Twenty Years to the Promised Land

The time frame from when Lehi is called as a prophet to when his party reaches the Promised Land can be calculated from reference to the Book of Mormon and Bible to be about 20 years. Unfortunately this has been somewhat muddled by Book of Mormon scholars who have used only the Book of Mormon in their attempt to create a timeline for the Book of Mormon without cross-referencing it with that other volume of scripture, the Bible, with which it is to become one. This has caused an anachronism to surface in the LDS Church’s current publication of the Book of Mormon. But this anachronism is not the fault of the Book of Mormon but that of well meaning Book of Mormon scholars who have derived such a timeline to aid in the Book of Mormon’s study.

George Reynolds, an early Mormon Elder and Church Authority studied the Book of Mormon intensely. He derived from its pages a suggested Book of Mormon timeline. Later, about 1920-1921, James E. Talmage, based somewhat on George Reynolds’ work, produced the suggested dates that first appeared as footnotes in the Book of Mormon published during that era. These suggested dates have since become a standard feature of the Book of Mormon editions since that time and they have gone largely unchanged.

It appears that Elder Reynolds and then Elder Talmage both assessed that Lehi left Jerusalem in 600 BC, 600 years before the birth of Christ (1 Nephi 10:4). When the Book of Mormon speaks of Lehi’s journeys in the wilderness as being 8 years (1 Nephi 17:4), the quick calculation is to subtract 8 from 600 yielding 592BC as the date that Lehi’s party enters the site called Bountiful where they build a ship and set sail to the Promised Land from the Middle East. This has been the generally accepted and suggested timeline for this portion of the Book of Mormon since the 1920 dates. But with new scholarly efforts to enhance the Book of Mormon study and cross-reference it with the other scriptures by later scholars, an anachronism has been created between the suggested dating and the supplied cross-referencing. It is important to note that the Book of Mormon itself does not create the anachronism, it comes out only in men’s calculations and interpretations which can be readily resolved as the prepared in the table that will follow.

The anachronism rises out of the 592 BC suggested date for Lehi’s party arriving in Bountiful and the supplied cross reference to Jeremiah’s imprisonment referred to by Nephi in his argument aimed at Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael who wanted to return to Jerusalem in the 7^th chapter of 1 Nephi. That cross reference is to the book of Jeremiah in the Bible, 37^th chapter where Jeremiah is placed in prison round about the 8^th or 9^th year of Zedekiah’s reign. Well, Lehi can’t be still in the Valley of Lemuel waiting for his sons to return with the family of Ishmael in 592 BC and over a 1000 miles away at the site called Bountiful at the same time, thus the anachronism.

In reality, given the correctness of the cross-reference to the Bible, Lehi did not reach Bountiful until about 582 BC as will be explained in the chart that follows. It seems that the 8 years journey in the wilderness which the earlier scholars of Reynolds and Talmage accessed to be from Lehi’s leaving Jerusalem, should not be calculated from that initial departure from Jerusalem. But the 8 years journey in the wilderness, mentioned in chapter 17 of 1 Nephi, should be calculated as being 8 years from the Valley of Lemuel to the site Bountiful. Evidently the Valley of Lemuel had been Lehi’s family dwelling place for a number of years and was no longer ‘wilderness’ to them. So their new departure into the wilderness in chapter 17 was that departure from their home of about 10 years, the Valley of Lemuel.

With this exception of the beginning suggested years of the Book of Mormon history, the remainder of the suggested dates by Elder Reynolds and Elder Talmage do seem to be accurate. With a number of implied and suggested details of events and with approximated ages and dates, the newly suggested timeline for the time of Lehi from his first calling as a Prophet to his party’s departure to the Promised land by the ship built in Bountiful, is now presented.

Twenty Years to the Promised Land

601 BC – (Lehi departed Jerusalem 600 years before Christ (1 Nephi 10:4) thus we begin still in Jerusalem in 601) Zedekiah becomes King – Lehi about age 42 with two married daughters to the sons of Ishmael and four sons ages about 10 to 16 (and perhaps other daughters also) Nebuchadnezzar (under influence of Daniel?) commits Zedekiah to the Babylonian Empire and to the Jewish God Jehovah Zedekiah attempts to commit the people to the Law of Moses and the releasing of Hebrew servants Zedekiah with good intentions tries to be like his father King Josiah but is too weak and has no internal support Lehi is a prosperous property holder having a 'townhouse' at Jerusalem and lands of inheritance likely south of Jerusalem and is perhaps like Boaz was Jews release servants momentarily – Zoram is momentarily released as are Lehi’s servants The Jews then quickly reclaim their servants and possibly delay their release 7 yrs hence reminiscent of Laban of old and Jacob (Jeremiah 34 references past temple covenant made at beginning of Zedekiah's reign and condemns Jews after 7 years delay for not realeasing them even then) Lehi can’t resolve the breaking of the covenants and wickedness of the Jews and seeks God's word on the matter Lehi has his servants, still free, but under his protection as they work for him and themselves on his lands God has Lehi, as a prominent wealthy citizen, prophesy against the people for breaking their covenants. Lehi’s prominence makes him a prophet that can’t be ignored but must be gotten rid of by murder God warns Lehi to depart the city and flee into the wilderness to save himself and his family Jeremiah will prophecy against the people symbolically by wearing the yoke of submission and servitude about his own neck They had re-yoked their servants, if they would not stay under Babylon's rule they would be more severely yoked themselves.(Jeremiah 27)

