I Feel the Need, the Need for Greed!
[1st Nephi 3:16-27] Attempt and Failure #2 - If at first you don't succeed...
16 Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; therefore let us go down to the land of our father’s inheritance, for behold he left gold and silver, and all manner of riches. And all this he hath done because of the commandments of the Lord. 17 For he knew that Jerusalem must be destroyed, because of the wickedness of the people. 18 For behold, they have rejected the words of the prophets. Wherefore, if my father should dwell in the land after he hath been commanded to flee out of the land, behold, he would also perish… 19 And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these records, that we may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers; 20 And also that we may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets… 21 And it came to pass that after this manner of language did I persuade my brethren, that they might be faithful in keeping the commandments of God.
Even after Laman’s near-death experience and escape, Nephi was somehow successful one more time in convincing his even more discouraged brothers to trust him and to try again.
I say “somehow” but you and I know that it was the Spirit of God in his heart and therefore in his words that reached past their doubts and fears and renewed the courage in their hearts to try again. Though, I don’t think they took Laman in to see Laban. Surely he would have stayed behind as to not jeopardize the second attempt after he was chased out and almost killed.
22 And it came to pass that we went down to the land of our inheritance, and we did gather together our gold, and our silver, and our precious things. 23 And after we had gathered these things together, we went up again unto the house of Laban.
How difficult this must have been to return their home, the home they thought they’d never see again…
And then to have to gather all their gold and “precious” things that they left behind (perhaps a but reluctantly) and then try to exchange them for the Brass Plates from Laban—who had just tried to kill their brother in the last attempt to acquire them—in hopes that Laban would think their treasures were more valuable to him than some ancient writings.
Little did Laban know about the true value of the Brass Plates compared to all the riches in Jerusalem!
24 And it came to pass that we went in unto Laban, and desired him that he would give unto us the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, for which we would give unto him our gold, and our silver, and all our precious things.
What a tense moment to be in the presence of Laban, a person who commanded such authority and could have them killed just for looking at him wrong.
And to then unpack all their precious things that they had saved their whole lives in front of this intimidating man. Displaying things that had sentimental, not just ornamental value to each of them, in the hopes that Laban would not be negligent and negotiate and make the life-changing and destiny-defining trade—all their earthly precious treasures in return for the priceless Words of God.
25 And it came to pass that when Laban saw our property, and that it was exceedingly great, he did lust after it, insomuch that he thrust us out, and sent his servants to slay us, that he might obtain our property.
Laban gladly took his time as he fervently touched all their treasures and inspected them with accumulating lust.
Surely each precious piece was worth a lot as they had been collected and acquired over many years. Lehi and Sariah surely had many expensive and special things they had acquired throughout their lives.
With such a display of treasures, how could Laban refuse?
Despite the brother’s desperate attempt to appeal to Laban in the hopes making a “simple” business transaction, Laban’s greed exceeded their expectations. Instead of making a deal with them, he tried to kill them. And he became the robber [v13]!
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.
And so, their second attempt to get the Brass Plates didn’t work out so well, either.
Now they were all wanted men…and apparent failures. And to add insult to injury, they lost everything they owned for the second time! Surely this further fueled the anger of Laman and Lemuel even more for still listening to their father and now listening once again to their younger brother, Nephi, in what was now surely a futile attempt they shouldn’t have even tried again! So, what now? Surely give up and go back to the wilderness, right?