LAMAN — The Son Who Struggled to Believe

Scripture Setting: 1 Nephi 2–7, Book of Mormon

Laman’s story begins in the same place as Nephi’s—Jerusalem, in the final days before its destruction. But while Nephi’s heart was quick to trust, Laman’s heart wrestled. He was the oldest son, the one who had grown up expecting stability, inheritance, and a life with clear direction. Then suddenly, his father Lehi announced that God had warned him to flee into the wilderness.

For Laman, this felt like the world shifting beneath his feet. Leaving home wasn’t an adventure—it was a loss. He didn’t see angels. He didn’t have visions. What he saw were risks: hunger, danger, and an uncertain future stretched across desert sands.

As the family traveled, Laman’s frustration often boiled over. He complained. He argued. He challenged Nephi’s leadership. But behind his anger was something deeply human: fear. Fear of being wrong. Fear of losing everything. Fear that God had not spoken at all.

Yet even with his doubts, Laman still walked. He still left Jerusalem. He still made the journey. And at times—brief, important moments—he softened. When Nephi convinced him to help retrieve the brass plates, Laman stayed. When Ishmael’s daughters joined them, he became part of a new, growing family. His story is messy, but it is real.

Around family scripture study, Laman’s life opens honest conversations about doubt, frustration, and how faith can grow slowly—even imperfectly. His story reminds us that the Book of Mormon is filled with real people, not flawless heroes.

In Rumors of War, Laman’s card captures this internal struggle. He invites players to remember that every family, every group, and every story has someone learning to trust the Lord one hard step at a time.