Nephi and his brothers, along with Laban's servant Zoram, return to the wilderness from Jerusalem.
(5:1a) "And it came to pass that after we had come down into the wilderness unto our father."
(5:1b) The 400+ kilometer trip must have been routine by now, because
Nephi says nothing at all about it. His parents, though, were filled with joy, exceedingly glad even, to see them.
"Behold, he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us."
(5:3-8) In fact, after the boys got back, the parents just couldn't stop
talking about it. After this manner of language did they speak:
(5:3) "And after this manner of language had my mother complained
against my father."
(5:6) "And after this manner of language did my father, Lehi, comfort my mother, Sariah."
5:8) "And after this manner of language did she speak."
(5:8)
Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath -- Acts 12:11
5:1And it came to pass that after we had come down into
the wilderness unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah,
was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us.
5:2 For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also
had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary 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 wilderness.
5:3And after this manner of language had my mother complained
against my father.
5:4 And it had come to pass that my father spake unto her,
saying: I know that I am a visionary man; for if I had not seen the things of God in a
vision I should not have known the goodness of God, but had tarried at Jerusalem, and had
perished with my brethren.
5:5 But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which
things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of
Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness.
5:6And after this manner of language did my father, Lehi, comfort
my mother, Sariah, concerning us, while we journeyed in the wilderness up to the land of
Jerusalem, to obtain the record of the Jews.
5:7 And when we had returned to the tent of my father, behold their
joy was full, and my mother was comforted.
5:8 And she spake, saying: Now
I know of a surety that the Lord
hath commanded my husband to flee 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 accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded
them. And after this manner of language did she speak.
5:9And it came to pass that they did
rejoice exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings
unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel.
5:10 And after they had given thanks unto the God of Israel, my
father, Lehi, took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did
search them from the beginning.
(5:10-13) After they were done speaking in that manner of language,
Lehi took a look at the brass plates. They had all kinds of cool
stuff written on them: the five books of Moses, the story of Adam and Eve (Mormons can't believe in Evolution), the history of the Jews,
and the prophecies of Jeremiah.
"Lehi ... beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses, which gave an account of the creation of the world,
and also of Adam and Eve, who were our first parents; ... And also a record of the Jews from the beginning,
even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah ... And also
the prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah."
(5:14) And, most important of all, the plates had Lehi's genealogy,
which showed that Lehi was a descendant of Joseph. (Joseph is a really important name in the Book of Mormon. I'm not sure why.)
"Lehi ... found upon the plates of brass a genealogy
of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph."
5:11 And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses,
which gave an account of the creation of the world,and also of Adam and Eve, who were our
first parents;
5:12And also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to
the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah;
5:13And also the prophecies of the holy prophets, from the
beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah; and also many prophecies
which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah.
5:14And it came to pass that my father,
Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew
that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who
was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve
his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine.
5:15 And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of
Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.
5:16 And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his
fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept
the records.
5:17 And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled
with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed --
(5:17-19a) When Lehi found out that he was a descendant of Joseph,
he was filled up with the Spirit and started to prophesy about his seed,
saying the plates would never perish or dim with time. (No one has seen them since.)
"When my father saw all these things, he was filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed --
That these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed. Wherefore,
he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time."
(5:18) every
nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people -- Revelation 14:6
(5:19b) "And he prophesied many things concerning his seed."
5:18That these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoplewho were of his seed.
5:19Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never
perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And he prophesied many things
concerning his seed.
5:20And it came to pass that thus far I and
my father had kept the commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us.
5:21 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 worth unto us,
insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children.
5:22 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.
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