600-599 BC – (The Book of Mormon states that Lehi left Jerusalem 600 years before Christ's birth~1 Nephi 10:4) Lehi leaves Jerusalem Lehi travels about 200 miles to the fountain of the Red Sea near Elat, Eloth or Ezion-geber at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba which takes several days to two weeks considering the Law of Moses prohibition of traveling on the Sabbath day. Lehi then leaves the commonly traveled roads (perhaps the 'King's Highway') and journeys 3 more days into the wilderness to the Valley he would name Lemuel (1 Nephi 2:5-6). Lehi sets up his household in the Valley of Lemuel and dwells (meaning to live on a semi-permanent basis for a space of time ~ 9-10 years) in a tent (1 Nephi 2:15). Nephi at the time when Lehi reached the Valley of Lemuel was 'exceedingly young', meaning he was still under the age of being considered a 'man in Israel' or under the age of 12 (1 Nephi 2:16). But Nephi begins to establish a relationship with the Lord, having many things manifest unto him by the spirit which he communicates to Sam his brother, but Laman and Lemuel would not listen to his words (1 Nephi 2:16-18) Now Lehi just didn’t camp out for a few months, he lived and dwelt in a tent as a permanent residence planting and harvesting with the seasons. This is what is particularly pointed to by Nephi – His rich high society father 'lived' in a tent, not just camped out for a season Nephi is exceedingly young about 10, Sam 12, Lemuel 14, and Laman 16 Lehi has brought his seeds with him and they cultivate the land and grow crops during the wet season for about two years

598 BC – (After establishing their 'homestead' in the Valley of Lemuel and living there for about 1-2 years) Nephi has turned 12 entering his 13th year when in the Jewish tradition he is recognized to be a man in Israel At about this time Nephi further seeks the Lord and is visited by Him, the Lord himself speaking with Nephi (1 Nephi 3:1).. Lehi receives a commandment of God by a dream to obtain the Brass Plates (scriptures of Israel, writings and genealogies of Joseph etc.) from Laban at Jerusalem Lehi has a hard time getting Laman and Lemuel to go. Young Nephi, now considered to be a 'man in Israel', states, ‘I will go . . ." (1 Nephi 3:7); It would logically be during the dry season when crops where not to be planted, tended, and harvested that Lehi would send his sons. Nephi now age 12, large in size, goes with his bothers back some 250 miles to Jerusalem to obtain the Brass Plates Laban, privy to the knowledge that Lehi is no longer a force to be contended with, shuns Laman's request, threatens his life, and calls him a thief Lehi’s sons go to get Lehi’s great wealth Lehi had left in the care of his 'freed' servants who are still likely attending to Lehi's lands and properties Laban, without fear of reprisal of law from Lehi, steals Lehi’s great wealth from Lehi’s four son and attempts to kill them. Laban has shown by his actions that he had part in the conspiracy to kill Lehi and is a murder in heart. Nephi finds Laban drunken, and by instruction of an angel beheads him. Nephi dresses in Laban’s robes and armor and in the darkness of night fools Zoram into retrieving the Brass Plates. Zoram has keys to the treasury and is a candidate for the inscriber of the Brass Plates’ last entries. When Nephi prevents Zoram from escaping, Nephi refers to himself as 'a man', large in stature (1 Nephi 4:31). This tends to confirm that from when Lehi first arrived in the Valley of Lemuel and Nephi was 'exceedingly young' to when Nephi has obtained the Brass Plates of Laban, Nephi has grown, developed and become of the 'age of a man in Israel'. Zoram is promised by Nephi his freedom if he stays and goes with them. Lehi’s sons return after a long over due return date, perhaps months, and Sariah has complained that without their sons' aid they will perish. Back in Jerusalem, while wearing the yoke, Jeremiah confronts the false prophet who says that Jehoachin would be returned (Jeremiah-28)

