Nephi’s Alchemy: Metallic Symbolism in the Book of Mormon

There is a recurring pattern of metals that can be found in 1 Nephi, Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Moses's tabernacle, and Solomon's temple. This sequence of gold, silver, brass, and iron is used to symbolize the plan of salvation, the glory of God, and the balance of justice and mercy.

Arnold Friberg, Young Nephi Subdues His Rebellious Brothers (detail)

Nephi's interest in metals

Although Nephi is the central figure at the start of the Book of Mormon, little is revealed about his personal life. We aren’t told the name of his wife, how many children he had, or how long he lived. We do get a glimpse into one of his hobbies, however: Nephi clearly had a passion for metallurgy. Every metallic object in Nephi’s record is described in detail, including it’s composition and quality. Take the sword of Laban as an example:

“And I beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the sheath thereof; and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel.” [1]

Using his metallurgical skills, Nephi constructed a bellows and made molten tools in the wilderness. [2] He also rejoiced to find gold, silver, and copper ore in the promised land, [3] and he taught the art of metalwork to his followers. [4] So, why did Nephi say so much about metals in his record? Should it just be attributed to a personal interest? Or was Nephi trying to teach spiritual concepts through metallic symbolism? In his account, Nephi mentions four different types of metal: gold, silver, brass, and iron. These metals, and the sequence in which they are mentioned, matches a pattern in the Bible.

Terminology of metals in the scriptures

Before diving into the Biblical sequence of metals, I ought to make a brief explanation of scriptural terminology. The words “brass” and “steel” appear in both the King James Bible and the Book of Mormon, but there is some controversy surrounding them. As for brass, many translations of the Bible substitute the terms “bronze” or “copper” in an attempt to be historically accurate. There is no need to split hairs on this issue, however; brass and bronze have copper as the main component, so they aren’t that different in composition. For the sake of this article, brass, bronze, and copper will all be treated as synonyms.

Some people contend that steel did not exist in ancient times and is an anachronism in the Book of Mormon. We do not know if the steel mentioned in the scriptures is similar to modern steel, but we can be certain that the term is used to refer to an iron based compound. Steel and iron will be considered equivalent for the sake of this paper. For our purposes, we will group scriptural metals into the following four categories:

• Gold
• Silver
• Brass/Bronze/Copper
• Iron/Steel

Pattern of metals in the Bible

So, where do these four types of metal appear in the Bible? You’ve probably guessed it already: Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. If you recall, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had a vision in which he saw a statue with the following makeup:

• Head of gold
• Breast and arms of silver
• Belly and thighs of brass
• Legs of iron
• Feet of iron mixed with clay

Daniel interpreted the statue as a representation of the kingdoms of the earth: Babylon is the golden head, followed by a succession of kingdoms down to the feet. The metals decrease in value moving down the statue, suggesting that the Babylonian “golden age” will be unrivaled by future kingdoms. Basically, the metallic sequence represents decreasing degrees of glory. This symbolic motif is found in other parts of the Bible as well and carries similar implications.

Were else can we find this metallic sequence in scripture? It actually appears in Moses’s tabernacle and Solomon’s temple. Both structures used the metal of highest value, gold, to decorate the most holy places, followed by silver, followed by brass. [5] Iron was not used in either structure, and iron tools were not even allowed on the construction site of Solomon’s temple! [6] Some have offered the explanation that iron was disallowed because, as the metal used for weapons, it was unfit for a holy place. [7] Why would these sacred buildings make use of three different metals instead of going for a more uniform design? The answer is that those who entered these edifices were meant to pass from one level of glory to another until they entered the presence of God within the Holy of Holies. It is also helpful to note that the metals did not just progress in value approaching the Holy of Holies; they also advanced in incorruptibility. Gold is the least corruptible of metals: it doesn’t oxidize or corrode, and it is one of the longest-lasting elements known to man. In this way, it is a fitting symbol for God’s glory; God, like gold, is eternal and unchanging. Silver is also a “noble metal” meaning that it is resistant to change. Copper and iron, on the other hand, are susceptible to change, as anyone who has seen a tarnished penny or a rusty nail knows. Given this pattern, an entrant to the temple/tabernacle is symbolically leaving the corruptible world of sin (represented by iron and copper) and entering, by degrees, into an eternal, incorruptible sphere (represented by gold and silver).

