Book of Mormon Commentary - 1 Nephi 5

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
            CHAPTER 5

Sariah complains against Lehi—Both rejoice over the return of their sons—They offer sacrifices—The plates of brass contain writing of ' Moses and the prophets—They identify Lehi as a descendant of Joseph—Lehi prophesies concerning his seed and the preservation of the plates. [Between 600 and 592 B.C.]

Sariah first complains and then rejoices when sons return—Thanksgiving sacrifices offered—Plates contain 5 books of Moses and writings of the prophets down to and including many of the writings of Jeremiah—Lehi's genelogy and 'cousin' Laban's from Joseph on plates—Laban's family of Joseph is why they kept the plates—Lehi prophesies concerning his own seed and also of the plates that they will never parish. [About 597-593 B.C.]
1 AND it came to pass that after we had come down into the wildernessa unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mournedb because of us.
2 For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also had acomplained against my father, telling him that he was a bvisionary 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 wildernessa.
3 And after this manner of language had my mother complained against my father.


Sariah Complains 
We don't know under what circumstances or extremes the family of Lehi did exist under in the wilderness of the valley of Lemuel. We know that Lehi and his wife took only their four sons with them into the wilderness, the Book of Mormon clearly states that. It also later states that Nephi's sisters accompanied him to the Land of Nephi. We presume these to be younger sisters and the valley of Lemuel seems to be the prime site of their birth as they did dwell there for a number of years. It is quite possible that Lehi's sons departed to obtain the plates of brass in the 'dry' season after one harvest and before the next season's planting. As it takes time to travel over 500 miles round trip and to overcome the the trials of the three attempts to obtain the plates, it is concievable that it had become time that the planting need to begin, and the sons where not back. Sariah may have been an expectant mother with one of the sisters of Nephi and subject to increased emotional stress. The faithful Sariah under such imaginable circumstance did complain against Lehi that she feared her sons were dead and that they were left alone in the wilderness to perish. Only a 'homesteader' of a new land could appreciate what hardships and trials such an isolated family dwelling in the wilderness could be. Those of a community where all contribute variously to the well being of all, have no concept what it is to make it in a wilderness land left only to one's self. This was no Garden of Eden. 		 1a down into the wilderness Jerusalem is considered the 'Mountain of the House of the Lord'. All destinations from Jerusalem are stated and considered to be 'down' from there despite their true elevation. Stated another way, Jerusalem was Mount Zion and all would come 'up' to the House of the Lord located at Jerusalem, the Holy City of God.
 1b she truly had mourned Lehi and Sariah were good parents. They truly loved and cared for their children. What sorrow there is for a child who had been lost can only be understood by those who may have lost a child. To lose all four youthful sons ranging in age from about 12 years to 18 years of age at one time must be four fold painful. Nephi would have just completed the age of his 'barmetzvah' of acceptance as a 'man in Israel'. Lehi's young sons had been gone for a time much longer than double the time it had taken Lehi's party to travel from Jerusalem and arrive in the valley of Lemuel. Had Sariah's four sons been set upon by robbers? Had they met a fate at the hand of the murderous members of the Sarim, the princely elders of Jerusalem, who had sought after Lehi's life? Laban was the chief captain of 50 who headed the authoritative enforcing 'police' of that 'Sanhedrin' of ruling elders. 'My sons, my sons. My sons are dead and are no more. If you had not sent them back to Jerusalem, they'd yet be alive.' Sariah could only consider that it was caused by Lehi's 'demand' that her sons return to Jerusalem to obtain the plates of brass, else they would still be alive.
 2a we parish in the wilderness This on the surface seem a bit selfish to think of oneself parishing on the level of just having lost 4 sons to a supposed death, but one needs to consider that Lehi and Sariah have a 'second family' beginning with their time in their wilderness home of the valley of Lemuel. They have two oldest daughters who married the two sons of Ishmael back in Jerusalem and they have their four sons, Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi now considered to be dead. But this is not all. This is all their party consisted of prior to the valley of Lemuel. But it is considered that Lehi and Sariah began a second younger family starting with daughters in the valley of Lemuel and two more sons in the wilderness between the valley and the first Bountiful. Thus Sariah is not just thinking of herself as she likely has at least one such baby daughter already at this time and perhaps another on the way. So when she says 'we parish in the wilderness' she is considering her baby girl and another on the way. She is considering the harshness of the land and that how could Lehi alone provide for their survival when it had taken 5 healthy working men to do so previously? 		 2a TG Murmuring;
   b Gen. 37:19 (8, 19)

