1 Nephi 7

God then told Lehi not to continue the journey to the promised land until his sons had found women they could marry, and with whom they could have children themselves. God commanded that my brothers and I again return to Jerusalem, and this time bring Ishmael and his family back to the wilderness with us.

When Ishmael and his family heard our story, they were sympathetic and agreed to come because they saw God’s hand in this venture. On our journey back to the valley, however, Laman and Lemuel again rebelled against the will of God and convinced two of Ishmael’s daughters and both of his sons that this was a fool’s journey and should be abandoned. All six wanted to return to Jerusalem.

“It is a sad thing when I, your younger brother, need to set an example for you,” I said to my bothers. “How could you have forgotten that we are traveling at God’s command, that we have seen an angel of God who has come down and spoken to us, that God delivered Laban and the records into our hands, that the destruction of Jerusalem is imminent? Let us be faithful to God’s will and go to this promised land towards which he guides us. If you return to Jerusalem, you too will perish. The people there have forgotten God, rejected the prophets, and tried to kill our father. In so doing, they have lost God’s protection.”

At this they became very angry, beat me with their fists and tied me up with ropes. They intended to kill me and leave my body to be eaten by wild animals; but I prayed to God to burst the ropes that bound me. And so it happened. The ropes were loosened and fell from my hands and feet, and I was able to stand before them again and speak.

All of this did nothing to dissipate their anger or change their minds about killing me, so they came at me again. But one of Ishmael’s daughters, one of his sons, and his wife intervened until my brothers relented in their intention to take my life. After having lost their anger, Laman and Lemuel felt foolish and regretful, and asked for my forgiveness. Accordingly, I forgave them. I encouraged them to accept God’s will in prayer, which they did.

And so we proceeded to travel again toward Lehi’s camp in the wilderness, in the Valley of Lemuel. When we arrived, Lehi gave thanks unto God, made sacrifices, and gave offerings.