"It is entirely possible that this interesting incident could have served as the source of the 'bury-the-hatchet' tradition of showing peace, which was a common practice among some of the tribes of American Indians when Columbus and other white men came to their lands." (Daniel Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, p. 210)
Spencer J. Condie
"Following Nephi's counsel to 'liken all scriptures unto us,' we can use the conversion of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies as a metaphor for our own lives. When we become truly converted, the testimony of our conversion may well be borne in our burying deep in the earth our sharp tongues in lieu of sharp swords. Our post-conversion sanitary landfill might also be used to discard our hot tempers, our evil speech patterns, our penchant for off-color jokes, our ethnic epithets, our greediness, unkindness, and lack of compassion." (Your Agency: Handle With Care, p. 140)