Nephi’s Sisters; Ishmaelitish Women; Chronology of Lehi’s Family
2 Nephi 5:6 And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me. Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters,and all those who would go with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my words.
This is the only specific reference in the Book of Mormon that Nephi had sisters as well as brothers. How many sisters there were, whether they were older or younger than Nephi, or what their names may have been are questions not answered in our present Book of Mormon. However, the following statement by Erastus Snow may provide information on some of the sisters of Nephi:
‘The Prophet Joseph informed us that the record of Lehi, was contained on the 116 pages that were first translated and subsequently stolen, and of which an abridgment is given us in the first Book of Nephi, which is the record of Nephi individually, he himself being of the lineage of Manasseh; but that Ishmael was of the lineage of Ephraim, and that his sons married into Lehi’s family, and Lehi’s sons married Ishmael’s daughters... (Journal of Discourses, 23:184.)
The words that Ishmael’s sons ‘married into Lehi’s family’ would seem to indicate that the two sons of Ishmael (see 1 Nephi 7:6) were married to Lehi’s daughters (and thus to two of the sisters of Nephi). However, the sisters referred to in 2 Nephi 5:6 are evidently still other sisters, because the sisters mentioned here follow Nephi when the schism with Laman occurs, whereas the sisters of Nephi who were married to the sons of Ishmael evidently stayed with their husbands and joined with Laman. (See Alma 3:7 and 47:35.)
—A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, pp. 131–32
1 Ne.. 7:6 And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the wilderness, behold Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and their families, did rebel against us; yea, against me, Nephi, and Sam, and their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters.
Alma 4:7 And their brethren sought to destroy them, therefore they were cursed; and the Lord God set a mark upon them, yea, upon Laman and Lemuel, and also the sons of Ishmael, and Ishmaelitish women.
Alma 47:35 And it came to pass that Amalickiah sought the favor of the queen, and took her unto him to wife; and thus by his fraud, and by the assistance of his cunning servants, he obtained the kingdom; yea, he was acknowledged king throughout all the land, among all the people of the Lamanites, who were composed of the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites, and all the dissenters of the Nephites, from the reign of Nephi down to the present time.
Alma 47:36 Now these dissenters, having the same instruction and the same information of the Nephites, yea, having been instructed in the same knowledge of the Lord, nevertheless, it is strange to relate, not long after their dissensions they became more hardened and impenitent, and more wild, wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites—drinking in with the traditions of the Lamanites; giving way to indolence, and all manner of lasciviousness; yea, entirely forgetting the Lord their God.
Lehites in Jerusalem and Arabia
Lehi’s Prophetic Call
During the reign of Zedekiah, a number of prophets emerge, and warn the people of Jerusalem’s imminent destruction.
1 Nephi 1:4
Lehi, a man living in Jerusalem at that time, prays to God in behalf of Jerusalem’s citizens.
1 Nephi 1:5
A pillar of fire ushers in a spectacular heavenly manifestation which leaves Lehi overwhelmed and shaken.
1 Nephi 1:6
Lehi runs home to recover from his experience.
1 Nephi 1:7
While lying on his bed, Lehi is enwrapped in a vision.
1 Nephi 1:8
Lehi sees God, angels, Jesus, and the Twelve Apostles.
1 Nephi 1:8–10
Jesus gives Lehi a book, which confirms Jerusalem’s future destruction and Babylonian occupation.
1 Nephi 1:11–13
Lehi praises the Lord.
1 Nephi 1:14–15
Having now become a prophet, Lehi goes out and tells the citizens of the content of his vision.
1 Nephi 1:18
The people do not accept Lehi, especially not his call to repentance; they set out to kill him.
1 Nephi 1:19–20
Escape Out of Jerusalem
God warns Lehi in a dream to leave Jerusalem, to escape the death threats against him.
1 Nephi 2:1–2
Lehi obeys, leaves Jerusalem with his family, and travels along Red Sea.
1 Nephi 2:3–5
Lehi and his family settle in a place they call the valley of Lemuel; they make camp, build an alter, and worship God.
1 Nephi 2:6–7, 15, 10:16, 16:6, 9:1
Lehi’s two oldest sons, Laman and Lemuel, complain, and don’t believe their father’s words.
