Book of Mormon Images - Page 1

Lehi Prophesying to the People of Jerusalem

(1 Nephi 1:4-20)
Behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard. (1 Nephi 1:18)

Many prophets told the people living in Jerusalem that they must repent or the city would be destroyed. The prophet Lehi lived in Jerusalem and was concerned about his people. He prayed for them with all his heart. (1 Nephi 1:4-5)

As Lehi prayed, a pillar of fire appeared on a rock in front of him. He saw and heard many things that made him shake and tremble. Overcome by the Spirit, Lehi returned home and lay on his bed. Then Jesus Christ appeared to him in a vision. Jesus gave Lehi a book that told what would happen to the Jews if they did not repent. As Lehi read the book, he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord. He learned that many people would be killed and others would be taken captive when Jerusalem was destroyed. He also read about many great and marvelous events that would happen. Lehi praised the Lord for the goodness and mercy He shows to those who repent. (1 Nephi 1:6-15)

After this vision Lehi went among the people of Jerusalem to prophesy and declare what he had seen and heard. He told them of the Messiah, who would come to redeem the world. The people mocked Lehi as he told them of their wickedness and the things he had read in the book. They became angry and tried to kill Lehi, but the Lord protected him. (1 Nephi 1:18-20)

Summary

The prophet Lehi lived in Jerusalem about 600 years before the time of Christ. Many prophets were telling the people to repent or the city would be destroyed. Lehi received a vision in which he learned that many people would be killed or taken captive when Jerusalem was destroyed. Lehi prophesied to the people and told them about the things he had seen and heard, and he warned them about their wickedness. He also told them about the coming of a Messiah, or Savior. When the Jews heard these things, they were angry and tried to kill Lehi, but the Lord protected him.

Artist, Del Parson

Lehi's Family Leaving Jerusalem

(1 Nephi 2:1-7)
And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness. (1 Nephi 2:4)

The Lord spoke to Lehi in a dream, telling him he was blessed for being faithful. Lehi had obeyed the Lord by warning the people of Jerusalem that they would be destroyed if they did not repent. The people refused to repent, and they wanted to kill Lehi. The Lord commanded Lehi to take his family away from Jerusalem and go into the wilderness. (1 Nephi 2:1-2)

Lehi obeyed the Lord. He left his house and land, his gold and silver, and his many valuable possessions. Lehi traveled with his wife, Sariah, and their four sons: Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi. They took only tents, food, and clothing with them. (1 Nephi 2:3-5)

After three days of traveling in the wilderness near the Red Sea, they pitched their tents in a valley near a river. There Lehi built an altar of stones and made an offering, giving thanks to the Lord. (1 Nephi 2:5-7)

Summary

The Lord spoke to Lehi in a dream and told him to leave Jerusalem with his family and go into the wilderness. Lehi obeyed the Lord and packed tents and supplies for the journey. He left his house, gold, and other things behind. When Lehi had traveled with his family three days into the wilderness, he set up his tent, made a stone altar, and gave thanks to the Lord.

Artist, Scott Snow

The Liahona

(1 Nephi 16:6, 1 Nephi 16:9-10, 1 Nephi 16:16, 1 Nephi 16:28-29; Alma 37:38)
And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship. (1 Nephi 16:10)

After Lehi and his family left Jerusalem, they camped in a valley that Lehi named Lemuel. One night the Lord spoke to Lehi, commanding him to continue his journey into the wilderness the next day. (1 Nephi 16:6, 1 Nephi 16:9)

The following morning Lehi went to the tent door and, to his amazement, found a strange round ball on the ground (1 Nephi 16:10). The ball was called the Liahona, which means "compass" (Alma 37:38).

The Liahona was made of fine brass, and inside the ball were two spindles. One of the spindles pointed the direction Lehi and his family were to travel. (1 Nephi 16:10) They followed the directions in the ball and were led through "the more fertile parts of the wilderness" (1 Nephi 16:16). They found that the pointers worked according to their faith, work, and obedience (1 Nephi 16:28).

The ball also contained writings that helped them understand the ways of the Lord. This writing changed from time to time as they believed and obeyed the Lord's instructions. (1 Nephi 16:29)

Summary

The Liahona was an unusual compass, round like a ball and made of fine brass. The prophet Lehi discovered it one morning at the door of his tent in the wilderness. The Liahona pointed the direction that Lehi and his family should travel. It also contained written messages that helped them understand the ways of the Lord. The Liahona worked according to their faith, work, and obedience.

Artist, Arnold Friberg

Nephi Subdues His Rebellious Brothers

(1 Nephi 17)
And it came to pass that I stretched forth my hand unto my brethren, and ... the Lord did shake them, even according to the word which he had spoken. (1 Nephi 17:54)

After leaving Jerusalem, Lehi's people traveled in the wilderness for eight years. They came to a land where there was much fruit and wild honey. They pitched their tents by the seashore. (1 Nephi 17:1-6)

After they had been there for many days, the Lord told Nephi, "Arise, and get thee into the mountain" (1 Nephi 17:7). Nephi climbed the mountain and prayed. The Lord said to him, "Construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters" (1 Nephi 17:8).

