Lehi receives guidance from God that his sons should invite Ishmael and his family who are back in Jerusalem to join them on their journey so they will be saved from the destruction of Jerusalem, and so Nephi and his brothers can marry Ishmael’s daughters and have a family in their new home in the americas.

Laman and Lemuel and some of Ishmael’s family rebel against Nephi as they return to Lehi and Sariah in the wilderness. They bind him with cords and leave him to die in the desert, however, God gives Nephi strength to break free and to forgive those who have wronged him.

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Lehi and Sariah are grateful and delighted when their sons return with the plates, and Lehi immediately gives thanks to God and begins to study the contents of the records.

After Lehi tells Nephi that he and his brothers need to return to Jerusalem to obtain sacred records that included words of God’s servants and other family records, Nephi responds with great faith and godly courage even though the task is daunting and difficult. However, Laman and Lemuel complain.

Laman eventually agrees to speak with Laban to try to obtain the family records. Laban refuses and threatens to kill Laman. The boys decide to make a second attempt after Nephi’s encouragement, and gather the family’s belongings to try to offer to Laban in exchange for the records. Laban steals their wealth and attempts to kill Lehi’s sons. Despite their best efforts to obey both their father and God, Lehi’s sons seem to face failure wherever they turn. Meanwhile, Sariah is without her sons in the wilderness and begins to fear for their safety.

Laman and Lemuel want nothing more to do with their father’s request to obtain the brass plates. Angry and frustrated, they rebel against Nephi and Sam and beat their younger brothers with wooden rods––until an angel appears and makes them stop the beating. Courageously, Nephi returns alone to Jerusalem in search of Laban and the plates and is able to obtain them with the help of heaven. Zoram, a servant of Laban, helps Nephi get the records and faithfully joins Nephi’s family in the wilderness.

Lehi’s sons return to their parents’ tent in the wilderness with Zoram and the sacred records containing the writings of prophets and other family records. The family gives thanks to God, recognizing His goodness and help in all that is going on, and Lehi studies the records. He shares what he finds with his family and prophecies that eventually these records and the stories and teachings they contain will bless his family, their descendants, and others throughout the world and throughout the ages of time.

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About 600 years before the the birth of Christ, a man by the name of Lehi lived in Jerusalem. He was concerned about what was going on in the world around him, so he sought heaven’s help and God answered his humble prayer.

God helped Lehi find peace and know what he could do to try to help others and his family. (1 Nephi 1)

As has often been the case throughout history, despite Lehi’s best efforts to teach those around him, most did not listen to him and did not believe what he said reflected God’s will. Lehi was warned by God that eventually the people would become so bad that the city would be destroyed, so God instructed Lehi to take his wife Sariah, and their sons, Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi and leave – God would guide them to a better place. (1 Nephi 2:1-3)

Lehi’s family flees, but his oldest sons soon start to second guess the decision and complain about the new challenges they now face. Nephi seeks and receives a confirmation from God regarding His will and prays for his brothers.

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