Points of Complaint 
These are the points upon which Sariah could have complained.
  1. Those in authority to seek Lehi's life would have been the same who sought the life of Christ. The 'elders of the Church', the 'Sarim or princes of the Jews', the Sanhedrin 'judges', 'rulers', and 'enforcers' of the Law of Moses. Laban, the 'chief of police', the Captain of Fifty, served this body. Laban was a dangerous threat to Lehi, and to Lehi's Sons. Sariah would have been apprehensive about sending her sons before Laban, the Captain of the deadly Sarim.
  2. Sariah's four sons were teens ranging from 12 to 18 years. They were youths, Nephi just barely at the age of a recognized 'man' in Israel. Such inexperienced youth faced many challenges and obstacles over a 500 miles journey to the city of Jerusalem, the city where the family of Lehi had fled from. What would they encounter on the way there and on the way back? What would they face within the city walls of Jerusalem before Laban?
  3. The journey was planned and provisions provided. A week and a half there, a week and a half back and a week to settle the matter; a month's time total. But the time expanded. Instead of one formal audience before Laban, it became three. More time was needed to gather and prepare the wealth of Lehi to present before Laban in exchange for the plates. And still no success. More time was taken to obtain the plates by some other means. The sons were at least two weeks over due.
  4. Sariah had concluded the worst. What mother has lost the lives of all four of her living young sons at the same time?
  5. All seemed Lehi's fault. Lehi required the return to Jerusalem. Lehi required the appearance before Laban. Lehi required inexperienced youth to travel 500 miles alone, subjecting them to fates of the wilderness. Of what logic was it to send her sons to their death? The 'brass plates' were not worth the lives of her sons. The record was not had.
  6. Nephi's younger sisters would have been born in the valley of Lemuel. Jacob and Joseph were born in the wilderness between that valley and the first land of Bountiful. Sariah likely had one baby girl and was expecting another. This contributed to her emotional state, her worry over her sons and how they'd survive in the desert wilderness.
4 And it had come to pass that my father spake unto her, saying: I know that I am a avisionary mana; for if I had not seen the things of God in a bvision 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 aobtained a bland of promise, in the which things I do rejoice; yea, and I cknow 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, acomfort my mother, Sariah, concerning us, while we journeyed in the wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem, to obtain the record of the Jewsa. 		 1a I know that I am a visionary man Lehi was a great man of testimony. He had sought the Lord in faith and prayer and the Lord had revealed himself unto Lehi. In all that the Lord did command Lehi to do, Lehi did as he had 'known' it to be the word and the will of the Lord. Lehi knew firsthand that he was a visionary man and he knew what God had commanded. This was he sure knowledge which had come out of his exercise of faith upon the Lord. How many have received God's word for a surety, firsthand, and yet may have latter turned therefrom? Laman and Lemuel had seen an angel who did constrain and disapline them in their unrighteous behavior. They had not sought such by faith. Such manifestation alone is not enough to build testimony. Only through belief, faith, prayer, and accompanying actions of works does the sure knowledge and testimony come.
 6a the record of the Jews This is a bit of an oddity here that needs explanation. In truth the plates of brass were the kept record of Joseph as assigned for Joseph descendants to keep as a part of the stick of Josesph (See JST Genesis 50:31). The reasoning for why it is here called the 'record of the Jews' is the same reasoning why Lehi himself is called a Jew. The Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim), has been destroyed, carried off, and lost. So all who were left were members of the Kingdom of the Jews and refered to as 'Jews.' That the record being kept by such as Laban of the tribe of Joseph (1 Nephi 5:16) here is a brass plate record and not a temple scroll record of the Temple is significant. They had just prior in the reign of Josiah found such a temple record which he read to the people, that seemed to be partial record. The record of Laban, the brass plate record, was a total intact record from Moses 5 books down through the prophets including many of the words of Jeremiah. So being, this record of the tribe of Joseph had become a record of the Jewish and of the Kingdom of Judah prophets and even as Lehi was, and likely Laban also; the record itself also took on the name of the kingdom of which it was a member of at the time of Lehi, A Record of the Jews.  		  4a 1 Ne. 2:11; 1 Ne. 17:20
   b 1 Ne. 1:8 (8-13);
      1 Ne. 3:18 (17-18); TG Vision
 5a Eph. 1:11; Heb. 6;15 (13-15)
   b 1 Ne. 2:20;
      1 Ne. 18:8 (8, 22-23);
      TG Promised Lands
   c TG Faith; TG Trust in God
 6a TG Comfort;
      TG Family, Love within