597-592 BC – (The purposes for these years are speculative such as learning to live in dry lands as a colony, gather seeds, lets sons grow, etc.) Lehi studies the scriptures in depth from beginning to the end. Nephi grows to be about age 18 and Laman 24, when Lehi receives his next recorded commandment from God Lehi is to send for and bring Ishmael’s family into the wilderness to join them to provide wives for his sons and Zoram. The Jews despite now being under Temple Covenant have refused to let their Hebrew servants go even after the 7 more years added upon reclaiming them under the technicality of the law of 7 years from when the covenant was make and have turned to the Egyptians for their alliance against the Babylonians Jeremiah condemns the Jews for not living up to their covenants and not letting the Hebrews go free (J-34) Babylon initially besieges the city but then advances to strategically confront the Egyptians in the desert. Jeremiah is placed in prison charged with treason and desertion of the city (Jeremiah 37:4 & 15 about 592 BC) Lehi’s sons convince Ishmael that it is better for his family to leave Jerusalem and depart with Lehi Ishmael considers the alternative of staying in Jerusalem under Chaldean threat and decides to leave Nephi’s brothers rebel and Nephi argues that even Jeremiah have they put into prison (1Nephi 7:14) [Note: This cross-reference placed in the Book of Mormon by Orsen Pratt between Jeremiah 37:15 and 1 Nephi 7:15 first appeared in the footnotes of the book in the 1879 edition and was not considered by Elder George Reynolds in his suggested Book of Mormon Timeline, neither was it properly considered by Elder Talmage when he basically took Elder Reynold's timeline and placed it in the footnotes of the 1921 edition of the Book of Mormon. If it would have been properly considered that Jeremiah had not been put into prison until about the 8th year of King Zedekiah's reign and that Nephi had reference to that imprisonment upon the return trip to the Valley of Lemuel with the family of Ishmael, then Elder Talmage may have avoided the scholarly created anachronism by so adjusting Elder Reynold's suggested timeline before placing it in the Book of Mormon footnotes in the 1921 edition.]

591 BC – (The exact timing of all these events is not known, but they are close to being contemporary one with another.) Lehi’s sons return with Ishmael's family, and after at least one more planting and harvest, which allows time for 'courting' and marriages, Lehi’s party will be ready to continue on their journey to the land of promise During this time the Chaldeans defeat Egypt and return to Jerusalem and Zedekiah calls for Jeremiah out of Jonathan's prison. Lehi's family spends time planting, courting, marrying, and harvesting. Lehi’s sons and Zoram marry the daughters of Ishmael Lehi’s readies for departure – the Liahona is received

590-582 BC – (The journeyings in the wilderness from the Valley of Lemuel to Bountiful over the next 8 years are not well time correlated as Nephi's intent is not to give a 'history' but the 'more spiritual related events only'.) Lehi’s party travels in the wilderness in the more fertile parts stopping periodically for long enough times to plant and harvest in these 'fertile' spots, likely seasonally stopping during the wet season each year to plant and replenish food supplies beyond just raw meat consumption They plant, grow and harvest up to 8 years of crops before they reached Bountiful, as this is the 8 years referred to in 1 Nephi 17:4 Nephi only reports significant events, as he is doing it from memory, such as broken bow, Ishmael's death, complaining of parents, etc. Lehi's party reaches a plentiful site on the coast by the Ocean, which they call Bountiful

582-580 BC – (In Bountiful food supplies need to be replenished, a ship built, and all readied for a long Ocean voyage.) Lehi’s party plants in the rich soil of their first Bountiful (the second Bountiful being their bounteous landing site) and reap their first harvest. Nephi then receives word from God to build a ship and is instructed how to do so Nephi's brothers first rebel but then do help in building the ship. Nephi directs the building of the ship Lehi’s party plants and harvests a second year in preparation for the sea journey The Ship is completed and all is stored and prepared on board for the long sea journey Lehi's party sets sail for the Promised Land

579 BC – (It is reasoned that the El Nino effects of the Pacific is what governs much of the voyage and landing site of Lehi.) Lehi’s party arrives in the Promised Land and among the first things they do is to plant crops in this new bounteous land They find animals of every kind, domestic and wild in the forest. The domestic animals have come to the land south for food They harvest a great abundance in their second Bountiful land and prepare for further travels Their further journeys are only reported on the Large Plates of Nephi and not on Nephi’s small plates Lehi is now about age 64 with two more sons, Joseph and Jacob and some others daughters. Nephi is about 31.

Quite often, since the Book of Mormon is a condensed and abridged account, numbers such as those dealing with time and distances can also be easily misunderstood and condensed. One example is when Nephi reports that Lehi journeyed three days in the wilderness to arrive at the Valley of Lemuel. Well the closest Valley of Lemuel along the Red Sea that would even be possible is over 200 miles from Jerusalem. That would take longer than 3 days journey in those days. So what Nephi was really saying is that they traveled a known route until they reached the boarders of the Red Sea, and then they traveled three more days distance in uncharted wilderness from the known path to the Valley of Lemuel. This is the same quick condensation error made with the scholarly anachronism explained above. And to my mind, it is the same condensation error that has many placing all the major Book of Mormon sites within a distance of only 400 miles, and in a space of the size of the state of Utah in Central America though the peoples lived here for over a 1000 years. Limiting a population to only 400 miles seems unrealistic when compared to other know histories of peoples and places of that same era. For example, the armies of the Chaldeans traveled over 500 miles from Babylon just to secure Jerusalem and fight the Egyptians in the desert of Moses' wanderings. And that was in the space of a couple of years. Many of the Nephite wars take years, yet the abridged account masks this fact and many place these grand battles only within a short number of miles of each other.

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Revised ~ May 10, 2005