1 Nephi 2:11–13
Lehi, noticing the landscape, counsels his oldest sons, Laman and Lemuel, to stop complaining and trust in God.
1 Nephi 2:8–10, 14
Laman and Lemuel are deeply moved by their father’s words, and obey him.
1 Nephi 2:14
Nephi, having heard what his father said, prays about it.
1 Nephi 2:16
The truthfulness of Lehi’s words is confirmed in Nephi’s heart.
1 Nephi 2:16
Nephi shares his experience with his brother Sam, who believes, and to Laman and Lemuel, who do not believe.
1 Nephi 2:17–18
Nephi receives a revelation assuring him of the blessing that come from obeying God’s commands; he is told that he is part of a larger plan: a pilgrimage to a promised land.
1 Nephi 2:19–24
Nephi then goes into Lehi’s tent.
1 Nephi 3:1
Lehi tells Nephi of instructions he received from the Lord that Nephi and his brothers need to return to Jerusalem to retrieve their family’s historical and genealogical records: the brass plates, currently being held by a Jerusalem man named Laban.
1 Nephi 3:2–6, 5:16
Nephi’s accepts the Lord’s instructions as delivered by Lehi.
1 Nephi 3:7–8
Trip Back to Jerusalem to Retrieve the Plates of Brass
Nephi and his brothers leave the valley of Lemuel, and return to Jerusalem, where Laban’s house is located.
1 Nephi 3:9
The brothers consult before entering.
1 Nephi 3:10
They randomly select Laman to go into Laban’s house.
1 Nephi 3:11
Laman goes in, and asks Laban for the records.
1 Nephi 3:11–12
Laban gets angry, accuses Laman of being a robber, and threatens to kill him.
1 Nephi 3:13
Laman runs out, meets his disappointed brothers; they get ready to leave Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 3:14
Nephi persuades them not to leave, and suggests they go to their old house in Jerusalem, collect all their valuables, and present them to Laban in exchange for the brass plates.
1 Nephi 3:15–21
Meanwhile, back in the valley of Lemuel, Lehi’s wife Sariah complains about their sons’ likely deaths and grim situation in the desert.
1 Nephi 5:6,1–3
Lehi comforts Sariah, reassuring her they are following the Lord’s instructions.
1 Nephi 5:4–6
Another Attempt at Getting the Brass Plates
According to plan, the brothers stop by their old house, collect the valuables, and go back to Laban’s place.
1 Nephi 3:22–23
They present the valuables and propose an exchange for the brass plates.
1 Nephi 3:24
Laban takes the valuables, kicks the brothers out, and orders their deaths.
1 Nephi 3:25
The brothers escape, dodge Laban’s hit men, and hide in a cave.
1 Nephi 3:26–27
Furious at the failure of the plan, Laman and Lemuel begin to beat Sam and Nephi with a stick.
1 Nephi 3:28
During the beating, and angel appears, reproves Laman and Lemuel, and promises that divine grace will attend them in their next attempt to get the brass plates.
1 Nephi 3:29–30
After the angel leaves, Laman and Lemuel, apparently indifferent to the angel’s providential promise, express their skepticism and cynicism.
1 Nephi 3:31
A Final Attempt at Getting the Brass Plates
Nephi, putting his trust in the Lord, convinces his brothers to believe the angel and go back.
1 Nephi 4:1–3
Laman and Lemuel are not happy to hear this, but agree to go back with Nephi despite their doubts.
1 Nephi 4:4
Night had fallen; Nephi tells his brothers to go hide while he goes exploring.
1 Nephi 4:5–6
As he approaches Laban’s house, Nephi stumbles upon a drunk man lying in the streets. It is Laban.
1 Nephi 4:7–8
Nephi notices Laban’s sword.
1 Nephi 4:9
The Spirit tells Nephi to kill Laban.
1 Nephi 4:10
Nephi, shocked by the command, does not want to kill anyone.
1 Nephi 4:10
The Spirit assures Nephi that Laban’s death is necessary.
1 Nephi 4:11–13
Nephi thinks things through, and remembers the importance of these records.