My Brethren 
 Lehi was exceedingly wealthy according to Nephi. And as Laban was, Lehi was also a descendant of Joseph. One wonders just why Lehi's witness against the Jews held so much weight. At the end of verse 4, Lehi refers to 'his brethren.' Now that could mean either Lehi's family members of it could mean that Lehi was a member of the 'Sarim.' That is the princely rules after the order of the 70 that Moses had selected to judge the matters of the people living by the Law of Moses. Zedekiah had problems with those 'rules of the Jews' whom he could do nothing against due to their power. Laban in his full armor and sword had been out with the members of the church, his brethern. Was Lehi positioned as one such leading ruler and thus they were much offened by Lehi, one of their own, who had prophesied against them. Lehi's sons comment concerning Laban and his fifty. As head of the city security forces of the Sarim, Laban need only be a captain of fifty (1 Nephi 3:31). A Captain of 50 is least among the captains unless he is the 'Temple Security Guard Captain' of the city's fifty of the Sarim. Nephi does not retort concerning Laban's might, but he does allude to being captain of tens of thousands, which would be the greatest of the captians (1 Nephi 4:1).
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 suretya that the Lord hath bcommanded my husband to aflee 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 caccomplish 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 asacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave bthanks unto the God of Israel. 		 1a Now I know of a surety It is one thing to believe and have faith and another to have obtained a sure knowledge. Lehi, who had received the visions of God first hand had the sure knowledge as stated in Lehi's testimony of verse 4. Sariah had had to accept her husband's word and but believe. That she had done well until what seemed to be the obvious facts of the matter did challenge her blind faith. The only cause that of her sons having not returned after such a length of time could only mean they had parished in the wilderness in their travels to and from Jerusalem. The facts were solid, and her belief seemed to be in error. She had trusted in her husband and her sons were gone. But what had been the faith of belief in her husband was confirmed when her sons did return against the reasoning of logic, long over due and logically presumed dead. Sariah now had a 'sure' confirmation that her husband was a prophet of God and she never wavered in that testimony again. Often we too are challenged by the 'facts of a matter' which are overwhelming and havig to look beyond man's facts of 'what is' and accepting by faith what God's word presents things to be. Certainly in the long run, it will be found that what God's word presents is the absolute truth of the matter and what are 'man's facts of the matter' will be further learned to so qualify by some matter, perhaps by exception, to be found consistent with what is God's truth.    8a 1 Nephi 2:2
   b Gen. 19:14
   c 1 Nephi 3:7
 9a 1 Nephi 7:22; Mos. 2:3;
      3 Nephi 9:19; TG Law of Moses
   b TG Thanksgiving
10 And after they had given thanks unto the God of Israel, my father, Lehi, took the records which were engraven upon the aplates of brassa, and he did asearch them from the beginning.
11 And he beheld that they did contain the five abooks of Mosesa, 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 arecord 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 aZedekiah; and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of bJeremiah.

A Confirming Witness 
In a world of hundreds of sects of religion from the Bible and of one where the precepts and wisdom of men do question the validity of ancient scripturt; comes latter day revelation, the Book of Mormon, the inspired writings of God's modern prophet, seer and revelator, which does 'confound false doctrines', both within and without the religious arena and sets down and ends various contentions. To begin, the very existence of the plates of brass in 600 BC, before the Babylonian captivity, does testify that these things were not contrived out of the 'traditions' of Babylon, but are of the attested source which they have always stated they were. It comfirms such things as the existence of Adam and Eve, the scriptural account of the creation, and the reality of Moses. It sets at rest such question as to the mythology of the Old Testament, as it declares that the Biblical record is for the most part correct and founded in fact, not fiction.