Applying alchemy to the scriptures

As interesting as this metallic symbolism is, I found that applying the principles of alchemy adds a new layer of meaning. Alchemy is a mystical precursor to modern chemistry, and it assigns spiritual meanings to the elements. According to alchemical symbolism, each metal is associated with a heavenly body (i.e. the sun, moon, and planets). Below, I have shown the heavenly bodies associated with the four metals discussed in this paper:

Gold-Sun (☉)

Silver-Moon (☽)

Copper-Venus (♀︎)

Iron-Mars (♂︎)

The first interesting connection is that the relative brightness of each heavenly body corresponds perfectly with the Biblical metallic sequence: Gold is associated with the brightest heavenly body, silver with the second brightest, and so on. In this way, the sequence of gold, silver, copper, and iron can suggest levels of spiritual light. This is actually quite similar to the doctrine of the Kingdoms of Glory:

Gold-Sun (☉) → Celestial Kingdom

Silver-Moon (☽) → Terrestrial Kingdom

Copper-Venus (♀︎) → Telestial Kingdom

Iron-Mars (♂︎) → Fallen world

One can see how the gold-silver-brass pattern of ancient temples fits the sun-moon-stars motif seen in modern temples. Associating Venus with the stars might not seem intuitive, but Venus is sometimes referred to as “the morning and evening star.” As the brightest object in the sky after the sun and moon, Venus can be considered the chief “star” and, hence, a representative of all the other stars. There is also a connection between Mars and the fallen world: the planet Mars is named for the Roman god of war, and the metal associated with Mars, iron, is used to make weapons. War and conflict only exist in a fallen world, so it is fitting to represent our mortal sphere with militaristic symbols.

So how old is the tradition of associating metals with the heavenly bodies? Would the ancient Hebrews have seen a connection between the sun, moon, and stars and the metals used in their temple? Actually, there is an indication that they may have. The Hebrew word for gold, “zihab,” also means “light.” It is therefore logical to suppose that they would have associated gold with the ultimate source of light: the sun. [8]

There is another aspect of the planet/metal associations that adds to the symbolism of the temple. In alchemical tradition, each heavenly body has a gender: the sun and Mars are masculine, and the moon and Venus are feminine (Mars and Venus are considered archetypes of male and female, which is why we still use their alchemical symbols to designate male and female). Many dualities are suggested by these male-female pairings including the balance of justice and mercy. [9] Another interpretation is that there is a Divine male-female pair, represented by the incorruptible metals, gold and silver, and there is a mortal male-female pair, represented by the corruptible metals, iron and copper. This may imply that mortal men and women can progress to become gods and goddesses, or that there is a duality of the sexes in both the mortal and immortal realm.

Metals in 1 Nephi

You are probably wondering at this point: What does all of this have to do with Nephi and the Book of Mormon? The reason that I have explained the metallic sequence of gold-silver-brass-iron is that it appears in 1 Nephi. If you start at the beginning of the Book of Mormon and note the first mention of each type of metal, you get the following:

• Lehi leaves his gold and silver and departs into the wilderness (1 Nephi 2:4)
• Nephi and his brothers return to Jerusalem for the brass plates (1 Nephi 3:3)
• Nephi obtains Laban’s steel (iron) sword (1 Nephi 4:9)
• Lehi sees the iron rod in a vision (1 Nephi 8:19)

What could be the implication of the descending sequence of metals at the opening of Nephi’s record? Perhaps we are being shown Lehi and his family’s metaphorical descent. Lehi’s departure from Jerusalem into the wilderness represents man’s descent from the presence of God to mortality. It follows that Lehi’s sojourn in the wilderness represents mortal life, and that his arrival in the promised land represents his ascent to the Celestial Kingdom.