1 Nephi 4:14–17
Following the Spirit’s orders, Nephi decapitates Laban.
1 Nephi 4:18
Nephi’s Covert Operation
Nephi proceeds to put on Laban’s clothes, and impersonate him.
1 Nephi 4:19
Nephi, posing as Laban, meets Laban’s treasurer, Zoram, and requests to be let into the treasury.
1 Nephi 4:20,35
Zoram doesn’t suspect a thing.
1 Nephi 4:21–23
Nephi enters the treasury, gets the brass plates, and tells Zoram to follow him out. They go towards Nephi’s waiting brothers.
1 Nephi 4:24–27
Nephi’s brothers, seeing Nephi dressed as Laban, get scared and begin to run off, but Nephi calls to them.
1 Nephi 4:28–29
Zoram now suspects that Nephi is not Laban; he, in turn, gets scared.
1 Nephi 4:30
Nephi grabs Zoram, tells him what’s going on, tells him not to leave, and promises him a place in Lehi’s family.
1 Nephi 4:31–34
Zoram trusts Nephi, and promises to stay with them.
1 Nephi 4:35–37
They all leave Jerusalem and head back to their father in the Valley of Lemuel.
1 Nephi 4:38
Lehi’s Family Reunion
Lehi’s sons return with Zoram, much to the parents’ joy.
1 Nephi 5:1,7
Sariah expresses her renewed faith, and they all celebrate together.
1 Nephi 5:8–9
Afterwards, Lehi begins a thorough study of the brass plates.
1 Nephi 5:10
Lehi finds that the brass plates contain Moses’ Pentateuch, and the writings off many prophets since Moses.
1 Nephi 5:21, 11–13
Lehi finds a genealogical record included in the plates; he is able to determine that he is a descendant of Joseph, Jacob’s son.
1 Nephi 5:14–16
Lehi, filled the the Spirit, prophesies that, among other things, the contents of the brass plates will be preserved for his posterity.
1 Nephi 5:17–19
Nephi acknowledges his and his father’s obedience, and they decide to carry the brass plates with them wherever they might go.
1 Nephi 5:20, 22
Lehi receives another revelation telling him that his sons need to be married before they make their pilgrimage. Lehi instructs his sons to go back to Jerusalem to find the family of a man named Ishmael, and bring them out to the Valley of Lemuel with Lehi.
1 Nephi 7:1–2
Trip Back to Jerusalem to Retrieve Ishmael’s Family
Nephi and his brothers head out.
1 Nephi 7:3
They find Ishmael’s family, and let them know their situation.
1 Nephi 7:4
Ishmael understands, and agrees to join them. They all head back towards the valley of Lemuel.
1 Nephi 7:5
On the way back, Laman, Lemuel, and their supporters rebel and suggest going back to Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 7:6–7
Nephi reproves them, and reminds them of the Lord’s past providence, their responsibilities, and Jerusalem’s impeding doom.
1 Nephi 7:8–15
Laman and Lemuel are furious; they tie Nephi up and plan on leaving him for the wildlife to devour.
1 Nephi 7:16
Nephi prays for help.
1 Nephi 7:17
Nephi’s bands miraculously loosen, and he confronts Laman and Lemuel, who are ready to beat him; some of Ishmael’s family members reason with Laman and Lemuel, and they calm down.
1 Nephi 7:18–19
Laman and Lemuel realize their errors, and beg Nephi for forgiveness.
1 Nephi 7:20
Nephi forgives them; they continue on their journey, and finally arrive back at the valley of Lemuel, reuniting with Lehi.
1 Nephi 7:21–22
Lehi’s Dream
Some time later, Lehi announces that he had a revelatory dream.
1 Nephi 8:2–4
He gives a detailed account of his dream, describing a tree, fruit, his family, an iron rod, a fountain, and a big building.
1 Nephi 8:4–35
Lehi is troubled by the ominous contents of the dream with regards to Laman and Lemuel. He talks to them, and encourages them to be righteous.
1 Nephi 8:36–38
Lehi goes on to to prophesy about the fate of the Jews and the coming of Jesus Christ.
