Nephi Gets the Plates

image source:
http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/2008/07/shalt-thou-kill/ 

Nephi and his brothers were commanded to go back to Jerusalem and get the plates from Laban.  They make three attempts.  The first they leave the results up to fate by casting lots.  The second they try worldly things by hoping to trade all their riches for the plates.  Finally Nephi puts his faith in God and goes into the city trusting that God will guide him.  He finds Laban on the ground and the spirit tells Nephi to slay Laban.  Nephi hesitates, but eventually kills Laban and retrieves the plates and returns to his brothers outside the walls of the city. 

What did Nephi know after this experience? 

*Nephi learned that he could identify the spirit.  It was the spirit that told him to kill Laban, not his own emotions.  In 1 Ne. chapter 4 verse 11, Nephi writes all the bad things that Laban had done--all the things that make you think he deserved to be killed.  Then the spirit tells Nephi again to slay Laban and that the Lord delivered him into his hands.

*Nephi also understood the importance of the written word of God--that it was more important than Laban's life.  The spirit said that "it is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief."  Along with that he also understood that the only way his people would be able to keep the commandments and prosper in the land would be if they had the commandments.  And the commandments (the Law of Moses) were written on the plates of brass.

*Nephi learned that he was obedient.  When the spirit first told Nephi to kill Laban, he "shrunk and would that [he] might not slay him."  This commandment was hard for Nephi to obey because he had never killed a man before and probably because of the commandment not to kill.  But after much pondering he understood the importance of the task. 

Nephi probably already new most of those things, but I think they were made stronger and he understood more Heavenly Father's plan for him.