Zosimus wrote: ↑Mon Mar 06, 2023 5:36 am
According to Fayette Lapham's interview with Joseph Smith Sr. at some point in the year previous to the publication of the Book of Mormon, Laban was "dead drunk".
"After traveling three days, [Lehi] remembered that he had left some papers, in the office where he had been an officer, which he thought would be of use to him in his journeyings. He sent his son back to the city to get them; and when his son arrived in the city, it was night, and he found the citizens had been having a great feast, and were all drunk. When he went to the office to get his father's papers he was told that the chief clerk was not in, and he must find [him] before he could have the papers. He then went into the street in search of him; but every body being drunk, he could get but little information of his whereabouts, but, after searching a long time, he found him lying in the street, dead drunk, clothed in his official habiliments, his sword having a gold hilt and chain, lying by his side—and this is the same that was found with the gold plates. Finding that he could do nothing with him in that situation, he drew the sword, cut off the officer's head, cast off this own outer garments, and, assuming those of the officer, returned to the office where the papers were readily obtained, with which he returned to where his father was waiting for him."
Again, this account is very interesting and sheds light on what was in the missing manuscript. This business of Nephi attempting to pick up his father’s
papers at the
office provides an interesting slant on the whole affair in showing it was a kind of business venture. Zosimus elected to cut the quote a bit short so I am adding another sentence to show what happened once the business was completed in Jerusalem:
Fayette Lapham wrote:The family then moved on, for several days, when they were directed to stop and get materials to make brass plates upon which to keep a record of their journey.
I’m wondering if Zosimus has any comments to make about all this? Nephi knowingly murdered a chief clerk who was his father’s boss! The Book of Mormon is all about murder and more murder -- there is lots and lots of murder in the Book of Mormon BECAUSE that is what was on the author’s (Joseph Smith’s) mind! Murder was a fascination to Joseph Smith!
Also note that Lapham’s account mentions a
“chain” which is something not mentioned in the replacement text of our extant Book of Mormon. I find this very telling because Joseph Smith’s greedy eyes were always on the gold and it’s quite stunning that the chain was not mentioned again! Why?
What do you make of that? What happened to the chain?