3. Temptation

CHAPTER 3

TEMPTATION

Arumor had suspected for some time that Nephi and his father somehow knew about his dirty little secret.  His fear had been confirmed.  Nephi did know!  He’d said it with his own mouth.

As a member of the elite guard, Arumor had indeed secretly agreed to conduct Seantum to the judgment-seat.  That had allowed Seantum to murder the chief judge.

Nephi must have instinctively blinked.  For, in no more time than the blink of an eye, he saw that Arumor had fallen to the ground at his feet.  He lay coiled over on his back and side.  The right arm remained frozen high over his head, the sword clutched in his fist.  The serpentine helmet was knocked askew across one ear.  Arumor’s face was contorted as if in severe pain.  His eyes were wide open in fright -- but stared blankly without movement.  The jaw gaped open.  His head was tilted backwards by his long neck, his Adam’s apple in clear view. 

Two men stood by the side of the fallen Arumor.  Maybe they were in fact standing; their unshod feet did not quite reach the ground.  The surrounding air looked as if it was a cloud, so it was hard to tell.  They wore loosely fitting robes that were white and girdled around the waist with a sash.  Their faces shone.

One of the men spoke to Nephi with a voice that was still and gentle, and at the same time, the voice seemed to penetrate through his entire body as well as his ears, saying;

“Nephi, be not afraid.  We have come to deliver thee.”

“You know me?” asked Nephi.

“Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his servant, Nephi, thy father.  For he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be able to take his place in leading thy people in truth and righteousness.”

“What do you want me to do?” inquired Nephi in amazement.

“Go now.  Avoid all temptations.  Thy father will meet thee here in the temple-palace.  Then, in the future when thou art prepared, thou shalt know what to do.”

The cloud departed and the two men disappeared.

Nephi was stunned.  He kneeled down next to Arumor and placed his fingers on the exposed neck to check for a pulse.  He put his ear close to the gaping mouth and listened carefully.  A tiny pulse was felt and irregular faint and shallow breaths could be heard.  He was not dead.

Shouldn’t this evil man who no longer possesses the light of Christ deserve to die?

Nephi shuddered at the vividness and the intensity of this unexpected thought.  He wondered.  Where does this idea come from?  Why am I so tempted!?  His body shook uncontrollably and violently all over.

The account from the sacred records about first Father Nephi came visibly into Nephi’s consciousness.  He cut off the head of Laban using Laban’s own sword!  Why does my ancestry come to remembrance so distinctly at this time?  Here is Arumor’s sword, still in his hand.  And here is Arumor, as if he were Laban, unconscious on the ground before me.  Oh, why do I feel so tried?

Nephi wrestled mightily in spirit.  In his heart, he would never at any time shed the blood of another man, even an enemy.  He shrank at the prospect that he might slay Arumor.

Nephi pried the sword out of Arumor’s hand and examined it.  He lifted it to feel its weight.  He had never seen a sword so exquisite.  The workmanship was impressive.  The hilt appeared to be laced with gold.  The blade was of the most precious steel, the edges extremely sharp.

Am I to repeat history?  Arumor has been my enemy for as long as I can remember.  I remember he was here when I came to visit father when he was chief judge.  He was here with his snide remarks to me, his insults, and his threatening looks at me.  He has to be a member of the band of Gadianton, even though membership in the band is kept secret.  He must know their secret signs, their secret plans, their secret murders.  He is a liar.  He tried to kill me!

And not only me, he severely abused Timothy at Tyreantum’s trial for mother’s murder.  That is unforgiveable.  Timothy was only six years old at the time!  Even an adult would have crumpled with such abuse.  Timothy will be emotionally scarred for life.

Why didn’t the angels kill him?  He deserves to die!  Tell me, dear Lord, is it up to me?

Nephi was upon his knees beside the body of Arumor.  He prayed fervently that this temptation would leave him.  He remained on his knees for quite some time.  His body shook; his head bowed.  He listened.

After a long time, his body ceased to tremble.  The sword of Arumor fell from his hands.

Nephi rose to his feet.  The tracks of his tears trailed from the corners of his eyes and covered his entire face.

The temptation was over.  Silently and quickly, Nephi stepped over Arumor’s unresponsive body without touching it.  He walked reverently forward and entered the temple-palace.  He didn’t glance to the left or to the right.  He didn’t look back.  He didn’t care anymore if other people were around or not.

The voice of the Lord had spoken.