Laban's death defies logic and reality

[_Ludd]

Forget Book of Mormon anachronisms, DNA, lack of archeologic evidence, and blatant KJV plagerisms. Laban's death gives the Book of Mormon a black eye in credibility.

1. Dude is sh*tfaced and passed out. If you have ever dealt with anyone as inebriated as Laban was described in the Book of Mormon, you would know that it wouldn't take too much effort or protest to disrobe Laban. No murder necessary.

2. Which of the following scenerios is less likely to trigger an all out manhunt for Nephi and his brothers in the morning?

A. Laban wakes up naked with a hangover and chalks it up to a night of hard partying.
B. Laban's guards discover their master's naked, headless corpse in the street in a pool of blood and gore. The blood trail leads straight to the vault. "Hey, weren't Lehi's sons here last
night causing a commotion about wanting Laban's plates?" The alarm is sounded, and its all hands on deck to apprehend these violent criminals.

3. If Nephi had to kill Laban, why not just strangle or smother him? He was incapacitated, so it would be simple. The human body contains 6 qts of blood. That is one hell of a mess. Are you telling me none of that blood sprayed all over Nephi or soaked Laban's clothes? So, Nephi put on those disgusting bloody clothes and Zoram didn't even flinch when what he thought was his boss approaching him with an ass load of congealed blood all over his body? Zoram: "Let me lead you to the vaults sir, nothing seems out of the ordinary here."

4. Nephi was commanded to kill Laban because according to God it is better to let one man perish than let a nation dwindle and perish in unbelief (1Nephi 4:13). If this was the case, why didn't God command Nephi to kill Laman and Lemuel? Because of the Lamanites, didn't the Nephites get wiped out and a whole nation perished and dwindled in unbelief? So, in the end killing Laban didn't prevent a nation from perishing and dwindling in unbelief. Didn't God forsee this? Oops, so much for omnipotence.

This is a good example of why I have always believed the Book of Mormon is more like a cartoon than a real history of real people. It's like Wily Coyote when a safe falls on his head. No blood. No broken bones. He just gets back up and heads to the Acme store again.

[_Gordon]

Nephi didn't need faith because God spoke to him. Or are you suggesting Nephi acted on feelings?

The whole thing was a trial/test of Nephi's faith/obedience. After they tried a couple times to get the plates, and had their lives put in jeopardy (along with Laman and Lemuel trying to kill Nephi), Nephi went back knowing the Lord would deliver them from Laban's fifty soldiers. It took alot of faith for Nephi to kill Laban, because He didn't want to do it at first. Furthemore, G-d wasn't speaking directly to Nephi here. It was the Spirit of the Lord.

[_Gordon]

Why didn't the plates prevent the nation dwindling into unbelief which was the justification for Laban's murder and the theft of the plates that Lehi coveted?

(I have underlined the commandments Nephi broke...)

I have already addressed this.

The Nephites dwindled in unbelief because they rejected the Law/Word given to them. Beforehand, generations lived the Law because they had it...thanks to Nephi.

[_Drifting]

Nephi didn't need faith because God spoke to him. Or are you suggesting Nephi acted on feelings?

The whole thing was a trial/test of Nephi's faith/obedience. After they tried a couple times to get the plates, and had their lives put in jeopardy (along with Laman and Lemuel trying to kill Nephi), Nephi went back knowing the Lord would deliver them from Laban's fifty soldiers. It took a lot of faith for Nephi to kill Laban, because He didn't want to do it at first. Furthemore, G-d wasn't speaking directly to Nephi here. It was the Spirit of the Lord.

How could Nephi be certain it wasn't Satan?
I mean, if God told me through feelings that I was to covet someone else's property and that I should steal it after cutting their head off I might be inclined the internal messages were coming from a different source.

In fact, does it not make more sense that Nephi was tricked by Satan? After all he broke three commandments and still didn't prevent the nation from dwindling into unbelief.

How do you know it was God communicating with Nephi?

[_Drifting]

Why didn't the plates prevent the nation dwindling into unbelief which was the justification for Laban's murder and the theft of the plates that Lehi coveted?

(I have underlined the commandments Nephi broke...)

I have already addressed this.

The Nephites dwindled in unbelief because they rejected the Law/Word given to them. Beforehand, generations lived the Law because they had it...thanks to Nephi.

And God couldn't see that coming?

[_Molok]

Using the sword was quick and easy.

Err..Holding a passed out person's head up by the hair and chopping off their head with one handed blows is not quick and easy. It would take several strokes, and it would be much more likely to draw attention that simply choking him.

As for the blood, it was night, and he wore the armor (which he could have wiped off) over the garments (which most likey were a dark shade of wool).

That's right! As we all know, blood simply wipes off. Definitely doesn't leave stains or anything like that. Well known fact. And it certainly doesn't smell. Nope. You have all your facts in order. LOL

[_Gordon]

How could Nephi be certain it wasn't Satan?
I mean, if God told me through feelings that I was to covet someone else's property and that I should steal it after cutting their head off I might be inclined the internal messages were coming from a different source.

In fact, does it not make more sense that Nephi was tricked by Satan? After all he broke three commandments and still didn't prevent the nation from dwindling into unbelief.

How do you know it was God communicating with Nephi?

While Satan can appear as an angel of light, he can't fake the Spirit of G-d.

Moses 1:12-15

"And it came to pass that when Moses had said these words, behold, Satan came tempting him, saying: Moses, son of man, worship me.

And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?

For behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were transfigured before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man. Is it not so, surely?

Blessed be the name of my God, for his Spirit hath not altogether withdrawn from me, or else where is thy glory, for it is darkness unto me? And I can judge between thee and God; for God said unto me: Worship God, for him only shalt thou serve."

[_Drifting]

How could Nephi be certain it wasn't Satan?
I mean, if God told me through feelings that I was to covet someone else's property and that I should steal it after cutting their head off I might be inclined the internal messages were coming from a different source.

In fact, does it not make more sense that Nephi was tricked by Satan? After all he broke three commandments and still didn't prevent the nation from dwindling into unbelief.

How do you know it was God communicating with Nephi?

While Satan can appear as an angel of light, he can't fake the Spirit of G-d.

Moses 1:12-15

"And it came to pass that when Moses had said these words, behold, Satan came tempting him, saying: Moses, son of man, worship me.

And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?

For behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were transfigured before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man. Is it not so, surely?

Blessed be the name of my God, for his Spirit hath not altogether withdrawn from me, or else where is thy glory, for it is darkness unto me? And I can judge between thee and God; for God said unto me: Worship God, for him only shalt thou serve."

I repeat the question above.

[_Gordon]

And God couldn't see that coming?

He did see it coming:

1 Nephi 1:14

"And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise."

2 Nephi 26:9-10

"But the Son of Righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal them, and they shall have peace with him, until three generations shall have passed away, and many of the fourth generation shall have passed away in righteousness.

And when these things have passed away a speedy destruction cometh unto my people; for, notwithstanding the pains of my soul, I have seen it; wherefore, I know that it shall come to pass; and they sell themselves for naught; for, for the reward of their pride and their foolishness they shall reap destruction; for because they yield unto the devil and choose works of darkness rather than light, therefore they must go down to hell."

[_Gordon]

I repeat the question above.

Because I have gained a witness from the HG.

John 14:26

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."