Home - Book of Zelph - Study Guide - First Laban

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The First Book of Laban

What Do We Know about Laban the Younger?

In addition to his being the son of Laban the Elder, we know the following about Laban:

Do you think someone with these experiences and skills could teach us something about life?

Why Did Laban Write This Book?

There are some specific lessons that Laban hoped we would learn by reading this book. He began writing his life story after his father was murdered by Nephi, and after a harrowing journey across the sea. How do you think these events affected Laban? These life experiences made him think of his own mortality. As he sat in the wilderness preparing to get his revenge on Nephi, he knew he might not survive. He wanted a written record so we could know the truth about his father's murder, and the true nature of Nephi and his followers.

As you read 1 Laban, therefore, be aware that he is teaching us to stand up against those who desire to control others, and seek revenge from those who hurt you or your loved ones. He uses the experiences of his family to demonstrate that the the best way to fight violence is with more violence.

1 Laban 1
Standing up to Oppressors

When we live in a neighborhood, we are concerned about our neighbors. Laban the Younger did not get along with Lehi, but he still defended him from the neighborhood bullies.

Studying the Chapter

Do the following activities as you study 1 Laban 1.

In this first chapter, Nephi introduces his family and his neighborhood. Find answers to the following questions in 1 Laban 1:

  1. What did Lehi do to earn the nickname "Crazy Street Preacher Man?"

  2. Why did Laban choose to defend Lehi from the mean kids?

  3. What can you do to fight injustice in your own neighborhood?

Form a neighborhood patrol

Talk to your neighbors about the idea of forming a neighborhood patrol which will fight injustice and bullying in the neighborhood. Assign a President, First Counselor, and Second Counselor of the neighborhood patrol. Create logos, T-shirts, signs, and organize fund raisers for your neighborhood patrol.

1 Laban 2-5
The Backstory of Laban the Elder

Laban the Younger decided that in order for us to understand his life it is important we understand key events from his father's life, including Laban the Younger's birth, Lucy's death, Laban the Elder's imprisonment, his reckless prison escape, and his discovery of a hidden treasure that turned him from a poor fugitive, into a wealthy leader. Why do you think it is important to learn of Laban the Elder when studying Laban the Younger?

Studying the Chapter

Do the following activities as you study 1 Laban 2-5.

Learn what women go through in child birth. Do two of the following activities.

  1. In 1 Laban 2, Lucy gives birth to Zelph, then falls unconscious. Talk to your mother about what it is like to give birth, and how much it hurts.

  2. If your mother made a video of your birth, watch it to witness the suffering a mother goes through to bring her children into this world.

  3. Go to the maternity ward in a hospital, and watch a woman give birth. How did it make you feel?

  4. Look at old photos of your mother before she had any children. Did she look better or worse? Why do you think women sacrifice their looks and body shape to have children?

Learn why men murder, and what it is like in prison?

In 1 Laban 2, Laban the Elder murders a Doctor who propositioned his unconscious wife. In 1 Laban 4, Laban the Elder murders a grave digger for masturbating while looking at his wife. What would drive you over the edge, and make you murder another man?

Laban the Elder spends some time in prison. What do you think it is like in prison? Maybe you can visit a prison in your area, and see what it is like.

Laban the Elder Lies to Save His Son

In 1 Laban 5, Laban the Elder lies to a nurse and tricks her into giving him his son. Answer the following questions as you study this chapter.

    1. Was Laban the Elder justified in lying?
    2. When is it okay to lie?
    3. Think of a time when you lied and deceived another person and it was a good thing.

Laban the Elder Strikes it Rich!

Summarize the events, in 500 words or less, that led to Laban becoming a wealthy man (see 1 Laban 5:26-27). How would it make you feel to suddenly become exceedingly wealthy beyond your wildest dreams? Talk to someone who has won the lottery. What was it like for them?

