The Lost Plates of Laman: An Account Written by the Hand of Laman upon Plates of Tin Made by His Own Self-With a Little Help from His Brother Lemuel

by Bob Lewis

If Bob Lewis wrote a novel, it would be along the lines of Gulliver's Travels to the Narrow Neck of Land. If he concocted a narrative poem, it would sound like Homer (Simpson, not the Greek guy).But what fell miraculously into his lap, or rather his back yard, was a heap of tin that turned out to be the long-lost diaries of that Book of Mormon malcontent Laman, the oldest and most misunderstood of Nephi's brothers. (Who names their first-born Laman?)Now, after all these years (2,541 to be exact), Laman finally gets to tell his side of the story. It sounds vaguely like Nephi's account, but it takes on a strangely modern, quirkily idiomatic style resembling that of its translator-only furthering the proof of its historicity.The Lost Plates of Laman will prove amusement and delight for anyone who has a nagging desire to know more about their spiritual heritage.

76 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1997

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a hoot!! This was great! Clever and funny. Ever wonder what Laman's side of the story is? Well, here it is written on plates of tin. Very, very funny! I don't know why I'd never heard of this before. It was only because a customer came into the book store wondering if we carried it that I even tried to find it myself. We SHOULD carry it...it's a riot! (That's for you, Lynn)

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed out loud so many times reading this book! When I need something to make me happy, I'll read this again!

[David Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing spoof on the family of Lehi and Sariah from the Book of Mormon.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This satire is only for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is amusing, but even at 76 pages I was done with the joke before the end.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is soooo funny! This is the second time I've read it, and it still makes me laugh out loud. It will, of course, be best appreciated by people who have read the Book of Mormon and will be most enjoyed if read in conjunction with 1 Nephi. :-)

My favorite line in the whole book is this:

1 Nephi 2:8-9 (What Lehi actually said): "And it came to pass that he [Lehi] called the name of the river, Laman ...And when [Lehi] saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that though mightiest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness!"

The Plates of Laman 2:20 (What Laman heard): "And it came to pass that in his spare time my father began to give names unto the landmarks in the wilderness, and he did call the river Laman, after me, saying: Laman, be thou like unto this river, continually running, or something like that, for the words of my father did often go in one ear and out the other."

I think Bob Lewis probably nailed it!

[Calvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amusing spoof, but a little tedious after awhile.

[Drew]

The Lost Plates of Laman: An Account Written by the Hand of Laman upon Plates of Tin Made by His Own Self-With a Little Help from His Brother Lemuel by Bob Lewis (1997)