If the Book of Mormon starts with a descending pattern of metals, is the symbolism completed with an ascent? Yes, but the pattern is less clear. If we focus on the objects acquired by Lehi after his vision we arrive at the following:

• Lehi discovers a brass ball (the Liahona) (1 Nephi 16:10)
• Gold and silver are discovered in the promised land (1 Nephi 18:25)

As I mentioned, the list above focuses on objects obtained by Lehi, which excludes breaks in the pattern, like Nephi’s steel bow. This may amount to hand-waiving on my part, but regardless, there is a discernible “metallic chiasmus” that runs through 1 Nephi. In general, gold and silver serve as “book ends” in Jerusalem and the promised land, and the objects in the wilderness are composed of base metals (iron & copper). In this way, the metals in 1 Nephi symbolize a descent into mortality followed by an ascent into exaltation. This pattern of descension and ascension parallels the modern temple narrative. In the Endowment, we are shown mankind’s fall from God’s presence followed by their redemption and eventual return. 

There are just a few more metallic patterns that can be teased out of 1 Nephi. The first that I will address is the brass objects. These objects include the brass plates, the Liahona, and Moses’s brass serpent. [10] All of these objects have a common theme: God’s merciful preservation. The brass plates preserve the religion, language, and culture of the Nephites, the Liahona provides temporal preservation by guiding Lehi’s family in the “most fertile parts of the wilderness,” [11] and the brass serpent preserves the life of those who looked upon it. The merciful theme of these brass objects fits the pattern of copper/female/mercy.

Running parallel to the brass/copper theme is (not surprisingly) a steel/iron theme. The steel and iron objects in 1 Nephi are Laban’s sword, Nephi’s bow, and the iron rod. We know that the iron rod of Lehi’s vision represents the word of God, but how is it connected with the bow and sword? There are several places in the scriptures where God’s word is compared to a weapon, particularly a sword. [12] God’s word is weapon-like because it is used to defend the innocent and condemn the wicked. The word of God is therefore associated with justice, and justice, like iron, has masculine connotations. If Laban’s sword represents God’s word, that may be why it has a gold hilt: God is associated with gold, and the sword represents His justice. One final note on iron: it is significant that, in Lehi’s dream, an iron rod lead through the “dark and dreary waste” to the tree of life. Iron is associated with the fallen world and exists outside of the “sacred space” that is the tree of life. The rod, being iron, represents the first step in a spiritual ascent toward God’s presence (the tree).

The process of transmutation

In conclusion, there is a symbolic hierarchy of metals in the scriptures, and it is used to represent a progression from the mortal, fallen world to God’s eternal dwelling place. The pattern of iron-copper-silver-gold represents progression in material worth, incorruptibility, and light. Genders traditionally ascribed to these metals reflect a duality of the sexes as well as the balance of justice and mercy. All of these themes run throughout the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and alchemical traditions. However, the most important aspect of alchemy is not metal symbolism; the central theme of alchemy is the transmutation of base metals into precious metals. The classic example of this is turning lead into gold, but alchemical transmutation also applies to iron and copper (base metals), and silver (a precious metal). The idea of transforming one metal into another seems foolish in our day, but it should be noted that the alchemists saw their work as a spiritual metaphor. Like base metals, the alchemists believed that the soul of man could be refined, purified, and eventually transmuted into something divine. In that sense, the pairing of base and precious metals is a symbol for the ultimate transmutation: the redemption of the soul and the resurrection of the body. This may be the intended message of the metallic sequence in the scriptures: We don’t have to be tarnished by the world. We don’t have to be deteriorated by the struggles of mortality. God can transform us into something incorruptible, eternal, and beautiful. Of all the materials on this earth, gold may represent our Heavenly Father the best. In a world of decay, it remains unchanged. It’s luster and purity endure while civilizations rise and fall. In that way, it is like the most immutable of heavenly bodies: the sun. Day after day, the sun’s brightness is never diminished, and no human activity can alter it’s course or delay it’s rising. Both of these symbols, gold and the sun, only hint at the incomprehensible immutability of the Father:

“For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?” [13]

