The Sword of Laban

Symbol of Royalty

By Lynn Ridenhour

“…You have been commissioned like David, and the Lord says, if you will be obedient…and study my Word, I will give you the Sword of Laban…”

The other evening the Lord spoke the above prophecy to Lori, our daughter.  Which begs the question:  Swords?  What did I know?  Not much actually.  I knew that Nephi had taken Laban’s sword and cut off his head, but that’s about it.  I really never paid that much attention.  So I decided to investigate. 

And a whole new world opened up over night! 

What precious truths are associated with the Sword of Laban.  Prophetic truths that pertain to our day.  No wonder the Spirit of Truth and Prophecy made mention of Laban’s sword the other evening.

Kings and Heroes and Swords

Kings and heroes and swords go together.  In fiction and in history.  Where you find one, you’ll find the other:   royalty and regalia.   Even Jesus is coming back with a sword in his hand (Rev.14:14-16).  In the meantime, as saints of the Most High, we’re to take the sword of the Spirit, wield it and conquer our foes—marching from victory to victory.  From peasantry to the palace.  The sword has a place in history, in mythical literature, and in our hearts.  Beowulf had a sword and so did Jesus.  And so do we.  Coronation ceremonies take place in Anglo-Saxon literature and in the heavenlies.  One place is make believe; the other, real.  It all started back in the Garden of Eden when God the Father protected the garden with a “flaming sword” (Gen.3:24).  And the Drama will someday end with the Messiah of Christianity coming back in the sky with his own sword drawn.

Yes, swords are important.  To God.  To Jesus.  To King Arthur.  And to you and me.

The King and his Sword

All kings have swords.  It’s a sign of royalty. 

King David had his sword.  He got it from Goliath.  And once he obtained it, things began to change. For one thing, attitudes toward David changed.  After David slew Goliath, the women sang, “…Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands…” (I Sam.18:6,7).  David now had his supporters.  The people now had their tangible sign of David’s kingship.  Soon after David acquired the sword, four hundred men began following him (I Sam.16:13; 22:1,2).  Not only did four hundred men follow David, but so did the priest Abiathar, bringing with him the ephod that gave David even more legitimacy (I Sam.22:20; 23:6,9; 30:7).  After David had the sword and the ephod, Saul responded, “…I know well that thou shalt surely be king…” (I Sam.24:20). 

The sword became not only a symbol of divine authority to the people, but also of kingship and priesthood, for whoever possessed the sword, possessed God’s favor.  And the people recognized it.  Brothers and sisters, times have not changed.  Whoever wields the sword of the Spirit in our day, has God’s favor.

Legend tells us, David’s sword was passed to the next king, his son Solomon.  Before Solomon died, he took the sword out of the temple and placed it on a ship sailing out to sea.  This sword became known as Excalibur of Holy Grail and Arthurian fame.  At times, history and legend seem to blend.  Faith and fantasy meet.

The Sword of Laban in Nephite History

“…And when I came to him, I found that it was Laban; And I beheld his sword, And I drew it forth from the sheath thereof and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, And the workmanship thereof was exceeding fine, And I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel…”  --I Nephi 1:108,109

“…And I, Nephi, did take the sword of Laban and after the manner of it did make many swords…” –2 Nephi 4:19

“…The people having loved Nephi exceedingly—he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defense and having labored in all his days for their welfare—Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in remembrance his name…” –Jacob 1:10

“…And moreover, he also gave him charge concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass. And also the plates of Nephi, And also the sword of Laban, And the ball, or director, which led our fathers through the wilderness, which was prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led, everyone according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto Him…”  --Mosiah 1:24

Nephi brought the sword of Laban with him to America. The Book of Mormon tells us that Nephi "…did take the sword of Laban, and after the manner of it did make many swords" (2 Nephi 4:19).  Nephi made other swords just like it.  In other words, the sword was not used or handled by anyone but the king.  It’s said of Benjamin, who fought against the Lamanites, that he “…did fight with the strength of his own arm, with the sword of Laban” (Words of Mormon 1:19).  The king led his people in battle, using the sword of Laban, while his warriors used swords patterned after it.  All references to the sword have to do with victory. 

 The sword of Laban was preserved through the centuries along with the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the Liahona, items which formed a collection of sacred relics.  These sacred implements were passed down by the leaders throughout Book of Mormon history.  Of these national treasures a real king was required to possess anciently, the sword of Laban was a symbol of power and rule.  When King Benjamin transferred charge concerning all the affairs of the kingdom to his son Mosiah about 130 B.C., he also bequeathed the sacred relics, including the sword of Laban (Mosiah 1:22-24).  It has even been suggested that the sword King Mosiah’s son Ammon used against Lamanite raiders forty years later was the very sword of Laban (Alma 12:56-61).  From King Mosiah the sacred relics were passed on to Alma the Younger, who was the high priest and reigning ecclesiastical authority (Mosiah 13:63).            

