Families of Lehi and Ishmael Unite

Event 6

Reference: 1 Ne. 7:1-22

AND now I would that ye might know, that after my father,Lehi, had made an end of prophesying concerning his seed,it came to pass that the Lord spake unto him again, sayingthat it was not meet for him, Lehi, that he should take hisfamily into the wilderness alone; but that his sons shouldtake daughters to wife, that they might raise up seed untothe Lord in the land of promise.NephiValley of Lemuelnear Red Sea600 to 593 B.C.2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded him that I,Nephi, and my brethren, should again return unto the landof Jerusalem, and bring down Ishmael and his family intothe wilderness.3 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did again, with mybrethren, go forth into the wilderness to go up to Jerusalem.Wilderness southof Jerusalem4 And it came to pass that we went up unto the house ofIshmael, and we did gain favor in the sight of Ishmael,insomuch that we did speak unto him the words of the Lord.Ishmael’s house5 And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart ofIshmael, and also his household, insomuch that they tooktheir journey with us down into the wilderness to the tent ofour father.6 And it came to pass that as we journeyed in thewilderness, behold Laman and Lemuel, and two of thedaughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and theirfamilies, did rebel against us; yea, against me, Nephi, andSam, and their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his threeother daughters.Wilderness southof Jerusalem7 And it came to pass in the which rebellion, they weredesirous to return unto the land of Jerusalem. 8 And now I,Nephi, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts,therefore I spake unto them, saying, yea, even unto Lamanand unto Lemuel:Behold ye are mine elder brethren, and how is it that ye are so hardin your hearts, and so blind in your minds, that ye have need that I,your younger brother, should speak unto you, yea, and set anexample for you? 9 How is it that ye have not hearkened unto theword of the Lord? 10 How is it that ye have forgotten that ye haveseen an angel of the Lord? 11 Yea, and how is it that ye haveforgotten what great things the Lord hath done for us, in delivering us out of the hands of Laban, and also that we should obtain therecord? 12 Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord isable to do all things according to his will, for the children of men,if it so be that they exercise faith in him?NephiWilderness southof Jerusalem600 to 593 B.C.Wherefore, let us be faithful to him. 13 And if it so be that we arefaithful to him, we shall obtain the land of promise; and ye shallknow at some future period that the word of the Lord shall befulfilled concerning the destruction of Jerusalem; for all thingswhich the Lord hath spoken concerning the destruction ofJerusalem must be fulfilled. 14 For behold, the Spirit of the Lordceaseth soon to strive with them; for behold, they have rejected theprophets, and Jeremiah have they cast into prison. And they havesought to take away the life of my father, insomuch that they havedriven him out of the land. 15 Now behold, I say unto you that ifye will return unto Jerusalem ye shall also perish with them. Andnow, if ye have choice, go up to the land, and remember the wordswhich I speak unto you, that if ye go ye will also perish; for thusthe Spirit of the Lord constraineth me that I should speak.16 And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken thesewords unto my brethren, they were angry with me.And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me,for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bindme with cords, for they sought to take away my life, thatthey might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured bywild beasts.17 But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying:O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliverme from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength thatI may burst these bands with which I am bound.18 And it came to pass that when I had said these words,behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet,and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto themagain.19 And it came to pass that they were angry with me again,and sought to lay hands upon me; but behold, one of thedaughters of Ishmael, yea, and also her mother, and one ofthe sons of Ishmael, did plead with my brethren, insomuchthat they did soften their hearts; and they did cease strivingto take away my life.20 And it came to pass that they were sorrowful, because oftheir wickedness, insomuch that they did bow down beforeme, and did plead with me that I would forgive them of thething that they had done against me. 21 And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them allthat they had done, and I did exhort them that they wouldpray unto the Lord their God for forgiveness.NephiWilderness southof Jerusalem600 to 593 B.C.And it came to pass that they did so. And after they haddone praying unto the Lord we did again travel on ourjourney towards the tent of our father.22 And it came to pass that we did come down unto the tentof our father. And after I and my brethren and all the houseof Ishmael had come down unto the tent of my father, theydid give thanks unto the Lord their God; and they did offersacrifice and burnt offerings unto him.Valley of Lemuelnear Red Sea