26 And
it came to pass that we did flee before the servants of Laban, and we were obliged to leave behind our property, and it fell into the hands of Laban.
27 And it came to pass that we fled into the wilderness, and the servants of Laban did not overtake us, and we
hid ourselves in the cavity of a rock.
28 And it came to pass that Laman was angry with me, and also with my father; and 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.
--
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.
30 And after the
angel had spoken unto us, he departed.
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?
QUOTES FOR DISCUSSION
Laban stole their wealth and tried to destroy them. Nephi’s brethren commenced to murmur again, and they took a rod and beat him with it. As they did so an angel of the Lord stood before them, and he commanded them to go up again, promising that God should deliver Laban into their hands. I call the attention of the young men and young ladies to this, for I have heard many of them say, “Oh, if I could only see an angel, I would believe and forever be faithful.” The seeing of an angel amounts to nothing, unless you are keeping the commandments of God. No sooner had the heavenly messenger departed than these elder brethren, who were lacking in faith and did not keep the commandments of God, commenced to murmur, and instead of having faith in the promises of the angel, they said unto Nephi, “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?” Did this discourage Nephi? Did he lack faith? No; he believed in the promises of the angel of God, and he said unto them, “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?” They went up and were successful.
CR, Oct. 1900, 34
President Joseph Fielding Smith has taught that “a visitation of an angel…would not leave the impression” that we “receive through a manifestation of the Holy Ghost. Personal visitations might become dim as time goes on [note Laman and Lemuel’s rationalizations on a later date—1 Nephi 16:38], but this guidance of the Holy Ghost is renewed and continued, day after day, year after year, if we live to be worthy of it.”
Doctrines of Salvation, 1:44