False traditions had been handed down by the Lamanites from generation to generation, and, with the passage of time, some of these false teachings were apparently accepted by many of the Lamanites as being true. Some of these false teachings were:
1. That Laman and Lemuel were driven out of the land of Jerusalem "because of the iniquities of their father." (Actually Lehi and his group were led away from Jerusalem and impending destruction because of the righteousness of Lehi.)
2. That Laman and Lemuel were "wronged" by their brethren "in the wilderness" . . . "while crossing the sea" . . . "while in the land of their first inheritance." (The Lord was directing the righteous leaders, Lehi and Nephi, as to what should be done.)
3. That Nephi had wrongfully "taken the ruling of the people" out of the hands of Laman and Lemuel. (The Lord designated Nephi as the new leader because of his faithfulness in keeping the commandments.)
4. That Nephi robbed Laman and Lemuel by taking "the records which were engraven on the plates of brass." (Nephi was rightfully entitled to these records because he was God's chosen religious leader of the group.)
Because of these false traditions the Lamanites had taught their children that they should hate, rob, and murder the Nephites; therefore, the Lamanites had "an eternal hatred towards the children of Nephi." (Mosiah 10:17.)