NEPHI'S RETURN WITH THE BRASS PLATES.
When Laman, Lemuel and Sam saw Nephi coming they were very much frightened. They thought he was Laban, because he was dressed in Laban's clothes. They believed Nephi was killed and Laban was coming to kill them. So they began to run. Nephi called them, and they found it was their brother and not Laban.
By this time Zoram, who was with Nephi, became frightened and was going to run back into the city, but Nephi held him. Afterwards Nephi persuaded Zoram to go with him and promised him they would not hurt him.
This story shows us that the Lord does not ask His children to do anything that is impossible, or that they cannot do. He understands all things, and knows what His children are able to do. Nephi's doings teach us a very good lesson in perseverance and patience. We can see how, by trying again and not giving up, we can do things that seem impossible at first.
Points to be remembered in this story: Lehi sends his sons back to Jerusalem to get plates that contain an account or history of their forefathers—His older sons complain, but Nephi offers to go willingly—When the sons reach Jerusalem Laman goes to see Laban, the man who has the plates—Laban gets angry, calls Laman a robber, and says he will kill him—Laman runs away to save his life—The four brothers go to their father's old home and get the gold and silver and other precious things left there and offer them to Laban for the plates—Laban refuses to give up the plates, and sends his servants to kill Lehi's sons and take their property—Lehi's sons escape by hiding in a cave—They go the third time to get the plates—Nephi finds Laban drunk—Being commanded of the Lord, Nephi kills him and gets the plates from his servant==Nephi takes Zoram, Laban's servant, and the plates to where his brothers are outside the city.
LEHI AND HIS SONS
THE SONS' SECOND JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM.
While Lehi's sons were away on their errand to Jerusalem to get the records, their mother was very uneasy about them. She feared they might get killed or might die in the wilderness. When they came back both their father and mother were filled with joy, and were thankful to the Lord for their safe return.
Sometime after the sons' return to the place where they camped in the wilderness, their father was told by the Lord to send again to Jerusalem.
The Lord desired to lead Lehi and those who were with him to a country where there were no people. There was a man named Ishmael, living in Jerusalem who had several sons and daughters. The Lord commanded Lehi to send for Ishmael and invite him to go with them to the new country.