The Lord told Nephi how to build the ship. When Laman and Lemuel saw that Nephi was going to build a ship, they said he was a fool. They did not want to help Nephi, nor did they believe the Lord had told him to build a ship. (1 Nephi 17:9-11, 1 Nephi 17:16-18)

Laman and Lemuel also thought Lehi was foolish for having led them around in the wilderness when they could have enjoyed their riches in Jerusalem. The brothers insisted that the people back in Jerusalem were righteous, not wicked as Lehi claimed. (1 Nephi 17:20-22)

Nephi told his brothers the Lord had commanded their father to leave Jerusalem. He said they had sought to kill their father. They had seen an angel, and the Lord had spoken to them. But they were "past feeling," so the Lord's words did not touch their hearts. Nephi told Laman and Lemuel that he was afraid that they would be cast out of God's presence forever. (1 Nephi 17:44-47)

Laman and Lemuel became angry and wanted to throw Nephi into the sea. When they tried to grab him, Nephi said, "Touch me not, for I am filled with the power of God" (1 Nephi 17:48). He said if they did touch him, they would die. Nephi said they were to help with the ship Heavenly Father had commanded him to build. (1 Nephi 17:48-49)

For many days Nephi's brothers did not dare touch him. Then the Lord told Nephi to stretch forth his hand to his brothers. The Lord said they would not die but would feel a shock. This would remind them that the Lord was their God. (1 Nephi 17:52-53)

Nephi reached out his hand to them, and they were shaken. Laman and Lemuel said, "We know of a surety that the Lord is with thee, for we know that it is the power of the Lord that has shaken us" (1 Nephi 17:55). They wanted to worship Nephi, but he told them, "Worship the Lord thy God, and honor thy father and thy mother" (1 Nephi 17:55).

Summary

After traveling in the wilderness for eight years, Lehi's people arrived at the sea. The Lord told Nephi to build a ship to carry the group across the ocean. His brothers Laman and Lemuel said Nephi could not build a ship, and they would not help. They also complained against their father, Lehi. As Nephi accused them of hard hearts, they became angry and wanted to throw him into the sea. Nephi warned his brothers that he was filled with God's power. If they touched him, they would die. He told them not to complain anymore and to help build the ship. Later the Lord told Nephi to reach out his hand to his brothers so they would receive a shock, reminding them of the Lord's power. When Nephi did so, Laman and Lemuel were shaken and testified that the Lord was with Nephi.

Artist, Arnold Friberg

Lehi and His People Arrive in the Promised Land

(1 Nephi 18:5-24)
And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land. (1 Nephi 18:23)

The Lord spoke to Lehi and told him it was time to take his people into the ship. Lehi's people prepared fruits, meat, honey, seeds, and other supplies for the journey, and then all the men, women, and children went into the ship. The wind blew them toward the promised land. (1 Nephi 18:5-8)

After sailing for many days, Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael and their wives began to dance and sing with rudeness. They forgot that it was God's power that was taking them to the promised land. Nephi was afraid the Lord would be angry and cause the ship to be swallowed in the sea. He spoke to those who were singing and dancing so rudely, but they became angry with him. Laman and Lemuel did not like their younger brother telling them what to do. They took Nephi and tied him up. After they did this, the compass—the Liahona—stopped working, and they did not know where to steer the ship. (1 Nephi 18:9-13)

A great storm arose, and for three days they were driven back on the waters. Although Laman and Lemuel were afraid they were going to drown, they would not untie Nephi. Lehi spoke to Laman and Lemuel and the others, but they were rude to him and threatened him. They treated Lehi and Sariah so badly that they became sick. Nephi's younger brothers, Jacob and Joseph, were not given the nourishment they needed because of their mother's afflictions. Nephi's wife and children cried and prayed that Nephi would be released. (1 Nephi 18:13, 1 Nephi 18:17-19)

After four days of this terrible storm, Laman and Lemuel realized that God's judgments were upon them and that they would be killed if they did not repent. Finally they went to Nephi and untied him. His wrists and ankles were swollen and sore because of the tight cords that had been around them. (1 Nephi 18:15)

Nephi picked up the Liahona, and it began to work again. Then he prayed, and the wind and the storm stopped. The sea became calm once more. (1 Nephi 18:21)

Nephi guided the ship, and after many days they arrived in the promised land. They went out onto the land, put up their tents, and began to prepare the soil and plant the seeds they had brought with them. (1 Nephi 18:22-24)

Summary

After many days of sailing, some of Lehi's family began to behave rudely and to forget the Lord. Nephi was afraid the Lord would not be pleased and warned his brothers. Laman and Lemuel became angry that Nephi was telling them what to do, so they tied him up. The Liahona stopped working, and no one could guide the ship. A great storm raged, but Lehi and some of the others could not get Laman and Lemuel to untie Nephi. On the fourth day, Laman and Lemuel realized they were about to be destroyed by the storm. At last they freed Nephi, and the Liahona began to work. Nephi prayed, and the sea became calm. He guided the ship, and after many days they reached the promised land.

Artist, Arnold Friberg