Laban the Younger Runs out of Gold, Switches to Silver Plates

    1. In 1 Laban 5, Laban the Younger runs out of gold and switches to silver. Why is it important that Laban the Younger write upon precious metals?
    2. Find a silver dollar and try engraving words on it. How difficult was it?
    3. Considering that Laban the Younger engraved tons of words on lots of metal plates, does it give you more or less appreciation for him?

 

1 Laban 6
Laban and Nephi Become Best Friends

At the beginning of 1 Laban 6, Nephi is an awkward boy with low self esteem. Do you know any kids like that? As you study this chapter, realize that Nephi was destined to become a powerful leader. Consider what might have happened had he never met Laban the Younger. Would Nephi have gained the self-esteem and confidence necessary to become a leader without Laban's guidance? Also realize that the skills Laban gives Nephi will later be used to destroy both Laban the Elder and Laban the Younger.

Studying the Chapter

Do the following activities as you study 1 Laban 6.

Laban must skim over parts of his life to preserve plate space. Answer the following questions.

    1. Why must Laban skip over parts of his childhood?
    2. Have you ever read a book where the story skips forward several years? How did that make you feel?
    3. Does the fact that Laban skipped over parts of his childhood change the truthfulness of the Book of Zelph?

When Laban First Meets Nephi, He is a Weak Boy With Low Self Esteem. Do the following activity.

In 1 Laban 6:10-33, Laban defends Nephi from bullies, and teaches him about weightlifting. How do you think this made Nephi feel? Have you ever lifted weights?

Go to a local elementary school and find a boy with no friends and low self esteem. Befriend him and invite him over to your house. Teach him to lift weights and get confidence. Record your feelings in your diary as you grow close to this boy. How do you think helping a young boy will make you feel?

Laban Suspects Nephi is Gay. Answer the following questions:

    1. In 1 Laban 6:34-40, Laban confronts Nephi on his homosexuality, which Nephi denies. If a man is not attracted to women, does it necessarily make him gay?
    2. What was the punishment for homosexuality back in those days? Do you think that punishment is a little harsh?
    3. Nephi denies being gay, do you think he is telling the truth or lying?

Laban Warns Nephi About Secret Combinations. Answer the following questons:

    1. In 1 Laban 6:45, Laban brags about knowing the combinations to many chastity belts. Why does Nephi think it is wrong to know these combinations?
    2. What does Nephi mean when he says women have "both spiritual and temporal" chastity belts?
    3. Do Nephi's attitudes toward female chastity belts help or hurt his denials of being gay?

1 Laban 7
 "I had a dream, or in other words, I beheld a vision"

1 Laban 7 is about a dream that Laban had. It is a typical dream most young men have, involving sex with a beautiful woman while lesbians frolic in the back ground. The key difference is this dream also includes Nephi and Lehi. Why do you think Nephi and Lehi were present in Laban's wet dream? What do you think the great and spacious building represents?

Studying the Chapter

Do the following activities as you study 1 Laban 7.

Laban had a dream. Have you ever had a dream? Do the following activity:

Go to sleep and have a dream. When you awaken, quickly record what your dream was about. Was it as good as Laban the Younger's dream in 1 Laban 7?

Ponder the following questions about dreams:

    1. Why do we dream?
    2. Do you think our dreams have any kind of significance that we should care about?
    3. Do you think it is possible to see the future through dreams?
    4. Why do we sometimes have nocturnal emissions?

What do you think the following things represent in Laban's dream:

    1. The nude woman.
    2. The large and spacious field.
    3. The fruit tree.
    4. The fruit from the tree.
    5. The river of water.
    6. The straight and narrow path.
    7. The naked lesbians.
    8. The midst of darkness.
    9. Laban's stiff rod.
    10. The large chested girl.
    11. Laban's "stones".
    12. The great and spacious building.
    13. Nephi and Lehi.