Further Reading:

For more information on the male/female duality of justice and mercy, the symbolism of the sun and moon, and the Word of God as a weapon, see my blog post: Dualistic Symbols in the Book of Mormon and LDS Temple Endowment. (http://turnnotaside.blogspot.com/2018/06/symbols-of-duality-representing-sacred.html)


For a deeper analysis of the symbolic meaning of the Liahona and Sword of Laban, see my blog post: Symbolism of the Sword of Laban, the Brass Plates, and the Liahona. (http://turnnotaside.blogspot.com/2018/06/symbolism-of-sword-of-laban-brass.html)

End Notes:

[1] 1 Nephi 4:9

[2] 1 Nephi 17:9-11

[3] 1 Nephi 18:25

[4] 2 Nephi 5:15

[5] Prager, Dennis. The Rational Bible: Exodus. Regnery Faith, 2018, pp. 368-369

For Solomon’s temple, see 1 Kings 7:15-27, 38, 1 Chronicles 29:4, 2 Chronicles 3:4-10, 2 Chronicles 4:1-7

[6] 1 Kings 6:7

[7] Prager, p. 369

[8] Pike, Albert. Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Charleston A.’.M.’. 5632, 1871, p. 58

[9] see Alma 42:24

[10] 1 Nephi 17:41

[11] 1 Nephi 16:14

[12] See D&C 6:2 & Isaiah 11:14

[13] Mormon 9:9

The Sword of Laban and the Liahona: Symbols of Justice and Mercy

What Nephi’s artifacts can teach us about the nature of Christ and the importance of obedience

Replicas by David A. Baird. Photograph by Daniel Smith.

Have you ever wondered why Moroni deposited the sword of Laban and the Liahona with the gold plates? These objects may have been intended to symbolize the major themes of the Book of Mormon. Read on to find out what they can teach us about obedience to God’s commandments and the role of Jesus Christ.

At the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Nephi and his family acquired three significant objects: the sword of laban, the brass plates, and the Liahona (a word meaning “compass”). These objects were considered so important that they were handed down through Nephi’s descendants for over a thousand years. At the end of the Book of Mormon, they passed into Moroni’s possession. When he hid the gold plates that would become the Book of Mormon, he deposited the sword of Laban and the Liahona with them.

Why do the sword of Laban, the brass plates, and the Liahona play such a large role in the Book of Mormon? These three items are more than just elements of a narrative; they are meant for our instruction. Each one serves a symbolic purpose, and understanding this symbolism opens our eyes to a new layer of meaning.

What are these three objects meant to symbolize, then? The sword of Laban is a symbol for God’s punishment, the brass plates are a symbol for the commandments, and the Liahona is a symbol for God’s blessing. The three of these symbols combine to represent a central theme in the Book of Mormon: we are blessed when we obey the commandments but cursed for disobedience.

While the main theme of the Book of Mormon is obedience to the commandments, the main purpose of the Book of Mormon is to testify of Christ. In accordance with this purpose, the symbols from 1 Nephi also represent Jesus Christ and illustrate His attributes. In order to understand this symbolism, we will explore each of the three objects individually. Once the symbolism of each object is established, we will explore the meaning of the three objects as a group.

One interesting fact about the sword of Laban, the brass plates, and the Liahona is that they can all serve as symbols of the same thing: the Word of God. Below is a brief explanation of how each object is related to this concept:

• The sword of Laban—a sword is often used as a metaphor for God’s word: “Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword….” (D&C 6:2)

• The brass plates—the plates literally contain the word of God.

