1 Nephi 4:5-19

This is the selection of text when Nephi slays Laban with his own sword. If we just leave it at that, then it doesn't sound too good.

It is nighttime when Nephi enters Jerusalem by himself, his brothers hiding by the walls of the city, and he is being led by the Holy Ghost, not knowing what he would be doing to get the plates. Here we can see that Nephi is following the Lord's instructions precisely, using the Spirit as a conduit. Eventually he sees a man in the street passed out from drinking too much. When he walks closer, he finds that it is Laban. He notices the Laban's sword worn at his waist. I'm thinking that Nephi is like the typical youth at the time in that he likes weapons. Later we learn about his really cool bow. He takes out the sword and admires it. Then the Spirit constrains him to kill Laban. Nephi does not want to do it. He is not one who delights in shedding blood. Then the Spirit explains to him why it must be done. Here is the thought process that Nephi and the Spirit had together:

Spirit: Behold the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands.

Nephi: Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our property.

Spirit: Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands; Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief.

Nephi: 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. Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law. And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the plates of brass. And again, I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into my hands for this cause—that I might obtain the records according to his commandments.

The Lord had already decided that it was time to call Laban home. We have commandments like thou shalt not kill and thou shalt not commit adultery because it is up to the Lord to decide when to bring people into this mortal existence and when to bring them out. (The scriptures are replete with these types of examples. Here is an interesting one about a man who was going to kill one one of the sons of Mosiah on their mission to the Lamanites (see Alma 19:22-23)). This could have easily been done with Laban, but the Lord did not do it exactly like that. I'm not going to judge Him for the way He decides to do things.

Suffice it to say, Nephi then cuts Laban's head off with his own sword. In Verse 19, it says that Nephi then puts on Labans clothes and armor, every whit. Tomorrow, we'll have to see what the Lord guides him to do next.

As a final thought (one that I'm not sure I like to discuss, but we're almost done with this part) was Nephi the only prominent righteous Book of Mormon figure that has killed someone? Well, later on, Nephi even makes many swords patterned after the sword of Laban and uses them, but this time in defense of his family, land, and liberty (2 Nephi 5:14). It is important to note that he was not the aggressor and he still had the Lord's blessing. He was like Captain Moroni (see Alma 48:16). Ammon also had to defend himself from the Lamanites at the waters of Sebus (see Alma 17:36). The servant of Helaman also defended his master (see Helaman 2:8-9). The list could go on and on. I know that Nephi was a righteous man and a great example for us.