1 Nephi 5

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While the sons were gone, Sariah was sure they were dead. Nephi tells us plainly that his mother complained against my father and called him a visionary man, the same words Laman and Lemuel had used. Lehi did not argue. He agreed he was a visionary man, told her why that was a good thing, and promised that the Lord would bring their sons home.

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1 Nephi 5:1-9Now I Know of a Surety

1And it came to pass that after we had come down into the wilderness unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us. 2For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man; saying: Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness. 3And after this manner of language had my mother complained against my father.

While her sons were gone, Sariah thought they were dead. In her grief she complained to Lehi and called him a visionary man. Nephi records his mother's fear honestly.

4And it had come to pass that my father spake unto her, saying: I know that I am a visionary man; for if I had not seen the things of God in a vision I should not have known the goodness of God, but had tarried at Jerusalem, and had perished with my brethren. 5But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness. 6And after this manner of language did my father, Lehi, comfort my mother, Sariah, concerning us, while we journeyed in the wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem, to obtain the record of the Jews.

Lehi doesn't argue. He says, yes, I am a visionary man, and if he weren't, they would have died in Jerusalem. Then he comforts her: the Lord will bring their sons back.

7And when we had returned to the tent of my father, behold their joy was full, and my mother was comforted. 8And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak.

When her sons come home, Sariah bears her own testimony: Now I know of a surety. Before, she trusted her husband's visions. Now she has her own witness.

9And it came to pass that they did rejoice exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel.

The family rejoices, offers sacrifices, and gives thanks unto the God of Israel.

1 Nephi 5:10-16He Did Search Them from the Beginning

10And after they had given thanks unto the God of Israel, my father, Lehi, took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did search them from the beginning. 11And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses, which gave an account of the creation of the world, and also of Adam and Eve, who were our first parents; 12And also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah; 13And also the prophecies of the holy prophets, from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah; and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah.

After giving thanks, Lehi opens the plates and did search them from the beginning. He doesn't just own the scriptures. He studies them.

The plates held the five books of Moses, the history of the Jews down to Zedekiah, and the words of the prophets, including Jeremiah, who was alive at the time.

14And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine. 15And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them. 16And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept the records.

Lehi finds his family tree on the plates. He descends from Joseph, who was sold into Egypt. Laban's family also came from Joseph, which is why they had kept the records.

1 Nephi 5:17-22Of Great Worth unto Us

17And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed— 18That these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed. 19Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And he prophesied many things concerning his seed.

Filled with the Spirit, Lehi prophesies that the plates will go to all nations of his descendants and should never perish.

20And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had kept the commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us. 21And we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children. 22Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise.

Nephi sums it up: the records were of great worth, because they let the family pass the commandments on to their children. It was wisdom in the Lord to carry them.

Research trail

Sources & further study

These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.

Where this echoes in Scripture

Now I Know of a Surety

He Did Search Them from the Beginning

Of Great Worth unto Us