, who is
quoted here in a record written by the very brother he attacks. If we accept
the possibility that this text is dependent on a passage in the ancient book of
Moses, we then recognize a major new dimension of meaning, not only in Laman’s
speech but also in Nephi’s decision to preserve the speech, thus showing his
descendants and any other readers familiar with the Moses text the full nature
of the confrontation between the brothers as well as the injustice of the
attacks he suffered. The full irony is revealed when we reflect on the facts
reported in Nephi’s record and realize that Laman’s false accusation against
Nephi is an accurate self-description.6
This idea
places the relationship between Laman and Nephi more akin to Cain and Able
which adds an interesting dimension to this relationship.
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