What If...
Consider Laman and Lemuel and all the trouble they were to Lehi and those that tried to stay on course - consider that the very name of 'Lamanite' comes from them and that a whole 'race' of people fell away in darkness. Now consider this... suppose they did not come along - they stayed in Jerusalem and perished... would things have turned out the same or differently in the Book of Mormon?
It would have changed the course of history to some extent, of course, but I think it would have turned out the same anyway. Because the Nephites were quick to dwindle in unbelief when they were prosperous, then get all spiritual in times of hardship; there were definite cycles of this, so there would have been others who apostatized to be a "scourge" unto the Nephites. Then there were the Gadianton robbers -- did they all come from Lamanites? Murmuring and wickedness were not Laman & Lemuel's only -- they took other with them, and there would be Nephites who would eventually murmur and fall away.
In my opinion, of course.
Roz
I agree with Roz. Perhaps the original journey would have been more pleasant, especially for Nephi, but eventually there would have been contention and strife just the same. It seems to be human nature. As soon as people are properous, they forget all about Heavenly Father and his blessings. They begin to get prideful and also start to lack concern and compassion for others.
Just last week a woman at my office made a comment how she hadn't been to church in a while (not LDS) and realized she should while things were good because she only seemed to go when things weren't so good.
Edited: funbikerchick on 12th Apr, 2005 - 10:30am