Seminary: 06 1 Nephi 5

Background:

This chapter has a large focus from the point of view of Lehi's wife Sariah.  From her point of view they have left all of their comforts, which the scriptures leads us to believe that they were a comfortable family, to live in the wilderness for some period of time maybe for ever.  They are leaving all of their friends and family (with the exception of their children and children's families).  Many of the people in Jerusalem want to kill them.  She knows that they will never be able to return to their home again.  The wilderness contains many wild animals and bandits.  They traveled for 12 to 14 days until they came to the banks of the Red Sea.  The Lord commands, through Lehi, that their sons travel back to Jerusalem to get the Brass Plates. Sariah is now left in a camp where the only male, that we know of, is her husband and they are getting up in age.  After about a month's period of time her sons have not come back (about 12 to 14 days travel in each direction and at least two days while in the city maybe more).

If you were in Sariah's position how would you feel?

It is understandable that Sariah lashes out a bit a Lehi.  We do not know much about her so we do not know how much faith she had in the first place regarding Lehi's visions.  I believe that she did though I can understand that she would start to crack a little at the situation.

1 Nephi 5:1-2

In these verses Sariah expresses her feelings to Lehi and complained against him for being a "visionary" man.  It is interesting that this statement from her is meant to be a slight though Lehi confirms that he is a "visionary" man but uses the term as a source of pride.

1 Nephi 5:4-5

Lehi confirms that he is a "visionary" man and then explains that because of this they were safely lead away from Jerusalem and will be preserved when the city is destroyed.  He consoles her with his testimony that God is the one that directing these events.  He also expresses his faith that the Lord will deliver their children from harm and that they will come back to them safe and sound.

1 Nephi 5: 7

Nephi and his brothers return along with Zoram and the Brass Plates.

1 Nephi 5:8

Sariah expresses that she now knows that the Lord is directing the events. and that he delivered her sons from the hands of Laban.

What was in the Brass Plates?

The Brass Plates contained the writings of the prophets from Moses up to their current time.  I find it interesting that the Israelites refused to believe the prophets and actively chased them away and killed them though they made sure to take the time to write down their words.  The Brass Plates also contained the fullness of the Law of Moses as well as Lehi's geneology.

How will the Brass Plates help Lehi to preserve the commandments of the Lord for his children?

They will help because he will be able to teach his children from them.  Without them their traditions will be lost.

1 Nephi 5:22

What value would we have of bringing our scriptures with us when we travel?

first off we are strongly advised to study the scripture nightly.  If we go somewhere and do not take them with us then we would not be able to follow this advice.  Plus many times we are put into situations where someone asks us about the scriptures or wants to learn more about what we believe.  With out keeping the scripture handy we would have a difficult time providing the answers to those questions.