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Gramps,
Some time ago I heard a story (I don’t know where or if it is even true)
about when some modern day church leaders were at the Hill Cumorah and found
a cavern with many records in it. The first time they saw it the sword of
Laban lay on a table in its sheath and then the second time they saw it the
sword was on the table unsheathed. I have also noticed that the sword of
Laban was passed down through all the Book of Mormon prophets and when
Joseph got the plates it was there too.
My question is, what is the significance of the sword of Laban -- is
there any? Also, did that story
really happen and do you know where I can find it if it did? Janice |
Dear
Janice,
The
modern day church leaders that you refer to were Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.
It is recorded that on two occasions they entered a room in the Hill Cumorah and
saw what you describe. The quotation from the Journal of Discourses is as
follows:
“The
first time they went there the sword of Laban hung upon the wall; but when they
went again it had been taken down and laid upon the table across the gold
plates; it was unsheathed, and on it was written these words: ‘This sword will
never be sheathed again until The Kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of
our God and his Christ’” (JD 19:38).
Concerning
any significance attached to the Sword of Laban beyond the arresting
significance associated with the inscription that Joseph and Oliver saw on it,
we would suggest the following:
During
Nephite times the Sword of Laban apparently was a symbol of kingly authority, as
it was given, along with the sacred records, to each succeeding Nephite king.
The Sword of Laban was included in the various relics that were given to Joseph
Smith, along with the plates of the Book of Mormon. The Three Witnesses to the
Book of Mormon were promised a view of the Sword of Laban, along with the
breastplate and the Urim and Thummim. (D&C 10:1)
There
is a treatise in the “Journal of Book of Mormon Studies” entitled, “The
Sword of Laban as a Symbol of Divine Authority and Kingship,” The abstract to
that paper includes the statement: “The sword of Laban as it is associated
with Joseph Smith came to be an additional witness of his authority and of the
divine sanction for his work.”
Gramps