While the Book of Mormon does confirm the truth of the Bible and the Bible is a 'more complete' history from the beginning, in terms of reliability, the Book of Mormon is nearer the source than is the many compilations, copies, translations, editings and editorals of the Bible. Thus if there be a question between the two, that contained in the Book of Morman can be relied upon to be the more correct upon the matter.

 10a engraven upon the plates of brass As will be noted in 2 Nephi 3:12, the Lord had already commanded Joseph of Egypt that a record would be kept by his seed. Moses, though of the tribe of Levi, is stated to be considered of the seed of Joseph, 'he [Moses] shall know that he is of thy [Joseph's] house; for he shall be nursed by the king's daughter, and shall be called her son'. Now both Joseph and Moses would have written in the Egyptian language as that was the language they were trained in. We know that the plates of brass were written and maintained in the Egyptian language, therefore there is some consideration that the first five books of Moses upon the plates of brass might have been Moses' actual original engravings or at least a faithful copy of them.
 11a the five books of Moses There has been some scholarly question as to whether Moses actually wrote the first five books of the Old Testament, the Torah, which are attributed to him. The Book of Mormon here attests to the fact that these are the works of Moses. However, for a Biblical compilation point of view, there has been added 'clarifying' commentary, scribal restatements of alterationin the translations of them from Egyptian to Hebrew and the various other languages, and many parts left out and/or lost in the processes of time and effort as evidenced by the book of Moses, Joseph Smith's Inspired Translation of them, and even Lehi's quotation and paraphrases from them such as found in 2 Nephi 3 when Lehi refereneces the prophecies of Joseph as contained upon the plates of brass.

Jeremiah, Lehi's Prophet 
Jeremiah was called to be a prophet back in the days of good King Josiah. Lehi was a young man living in the land of Jerusalem a the time of Josiah's reign and the beginning of Jeremiah being a prophet of God. Jeremiah was well known to Lehi and Lehi's family to be the prophet of God. From Josiah, to Jehoahaz (son of Josiah), to Jehoiakim (son of Josiah), to Jehoiachin (son of Jehoiakim), to Zedekiah (son of Josiah), Jeremiah had been God's prophet during and Lehi had lived to see the reign of these five kings. This was Lehi's history in Jerusalem and Jeremiah would have been 'Lehi's Prophet'. 		 10a 1 Ne. 4:24 (24, 38);
        1 Ne. 13:23
 10a John 5:39; D&C 1:37
        Mosiah 1:6-7; 3 Ne. 10:14
        3 Ne. 23:1; Mormon 8:23
        Acts 17:11; Jacob 7:23
        John 17:3
 11a Ex. 17:14; Deut. 31:9;
        Luke 16:29; Luke 24:27;
        1 Ne. 14:23;
        Moses 1:41 (40-41);
 12a 1 Chr. 9:1;
        TG Scriptures, Writing of
 13a 2 Kings 24:18; Jer. 37:1
     b Ezra 1:1; Jer. 36:32 (17-32);
        1 Ne. 7:14; Hel. 8:20;

Record of the Jews? 
Nephi states that the plates of brass contain a 'record of the Jews' from the beginning to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, about 600 BC. But there were no 'Jews' in the beginning and Nephi and Lehi themselves were of the tribe of Joseph. We will learn that the plates of brass were kept by the house of Joseph. So what does it mean 'Record of the Jews?'

