Swords are weapons used in warfare, defense, and killing. Nephi saw Laban’s sword, whose hilt was “of pure gold” and whose blade was “of the most precious steel” (1 Nephi 4:9). Nephi then “smote off his head with his own sword” (1 Nephi 4:18).
Nephi took the sword of Laban and “after the manner of it did make many swords” for his people’s defense against the Lamanites (2 Nephi 5:14). King Benjamin fought the Lamanite armies “with the sword of Laban” (Words of Mormon 1:13).
Some people armed themselves with swords alongside cimeters, bows, arrows, stones, and slings for battle (Alma 2:12). The people assembled under their king buried “their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man’s blood” deep in the earth (Alma 24:17).