• The symbolism of the Liahona is described in the Book of Mormon as follows: 

“For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land. And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.” (Alma 37:44-45)

Knowing that all three artifacts symbolize the word of God raises this question: Why would three different symbols be used to represent the same thing? The answer is that the word of God is a multifaceted concept, and each symbol brings out a different facet. It should also be mentioned that because a name for Jesus Christ is “the Word,” this symbolism relates to Him as well. (see John 1:1-5, 14)

Let’s start with the sword of Laban: what can it teach us about the word of God? It is helpful to consider how Nephi first encountered this sword. You know the story: Nephi, as directed by the Spirit, takes the sword from Laban and uses it to slay him. Through this experience, Nephi learns the following lesson:

“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.” (1 Nephi 4:13)

In this context, the sword represents God’s punishment for those who disobey His word. Perhaps in reference to this incident, the sword is used as a symbol for divine retribution throughout the Book of Mormon (See Alma 26:19, Helaman 13:5, Alma 54:6, Alma 60:29, 3 Nephi 20:20, 3 Nephi 29:4, & Ether 8:23).

How can the sword of Laban represent Jesus Christ? Because it is a symbol of divine justice, it can remind us that we will all stand before Christ to be judged. As Jesus Himself stated: “The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement to the Son.” (John 5:22)

On a more positive note, the sword can represent Christ as a means of protection. In the Book of Mormon account, Nephi, and later King Benjamin, wilded the sword of Laban in defense of the righteous. (See Jacob 1:10 and Words of Mormon 1:13) Like Nephi and King Benjamin, Jesus Christ is our defender from evil. This is what He meant when He described Himself as the “door of the sheep.” (see John 10:7-15) In modern terms, He guards the gate of the sheep enclosure in order to keep His flock safe. As He explained, a hired guard flees when confronted with danger, but the Good Shepherd will sacrifice even His own life to protect the sheep. Speaking of His sheep, Christ says “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28, see also John 6:39 & John 17:12)

Now we will move on to the next symbol: the brass plates. This artifact can symbolize the hidden word of God. How? Nephi’s difficulty in obtaining the brass plates represents the effort required to understand the scriptures. Nephi had to “return” to Jerusalem for the plates just as we must “return” over and over again to the scriptures before we find hidden truths. It took Nephi three attempts to obtain the plates, and on the last attempt, he left his companions and set out on his own. In a similar way, many seek the truth, but only the diligent find it. Joseph Smith’s account of obtaining the gold plates follows a similar pattern: after Joseph was shown the location of the gold plates, he had to return to that place every year for four years before he was allowed to take them.

We can learn more about the brass plates by an event that followed their acquisition. After Nephi and his brothers obtain the brass plates, they are commanded to return to Jerusalem again to recriut Ishmael’s family (containing several eligible daughters). Thus, there were two back-to-back trips to Jerusalem: one for the scriptures and one for wives. What could the connection be? The similarity between the scriptures and the daughters of Ishmael is this: both must be courted. It requires as much effort to understand the scriptures as it does to win the heart of a perspective spouse. The comparison between courtship and and the pursuit of wisdom can be seen in the following Book of Mormon passage:

“…how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over them!” (Mosiah 8:20, see also Proverbs 4:5-9, Proverbs 8:1-3)

The brass plates, as a record of God’s word, are symbolic of Jesus Christ who is “The Word.” There are many instances in the New Testament where people had to return to a place they had been before to find Jesus. Like Nephi, those seeking Jesus often end up leaving behind others who are less diligent than themselves. When they find Jesus, they gain a new understanding of who He is.

The first example of this is when Jesus’s parents lost Him on their Passover journey and returned to Jerusalem in search of Him. They left their traveling companions, sought Him for three days, and found Him conversing with the learned men in the temple. This experience caused them to see their son in a new light: “And when they saw him, they were amazed….” (See Luke 2:42-49)

The next example is that of Mary Magdalene seeing the risen Lord. When Mary found Jesus’ tomb empty, she went and told His disciples. She then returned to the tomb with Peter and John, and after these men left, Mary remained behind. She was the most faithful seeker, and she became the first person to see Jesus after His resurrection. (See John 20:1-16)

The final example is that of the ten lepers. These ten diseased men asked Jesus to heal them, and in response, Jesus told them to show themselves to the priests. On their way to the priests, the ten realized that they were healed, and one left the others and returned to give thanks. By giving praise to Jesus, this man showed that he was the one man out of the ten who really understood who Jesus was.