Nephi is disgusted with Laban. Ponder the following questions:

Why did Nephi chastise Laban in 1 Laban 7:27?
Have you ever had a friend act in a judmental way over something you did? How did it make you feel?
Why do you think Laban chose not to beat Nephi up for his judgmental attitude?

1 Laban 8
Jealousy Leads to Anger, Anger Leads to Insanity, Insanity Leads to Murder

After Laban had his dream, Lehi visits his household in an attempt to convert them into his church, in 1 Laban 8. After seeing Laban's brass plates, Lehi decides he wants them. Have you ever known someone who wanted your possessions? As you study this chapter, keep in mind that Laban is eventually murdered for his brass plates. Think of ways he could have handled Lehi differently to diffuse the situation, and hopefully prevent his murder in 1 Laban 9.

Studying the Chapter

Do the following activities as you study 1 Laban 8.

Test Lehi's Behavior in your own Neighborhood:

Find a neighbor who has tons of cool stuff. Find one item of his you would like to own. Visit his home and tell him to hand it over. Keep insisting that you have to have it, and he has to give it to you. Observe your neighbors behavior. Was it much different from Laban's? Why do you think your neighbor and Laban acted the way they did? What would happen to you if you killed your neighbor and took his stuff? Would you be arrested?

Ponder the following questions while reading 1 Laban 8:

    1. Why did Lehi want to convert Laban the younger and his dad?
    2. Why did Lehi get aroused when he held Laban's brass plates? Do you know anyone who is easily aroused?
    3. Why do you think Lehi said god can only communicate through him? Do you know any religious zealots?
    4. What is the answer to the question of god building a rock so big he can't lift it? Is it really a paradox?
    5. Why did the neighborhood celebrate the disappearance of Lehi's household?

Do the following activity:

Invite a religious sales rep to your house. It doesn't matter which church they are selling. Make notes of their sales technique. Ask them the question about god building a rock. Do this with five different salesmen from different religious groups. How were their presentations and answers similar? How were they different? How similar was their technique to Lehi's technique in 1 Laban 8?

1 Laban 9-10
Investigating the Murder of Laban

In 1 Laban 9, Laban finally scores with the large chested girl. While he is nailing her, his father is murdered. Do you think Laban felt guilty because of that? The investigation of Laban's murder runs into a lot of red tape. Has legal bureaucracy improved much in the past 2,600 years?

Studying the Chapter

Do the following activities as you study 1 Laban 9-10.

Pick the items below that were important clues in Laban the Elder's murder?

    1. The note on Laban's severed head.
    2. The words etched in the dirt outside Laban's house.
    3. The soldier's statements about a guy who looked like Nephi dressed in Laban's clothes.
    4. The lead pipe
    5. The dead woman on the railroad tracks.
    6. The missing brass plates.
    7. The bloody glove.

Laban the Younger meets Detective Moriantum-Ala-Soditardswez. Answer the following questions while studying 1 Laban 9:

    1. Why do you think the detective uses coarse language and has a rough appearance? Do you know any cops like that in real life or on TV?
    2. Why does Laban the Younger like and trust Moriantum-Ala-Soditardswez?
    3. What are some of the tactics Moriantum-Ala-Soditardswez uses to determine Nephi is the main suspect?
    4. Why was Moriantum-Ala-Soditardswez unable to find Nephi, even after several years?

Moriantum-Ala-Soditardswez is pressued to solve the case. Answer the following questions while studying 1 Laban 10.

    1. Why can't Moriantum-Ala-Soditardswez solve the case? Have you ever tried to do a job for a boss who doesn't give you the proper tools?
    2. Who is Moriantum-Ala-Soditardswez's boss? Have you ever worked for your father?
    3. What creative idea did Judge Abitch come up to give his son jurisdiction to search the wilderness?
    4. Why did Laban the younger choose to call Moriantum-Ala-Soditardswez the son of Abitch instead? Have you ever had a friend with a long name? What did you do to shorten it?