                                       --“The Sword of Laban as a Symbol of Divine Authority” by Brett Holbrook

Those in possession of the sword of Laban and the regalia were looked upon by the people as having authority.  For instance, when Alma passed the sacred relics to his son Helaman, he explained why:

“…And now remember, my son, that God has entrusted you with these things, which are sacred, which he has kept sacred, and also which he will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him, that he may show forth his power unto future generations…”  --Alma 17:45  

The above verse interests me.  There are apparently certain “things” which our Lord has that are “…kept sacred,” and which He will preserve for a future generation—that He may show forth his power unto future generations.  In other words, God considers the sword of Laban, as well as other royal regalia, to be quite sacred in his eyes.  Speaking of future generations, some believe that Joseph Smith possessed the sword of Laban.  It’s believed he dug it out of the ground, along with the sacred plates, on Hill Cumorah that eventful evening. 

The Sword of Laban in these Last Days

“…Behold, I say unto you, that you must rely upon my word, which if you do, with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates, and also the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim, which were given to the of Brother of Jared upon the mount, when he talked with the Lord face to face, and the miraculous directors [Liahona] which were given to Lehi while in the wilderness, on the borders of the Red Sea; and it is by your faith that you shall obtain a view of them, even by that faith which was had by the prophets of old…” –D&C 15:1

What an incredible revelation!  Given on June, 1829, by Joseph to the three witnesses.  A few days later the promise was fulfilled, and Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris became the three special witnesses to the fact that Joseph truly had the royal regalia!  He had in his possession the regalia required to hold the tripartite offices of military, religious, and civil leader.  The three roles of kingship.  Joseph, like kings of old, had also gained God’s favor.  The sacred things were a sign of royalty.

We tend to forget--in Hill Cumorah’s ground lay much more than the precious Brass Plates!  The Liahona Ball was there.  The breastplate was there.  The Urim and Thummim were buried there.  And the sword of Laban was there!  Joseph now had in possession the “sacred things.”  Whether he actually used the sword of Laban is not important; what is important is that the sword he used had the same symbolism.  Some viewed Joseph Smith as their leader wielding the sword of Laban for their cause.  The sword Joseph carried as a military commander took on the same spiritual meaning as the sword of Laban.  And some say:  it was the sword of Laban.

Even one of the dissidents, Francis Gladden Bishop (1832-1842), remarked:

“…Joseph, by means of the sacred things which were put into his hands, was constituted a Prophet, a Translator, or a Law-giver, and a Leader, as Moses, unto his people.  So also when the Prophet like unto Moses, who is the last leader of God’s people, is raised up, he must be established in his calling, by having the sacred things put into his hands also.”

Yes, Joseph had the sacred things.

The Prophetic Sword of Laban

The sword served its purpose for the Nephites and for Joseph Smith.  It also serves its purpose for you and me.

As latter-day spirit warriors, you and I hold in our hands the sword of Laban.  And it must remain unsheathed until “…the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our God and his Christ…”  (Rev.11:15).  As priests and kings, we must keep our swords drawn ‘till our Lord comes.  We dare not holster our swords.  

“…And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy sword toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel.  And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.  Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north; that all flesh may know that I the Lord have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath:  it shall not return any more…”                                                                                                                                                                                --Ezek.21:1-5

What a spiritual reality!

Our swords shall not return any more.  That is--they shall not be sheathed ‘till all flesh is slain.  Till His passion reigns.

“…And now remember, my son, that God has entrusted you with these things, which are sacred, which he has kept sacred, and also which he will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him, that he may show forth his power unto future generations…”  --Alma 17:45  

Yes, God will show forth his power unto future generations.  Unto our generation.  And He will do so by showing us the power of the compassionate priest.  As latter-day priests, we’re to take the sword of Laban and unleash the ministry of compassion—the true meaning of priesthood—upon the earth.  The sword of Laban is indeed prophetic.  And available to us in the spirit world to bring forth in our generation the ministry of the priest upon the church.  Hallelujah!

The next move of God in the church will be a breakthrough of the priest’s compassion.  The church has yet to see that ministry corporately, but we shall.  Soon, I believe.   Mary is our prime example.  She understood priesthood compassion like none other.

The Church doesn't have a ministry without the Marys, the nonessentials present.  You can have your bus ministry, your church-growth seminars, your discipleship home groups, your missions to the poor, and your preachers. You can have it all--and miss Jesus. He will not be there if Mary is not present.

Mary is a model of the endtime saint.

She is seen three times in the scriptures, each time seated at the Master's feet.  First, she sits at his feet while he, as prophet, unlocks the secret things of life to her.  He is her preacher/prophet (Lu.10). The second time, she falls at his feet as he ministers to her during a season of great grief--this time as her priest (Jn.11).  On the third occasion, she washes his feet with her hair, weeping, now knowing he's her king! (Jn.12).  Salvation, in other words, is experiencing Jesus as our own personal Prophet, Priest, and King.

Mary worshipped this Jesus as her Prophet, Priest, and King. 

