This weapon was destined to play an important part in the history of the Nephites. It served Nephi as a pattern when he found it necessary to arm his people for defense against Lamanite marauders. (D. & C. 17:1) A short time after the revelation was given, the promise was fulfilled.
David Whitmer, on Sept. 7, 1878, in a conversation with Elders Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith, said, in part:
“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 many other plates ... there appeared as it were, a table with many records, or plates upon it, besides the plates of the Book of Mormon, also the sword of Laban, the directors [i.e., the ball which Lehi had], and the interpreters. I saw them as plainly as I see this bed [striking it beside him with his hand], and I heard the voice of the Lord as distinctly as I ever heard anything in my life, declaring that the records of the plates of the Book of Mormon were translated by the gift and power of God.” (Andrew Jensen, Historical Record, p. 217)
Nephi took this sword from Laban and examined it. Its hilt was of pure gold and the blade of precious steel. There is no reason for doubting the accuracy of this statement.
It is true enough that in most, if not in all, of the passages in the Old Testament where the English version has “steel” the original has a word that means “copper.” But in 1 some of the ancients buried sheets of iron in the earth and left them there till what he calls the “weak parts” was consumed by rust. What remained was “steel.” This was used for weapons and objects of various kinds.