Do the following activity:

Play manhunt with a friend. One person is the fugitive while the other person is the detective. Give the fugitive a ten minute head start to run and hide while leaving clues behind. The detective tries to find the fugitive using the clues he left behind.

1 Laban 11
The Trial of the Century, and the Sixteen Lost Plates

1 Laban 11 begins with Laban losing sixteen plates in the woods. He chooses not to rewrite the story of Nephi's trial, which were on the sixteen plates, because he believes someone will find the plates and alter them in order to set a trap for Laban. Have you ever done something and then had your enemies set a trap for you? Laban writes a short abridgment of the trial on stone tablets. By writing an abridgment instead of an exact copy of the sixteen plates, Laban foiled his enemies plans while still providing the reader with the trial story.

Studying the Chapter

Do the following activities as you study 1 Laban 11.

Try rewriting a story from memory.

Write a sixteen page story on paper. When you finish, hide the sixteen pages in a good spot. A couple days later, re-write the story from memory. When you finish, compare it to the original. How close do they match? How many words are different between the two? Now do you see why Laban didn't want to re-write the entire trial story, and instead just wrote an abridgment?

Laban the Younger writes the abridgment. Ponder the following questions while studying 1 Laban 11:

    1. Why do you think the magic decoder rock failed Laban the younger? Have you ever tried to do magic and have it not work?
    2. Why did Laban the younger push around his plates in a hand cart? How heavy do you think the gold and silver plates were?
    3. Why do you think Laban wrote his abridgment on rocks instead of precious metal?

Nephi is tried and convicted. Ponder the following questions while reading 1 Laban 11:

    1. Why do you think the jury only took five minutes to convict Nephi? What other cases can you think of that were this easy?
    2. What sentence did Nephi recieve? Do you think it was a fair punishment, or not? Why?
    3. What is the purpose of public executions? Has the fear of execution deterred you from murdering someone?
    4. Laban was deputized. How realistic is it for a judge to deputize a family member of the murder victim?   

   

1 Laban 12-14
Nahom, Whores, and Submarines: Tracking Down a Killer

1 Laban 12-14 covers the period of time when Laban the younger and the son of Abitch hunt down Nephi. They meet the Asian whores in Nahom. Why is it important that Asian whores be part of this book?

Studying the Chapter

Do the following activities as you study 1 Laban 12-14.

Fill in the blanks while studying 1 Laban 12-14:

    1. Laban found a broken steel ________ in the wilderness.
    2. Laban the younger and the son of Abitch sit down for drinks in the town of _________.
    3. _________ and her daughters worked as harlots.
    4. The whores were angry at __________ for not paying their bill.
    5. Laban the younger and the son of Abitch build a camp at the top of Mount _________.
    6. From the top of the mountain Laban and the son of Abitch see ________ on the distant beach.
    7. After returning from the beach, Laban and the son of Abitch discover ____________ on the top of the mountain.
    8. The whores suggest building a special boat which can travel ___________.
    9. While building the boat, they used  __________ to perform safety tests.
    10. They built _____ bad boats that sunk before finally building a good one.

Answer the following questions from 1 Laban 12-14:

    1. Why did Laban and the son of Abitch finally allow the whores to join them?
    2. Why were the whores evicted from their home in Nahom? Have you ever been evicted?
    3. Why did they build test boats before venturing out on the open sea? Why is it a good idea to do tests on things?
    4. What was the difference between the whore boat design and typical boat designs of the time?

Do the following activity: The Whore Boat Challenge - Build a boat like unto the whore boat:

If you think you are better than Laban, the son of Abitch, and the whores, see if you can build a boat. Gather some boat building materials and build a boat like the whore's boat described in 1 Laban 14. It must be able to float upside down and right side up. It must be able to travel under water and come back to the surface without sinking. It must be sea worthy for three-hundred and forty-four days straight. It must be built in less than a day. Get started now. Good luck.

 

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