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Book of Mormon Commentary
2 Nephi Chapter 4
In addition to these blessings, Nephi mentions that he brought with him the plates of brass, the ball
or compass, and the sword of Laban. This sword became a pattern for making many other swords
(19) for protection against the Lamanites.
2 Ne 4:22 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of
Solomon, save it were not built of so many precious things:
4:22 This seems like a gigantic project for such a small group. However, we know that these were
resourceful people, for they had built a ship which could cross the ocean. While some of the group
had defected and become Lamanites, it was about thirty years since they had left Jerusalem (44),
and some younger men had been trained (21) "to build buildings." The workmen became wood
and, metal artisans.
The size of this temple is not indicated, only that it was patterned after Solomon's temple, though
not so elaborate. Doubt-less it was much smaller, as there were not nearly so many to worship in
it.
2 Ne 4:27 And it came to pass that they would that I should be their king.
4:27 This did not meet with Nephi's favor. He felt that his calling was to be "their ruler and their
teacher" (29). This was in accordance with the commandment of the Lord (I N. 1:56). He had tried
to follow this command up until the time of the division, when it became evident that he would
never be accepted by the Lamanites.
THE LAMANITES, VER. 30-41
2 Ne 4:32 And behold they were cut off from his presence.
4:32 A sore curse followed as a penalty "because of their iniquity" (33). "A skin of blackness"
came upon the Lamanites "that they might not be enticing unto my people" (35). As a result of this
change, the Lord said, "I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall
repent of their iniquities" (36). (See also I N. 3:134.)
Dr. Ales Hrdlicka, the famous Smithsonian anthropologist, is quoted to the effect that the
American Indian is a closer cousin to the white man, physically, than popularly supposed. He
founded this conclusion on thousands of measurements and observations on individuals of both
races, beginning with his original work on the Pueblo Indians in 1898.
In this verse the darkening of the skin is said to be one result of transgression, and for a special
purpose. Microscopists are said to have ascertained that, "Complexions are not permanent physical
characteristics, but are subject to change. Climate is a cause of physical differences, and frequently
in a single tribe may be found shades of color extending through the various transitions from black
to white" (Bancroft, Native Races, Vol. 1, p. 14). ...
To those who still divide the human race according to color and consider each class a race,
separated from all the others by an impassable gulf, this explanation of the mystery of color may
not appear satisfactory. But the classification on color lines-in view of the statement of the apostle
Paul on Mars Hill, at Athens, that God has made of one blood all nations of men (Acts 17:26) -