In the days of Lehi and Nephi, what was left of the house of Israel was the nation of the Jews. And all who lived in that nation where consided 'Jews' regardless of their actual line of descent. Even Lehi, Ishmael, and the house of Laban, all descendants of Joseph, were refered to as 'Jews'. In such terms of use the name 'Jews' did not just refer to those who where of the tribe of Judah. 'Jews' had become synonymous with the meaning of 'the house of Israel', the 'Hebrews' and even 'God's chosen people'. And since the plates of brass begins with the creation and Adam, it must be considered that the term 'record of the Jews' would better be stated as 'record of God's people'. Thus while the plates of brass did contain 'a record of God's people (the Jews)' it was not be synonymous with the 'stick of Judah' as it was not kept by the tribe of Judah but kept by the house of Joseph. It was just as much the 'record of all of Israel' as it was of the tribe of Judah. It just happened that Judah was the only nation which did remain to the time of Lehi, and thus the term is given as 'Jews' meaning of God's people and Israel as well. Even the genealogy upon the plates of brass was that of the tribe of Joseph down to whence Lehi could connect his immediate ancestors into it, finding himself a descendant of Joseph through Manasseh.

He Did Search Them From the Beginning 

What does it mean to 'search the scriptures'? Our Church leaders, our prophets who guide us, encourage us to study the scriptures daily. To some this is to merely browse through them by reading them straight through. To others it is a verse here and a verse there. But neither is the means of obtaining eternal life. It by diligent search and study, by contemplation, consideration and learning that we will come to know God through our 'searching' of his word, the scriptures. And thus it is by which we must understand Lehi's searching of the scriptures, the plates of brass from the beginning.

Lehi did not undertake some casual perusal of the plates of brass, he did read, search and study the scriptures daily at great lengths and he do so over an expanded length of time. Only he who has and does search and study the scriptures daily can understand of what is being spoken here. Such a search and study the brass plates from beginning to the end takes time and only by understanding that Lehi did 'dwell', that is live day in and day out, there in the wilderness for a space of years can appreciate Lehi's search of the plates of brass.
Anyone who has undertaken a serious study of the Scriptures in conjunction with the Church's four year Gospel Doctrine course of study should be able to comprehend the extend of Lehi's search. But most have not even simply read through the scriptural text to be covered once each week in there preparation to attend the Sunday School's Gospel Doctrine class.
Who has even simply read the Old Testament through once from beginning to end? If you have ever done that you just might begin to come to appreciate that Lehi's efforts was not just one single reading of the text, but he did search them, learning and coming to know the ins and outs of those scriptures line by line, precept upon precept, to the point that he could quote from memory many of it passages and paraphrase the jest of others as he did at the time of the blessing he pronounced upon his son Joseph in 2 Nephi 3.

Such scripture study is a labor of love which removes it from being just a laborious task of daily reading, a time consuming affair. It is presumed that the 'exceedingly young' Nephi was about 12-13 years of age at the time of the obtaining of the plates of brass. For the next approximately 6 years did Lehi's family dwell in the valley of Lemuel. The seasons of planting and harvesting would come and go. Lehi would likely venture out to meet the trade caravans of the King's Highway which did have commerce at the trade sea port once known as EzionGeber by the Jews, ran by the Syrian and controlled by the Babylonian Empire. That was a port founded upon metalurgy with metal and coppermines, smelters and refineries. Ships were built there. Nephi's small plates record deals primarily with those things which are of 'spiritual worth' and thus the day in and day out living did not become recorded. Did Nephi gain some insights to the smelting of ore at that tarshish port? Had his steel iron bow had it origins there? Did Lehi obtain his store of seeds of every kind, but of grain and of fruit from such internationsl merchants? Certainly a desert valley had no such rich supply of them. All these details are unrecorded in Nephi's small plates which record for this span of time that Lehi did search the scriptures from beginning to end finding the genealogies of Joseph recorded upon them down to where Lehi could connect his own line as having come from Manasseh, the son of Joseph.

