Laman, the eldest son of the prophet Lehi and his wife Sariah, figures prominently in the narrative of the Book of Mormon as an antagonist and an example of disobedience and rebellion against God’s commands. He is the brother to Lemuel, Sam, Nephi, Jacob, Joseph, and several unnamed sisters. As the firstborn, Laman would traditionally have been entitled to certain birthright privileges, but his actions led to the forfeiture of these rights (1 Ne. 2:21-22).
Throughout the scriptural account, Laman is consistently depicted as a murmurer who, along with his brother Lemuel, opposed the visionary leadership of his father Lehi and later resisted the prophetic guidance of his younger brother Nephi. His murmuring began when his father led the family into the wilderness, leaving behind their wealth and comforts in Jerusalem, which Laman valued highly (1 Ne. 2:11-12). Additionally, Laman exhibited jealousy and anger towards Nephi, who had been favored of the Lord and showed great faithfulness and initiative (1 Ne. 18:10).
Laman’s contentious nature is a recurring theme. He doubted and challenged the heavenly commands received by Nephi, including the direction to build a ship for their journey to the promised land (1 Ne. 17:17-18). His rebellion culminated in attempts to take Nephi’s life, as he and Lemuel bound Nephi with the intent of casting him into the sea (1 Ne. 18:11). Only divine intervention and manifestations of God’s power, such as storms at sea and the miraculous functioning of the Liahona—a compass provided by the Lord—temporarily subdued Laman’s rebellious spirit (1 Ne. 18:20-21).
Despite moments of repentance, Laman’s changes of heart were often fleeting. His experiences with divine chastisement, such as being rebuked by an angel (1 Ne. 3:29) and hearing the voice of the Lord (1 Ne. 16:39), did not lead to lasting transformations. After their arrival in the promised land and following Lehi’s death, Laman’s resentment towards Nephi resurfaced. He sought to kill Nephi and claim the leadership position he believed was his by birthright. The subsequent separation of Nephi and those who followed him from Laman’s followers marks the division between the two great peoples of the Book of Mormon: the Nephites and the Lamanites (2 Ne. 5:5-6).
Laman’s legacy persisted in the centuries-long enmity between the Nephites and the Lamanites. Although he did not embrace the teachings of the gospel, his lineage was promised a future opportunity for redemption through the blessings pronounced by Lehi (2 Ne. 4:6-7). This promise was fulfilled as his descendants, the Lamanites, at times embraced the gospel and outshone their Nephite counterparts in faithfulness and piety. Through Laman’s life story, readers are presented with a cautionary tale about the dangers of hardening one’s heart against the influence of God and the blessings associated with being obedient to His commandments.