She did not merely "accept Jesus as her personal Savior."  There's more to biblical salvation than a mere hollow confession.  Mary represents a return to covenant understanding and keeping—a return to true biblical salvation in the endtime. Our churches are presently filled with "half-baked" converts, lukewarm, who know very little of Mary's experience!  They know not firsthand the compassion of their Savior’s priestly ministry; they have not experienced his prophetic teaching in their lives, and they know not the nature of his kingly rule over their daily lives.  They merely “accepted Jesus into their hearts” one Sunday morning and experienced no change. 

Happily, things are changing. 

The endtime move has already begun.  In the eighties and nineties the Church met him as prophet.  Christ introduced his prophetic ministry worldwide.  I believe the new millennium is ushering in the return of his priestly ministry.  We’re currently experiencing him as priest!  It’s already begun.  And, possibly some time during the twenty-first century he will come as king.  Am I predicting dates?  No.  We're forbidden to do so.  I am, however, observing seasons.

What is the Church to look for on the dawn of a new millennium?

An outpouring of priesthood compassion.  Christ's priesthood has yet to function corporately in the Church.  One of the reasons there is so much strife and bickering, so much division even among Spirit-filled believers, is because the priesthood ministry does not flow out among us.  Priesthood brings brokenness.  Yes, we have had Christ's prophetic ministry with us but not his priesthood ministry.  Priestly ministry brings forth weeping and deep compassion for one another. When saints live out their lives as Mary (before his feet), strife will end.  When tears flow out, so do contentions.  They leave.

Mary knew what it meant to tap the springs of living water—to unplug the wells of the deep.  To harvest her tears for Him.

Church, get ready for his priestly ministry.

It is happening, I believe, on the dawn of the new millennium.  By the way--His prophetic ministry burst upon us, I might add, with great surprise, catching us off guard during the eighties; his priesthood ministry will do likewise.

The tears are coming.

The last move of God quickened the gifts of the Spirit. The next move of God will quicken the fruit of the Spirit.  Here is the sequence.  In the endtime, people will first meet Christ the Prophet. Scores will be rescued from New Age mysticism, false teachings, legalism, the occult, the American dream and the tinsel-town of the corporate ladder—all wrong paradigms. 

They will now see clearly--none of these movements move me.  None deserves my loyalty.  But this man, Christ, he has truth--the ultimate paradigm. For some reason I understand.  He's my interpreter of life's experiences.  He is my teacher from this day forth.  He now interprets current events for me. He gives me my worldview.  He shows me my significance even in the small things of life.  He establishes my paradigms for all of life and my priorities for the following day.  He's my personal Prophet, my teacher in big and small matters.  Christ is my teacher for the Sublime and the Ordinary--for time and eternity.  I'm "saved" from false allusions.  From wasting my life away, from going down dead-end intellectual/corporate pursuits.  He has truly redeemed the time for me.

He is also my Priest on the dawn of a new age. I need not go elsewhere to find comfort for my wounds, my hurts, my disappointments, my confusions. No self-help gurus needed here. No elevator music at my house. I have found the true priest!  The true comforter.  He comforts my deepest sorrows, especially my economic woes.  He once told me—His sparrows never lacked for food and neither will I.   I need no subliminal tapes at night to rest.  He is my personal priest. 

That's a new experience—and ministry--for most Christians: Christ, our compassionate Priest.  For the first time in my life, I now am feeling His love and compassion for me.  For the first time in my life, I am feeling my passion for Him.  I have moments when I am sensibly overtaken.  I am sick with love.  A new discovery is mine—He’s just as excited about me as I am about Him!   In fact, we long for one another’s company.  And when we come together in one another’s presence, we never want to leave.  Hours seem like minutes.  I have a newfound lover.  The Song of Solomon has become my favorite book.

Let's conclude with this matter of God's move during the beginning of the new millennium.  Jesus is called a "...high priest after the order of Melchisedec forever."  I believe Jesus will bring forth his order of Priests (Heb.5:6).  There is an order of Priests.

What's an order?

There are all kinds of orders:  orders of knighthood, Masonic orders, military orders. An "order" is a brotherhood under discipline, in training.  An "order" is a group of people distinguished by special award made by the Sovereign.   These endtime priests are under strict discipline, under special award from the Sovereign.  Their award is:  to unleash the passionate, powerful presence of Jesus in the earth in our generation!

Brothers and sisters, the Church has been impotent.  Too long it has lacked the power to bring forth His presence in the earth.

Jesus, in his priestly role, along side his priests, will come with their swords drawn.   These priests will be filled with heavenly power and will be consumed with the Compassionate Christ.  Their passion for Jesus will spill out and spill over onto the people of God.  And then out into the world.  Christ’s compassion will be irresistible.  A new day has dawned in the earth.  Sinners are now overwhelmed.  Their defenses crumble like a burst dam.   The Spirit bulldozes barriers.  Hearts melt before the throne of grace.  Liquid love coats the sinner’s soul, penetrates his heart and bathes him in eternity.  And the world now knows that God sent forth His only begotten son into the world (Jn 17)--for the passionate love of His Priests (those robed and possessing His royal regalia) conquers the world with His all-consuming love.

While sinners lie at His feet…slain.

Brothers and sisters, the sword of Laban is saved for future generations.  It’s now in our hands.  We must not sheath it.