Lehi Reads the Brass Plates

My father, Lehi, was very joyful to see us return. My mother, Sariah, was especially happy, for during our journey she had been mourning. She thought we had died somewhere in the wilderness. She had been complaining against my father, telling him he was a visionary man, saying, “You have led us out of the land of our inheritance. Now my sons are dead, and we will die here in the wilderness.” My father had comforted my mother saying, “I know I am a visionary man, for if God had not shown me so many things in a vision, I would not have left Jerusalem, but would have stayed there with my family to die at the hands of the Babylonians. But instead, I have been given a land of promise, over which I rejoice. I know the Lord will protect our sons, and that they will return to us with the plates.” That’s how my father had comforted my mother.

When we finally returned, my father and mother were full of joy, and my mother was comforted. She said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord commanded Lehi to go into the wilderness, and that He has protected my sons so they could accomplish their task.” My father and mother were so happy upon our return that they offered sacrifice and burnt offerings to the Lord, giving thanks to the God of Israel.

After this, Lehi began to read the brass plates from the beginning. The record contained the five books of Moses, which told about the creation of the world, and also of Adam and Eve, our first parents. The plates also contained a record of the Jews, and of the prophets, from the beginning down to the reign of Zedekiah. They also included many of Jeremiah’s prophecies. Lehi found his genealogy written on the plates and discovered that he was a descendant of Jacob’s son, Joseph, who was sold into Egypt. Joseph had been preserved by God to save his father, Jacob (Israel), and the rest of his family from starvation. Joseph’s descendants were led out of their captivity in Egypt by the same God who had preserved Joseph and his family.

Then Lehi discovered that Laban was also a descendant of Joseph. Laban and his forefathers had been keeping the holy records for many centuries. After reading these things, Lehi was filled with the Spirit and began to prophesy about his descendants: “These brass plates will go forth to all nations and people who are of my descent (of the house of Israel). The brass plates will never be destroyed nor lose their greatness over time.” Lehi prophesied many more things about his descendants which are not written here.

Up to this time, my father and I had kept all the Lord’s commandments. As we continued to read the plates they became of great value to us, for they enabled us to teach the Lord’s commandments to our children. We clearly saw the Lord’s wisdom in commanding us to obtain these records and take them with us on our journey to the promised land.