During Lehi’s time, the custodian of the priceless historical and scriptural chronicles of God’s dealings with His people, preserved on plates of brass, has been an unscrupulous official in Jerusalem named Laban, a descendant of Joseph of Egypt (see 1 Nephi 5:16). It is according to the design of the Lord that these records have been preserved over time in written format. Furthermore, the Lord plans that Lehi should have possession of these records for the blessing of his posterity.
The scriptures are an indispensable road map for the journey of life. Lehi is commanded to obtain the brass plates before undertaking the journey to the promised land. It is essential that Lehi have the genealogy of his fathers, the written language of his forebears, and the recorded word of God—all of which are contained on the brass plates.