14 And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the aplates of brass a bgenealogy of his cfathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of dJoseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of eJacob, who was fsold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might gpreserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine.
15 And they were also aled 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 aJoseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept the brecordsa. 		 16a wherefore he and his fathers had kept the records The fact that Laban was also a descendant of Joseph is significant. For it provides the 'reason' why Laban and his fathers had kept the plates of brass record. It does appear that the plates of brass record was that which was kept by the house of Joseph and not by the hand of the Jews. Further, the brass plate record was engraved in Egyptian the language of Joseph and Moses. Further that Laban would often take this brass plate record to be consulted by the Elders, the Sarim, of the 'Sanhedrin', as evidenced by Zoram's presuption, seems substantiated.
   Having lost this most accurated record to Lehi, Ezekiel's task of compilation of the stick of Judah would have commenced by consulting whatever other records had survived the Babylonian captivities.  		  14a Mosiah 2:24
     b 1 Ne. 3:3, 12; Jarom 1:1;
        TG Book of Remembrance
     c TG Israel, Origins of
     d 2 Ne. 3:4; Alma 10:3;
        TG Israel, Joseph, People of
     e Gen. 25:26; 2 Ne. 20:21;
        Alma 7:25; D&C 27:10
     f Gen. 37:36 (29-36)
     g TG Protection, Divine
 15a Gen. 15:14 (13-14); Ex. 15:13;
        Amos 3:1 (1-2);
        1 Ne. 17:31 (23-31);
        1 Ne. 19:10;
        D&C 103:16 (16-18);
        D&C 136:22
 16a 2 Chr. 15:9; 1 Ne. 6:2;
        TG Israel, Joseph, People of
     b TG Record Keeping

The Stick of Joseph
~ plates of brass - plus ~

  

Because Laban and his fathers were descendants of Joseph they had kept the plates of brass. It has already been discussed above why Nephi and Lehi had reference the plates of brass as the 'record of the Jews'. That was the 'Jews' as identified as the remaining 'House of Israel'. But here now is the true and accurate identity of the plates of Brass.
   Back in the time of Joseph of Egypt, before Moses, before the Exodus, before the Judges and Kings of Israel and all the associated prophets was Joseph of Egypt. According to the JST Genesis 50:31 the Lord prophesied and commanded Joseph of Egypt this statment concerning recordkeeping:
    "Wherefore the fruit of thy loins shall write, and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together unto the confounding of the false doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of they loins, and bring them to a knowledge of their fathers in the latter days; and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord." ~ JST Genesis 50:31
   This sounds very similar to the contents, intent and meaning of the similar verses given by the Lord through the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel chapter 37, only it was first spoken to and given hundreds of years before the time of Ezekiel Joseph the heir of the birthright (1 Chron. 5:1-2), the chosen son of Jacob.
   To date the LDS Church has set before the world the Book of Mormon as 'the stick of Joseph'. But the Book of Mormon is only a small abridgment which often quotes from the plates of brass themselves. There are many more records which have been kept by 'the fruit of the loins of Joseph' which will eventually also come forth including the plates of brass, to fulfill the prophecies which the Lord spoke to Joseph and later to Ezekiel.
   Yes, among these additional records of the loins of Joseph must be considered the plates of brass as the Book of Mormon points out that they were kept by the fathers of Laban, they being descendent of Joseph of Egypt that being the reason for which they did keep the record. When all these additional ancient records come forth and are combined with the Bible, Book of Mormon and even the Latter-day scriptural writings of the seed of Joseph today, then will the promise be fulfilled spoken by the Lord to Joseph and to Ezekiel. All false doctrines will be totally confounded, all contentions will cease, peace will be among the fruit of the loins of Joseph and Judah, and they will become one Israel and Christ will be their King.

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 aplates of brass should go forth unto all bnations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed.
19 Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should anever perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And he prophesied many [many times] thingsa concerning his seed. 		 19a many things The prophesying of 'many things' through the course of searching a text such as the Old Testament would certainly have to be accomplished not just once but many times. That is, Lehi's many prophecies which he states from his study of the Old Testament record would not have occured in one day's time or even one week or even a month. Such prophecies as the one given in 2 Nephi 3 concerning Joseph of Egypt is taken from just one set of verses from within one chaper of the first book of Moses. If Lehi so prophesied as he did search and study the plates of brass from the beginning to the end, then he had adequate material and inspiration to continue to enlighten and prophesy for some years of time and do so about 'many things'.  18a Alma 22:12
     b JS-H 1:33
 19a Alma 37:4
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 aworth unto us, insomuch that we could bpreserve 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. 		   21a TG Scriptures, Value of
     b TG Scriptures, Preservation of
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