Lehi Speaks of God’s Goodness
After I finished teaching my brothers, our father Lehi spoke to them too. He reminded them of all the amazing things the Lord had done—bringing us safely out of Jerusalem. He talked about their rebellion on the journey, and how God’s mercy kept them from drowning in the sea. He talked about this land we’d reached—this promised land—and how good the Lord had been to warn us to escape Jerusalem.
'I’ve seen it in a vision,' he said. 'Jerusalem is destroyed.
The Promised Land
'We’ve been through so much, but we’ve made it to the promised land—a land that’s better than any other. The Lord promised me this land would belong to my descendants forever.
' 'This land is set apart for those he leads here. If they serve him and follow his commands, they’ll be free—never enslaved. But if they turn to evil, the land itself will turn against them. ' 'It’s wise that this land stays hidden from other nations.
'The Lord has promised me this: everyone he brings here from Jerusalem will thrive if they keep his commands. They’ll be protected from other nations and possess this land for themselves. If they’re faithful, they’ll be blessed here, safe from attack, and no one will take their inheritance.
A Warning for Future Generations
'But here’s what will happen if they lose faith after everything the Lord has done for them. After knowing how the earth was made and all the Lord’s amazing works from the beginning. After having the power to do anything through faith. ' 'He’ll bring other nations against them. He’ll let those nations overpower them and take their land. ' 'Generation after generation, there will be war and terrible suffering. My sons, please remember this.
A Father’s Plea
'Wake up! Snap out of this deadly sleep—this sleep that leads to hell.
'Wake up! Get up from the dust and listen to your father. I’m trembling as I speak—my body will soon lie in the cold grave where no one returns.
'But the Lord has saved my soul from hell. I’ve seen his glory.
'I want you to follow the Lord’s commands. ' 'My heart has been heavy with grief, over and over.
'I don’t want this for you. I want you to be the Lord’s chosen people. But his will be done.
'He’s said it clearly: if you keep my commands, you’ll thrive in this land.
Stand Together
'So that I can have joy in you, so I can leave this world with gladness instead of being dragged to my grave with grief—get up, my sons. Be men. ' 'Don’t bring down a terrible curse on yourselves.
'Wake up! Put on the armor of righteousness. Break these chains.
In Defense of Nephi
'Stop fighting your brother. He’s had incredible visions. He’s followed God’s commands since we left Jerusalem. God used him to bring us to this promised land. Without him, we’d have starved in the wilderness. Yet you tried to kill him. ' 'I’m terrified you’ll hurt him again. You’ve accused him of wanting power over you. But I know he’s never wanted control.
'You’ve complained that he’s too blunt with you. You say he’s been harsh, that he’s been angry. But his sharpness came from the power of God’s word inside him. What you call anger was just truth—God’s truth that he couldn’t hold back. ' 'God’s power had to be with him when he commanded you to obey. It wasn’t really him speaking—it was the Spirit of the Lord inside him.
Final Blessings
'Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and my sons-in-law—if you listen to Nephi, you won’t be destroyed.
'But if you refuse to listen, I take back that first blessing.
‘Zoram, I’m speaking to you now. You were Laban’s servant, but you escaped Jerusalem with us. ' 'Because you’ve been faithful, your descendants will be blessed alongside his. They’ll live and thrive in this land.
Influences
- 1:1 — Mark 5:19 (KJV)Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
- 1:2 — Romans 12:1 (KJV)I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
- 1:10 — Romans 1:20 (KJV)For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
- 1:13 — Romans 13:11 (KJV)And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
- 1:13 — Ephesians 3:11 (KJV)According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
- 1:14 — The Wonders of Nature and Providence Displayed 1825 page 464I then requested him to leave me, as my time was short, and I had some preparation to make before I went hence to "that bourne from whence no traveller returns."
- 1:15 — John 1:14 (KJV)And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
- 1:16 — Ephesians 3:13 (KJV)Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
- 1:18 — Matthew 4:1 (KJV)Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
- 1:21 — 1 Corinthians 14:20 (KJV)Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
- 1:23 — Ephesians 6:11 (KJV)Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
- 1:24 — Hebrews 11:9 (KJV)By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
- 1:25 — Hebrews 12:21 (KJV)And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake.
- 1:25 — Luke 9:1 (KJV)Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
- 1:26 — 2 Corinthians 13:10 (KJV)Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
- 1:26 — Revelation 1:2 (KJV)Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
- 1:31 — Luke 19:17 (KJV)And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.