Now we will explore the symbolism of the last of these three artifacts: the Liahona. This object is best understood in contrast to the sword of Laban; the sword represents punishment for disobedience to the word of God, and the Liahona represents the blessings that come from obedience to God’s word. Unlike the sword of Laban and the brass plates, the Liahona did not have to be sought. As is often the case with God’s blessings, it came unexpectedly as a merciful gift. We are told that Lehi found the Liahona outside of his tent door one morning. This parallels the way that the Israelites woke to find mana on the ground when they were traveling in the wilderness. Just like the mana fed these Israelites, the Liahona provided food for Lehi’s family by leading them in “the more fertile parts of the wilderness.” (1Nephi 16:16) In addition to providing food, the ultimate purpose of the Liahona was to point the way to the promised land. The word of God blesses us in ways that are similar to the Liahona: through obedience to God’s word, we are sustained and provided for on life’s journey, and we are shown the way to the “promised land” of exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom. 

Even the shape of the Liahona provides a clue to it’s symbolic meaning. Nephi described it as “a round ball of curious workmanship….” (1 Nephi 16:10). In the Book of Mormon, God’s mercy is described using circular imagery. (See 2 Nephi 1:15, Alma 34:16, and 2 Nephi 4:33)

It is easy to see how the Liahona represents our Savior. Just as the Liahona provided food for Lehi’s family, Jesus continually sustains us through His grace. As we saw earlier, the Liahona is symbolically connected to mana, and mana is a symbol for Jesus Christ. He explained this symbolism in His sermon on the Bread of Life: 

“Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead…I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:49-51)

Although Jesus gives us grace to get through each day, He is equally concerned about our eventual destination. Like the Lahona, He is our guide to the “promised land” of the Father’s presence. He provided a way to the Celestial Kingdom through His atonement, and He set the example for us to follow: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

Now that we have discussed the symbolism of the sword of Laban, the brass plates, and the Liahona separately, let’s explore what they mean in connection with each other. It is helpful to consider the order in which Nephi encountered these objects: first was the sword of Laban, second was the brass plates, and third was the Liahona. If you think of the three objects laid out in this order, the plates are in the middle with the sword and the Liahona on either side. Because the plates are a symbol of the commandments, it makes sense that they would be flanked with symbols of blessing and cursing (the Liahona and sword, respectively). This arrangement of these symbols reflects the central message of the Book of Mormon:

 “…inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall be cut off from his presence.” (Alma 38:1, see also 1 Nephi 2:20-21, 2 Nephi 1:20, 2 Nephi 4:4, Alma 9:13, and Alma 36:30. Notice that the phrase “cut off” invokes the image of a sword.) 

This theme of a blessing or curse attached to the commandments can be found in every story and sermon in the Book of Mormon. Moroni may have been trying to symbolically represent this “Book of Mormon thesis” when he placed the sword of Laban and the Liahona in the stone box with the gold plates. As we contemplate these sacred relics, we can be reminded that the Book of Mormon is no ordinary book. Because it contains God’s word, we will prosper if we hearken to it, and we will be “cut off” from the truth if we reject it.

Moroni’s inclusion of the sword of Laban and Liahona with the gold plates can also be seen as a symbolic testimony of Christ. Like the sword of Laban, Christ metes out justice and is a defender of the righteous. Like the Liahona, He is our daly provider and our guide to exaltation. And, like the brass plates (or the gold plates), He must be sought diligently. May we be among the faithful seekers who will one day see His face!

Notes:

To learn more about geometric symbolism in the Book of Mormon, see my article, “Dualistic Symbols in the Book of Mormon and LDS Temple Endowment” (featured on this blog). https://turnnotaside.blogspot.com/2018/06/symbols-of-duality-representing-sacred.html

Photo source: Book of Mormon Central article, “Why Was the Sword of Laban so Important to Nephite Leaders” https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/content/why-was-the-sword-of-laban-so-important-to-nephite-leaders

For more on how a sword symbolizes the word of God, see the following article: Book of Mormon Central, “How are Rod and Sword Connected to the Word of God?” https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/content/how-are-rod-and-sword-connected-to-the-word-of-god