Lehi's Tent

And my father dwelt in a tent. (1 Nephi 2: 15)

This odd verse has always amused me. Thank you Nephi for this important information. Then again, maybe this verse is more significant that it seems. I have always assumed that Nephi's purpose was simply to identify the nature of Lehi's wilderness abode. But now, I believe that I was wrong.

You see, we already know well that Lehi and his family were dwelling in tents. We were first informed in 1 Nephi 2: 4. Departing into the wilderness with his family, Lehi "took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents...."

And then again in 1 Nephi 2: 6, after traveling "three days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water." The family is still paused at this location, in the Valley of Lemuel, when Nephi makes the odd comment about his father dwelling in a tent.

So, why did he make that comment? In my opinion, it is simply a way of saying that time passed. My father did not just pitch his tent in the Valley of Lemuel; he also dwelt in it.

Moreover, this odd comment determines the setting for the next series of events. After stating that his father dwelt in a tent, Nephi begins in the very next verse to tell about his personal excursion away from that tent to draw close to the Lord.

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers. (1 Nephi 2: 16)

After receiving this spiritual witness, Nephi went directly to his brothers to tell them of his testimony. Sam believes (1 Nephi 2: 17) but Laman and Lemuel do not (1 Nephi 2: 18). So, Nephi goes off again to pray for his disbelieving brothers and the Lord speaks to him again.

When all this praying and revelation is finished, "Nephi returned from speaking with the Lord, to the tent of [his] father" (1 Nephi 3: 1). So, he has come full circle. I think that the first comment about his father dwelling in a tent is directly related to Nephi's return to that tent. This all happened in a short period of time, apparently during a single day.

Then again, Lehi has apparently been sleeping during Nephi's absence. His first words to Nephi upon Nephi's return are that he has "dreamed a dream" (1 Nephi 3: 2) in which the brothers are commanded to go back to Jerusalem to obtain brass plates from Laban. Perhaps Lehi was napping during the heat of the day, while Nephi was out and about seeking the Lord in prayer.

And finally, notice the significance of this circle of events leading back to the tent. Nephi's revelatory experiences--and his sharing them with his brothers--would have prepared them just in time for this new and difficult assignment. Nephi has gained a spiritual witness without which he might not have been prepared to obey his father on the most difficult assignment of his life -- an assignment that would soon result in Nephi taking Laban's life with the sword.

Lehi's Obedience

2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.

3 And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.

4 And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. 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: 2-4)

In verse 2, we learn from Nephi that Lehi had a dream with some very definite instructions. These were rash actions for one to take. To uproot one's family, abandoning the family's possessions and wandering out into the wilderness. This was not a decision to take lightly.

Now, the next verse is more than a simple commentary on Lehi's obedience. Look closer. The direction given by Lehi's dream is extreme. Lehi would be foolish to do such a thing based upon a dream. Except for the fact, says Nephi, that Lehi recognized the dream as the word of the Lord unto him and his family.

When Nephi says, "And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord," he is not refering to Lehi's response to this dream. It is more than that. Nephi is describing his father's character. Lehi is an obedient man of God. Morevoer, in the same phrase Nephi is also recognizing the dream was more than a dream. The dream conveyed the word of the Lord and Lehi knew it.

Then the next phrase: "Wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him." Now THAT is Nephi's description of the response. In summary, Lehi's response to the dream, says Nephi, flows naturally from two facts: (1) The dream conveyed the word of God and (2) Lehi is an obedient man when it comes to following the word of God.

May we all be as Lehi.

Overcome and Carried Away

And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen.

And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open.... (1 Nephi 1: 7-8)

Have you considered what it means to be "overcome with the Spirit?" Notice the language here. Father Lehi was "overcome" and "carried away." This spiritual experience had a powerful affect upon his physical body and his self control.

In verse 5, Nephi explains that this powerful spiritual experience began as Lehi "went forth." This phrase suggests that Lehi was on his way to some destination. He was not coming home; rather he was going forth, and he prayed as he went.

But after entertaining the presence of the pillar of fire and seeing marvelous things, Lehi was overcome with the Spirit. He felt physically drained, similar to Joseph Smith after his First Vision; similar to Moses when he saw the Lord. Both of these men lay upon the ground, resting to recover their natural strength after the Spirit of the Lord withdrew.

Lehi's experience, however, was not yet complete. Being overcome with the Spirit, Lehi abandons his planned excursion and "returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed." And once there, the visions continued.

Then the phrase, describing Lehi as being "carried away" in spiritual visions. Is this similar to the state in which one finds himself as he dreams a vivid dream? Lehi is no longer in complete control of his thoughts because information and images are being supplied from without, even by the Spirit.

How frequently do we hear of these kinds of experiences today? If you were aware of the possibility of being overcome and carried away, would you give in to the experience? I believe we have a choice.

I experienced something similar but I chose not to give in to the experience. It was years ago and I did not understanding what was happening. I was also self-conscious because of other people that were present.

Even so, it was a powerful and memorable experience. I often wonder what might have happened if I had simply relaxed and let myself be "overcome" and "carried away."

Lehi's Pillar of Fire

And in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.

Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea even with all his heart, in behalf of his people.

And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much. (1 Nephi 1: 4-6)

There are various curious statements in these three verses. Things I have glanced at and wondered about many times but never paused for long to consider. What are the implications of the arrival of “many prophets?” What does Nephi mean when he says that his father prayed “in behalf of his people?” What is the significance of the “pillar of fire?” And what was Lehi’s status prior to the arrival of the many prophets and his experience with the pillar of fire?

When I consider the order of the Church today, I see that the Lord has ordained one prophet and president through whom his word is revealed and interpreted. It seems contrary to that order that many prophets should come to Jerusalem.

But I have always held the underlying assumption that the arrival of these prophets in Lehi’s day was uncoordinated. Perhaps that is a false assumption. Perhaps these were like bands of missionaries, authorized by the prophet Jeremiah, who already had prophesied of the destruction of Jerusalem.

And how does Lehi fit into the picture? Lehi received a marvelous visitation and vision. But he did not apparently receive new doctrine. His vision supported the witness of the prophet Jeremiah who came before him. Lehi called the people to repentance and testified of Christ.

What about Lehi’s prayer? Who are “his people?” Does Nephi mean that his father prayed for his people the Jews? Or does Nephi mean that Lehi prayed for the salvation of his family members who were living amidst this great wickedness? Or both? Both would be a safe interpretation. Lehi went out and risked his life and his family’s safety to call the Jews to repentance. And the rest of the story is all about the Lord’s preservation of Lehi and his family.

Regarding the pillar of fire, Moses also observed fire when he spoke with the Lord, although his was in or on a bush. I don’t understand this. Joseph Smith described the arrival of the Father and His Son in a pillar of fire that descended gradually from overhead. I have understood this to be a manifestation of God’s glory, the power or energy of his presence. We are taught that celestial beings dwell amidst eternal burnings, the chariot of fire observed by Elijah and Elisha.

Is the pillar of fire Nephi’s way of describing the Lord’s presence? Or did the pillar of fire serve as some kind of viewing device, Lehi looking literally into the fire were he “saw and heard much?”

I don’t have many answers today. But questions are an invitation to the Spirit of Revelation.