Laban as Type of Christ
In the Book of Mormon, I don't think Nephi can be trusted as he could have waited for Laban to sober up rather than murdering him when he was dead drunk. What is your opinion of Nephi?
I think you may have missed the whole point of the Nephi/Laban event.
The Lord has taught us regarding the His gospel through what has been termed types and shadows". That is, He has "painted pictures" for us to help us understand the incomprehensible in a simple manner. Types of Christ are like parables where the meanings are gleaned by the aid of the Holy Ghost.
Jacobs ladder, a type of Christ which shows there is one way for man to get to heaven, the serpent raised in the wilderness, Manna, the water coming from the beaten rock, are examples of pictures, or types, of Jesus. The Old Testament is full of shadows that teach aspects of the mission of Jesus. The gospel of John is written with types of Christ as the backbone (at least one per chapter!).
Alma 33:19 Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.
Mosiah 3:15 And many signs, and wonders, and types, and shadows showed he unto them, concerning his coming; and also holy prophets spake unto them concerning his coming; and yet they hardened their hearts, and understood not that the law of Moses availeth nothing except it were through the atonement of his blood.
Alma 25:15 Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was expedient that they should keep the law of Moses as yet, for it was not all fulfilled. But notwithstanding the law of Moses, they did look forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward performances until the time that he should be revealed unto them.
Even the Liahona was a type of Christ.
Alma 37:45 And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.
The incident involving the death of Laban is a stunning type of Christ.
Before I explain how this can be, let me tell you how the Lord works in the Book of Mormon. He employs what I call "mind snares". That is, the eye will glide over the hidden treasures if the Book of Mormon is read but casually. But for the diligent, the Lord will put "mind snares" to cause them to pause for enlightenment. He provides such a snare in
1 Nephi 4:13 ...It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief.
The enlightened reader will remember a similar concept in John 11:
49. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
50. Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
51. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
52. And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
Having been "snared", one seeks to connect the two incidents and glean deeper understanding.
She soon sees the relation! Laban has the word, the truth. Nephi desires it. But the only way to obtain the truth is for Laban to die. The blood of Laban is shed. Nephi puts on his clothes. He imitates the dead man. He encounters the servant that has the key to the knowledge Nephi craves. Nephi speaks as Laban. Nephi follows the servant. The servant unlocks the door. Nephi obtains the knowledge. He compels the servant to remain with him as he journeys to the promised land. He maintains the sword that was used in the death of Laban.
Do you now see the type of Christ in the incident?
We seek light and knowledge. The means of that knowledge is the Holy Ghost. But Jesus said that the Holy Ghost won't come unless He dies. The Blood of Jesus was shed so that we can escape perishing. We are to clothe ourselves in Christ:
Galatians 3:27 ...for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
We are to imitate Jesus. We are to speak like him. When we walk and talk like Jesus people see Jesus in us. People should see Jesus in us, in our countenance (Alma 5:14). The Holy Ghost will lead us to knowledge, to the word, and on to the promise. We will do all we can to live in the spirit so that the spirit will remain with us.
Clues
Do you ever wonder why each time you read the Book of Mormon you see more and more that you never saw before? I wondered how such a book can be written. I know now. Great and marvelous treasures are hidden behind "distractions". We get caught up in Laban's decapitation. That is how it was meant! We get caught up on Abinadi's “And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son--The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son--And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth.”
Being snagged, we miss the very workings of how the atonement is accomplished, how our sins can be transferred unto Jesus and how it is that He was resurrected!
Watch for "Mind Snares". They are there fore you and will lead you to understanding and enjoyment of the Word.
Explanation
Before ending I must ease the minds of those who doubt that a wicked drunk could possibly be a type of Christ. Jesus was always comparing himself to things the Jews abhorred. He was the Good Samaritan. He was a dead carcass that attracted the vultures. He was a thief that comes in the darkness of night. He was a snake on a pole. Shepherds were also among those classed as “sinners”.
Don't be distracted. Pray before reading the Book of Mormon.
Psalms 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.