Being led by the Spirit, an example of faith as a principle of action, the promise of the angel was fulfilled. The Lord delivered Laban into Nephi’s hands. All the promises of the Lord will be fulfilled if we walk by the Spirit.
Laban’s sword was greatly admired by Nephi, who seemed most impressed with the blade of precious steel (v. 9). This sword was to become one of the sacred artifacts of the Nephite nation, and it is still preserved under the care of the Lord. The three witnesses were promised to “have a view of the plates, and also of the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim” and the Liahona (D&C 17:1). On 7 September 1878, Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith interviewed David Whitmer, one of the three witnesses. He told them: “Joseph, Oliver and myself were together when I saw them (the plates). We not only saw the plates of the Book of Mormon, but also the brass plates, the plates of the Book of Ether … and also the sword of Laban, the directors … and the interpreters.” Nephi took the sword with him when his people separated from the people of Laman (see 2 Nephi 5:14), and it was handed down with the records from generation to generation (see Mosiah 1:16).