1 Nephi 10:2–15
Nephi’s Response and Understanding
Nephi desires to understand more fully what his father had said and seen about Jesus Christ and his gospel.
1 Nephi 10:17–22
Nephi desires to know to the things of God, believes the Lord can reveal them, and ponders in his heart.
1 Nephi 11:1
Nephi is carried into a vision; he hears, sees and experiences many things regarding the coming of Christ and the future of his people.
1 Nephi 11:1–14:30
After the vision, Nephi goes into Lehi’s tent, where he finds Laman and Lemuel were arguing about what their father’s words meant.
1 Nephi 15:1–4
Nephi, still deeply shaken by the contents of his vision, takes a moment to gather his thoughts and regroup.
1 Nephi 15:5–6
Laman and Lemuel tell Nephi they don’t understand what Lehi was talking about when he referred to olive branches. Nephi asks them if they’ve prayed about it.
1 Nephi 15:7–8
They reply that they have not.
1 Nephi 15:9
Nephi reproves them, and tells them that answers are waiting for them, but they must pray to receive them.
1 Nephi 15:10–11
Nephi proceeds to give a detailed explanation of the olive branch metaphor; It explains the process of the scattering and gathering of God’s covenant people.
1 Nephi 15:12–20
Laman and Lemuel, apparently impressed, are satisfied with Nephi’s explanation.
1 Nephi 15:20
Laman and Lemuel then go on to ask Nephi what the elements of Lehi’s dream represent; Nephi explains, and they discuss.
1 Nephi 15:21–36
Upon hearing Nephi’s blunt interpretations, Laman and Lemuel say that it is more than they can handle—Nephi realizes that it is hard for guilty people to accept the truth.
1 Nephi 16:1–3
Nephi counsels his brothers to be diligent; they agree, and Nephi has much hope for them.
1 Nephi 16:4–5
Departure from the Valley of Lemuel
In preparation for their journey, Nephi, his brothers, and Zoram each take one of the daughters of Ishmael.
1 Nephi 16:7–8
The Lord instructs Lehi to begin his journey the next day.
1 Nephi 16:9
In the morning, Lehi awakes to find a special compass–like ball called the Liahona; it is designed to lead them through the desert.
1 Nephi 16:10, Alma 37:38–39, Mosiah 1:16–17
Lehi’s followers gather their supplies, break camp, and leave.
1 Nephi 8:1, 16:11–12
Pass Through Shazer
After four days of traveling southward, the group arrives at a place called Shazer.
1 Nephi 16:13
The group uses the Liahona to guide them in their hunting trips.
1 Nephi 16:14–16
After several more days of travel, the group stops to replenish their food stock.
1 Nephi 16:17
On one hunting trip, Nephi accidentally breaks his bow, and returns home empty handed, much to the dismay of the rest of the group.
1 Nephi 16:18–19
Laman, Lemuel, Ishmael’s sons and even Lehi complain because of their misfortunes, and begin to curse God.
1 Nephi 16:20
Nephi tries to appease those complaining.
1 Nephi 16:21–22,24
Nephi takes matters into his own hands, and makes a new bow himself. He then asks a repentant Lehi where he should go to hunt.
1 Nephi 16:23
Lehi, humbled, asks the Lord.
1 Nephi 16:24
God refers Lehi to the Liahona.
1 Nephi 16:25–26
New writing had appeared on it, apparently showing where to go to hunt.
1 Nephi 16:27, 29
The Liahona functions according to the faith of those who possess it.
1 Nephi 16:28–29, Alma 37:40–42
Nephi follows the directions of the Liahona, and ends up at the top of a mountain, where he finds game to hunt.
1 Nephi 16:30–31
Nephi returns to camp with food, much to the joy of the group.
1 Nephi 16:32
Troubles in Nahom
The group continues their travels. They arrive at a place called Nahom, where Ishmael dies and is buried.
1 Nephi 16:33–34
Ishmael’s daughters mourn bitterly, lament their condition, and want to go back home.
1 Nephi 16:35–36
Laman and Lemuel plot to kill Lehi.
1 Nephi 16:37
Laman and Lemuel attribute Nephi and Lehi’s purported revelations to trickery and fraud.
1 Nephi 16:38