What are dreams, and what causes them? These are questions not yet fully answered. But it is certain that divine messages have often been communicated to man by means of dreams. In all probability, the command of God to Abraham to depart from Haran came to him in a dream. (Joel 2:28)
It has been demonstrated that a person asleep may receive impressions from extraneous sources, although the reflective or reasoning organs are at rest. The smell of flowers may cause him to dream that he is walking in a garden. Sleeping in a smoky room may create the impression of a conflagration and a hot water bottle at his feet, may cause him to dream that he is standing on a volcano. This being the case, we may not deny the power of heavenly messengers to produce certain impressions upon the mind, during sleep, for the purpose of conveying important messages. Only to be thus favored, we must have faith. One who doubts is not in a fit or proper condition to receive a message by that means. We must also have the Holy Spirit to interpret.
There are false, as well as true dreams. Jeremiah says on behalf of the Lord, "I have heard what the prophets said, that prophecy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed." (Jer. 23:25) And Zechariah (10:2) utters this solemn warning, "For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams."
They seek to take away thy life. Persecutors, because inspired by the archenemy, are always murderous. But it was not the mission of Lehi to seal his testimony with his blood. The Lord had other work for him. He was to break new ground and lay the foundations of the great latter-day work, which the Prophet Joseph Smith, as an instrument in the hand of God, established, preparatory to the coming of the Son of Man, to reign over all the earth in power and glory. For that reason, and not merely to save his life, he was commanded to depart.