After having returned from the plate-saving mission, Lehi and his wife Sariah are overjoyed. Seems there's been a little dissension in the ranks - Sariah thought that Lehi sent the boys off on a fool's errand that would get them all killed. I am particularly interested in the fact that she complained (again, I love the earthy reality of these Old Testament figures) but I really appreciate how Lehi dealt with the complaints. He agreed with her. He spoke kindly to her, and gently reminded her that he was being led by the Lord. If she accepted that, she must surely also realize that the Lord would not abandon her sons.
There are certainly moments of concern that arise in anyone's life - moments of weakness and doubt, moments where we complain and are frustrated, moments where we just need to vent. That's OK. That's normal. And anything less would speak of a certain level of apathy - especially where one's children are concerned - that is unrealistic. People in any relationship experience times of frustration and hardship. That's completely normal and should be expected.
But Lehi's response is instructive, in that he lovingly responded to her concerns and needs and provided comfort and peace. This was a difficult time for Sariah, and she didn't need a lecture, she just needed to be loved and comforted. Lehi is a great example of how marital difficulties should be handled: love, patience, temperance, and persuasion should rule our marriages, families, and really, every relationship we have. When we let our pride and arrogance in (Lehi was the patriarch, the priesthood holder, whatever, after all! His word is LAW!) then we distance ourselves from the very people we need to draw closer to us.
So after they get the plates, Lehi does an extremely novel thing: he reads them. In fact, he hands them off to Nephi and Nephi reads them. Lehi experiences incredible spiritual insight regarding the plates, his descendants, and the entire world. It is interesting to me to note that we often have the scriptures in our homes, but do we have them in our lives? These volumes that so many sacrificed so much to make sure we have them - do we even utilize that resource? Do we appreciate it? Could we do better/more? If so, how? I also find it interesting how he talks about the plates not being dimmed any more by time - as if even the physical manifestation of the scriptures (in this case, the plates) should be cared for and preserved. I think we are often too flippant about how we handle our scriptures.
Then Lehi sends the boys back to Jerusalem to get wives. No complaining from Laman and Lemuel this time! Hmmm....
One last note. These first few chapters indicate that Lehi offered sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord. This was a rite that was only to be done in the temple at Jerusalem, and only by those of the tribe of Levi - that was their special right as the sons of Levi. But here's Lehi, who is not of the tribe of Levi, exercising the priesthood authority in this way. What's going on with that? What authority did Lehi have to perform these sacrifices?
This is conjecture, but I believe that Lehi did have the priesthood. He obtained it through participation in the "sons of the prophets" that is mentioned in the Old Testament - a band of men who were prophets and who had authority vested in them through their merits and service and closeness to the Lord. These men trace their authority back to Moses himself, who received his priesthood through Jethro, his father in law, who was not even of any of the tribes of Israel. This is complete conjecture, of course, but it seems to fit the pattern.
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