The Lord again gave Lehi a commandment in a dream (v. 2). Laban had been the custodian of the brass plates, the record of the Jews. There is now proof that the ancients in both hemispheres used metal tablets to record their history.
The importance of these records is shown when King Benjamin taught his sons that “were it not for these plates … we must have suffered in ignorance … not knowing the mysteries of God” (Mosiah 1:3). A contrast may be seen with the Mulekites who “had brought no records with them; and they denied the being of their creator” (Omni 1:17). Judged by human rationale, what the Lord commanded was a hard thing. Lehi’s family had just traveled over two hundred difficult miles from Jerusalem to their present encampment. Laman and Lemuel must have wondered why the Lord didn’t tell them to obtain the plates before they left. They had little enthusiasm for making the long dangerous journey back to Jerusalem. Their murmuring showed they doubted that God had actually commanded their father to do this.
Lehi had confidence in Nephi because he had not murmured as Laman and Lemuel had (v. 6). He reminded Nephi that it was the Lord, not him, who had commanded the return to Jerusalem (v. 5). People often think a commandment is not really of God when it is given by a servant of the Lord. We should remember the Lord’s admonition; “Whether by my voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38).
Nephi’s response to go and do as the Lord had commanded is one of the most famous Book of Mormon quotations. It is another example of faith as a principle of action. While Nephi has been praised for his attitude, and rightfully so, it should not be overlooked that he had seen this same kind of faith expressed in his father’s actions (vv. 5–6). He had learned obedience by the precept and example of his father. Many leaders and members of the Church have adopted Nephi’s example. President Heber J. Grant said:
I read the Book of Mormon as a young man and fell in love with Nephi more than any other character in profane or sacred history that I ever read, except the Savior of the world. No other individual has made such a strong impression upon me as Nephi. He has been one of the guiding stars of my life.
All scripture indicates that when a people go with their might to accomplish what God has commanded, success follows. Lehi would obviously rejoice in Nephi’s willingness to obey any and all commandments of God (v. 8). Nephi had just returned from speaking with the Lord when Lehi presented to him the commandment to return for the record. However, Lehi did not know of the Lord’s visit to Nephi at the time. He apparently recognized that Nephi’s faith had now developed to where he would assist him in the work of the Lord. Lehi would no longer be left alone in urging others to obey the Lord. There is an interesting parallel in the life of the young Prophet Joseph Smith.
When they returned to the house it was between three and four o’clock P.M. Mrs. Whitmer, Mr. Smith and myself were sitting in a bedroom at the same time. On coming in, Joseph threw himself down beside me, and exclaimed, “Father, mother, you do not know how happy I am: the Lord has now caused the plates to be shown to three more besides myself. They have seen an angel, who has testified to them, and they will have to bear witness to the truth of what I have said, for now they know for themselves, that I do not go about to deceive people, and I feel as if I was relieved of a burden which was almost too heavy for me to bear, and it rejoices my soul, that I am not any longer to be entirely alone in the world.