Armor in this period of time was is sometimes referred to as a coat of mail (1 Samuel 17:5, 38). This was made out of brass for the leaders and leather for the common soldier. This outfit consisted of a breastplate for front and back, and a harness to protect the lower part.
Nephi’s going into the treasury is another example of faith as a principle of action. For a young man, an outsider, to enter such a prestigious place was more than presumptuous it was extremely dangerous. Only on the basis of faith would he dare to proceed.
One of the best examples of faith as a principle of power is Nephi’s encounter with Zoram, the servant of Laban. Nephi was so convincing in speaking in the voice of Laban that the servant obediently followed him (vv. 20–25). He also conversed freely with Nephi as he carried the plates of brass outside the walls of Jerusalem (v. 27). The time involved and the distance covered could have been quite extensive. Therefore, this was no temporary misidentification, but illustrates how completely convinced the servant was that Nephi was Laban. Furthermore, it is logical that Zoram knew Laban’s voice well. It was not until Nephi spoke in his own voice to his frightened brothers, who had also mistaken Nephi for Laban, that the servant realized that Nephi was not Laban (vv. 29–30).
Apparently Nephi’s large stature was similar to that of Laban, and in the nighttime darkness the probable great difference in age could not be recognized. What was the secret to Nephi’s voice change? Was it not a gift of the Spirit, a form of the gift of tongues, a power poured out on him because of his faith? It was God’s will that Nephi obtain the plates of brass, therefore he could bless Nephi, because of his faith, with the ability to sound like Laban.
The Christian world supposes that the church did not exist until the time of the New Testament. The reference to the brethren of the church (v. 26) is evidence that the church did exist at the time of the Old Testament. The New Testament likewise affirms the existence of the Old Testament church. Stephen, the first martyr after Jesus was resurrected, testified that “[Moses] was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the living oracles to give unto us” (Acts 7:38). The living oracles are the infallible authority or the keys to minister in the ordinances of the gospel. In our day, Joseph Smith was told:
3 Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come;
4 Nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be given to another, yea, even unto the church. [D&C 90:3–4]
Stephen was apparently referring to a similar occurrence with Moses being given the keys and passing on the oracles to future generations of the church in Old Testament times.