1 Nephi 3:29
29. And it came to pass as they smote us with a rod, behold, an angel of the Lord came and stood before them, and he spake unto them, saying: Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod? Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities? Behold ye shall go up to Jerusalem again, and the Lord will deliver Laban into your hands.
After the brothers “went down to the land of our inheritance,” which probably suggests their country estate, they and we did gather together our gold, and our silver, and our precious things” (1 Nephi 3:22). They took these to Laban in hopes he would trade them for the brass plates. Again he called them thieves and robbers, and this time he sought to execute them on the spot. Laman was the oldest son and those precious things should have belonged to him.
Now they had been told by an angel that Laman and Lemuel had not only abdicated their birthright blessings because of their iniquities, but they had also lost in favor of the younger brother whom they despised. It is true that the Lord will give us every opportunity we need to succeed, but it is also true that he will not force us to accept the blessings he offers us.
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