“My Brethren Who Were Without the Walls”

Brant Gardner

In verse 24 Nephi avoids telling a direct untruth when he indicates that he must carry the engravings to his brethren outside the walls. Nephi simply does not counter Zoram's understandable construing of that statement to mean the "elders of the Jews" with whom Laban had been meeting that evening.

Nephi's requirement that Zoram should accompany him is perhaps unusual. Laban had gone forth alone previously in the night, and now requires that Zoram should accompany him. One would think that Nephi's greatest urge would be to leave without any further encumbrance. Nevertheless he brings Zoram along. Perhaps he required assistance in carrying the plates, or at least assistance in carrying them should Nephi be required to wield his sword in their defense.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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