Lehi Searches the Brass Plates

Event 5

Reference: 1 Ne. 5:1-22; 6:1-6

AND it came to pass that after we had come down into thewilderness unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy,and also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for shetruly had mourned because of us. 2 For she had supposedthat we had perished in the wilderness; and she also hadcomplained against my father, telling him that he was avisionary man; saying:NephiValley of Lemuelnear Red Sea600 to 593 B.C.Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, andmy sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness.Sariah3 And after this manner of language had my mothercomplained against my father.Nephi4 And 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 thingsof 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 thingsI do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons outof the hands of Laban, and bring them down again unto us in thewilderness.Lehi6 And after this manner of language did my father, Lehi,comfort my mother, Sariah, concerning us, while wejourneyed in the wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem, toobtain the record of the Jews. 7 And when we had returnedto the tent of my father, behold their joy was full, and mymother was comforted. 8 And she spake, saying:NephiNow I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded myhusband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of asurety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered themout of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby theycould accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them.SariahAnd after this manner of language did she speak.Nephi9 And it came to pass that they did rejoice exceedingly, anddid offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; andthey gave thanks unto the God of Israel. 10 And after theyhad given thanks unto the God of Israel, my father, Lehi,took the records which were engraven upon the plates ofbrass, and he did search them from the beginning. 11 And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses, whichgave an account of the creation of the world, and also ofAdam and Eve, who were our first parents; 12 And also arecord of the Jews from the beginning, even down to thecommencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah; 13And also the prophecies of the holy prophets, from thebeginning, even down to the commencement of the reign ofZedekiah; and also many prophecies which have beenspoken by the mouth of Jeremiah.NephiValley of Lemuelnear Red Sea600 to 593 B.C.14 And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found uponthe plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore heknew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even thatJoseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt,and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that hemight preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household fromperishing with famine. 15 And they were also led out ofcaptivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same Godwho had preserved them. 16 And thus my father, Lehi, diddiscover the genealogy of his fathers. And Laban also was adescendant of Joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had keptthe records. 17 And now when my father saw all thesethings, he was filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesyconcerning his seed— 18 That these plates of brass shouldgo forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people whowere of his seed. 19 Wherefore, he said that these plates ofbrass should never perish; neither should they be dimmedany more by time. And he prophesied many thingsconcerning his seed.20 And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had keptthe commandments wherewith the Lord had commandedus. 21 And we had obtained the records which the Lord hadcommanded us, and searched them and found that theywere desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuchthat we could preserve the commandments of the Lord untoour children. 22 Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord thatwe should carry them with us, as we journeyed in thewilderness towards the land of promise.1 AND now I, Nephi, do not give the genealogy of myfathers in this part of my record; neither at any time shall Igive it after upon these plates which I am writing; for it isgiven in the record which has been kept by my father;wherefore, I do not write it in this work. 2 For it sufficethme to say that we are descendants of Joseph. 3 And it mattereth not to me that I am particular to give a fullaccount of all the things of my father, for they cannot bewritten upon these plates, for I desire the room that I maywrite of the things of God. 4 For the fulness of mine intentis that I may persuade men to come unto the God ofAbraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, andbe saved. 5 Wherefore, the things which are pleasing untothe world I do not write, but the things which are pleasingunto God and unto those who are not of the world. 6Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, thatthey shall not occupy these plates with things which are notof worth unto the children of men.NephiValley of Lemuelnear Red Sea600 to 593 B.C.