Sariah complains against Lehi—Both rejoice over the return of their sons—They offer sacrifices—The plates of brass contain writings of Moses and the prophets—The plates identify Lehi as a descendent of Joseph—Lehi prophesies concerning his seed and the preservation of the plates. About 600-592 B.C.
1. And 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.
2. For 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.
3. And after this manner of language had my mother
complained against my father.
4. And it had come to pass that my father spake unto her,
saying: I know that I am 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.
5. But behold, I have ordained 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.
6. And 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.
7. And when we had returned to the tent of my father, behold
their joy was full, and my mother was comforted.
8. And 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.
9. And 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.
10. And 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.
11. And 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.
12. And also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even
down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah;
13. And 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.
14. And 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 form perishing with
famine.
15. And they were also led out of captivity and out of the
land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.
16. And 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.
17. And now when my father saw all these things, he was
filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed—
18. That these plates of brass should go forth unto all
nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed.
19. Wherefore, 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.
20. And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had
kept the commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us.
21. And 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.
22. Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should
carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of
promise.
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