1 Nephi 2:1-8

Lehi was an incredible man of faith.  It would be easy to justify not leaving his home and all his belongings by just saying that it was only a dream.  He knew the Lord, he was able to recognize that the dream was a vision from Him.  He knew the Lord because, he had been doing what the Lord asked him to do for quite some time.  This wasn't out of the blue.  He was on the Lord's errand, preaching to the people, and had had visions and instruction from the Lord before.  The Lord helps those who are faithful in doing what He asks of them.

Lehi and his family seem to have been quite wealthy, having many possessions.  Nephi seems to make a point of saying that his father was making a sacrifice in leaving  but did not mention anything about his father being hesitant to leave all that he had and take only his family and what they needed to survive.

It is hard to know exactly where Lehi traveled only that is was south of Jerusalem at least three days'travel.  Interesting that one of the first things that Lehi did was to built an alter, build a place where he could perform priesthood ordinances and thank the Lord for what he had done for his family.  This was a model for what the early members of the Latter Day church did as well.  Building a temple with it's alters in order to perform priesthood ordinances and honor our Heavenly Father.  Kirtland, Nauvoo, and Salt Lake are examples.

1 Nephi 1:19,20

        (lds.org)

Those in Jerusalem mocked Lehi for preaching the things the Lord had shown him.  I've never really noticed so many ties between Joseph Smith and Lehi, I have always focused more on the similarities between Nephi and Joseph but these first verses in the Book of Mormon have already shown many links.  It seems to be the lot of many prophets to be mocked for the things that they testify of, even among their own people.  Even today there are members of the church who mock the living prophet for enacting the word of the Lord and think that their own opinions and principles are higher than the Lord's chosen.

Lehi knew that Jews wanted to take his life for the things he was testifying of and teaching.  But Nephi says that the "...tender mercies of the Lord..." are over him.  I love this scripture.  Tender mercies, to me, are the little things that the Lord does to remind us that He loves us and will give us support and guidance when we truly need it.  Nephi says that these tender mercies are over those who the Lord has chosen, but the reason they are chosen is because of their faith.  It is in our hands to decide if we will do what is necessary to become the Lord's chosen.

1 Nephi 1:7-18

Lehi is carried away in a vision, and has the privilege of seeing God on His throne and he sees Christ coming to the Earth.  It seems that very few have had this opportunity of seeing both the Father and the Son.  Like Joseph Smith, Lehi says that the Lord's "luster was above that of the noonday sun."  The sun would be the brightest object that he would have in order to be able to describe something so amazing.  He also sees the twelve apostles who's brightness, while still wonderful, pales in comparison to that of the Lord.

One of the apostles shows Lehi a book, this book must be some sort of record of things which will come because Lehi sees both the destruction of Jerusalem which leads him to mourn, but also many things which lead him to prophesy of the goodness of the Lord and how he blesses "those who come unto thee..."  So even though Lehi sees such terrible things he is still grateful, he rejoices, and "his heart was filled."

Lehi had many other visions and prophecies that were written, some of which were probably translated by Joseph Smith as a part of the lost 116 pages mentioned in D&C 10.  Though we don't have that account, it is apparent that Nephi and his brothers had received much more teaching and instruction from their father about visions he had had and that this vision that led him to leave Jerusalem was not something that simply came out of the blue.  After this vision, Lehi did what all prophets do and went to teach the people the things he had learned and to call them to repentance.

1 Nephi 1:1-7

President Ezra Taft Benson, the 13th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints siad, "There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path."  I hope to see that promise fulfilled in my life as I study the Book of Mormon and record my thoughts here.

The very first verse of the Book of Mormon seems to be filled with guidance.  Nephi had "goodly parents" so, as a result of that, he "was taught...in all the learning of his father."  Good parents should be teaching their children in all their learning, both secular and spiritual.  Nephi goes on to say that he had been through many afflictions and yet he still felt incredibly blessed by the Lord and had a great knowledge of the goodness of the Lord.

Jeremiah, Isaiah, and many other prophets were around near the same time as Lehi as referenced in verse 4.  Jerusalem had experienced many upheavals and wars going from good leaders who followed the Lord to occupiers who did "evil" in the sight of the Lord, Zedekiah was one of these evil leaders.  So it was definitely a perilous time for those who followed the Lord.  Many of the tribes of Israel had already been taken away captive.

Lehi prayed to the Lord "with all his heart, in behalf of his people." It seems that he prayed out in the wilderness, as a pillar of fire settled upon a rock.  Many prophets have went into secluded places to pray.  Joseph Smith also went to the woods, apart from others, to pray and similarly the Lord appeared to him in a pillar of light.  The things which Lehi saw in this first vision were not described but, while perhaps sleeping after being so full of the Spirit, he had another vision.